From the beginning of our creation, humans have manifested lustful, immoral, shiftless, or self-gratifying attributes. The first occurrence of “the devil made me do it” used as an excuse was in the Garden of Eden. "Eve says, "I was deceived by the serpent, and I ate." Does her explanation exonerate her? No! In fact, not only did she receive God's promise of sorrow and pain, so did Adam suffer the effects?
The Lord said to him, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Unfortunately, we are still convicted and in the grips of their original sin. Using Satan as an excuse didn't help them and it won’t help us at all either.
Humankind has always struggled to understand—if the sin we do comes from outside evil influences or the devils residing within us. Could it be that we sin because of our own, inborn, sinful nature? James 1:14 declares, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” Why then, do we transgress? We sin because we are sinners infected with sin. While demonic, oppressiveness, powers are real, our sinful natures are the primary problems. “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” Notice, Galatians 5:19-21 says it’s the “works of the flesh,” not the works of the devil.
Do you remember: “The Devil made me do it.” That was a comedic line voiced many times on television last century? Who said it? People who provide that expression in real life are only offering up feeble excuses. They try to shift the blame for yielding to temptations or just plain doing something wrong to someone else.
While we all struggle in the battles of outside influences, this lesson will be speaking to the root causes of the struggles that we face from within. Which begs the question: Can Christians willingly or unwillingly host demons inside our bodies? What do you think?
Yes, the devil and his demons do tempt us to sin. However, the phrase “the devil made me do it” is too often an overused defense in trying to whitewash our own dreadful choices. Except in the rare case of actual demon possession, the devil cannot make us do anything. The devil and his demonic minions are utterly deserving of damnation for much of the evil they do or cause to be done in this world. But using the devil as a perpetual scapegoat for our own sinfulness is counterproductive to achieving victory over sin.
Some religious philosophies insist that any Christian's body cannot have malignant spirits inside. Many a preacher professed that Christians could be influenced by external evil entities but never from within, only from the outside. The foundation used to support this view is that the love of Jesus and the Holy Spirit cannot live inside the same place in which evil spirits reside. Really? Then the illogical branch of that argument could grow to state that there are no demons, no evil, or sin in this world. This is according to Jeremiah Chapter 23, verse 24. “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah's words are examples much larger than ourselves. If the Lord fills heaven and earth, how could Lucifer and his ilk constantly prowl our world while God and the Holy Spirit cover and saturate it? Sin is within us just as sin is within the world without shifting the blame to another entity.
A common argument against believers having internal demons comes from misinterpreting 2nd Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Does this mean that light cannot dwell with darkness? Can both light and darkness be seen together? Yes! A righteous light can always pierce darkness. Do you not see God's stars surrounded by inky blackness? This verse is more directed as a warning not to join up with or be negatively influenced by unbelievers.
On the other hand, yes, we are encouraged to associate with unbelievers but only to show them how Christians act by bringing them the Word of God because non-believers are ignorant of true spiritual goals. How can we partner with them if we don't have anything in common spiritually? Can Satan's minions and the Holy Ghost both dwell in a person's life? Yes. Can both influence your life? Yes! That's why we strive to do good, not evil. Can every wrong thing you think of or do be attributed to demons?
It may sound rough and unpleasant to have to tell someone that the problems are yours alone and the results of their own choices. But is that any harsher than a doctor telling a patient to quit smoking, and that the tobacco company is not the cause of their lung cancer or deteriorating health?
Romans 7:24-25 says, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
In order to receive the proper treatment, one must receive a correct diagnosis at the beginning. Only then can someone stand a fair chance of receiving the correct treatments. The Holy Spirit diagnosis of our ongoing condition is sinfulness. The “magic elixir or pill” is to submit to God and obey His Word. God can enable us to achieve victory and triumph over sin.
You have to take ownership of your own personal sins if you want to live a better life for Christ. If Christians were not capable of committing sin, we could blame it all on someone else. Then how is it that evil and sin, which God absolutely loathes, reside in us if we are filled with the Holy Ghost? How can the Holy Spirit remain in us and fill us to the brim, when we are capable of committing sin? Which most of the world's population seems to be doing with increased frequency?
Individually, we all are a composite of body, mind, and soul. Our entire being belongs to God to do with us as He wills. But, due to free will, our bodies and minds can still be affected by both goodness and evil. A Christian's soul is united with the Holy Spirit, while the non-believer is linked heart, mind, and soul to the Devil.
Yes, when the Holy Ghost dwells within us, our soul is transformed to be blemish free. Yet our minds and bodies can remain filthy long after accepting Christ. The Bible tells us to renew our minds through the Word of God. Our souls are instantly transformed the moment we are saved, but not our minds and bodies.
Therefore, the question remains: Whose fault is it that we commit sins? Do we shift the blame to Adam or Eve? Do we blame the Devil or demons? Do you believe a demon can touch our will after accepting Jesus? Yes, our minds can be influenced but Satan cannot overcome the Holy Spirit within us. Normally, our sin is our own fault, our own doing.
Granted there are extremely rare events where a person is possessed by one or more demons. This happens more often when we willingly tiptoe around or jump into circumstances we should have avoided. You don't need to play around with an old Ouija board. You don't want to join up with a coven of witches in the middle of the night. There is no point in visiting a place where rituals are performed on those who worship and chant around pentagrams. You don't need to cavort with shady elements. People that do these things sometimes commit Satan inspired atrocities. Yet, after regaining their senses, they awaken not knowing what they did. That is an indication of demonic control suppressing a human's will.
Luke 8:29 relates just such an example of demon possession. “For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power.” Other examples can be read from Matthew chapter 8 and Mark chapters 5 and 9.
A more common, everyday example can be like when a child looks at the cookie jar. Is it an evil spirit or just the child's mind that gives into temptation by rationalizing: “Mom won't know if I take just a couple?” If the child secretly takes some cookies, is it the flesh sinning? Who did the tempting? If the enemy was involved, was it through planting the seeds of temptation? Ask yourselves, does it really matter if this came from the inside or the outside of our mind? Temptation was given into.
Demons can do their work outside our bodies or within our bodies and minds. While everyone is certainly not demon-filled, note how often the Bible reveals true evidence of demons affecting people. Do you recall the man filled with legions of demons, the lunatic boy, the woman with the spirit of infirmity or the man who couldn't speak because of a demon within? It is as if they try to overwhelm our spirits or whisper to us that we should sin. Their way of meddling in our lives is through our minds and by troubling our physical bodies. Our blessed assurance lies in the fact that Jesus overrules any evil and while our minds and bodies may give way to sin, our eternally-righteous soul is forever bound to heaven.
Yes, I believe evil powers can reside within us, possess us, if you will — but the Devil cannot own a single Christian soul.
Do not misunderstand or be confused by thoughts that a believer possessing an evil spirit is owned, body and soul, by that damnable Satan. That is absolutely untrue. You can be a strong disciple of Christ and still have to battle the demons inside and outside of your earthly body.
Demonic possession is a condition in which a demon or demons have complete control over a person. Demon possession involves evil spirits controlled manipulation of a person's actions. Christians cannot be demon possessed. The indwelling Holy Spirit will not allow it.
The first dozen verses of Romans chapter 8 explains how Christian are free from indwelling sin: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Those verses tell me that the devil and his demons cannot dominate believers. They cannot force us do anything involuntarily. So, rather than attribute our sins to the devil, we need to look within ourselves.
'Possessed' in this sense means to be under the power of a demon or to have a demon inside controlling you. Think of it like being a tad under the influence of drugs or booze. The more pills you take or the more Martinis or beer you drink, the more you lose control. Demonic subjugation is much the same. The more you willingly give into sin, the more you will give way to increased demonic control over your life. Kick the Devil's minions out so you can concentrate on shedding your own sinfulness.
The Bible clearly details the different spirits causing problems for the persons within whom they dwell. Some demons invoke blindness. Others may cause deafness. Many afflict madness. The manifestations of fear and depression led to the downfall of the mighty King Saul.
But never fear, if you walk in the path of Jesus, Matthew chapter 17, verses 15-18 reassures us: “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Likewise, if a person is under the power of a spirit of blindness, they won't see. If they are under the power of a spirit of infirmity, they will have some sort of physical infirmity. Who here has no infirmities? If they are under the power of a spirit of fear, they will be fearful. If they are under the power of a spirit of anger, they will have uncontrollable anger. But in all cases, the Christian's soul is protected by Christ.
A Christian's body can be an unwilling host to demons, just as we similarly endure different diseases or broken bones. I believe many illnesses and accidents are caused by demonic influence. An infection may temporarily affect the body, but it does not mean that it owns the soul even if it kills the earthly body. A Christian can also be an unwilling host to demons, sometimes even to the extent that his or her body is enslaved but the believer is not owned by Satan. The mind is where our thoughts, emotions, and sinful thinking is formed, and our flesh often gives way to lust. Demons can invade the mind and body of a believer, even influence our human spirit to do wrongful things. Demons can cause fear, depression, lust, uncontrollable anger, and other iniquities of the mind often combined with sickness and diseases in the body. But the Devil can not harm or control our soul because the Holy Spirit protects us as children of the Lord.
Whether a believer or a non-believer, it doesn't matter what you are if you allow the enemy a gateway to your mind or body, then you willingly set yourself up for spiritual erosion that can even negatively affect those around you. Paul warned the believers in Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil.” Also, 2nd Corinthians 2:11 tells us, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Whether the immoral spirits were there before we committed to Christ or entered since we were saved, that timing does not make a difference in the end. Or should I say it does not matter for all eternity? If demons come into a person's life before or after they accept Christ, it really doesn't matter one iota. At our earthly demise Jesus, as described in Matthew 8:16-17, will cast them out, therefore demons cannot follow us to heaven. Christians are saved!
The sin we commit is ultimately our own responsibility but we can take personal responsibility for limiting our exposure to evil ways. Demons gain access through open doors. For example, submitting to lust can absolutely serve as a demonic bridge to adultery, lying, stealing, and such. These actions degrade you and may certainly negatively affect others who know of your illicit actions.
Whenever your door to sin is open, you need to close it and be stronger than the temptations of demons. Don't worry if you lack the strength or determination to do this on your own. Submerge yourself in God's Word and solutions like wisdom and strength will seek you out and become your armor. Should you still consider yourself too weak, then look to Isaiah 53:5 where we read: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
These verses are speaking to our salvation as believers and what Jesus will do for unbelievers, if only they will have faith in Him. He shed His blood for the sins of all humanity.
We all have and must fend off demons and the sin we do with or without demonic influence. Some people believe that just because they acknowledge God they will be sent to heaven. This sounds soothing, but doesn't hold true. Biblical truths viewed can dissolve this false and damning theology.
Romans 7:15 (NIV), “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” So was the Apostle Paul a sinless man? No. Paul was sharing the facts of his sin by omission and commission. Is there anyone among us that thinks Paul didn't make it to heaven?
As another example, let's study who Jesus considers a child of Abraham, thus saved, and who He considers to be children of Satan, thus damned. Jesus Himself told us of the requirements for what it takes to be a child of Abraham. Allow me to offer John 8:33-47. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
This makes it very clear to me who is qualified to be called a child of Abraham. Jesus said that in order to be a child of Abraham, you must do as Abraham did. (John 8:39). What did Abraham do? He believed in God. (Galatians 3:6). The children of Satan did not have faith or trust in Jesus. You can not believe on the Father, reject the Son, and expect to be saved. That is impossible. (1st John 2:22-23).
The Devil wants his evil doings to go undetected and lies so Christians might believe they cannot become Satan's slaves. The teachings and ministries Christians bring to the world are hated by the Devil. A problem is, those who viciously oppose the idea that Christians can be influenced or held by demonic spirits are, by those thoughts alone, lowering the shields of their own, God-given, armor. As Christian soldiers, we must know the capabilities of our enemy and be constantly vigilant. By doing God's Work, the Holy Spirit allows us to help pry Satan's gnarly fingers, one by one, away from the souls of the unsaved.
But if you agree or disagree with me that Christians can be unwilling hosts for demons, it is of small consequence. What counts is God's grace, plus our faith and obedience. Although Christians of different denominations may disagree on the less significant portions of the Bible, as believers in Jesus Christ, we will all find peace and comfort in eternity.
As a Christian who commits sin, the devil did not make you do it. He may have tempted you to do it. He may have influenced you to do it. Lucifer may have set in place all the other elements, situations, or people to entice you to sin. Nevertheless, he did not force you to do it. You still had choices. God never allows you to be tempted beyond your ability to withstand those very temptations.
1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, God always provides a way of escape. A Christian saying “the devil made me do it” is denying the truth of 1 John 4:4, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God is greater than anything Satan can throw against you!
Ephesians chapter 5 offers a message to take to heart as well as stern warnings. You are God’s dear children, so try to be like him. Live a life of love. Love others just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us—a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
But there must be no sexual sin among you. There must not be any kind of evil or selfish desire or wanting more and more, because such things are not right for God’s holy people. Also, there must be no evil talk among you. Don’t say things that are foolish or filthy. These are not for you. But you should be giving thanks to God. You can be sure of this: No one will have a place in the kingdom of Christ and of God if that person commits sexual sins, or does evil things, or is a person who selfishly wants more and more. A greedy person like that is serving a false god.
Don’t let anyone fool you with words that are not true. God gets very angry when people who don’t obey him talk like that. So don’t interact or become involved with them. In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. This light produces every kind of goodness, right living, and truth. Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have no part in the things that people in darkness do, which produce nothing good. Instead, tell everyone how wrong those things are. Actually, it is shameful to even talk about the things those people do in secret. But the light makes clear how wrong those things are. Yes, everything is made clear by the light. This is why we say, “Wake up, you who are sleeping! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.”
So be very careful how you live. Live wisely, not like fools. I mean that you should use every opportunity you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So don’t be foolish with your lives, but learn what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life, but be filled with the Spirit. Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, “We have everything we need for life and godliness.” If we sin, we have no excuse. We cannot blame the devil. We cannot blame our living environment. We should only blame ourselves. And, until we recognize that the problems resides within us, we will never arrive at the Godly solutions.
Allow me to paraphrase 1 John 5:1-3. Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too difficult for us, because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. It is our faith in Jesus that has wins the victory over the world by the grace of Christ.
First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 23 holds out this promise: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Hallelujah!
So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Amen! The End
Warning: Disney’s recently released a FX cartoon series named “Little Demon,” That obscenely offensive show offers a cartoon character mom who is impregnated by Satan and gives birth to an Antichrist daughter. This trashy, teenage series shows graphic violence and nudity. Some believe, as I do, this show has “an agenda” and “Little Demon” is potentially poised to attract younger viewers. This show makes light of hell and the dangers of the demonic realm, and it is especially troubling that it is delivered in cartoon format.
