14 Symptoms of Demonic Operation
A Satan uses deception.
1 The word “deceive” paints a picture of a person who believes a lie to be the truth.
a The key area Satan uses to deceive people is the Word of God.
b If Satan can convince a person that God is a liar...he can get that person to violate God’s principles for living.
2 The devil/demons use perversion to distort the plan of God; God-given physical appetites.
a Food-gluttony; sex is God’s gift to man & woman in the bond of marriage-perverted into wickedness beyond imagination.
b Also accuse, work to defeat & destroy your faith.
aa Sin that God has forgiven.
bb Questions our motives
c Get us to blame God for our troubles.
aa Sin is to blame
bb If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
d How do we know what we’re up against?
B Mental illness is very controversial in Christian circles.
1 Not all mental illness is the result of demonic attack.
a Good psychological cure/Christian professional are huge helps when a person is struggling.
b Also, medication may be necessary when a chemical imbalance has occurred.
c When counseling & medication don’t help, it’s possible that these symptoms could point to demonic operation.
2 I’m going to teach on the 14 symptoms of demonic operation.
a The first 6 symptoms are extreme, drawn from Mark 5.
b In the list, some of the symptoms can be caused by something other than demonic operation.
c We’ve needed a good push for a while.
aa Demonic operation isn’t on the radar.
bb Demons are everywhere!
cc This overdue focus is escalated because of new teaching.
B 14 Symptoms And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:1-15 (KJV)
1 Symptom 1: Incapacity for normal living (v. 1-5)
a The demons made this man’s actions unsuitable for normal social interaction with family & friends.
b Graveyard: solitude, & loneliness sets in.
c The person will often become passive with no desire to change.
2 Symptom 2: Extreme behavior (v. 4)
a Explosive temper, extreme, uncontrollable anger.
b The people who love him/her are scared to death, walk on eggshells.
3 Symptom 3: Personality changes (v. 9 & 12)
a Not every dissociative disorder/multiple personalities is caused by demonic operations, but many are evidence of demonic activity.
b This man had a “legion” of spirits.
c Changes in personality (major or minor) may be a sign.
4 Symptom 4: Restlessness & insomnia (v. 5)
a “Up day & night”: could be a physical problem or a spiritual problem.
b It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Psalms 127:2 (KJV)
c May be the enemy tormenting you.
5 Symptom 5: A terrible inner anguish (v. 5)
a Torment, crying all the time in mind/heart.
b Grief/anguish are normal emotions for all of us.
c Chronic, unresolved anguish that will not leave after normal therapies of counseling, encouragement, & prayer could well be demonic.
6 Symptom 6: Self-inflicted injury or suicide (v. 5)
7 Symptom 7: Unexplained illness with no obvious medical cause.
a When testing produces no physical cause for an illness.
aa Some illnesses are psychological, & good counseling can result in a cure.
bb Other times, the illness is a battle with demons.
b And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? Luke 13:11-16 (KJV)
aa Woman had a “spirit of infirmity”.
bb V. 16: “daughter of Abraham” (child of God, faithful attender at synagogue, wanted to know more about God).
cc V. 12-13: “loosed from your infirmity”-laid hands.
dd There are physical illnesses caused by a class of demons called “spirits of infirmity”.
8 Symptom 8: Addictive behavior
a Addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, food, gambling, & other things can open the door to demonic influence & control.
b Demons are not the cause (to blame) for all their problems; people are responsible for their own wrong actions/choices (opens the door!).
9 Symptom 9: Abnormal sexual behavior
a And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? 2 Kings 9:22 (KJV) When Jezebel’s son questioned Jehu about peace, he said there wasn’t any as long as the witchcraft/harlotry remained.
b Ezekiel 16:20-51: spirit of harlotry
aa Spirit of harlotry that infected the nation of Israel with the sins of Sodom. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.50 "Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.Ezek 16:49-50 (NASB)
bb They were even sacrificing their own children. Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?21 "You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire. Ezek 16:20-21 (NASB)
c Homosexuality, adultery, fornication, infanticide are all inspired by the spirit of harlotry.
aa My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God. Hosea 4:12 (NASB)
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. Hosea 4:12 (KJV)
Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the Lord. Hosea 5:4 (NASB)
They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. Hosea 5:4 (KJV)
bb All because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the charming one, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations by her harlotries and families by her sorceries. Nahum 3:4 (NASB) A nation overtaken with sexual sin & abomination is governed by the spirit of harlotry.
cc Opens the door for control, influence to dominate.
10 Symptom 10: Defeat, failure, & depression in the Christian life.
a But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia.14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Cor 2:10-14 (NASB)
aa Preceded with Paul telling us to forgive others, because if we don’t...the enemy will take advantage.
bb Rob us of joy, victory that is ours in Christ.
b By this I know that You are pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. Psalms 41:11 (NASB)
aa The symptom of this spirit at work is an inability to praise & worship.
bb It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.4 For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. Psalms 92:1-4 (NASB) A testimony to the power of praise.
11 Symptom 11: Occult involvement & behavior
a "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. Deut 18:9-12 (NASB) Catalogs the occult/witchcraft
b The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen , you shall listen to him. Deut 18:15 (NASB) Instructs the people to hear the Word from the man of God & order their lives accordingly.
c Occult involvement is a clear symptom of demonic control. (IL) Palm readers, etc.
12 Symptom 12: Speech difficulties
a As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him.33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." Matt 9:32-33 (NASB)
b Speech difficulties may be physical, emotional, mental, and, in some cases, demonic.
c Extreme language & cursing may be prompted by the enemy.
13 Symptom 13: Doctrinal error
a But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons...1 Tim 4:1 (NASB) In the last days, deceiving spirits will teach the doctrine of demons.
b Today, religious cults/charlatans abound.
c The reason they draw many people in is the demonic power that teaches through them.
14 Symptom 14: Religious legalism
a You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Gal 3:1-5 (NASB)
aa The church of Galatia was going back to a ministry of rules, regulations, & religion from a faith ministry (freedom).
bb Paul called this “witchcraft”.
b Some deeply religious people are under bondage to tradition, manmade rules, & outward appearances.
aa Bondage & honor: you’re right!
bb Demons thrive in this environment, especially demons of control.
c If we have lists/rules of “must-dos”, it’s easier than walking by faith.
aa Law vs. faith
bb Any time we substitute work/laws for faith in the finalized work of Christ.
Conclusion
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