SERIES: ANGELS and DEMONS
(freely adapted from a series of the same name by James Merritt)
“THE BAD GUYS”
MARK 5:1-20
OPEN
Some of the more interesting stories in the Bible come from the times that Jesus delivered people from demonic possession. Oh yes, Jesus himself believed in demonic forces!
Demons have a great amount of power and influence in our world. They can and do destroy lives every day. But, they don't have the ultimate power because demons are no match for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
I’m going to give you a little test this morning. If you can answer this one question about demons, I’ll let you go home early. We’ll be done. Do you know what demons have for breakfast? Deviled eggs.
There are two mistakes, two extremes that we make about demons. The first mistake is that we ignore demons. We don’t give them a second thought. We don’t believe they’re active in our lives. The second mistake is that we see a demon behind every rock and tree. Everything that goes wrong is caused by a demon.
We need to avoid both extremes.
I’ve done a systematic study of demons in scripture. There is a lot of material on this subject in the Bible so what we’re going to do this morning is to look at three things we need to remember about demons. If you will keep these three things in mind, you’ll understand how you related to the demonic world and how they relate to you.
DEMONS ARE VIABLE
What that means is that they are real. They actually exist. Mk. 5:1-2 – “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.”
Instantly, we see something important. Jesus believed in demons. Jesus encountered demons. Jesus is depicted many times in the Gospels (like with this man) delivering people from demonic control.
One of the greatest dangers in the church is that we fail to recognize that some things happen because of demonic influence and demonic powers. Some have trouble believing that demons even exist. We are so technologically advanced that we have trouble believing in something that some people consider superstition.
The gospel writers, the apostle Paul, and Jesus himself would take great issue with the belief that demons do not exist.
Mark is the shortest of the gospels. But the reason that we’re looking at this passage in the Gospel of Mark is because Mark seems to focus on Jesus’ power over demonic forces in his Gospel. The first miracle by Jesus that Mark records concerns this very subject.
Mk. 1:21-28 – “They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not
as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy
One of God!’ ‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ The evil spirit shook the man violently and
came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new
teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.’ News about him spread
quickly over the whole region of Galilee.”
In this passage, Jesus is teaching. He’s not there for the purpose of casting out demons. But hear what the people say, “Not only does he teach in a way we’ve never heard, he has authority which we’ve never seen before. He drives out demons.”
Can you guess the subject of Jesus’ second miracle recorded by Mark? Mk. 1:32-34 – “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”
Almost everywhere Jesus went, he had to deal with demons. It didn’t matter where Jesus went, he had to deal with demons. Mk. 1:39 – “So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”
We see, interestingly enough, that God believes in demons. Here’s another interesting point. Demons believe in God. Not only does God believe in them, they believe in him. James 2:19 – “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
If you came up to me today and said, “I may not be a follower of Christ but I do believe that God is real.” I have to say that biblically, you’re faith is on the level of the demons. The demons are saying, “Big deal! I believe in God. Trust me. He’s real.” It’s amazing to me that demons have more faith than an atheist.
I don’t want to spend too much time on this first point. Maybe you’re a 21st century, technologically savvy kind of person who says, “I don’t believe in demons. I don’t believe in the devil. I don’t believe in angels.” I want to ask you to do something. If you are having trouble believing in demons, would you at least allow the possibility that they exist? We need to move on to the second thing about demons. Not only are they viable…
DEMONS ARE VICIOUS
The way demons are described in the Bible tells us what kind of beings we’re dealing with. Let’s go back to
Mk. 5:2 – “When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.” The
word translated as “evil” is a powerful word in the original language. It literally means “degenerate; vicious” It refers to their behavior in a physical sense.
Let’s go back to our focus scripture this morning. Mk. 5:3-5 – “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”
These demons were bent on hurting this man. Demons love to hurt people. And they love to cause people to hurt other people. Demons are bloodthirsty. They’re sort of like spiritual vampires.
Ps. 106:35-37 – “They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.”
In other words, child sacrifice – the killing of children – is an evidence of demonic activity. Here’s a question: how much demonic influence is behind the abortion industry? How many times it that a demonic voice says to a woman is: “You don’t need to keep this baby. It’s not even a baby. It’s just a fetus. It’s just an appendage to your body. After all, it’s your body. If it crimps your lifestyle, if you don’t want it, if you don’t think you can afford it, just go to the doctor and have that procedure done.” The Bible plainly says here that demons love to see parents sacrifice their sons and daughters to demons.
Let’s go back to our biblical narrative for today. Mk. 5:6-13 – “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.”
Why does Mark want you to know this fact? Why does he mention it? Why didn’t the demons just stay in the pigs? The pigs went into the water and were drowned.
Here’s the point. Demons and the devil are in the life-taking business. They’re in the murdering business, the killing business, the violence business, the terrorism business. They are blood-thirsty. They’re in the life-taking business. God is in the life-giving business.
Demons are also in the Bible as described as “unclean spirits”. Mt. 10:1 – “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
The word translated “evil” in this passage in the original language refers to “unclean” in the sense of being “morally filthy”. It has a sexual connotation.
I think the Bible means that demons are not involved in physical sins, they are involved in sexual sins. There is no doubt in my mind that the modern day fascination with pornography and the almost god-like way we idolize sex in our society has demonic influence behind it. They are unclean spirits.
In Mt. 12:45, the Bible calls them “wicked” spirits which is a reference to the spiritual side of demonic influence. Demons love to encourage false worship of false gods. Why do you think there are so many religions in the world? I’ll tell you one reason. It’s demonic influence. They’re in the violence business but they’re also in the false-god, false-worship business.
Dt. 32:16-17 – [in reference to Israel] “They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.”
1 Cor. 10:19-20 – “Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
Maybe you’re here this morning and you’re not so sure about all this Jesus business. I’m going to ask you to humor me for just a few minutes. Imagine that I’m right about Jesus Christ. He was God in the flesh, he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died for our sins on the cross, was physically resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming back again. Let’s just say that’s true. And let’s just say this is true. He is not just one way to heaven. He’s not just the best way to heaven. He is the only way to heaven.
If you’re the devil and you’re the demons, would you want people to believe that? Or would you do everything in your power to make sure they didn’t believe that? So you give them this “–ism” and that “–ism”. You give them this “–ology” and that “–ology”. You give them this idea and that idea.
Why is that important? Because the devil doesn’t care. To him, one pagan god is as good as another to him. Choose any of them that you want. Just don’t choose Jesus.
Hear this: the Bible clearly teaches that the activity of demons will increase toward the end of the age. 1 Tim. 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Let’s stop here just a minute and clarify some things. I want to make sure that you understand what I have said and what I have not said. I do not believe that all sin is directly caused by Satan and his demons. James 1:15-15 – “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” You don’t need the devil and his demons. You can get your own self into trouble.
But I do believe that a lot of the sin in this world is caused by demonic influence. A lot of the violence, a lot of the terrorism, a lot of the sexual perversion and a lot of the hostility toward Christ and Christianity that is being advanced in the world today.
We can spend a lot more time on this part of the message. But due to time constraints, just like with the first part of this message, we move on to the third thing we need to remember about demons.
So far, everything has been a bit depressing. Some of you probably feel like you don’t even want to go back outside after what we’ve talked about up to this point in the message. What we’ve talked about is important to know but here is the good news. Demons are viable and demons are vicious. But also know that…
DEMONS ARE VANQUISHED
Let’s not underestimate the power of demons or overestimate the power of demons. We see the power of demons demonstrated in the man described in our main scripture passage today. Mk. 5:3 – “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.”
When demons get a hold of you, its incredible the supernatural, superhuman strength they can exhibit. But as with any case where Jesus confronts the demons, the emphasis is not on the demonic. It’s on the divine. Mk. 5:6 – “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.”
This man was not friendly to humans. He wasn’t going to show up at your house with lemonade and cookies to welcome you to the neighborhood. He’s out in the caves and doesn’t even like people. Why? Because every encounter he had with people, they were trying to bind him in chains.
He really wasn’t a fan of the human race until Jesus got off the boat. Immediately, Jesus knew what was wrong with the guy. Nobody had to tell him. He didn’t have to read a newspaper account of the problems in this fellow’s life. Without saying another word, Jesus said, “Evil spirit, come out of that man.” And something very interesting happens. That very moment, that fellow did something he hadn’t done in a long time. He didn’t run from run from a man. He ran to a man. He fell on knees before him.
Understand very clearly that demons are no match for Jesus. And they’re no match for anyone who is following Jesus.
When you give your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you. He doesn’t come to just rent a room or to stop by every now and again. Your body becomes the temple – the dwelling place – of the very spirit of Christ. And if you’ll continue to follow Jesus – meaning that when you fall out of step with him you
repent and get back in step with him – you should have no overriding fear of demons.
But here’s the warning: you can be demonically influenced and you can face demonic attack. That’s why you need to remain in God’s word. That’s why you need to keep your prayer life in good shape. That’s why you need to keep fellowship with other followers of Christ.
But understand this: a follower of Christ has authority over the devil and all of his demons. I want to wrap up by giving you three of the most important Scripture passages that describe our authority over the devil and his demons through Christ and power of the Holy Spirit. These would be good to write down in the front of your Bible or on a card that you can carry around with you. You don’t have to write out the verses. Just write down the references.
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 1 Jn. 4:4 – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Col. 2:15 – “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
CLOSE
If you’re here this morning and you are not a follower of Christ, here is the cold, hard truth. You don’t have a prayer against the devil. You don’t stand a chance. You’re defeated before the battle even starts. You have surrendered and don’t even know it.
You have the same basic choice that the people had back in Jesus’ day. Let’s finish the rest of the story.
Mk. 5:14-20 – “Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people
went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the
legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told
the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people
began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been
demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them
how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to
tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”
There are basically three responses to Jesus in this passage. The first response is, “Jesus, leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with you.” And Jesus will honor your request. But when you stand before God at your judgment, you’re going to say, “Jesus, can you help me out here?” And he’s going to say, “I honored your request in life. I will honor that same request now.”
The second response is, “Jesus, I’ll follow you wherever you go.” The formerly demon-possessed man knew who Jesus was and was ready to do whatever Jesus asked. Jesus told him, “I want you to stay here and tell your family and friends what I have done.” And that’s what the man did.
The third response is to see Jesus, know what he can do, and then just decide not to make a decision one way or the other. But in doing so, you are actually making a choice – a choice to avoid Jesus. Which response is the one that you make today?
