Reader Questions Answered
Posted by owner on May 11, 2010A demondope service
Question
I have a question with regards to our own awareness of demonic activity and or (oppression, possession , influence ) in our own present age. Reading the Gospels I am impressed by the fact that demonic activity ect was (it seems) common knowledge, easily recognized by the uneducated poor, not even questioned by the Pharisee’s or Sadducees. Can the same be said today? It seems to me there is a certain amount of confusion, hesitation, and a need to explore other physical, or psychological explanations other than demonic activity. Why the discrepancy between the Gospel account’s and our own present? Do you think there is a discrepancy? If so why is this so? Even among the Gentiles (in the Gospels) this awareness seems to exist apart from the Jewish community. Such as when Jesus cast the demons into the herd of pigs. The Gentiles did not question (it seems) what had happened to the herd of pigs. It was accepted the pig threw themselves off the cliff because of the demons entering them? Is this a valid observation?
Answer
This is a very good question. The answer is complex, but I’ll try to simplify as much as I can.
1. The Gospels report a period of what I call “open conflict” in the invisible war between God and Satan, angels and demons. There was a public, power confrontation between demons and Jesus. Two other biblical periods of open conflict have taken place: the Exodus, where plagues served as judgments on the demon-gods of Egypt, and the time of Elijah/Elisha, during which 21 public miracles are recorded. But most of the biblical era was not marked by this kind of open, public conflict between God and Satanic forces. So we should not take the events recorded in the Gospels to portray the way that either demons or God “normally” works.
2. The epistles say a lot about demonic forces, using the vocabulary of the first century Mediterranean world . . . referring to demons as powers, principalities, rulers, authorities, etc. Paul’s letters also speak of Satan’s “schemes” or “strategies,” picturing more subtle attacks than we see in the Gospels.
3. These two sources help us see something that CS Lewis pointed out. Satan is equally served if (1) a society is well aware of his powers and so terrified that they submit to him, or (2) a society is unaware of his activities and ascribes natural causes to the bondage into which he brings human beings.
In some parts of the world today Satan is feared, and witchdoctors and sorcerers are relied on for their ability to influence demons to curse or to heal. In our part of the world Satan is viewed as a myth, and the impact of demons on peoples’ lives is ascribed to natural physical or psychological causes.
4. The situation is further confused by the fact that demon’s “hitch hike” on normal problems and exacerbate them. For instance, suppose a person has a hot temper. That character flaw gives a demon an entry point, and it can then intensify the anger so it becomes rage. [We see this in Genesis, where Cain, already furious with Able, takes him out into a field intending to harm him, and “then Satan entered into him,” creating a rage that led to Able’s murder.] Compare the recent case of Yeardly Love’s beating to death by her boy friend, who’s history shows an anger problem!]
Usually it’s not a case of “demonization OR psychological problem”, but rather “demonization AND psychological problem.”
That’s why it’s important for anyone in a deliverance ministry to realize that there will be underlying problems which provided demons with access and a continuing grip on a person that must be dealt with. We can expel (exorcise) the demons without solving the underlying problems, and unless we help with the underlying problems that person will continue to be vulnerable to demonic influences.
5. Which brings me to the FREEDOM WORKSHOP which I now give most of my time to presenting. Working from the Book of Ephesians which describes how to “put on the armor of God,” I show how demons operate in our lives today . . . and how we can find freedom from their influence.
I just completed a Workshop at Dayspring Fellowship in Durham, NC, this past Friday and Saturday. The folks there have put up an audio of the workshop on their website. If you want a fuller explanation, you will find some 6 hours of content at
http://idayspring.com/index,php?option=com_content&view=article&id=210&Itemid=61
Or I’d be delighted to come to your city and church and conduct a FREEDOM WORKSHOP there.