I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In James 2:14-26, we learn that faith must be more than mere belief in God, for verse 19 says, "You believe that God is one.  You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

B.      This is one lesson we can learn from the Bible’s teachings about demons.  Let us consider what else may be learned by studying events involving Christ, His disciples, and demons in the New Testament.

II.      CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES, AND THE DEMONS

A.      One type of miracle often performed by Jesus and His apostles was the casting out of demons.

                                                             1.      A demon (unclean spirit) was an evil spirit.  In New Testament times, these spirits sometimes possessed men, women, and children.  Many times, multiple demons would reside within a single person.

                                                             2.      The effects of demon possession were madness, violence, blindness, deafness, muteness, and others afflictions.

                                                             3.      Jesus demonstrated his power over demons by commanding them to come out.

a.       There are many examples in Scripture – Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28-34; 9:32-33; 12:22; 15:21-28; 17:14-21; Mark 1:23-27, 32-34; 5:1-20; 7:24-30; 9:14-29; Luke 4:33-36; 6:18; 8:2, 26-40; 9:37-42; 11:14.

b.       The demons recognized who Jesus was, confessing Him to be the "Son of God” and the "Holy One of God” (Matt. 8:29; Mark 1:34; 3:11-12; 5:7; Luke 4:34; 8:28; 13:32).  They submitted to His authority by coming out at His command.

                                                             4.      The Lord also endowed His apostles with this power over demons.

a.       When Jesus called the twelve, He "gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out” (Matt. 10:1, 8; Mark 3:13-19; 6:7, 13; Luke 9:1; 10:17).

b.       Before the Lord’s crucifixion, the apostles’ lack of faith initially limited their power (Matt. 17:16, 19-21; Mark 9:17-18, 28-29; Luke 9:40).

c.        When Jesus gave the apostles the Great Commission, He said, "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons…” (Mark 16:17).

d.       After Christ ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, the apostles healed many who were afflicted with unclean spirits (Acts 5:16) and endowed other disciples with this same power (Acts 6:5-6; 8:5-7).

B.      On one occasion, Jesus corrected His apostles when they attempted to prevent someone from casting out demons in Christ’s name.

                                                             1.      In the midst of a discussion concerning which of the apostles would be great, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us” (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49).

                                                             2.      Jesus replied, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40; Luke 9:50).

C.      On many occasions, the Pharisees accused Jesus of having a demon Himself and of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul.

                                                             1.      These occasions are recorded in Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; John 7:20; 8:48-52; 10:20.

                                                             2.      Jesus disproved their accusations in Matthew 12:25-32, Mark 3:23-30, and Luke 11:17-26.  Notice the points of Christ’s defense:

a.       Satan could not cast out Satan, for he and his kingdom would be divided.  Obviously, this was not the case.

b.       If demons were cast out by the power of Satan, then the Jewish exorcists had also used Satan’s power (Matt. 12:27).  Of course, the Pharisees would not admit such a thing.

c.        Because Christ’s power was not from Satan, it had to be from the Spirit of God, and therefore the kingdom of God had come upon them (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20).

d.       It was evident that Christ’s power was greater than Satan’s, for Satan was bound while Christ plundered his demons’ possessions (Matt. 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21-22).

e.        The Pharisees had opposed Christ and therefore the kingdom of God, for Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt. 12:30; Luke 11:23).

f.        The Pharisees were guilty of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because they had said Christ had an unclean spirit (Matt. 12:31-32; Mark 3:29-30).  This was an unpardonable sin.

D.      Some attempted to cast out demons by Christ’s name but without Christ’s approval.

                                                             1.      Jesus spoke of such people when He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matt. 7:21-23).

                                                             2.      An example of some who tried to invoke Christ’s name was the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-17.  These men failed and were attacked by a demoniac when they tried to cast out a demon.

III.   LESSONS: ARE YOU ON THE LORD’S SIDE?

A.      There are two kinds of people in this world: those who are for Christ and those who are against Him.

                                                             1.      It is as simple as that.  No one can be neutral about the Lord.

                                                             2.      Jesus confirmed this in two sayings.

a.       When someone other than His disciples was casting out demons in His name, Jesus said, "For he who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40; Luke 9:50).

b.       When the Pharisees opposed Jesus for casting out demons, He said, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt. 12:30; Luke 11:23).

                                                             3.      Because this is true, we need to determine who is for the Lord and stand together with them.

a.       Let us apply this simple test prescribed by the Scriptures: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (1John 4:1-3)

b.       Those who confess the truth of Jesus and His gospel pass the test.  They are for the Lord.

B.      There are many reasons to divide, but there is only one good reason to unite.

                                                             1.      Men can divide over opinions, self-interests, pride, greed, worldly wisdom, and other causes.

                                                             2.      However, men will truly unite only when they cast aside these differences and commit to Christ.

a.       Jesus prayed for such unity among His disciples in John 17:20-23 – "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.  The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

b.       All who are on the Lord’s side need to get together now according to Christ’s will and cease from their strife and division (see 1Cor. 1:10-13; 3:1-4).

C.      Satan and his demons know those who are on the Lord’s side.

                                                             1.      Just as the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God, so also Satan and his demons knew Job (Job 1:8-11; 2:3-5), Peter (Luke 22:31), and Paul (Acts 19:15).  This is because Satan knows his enemies and those whom he seeks to destroy.

                                                             2.      On the hand, those whom Satan gives little attention to those whom he has already captured such as the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14-15).

                                                             3.      Does Satan know you?  If you are on the Lord’s side, then he does.

D.      Christ has already won the war with Satan.  Those who are for the Lord will share in His victory.

                                                             1.      We live in a world where Satan has great power.  "We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1John 5:19).

                                                             2.      However, if you pass the test of 1John 4:1-3, then you have this assurance in 1John 4:4 – "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

                                                             3.      Jesus overcame Satan’s power when He rose from the grave (1Cor. 15:51-57; Heb. 2:14-15).

                                                             4.      To share in Christ’s victory, we must believe and stand on His side.  "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1John 5:4-5)