Award Winning GENESIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC

➡️I remember my first youth pastors job out of college. I walked into a small room upstairs, and there were maybe 25 or 30 students waiting for me. I scanned the room and quickly saw someone who didn’t seemed to fit – he wore black jeans, a black shirt, a black overcoat and a black expression. 

I wasn’t surprised to find out that Bradley had been messing around with the wrong crowd – he actually ended up being set free from extreme demonic activity and he gave his life to Christ.  Over the next few months, I spent a lot of time talking to Brad about his former life – I was just curious.  He actually told me that his demon told him to stay away from me.  So cool!

I share the story of Bradley because when it comes to demons, most people have him in their minds – its easy to go back to the Hollywood image of the child with a 666 hidden in their hairline, screaming in a low, growling voice.  But according to the Bible, demons don’t just mess with the kids in black, they can mess with all of us – here’s THREE ways, and yes even Christians:

1…DEMONS TEMPT AND ACCUSE US.  Demons know that God loves us and has a perfect plan for our lives, and according to Revelation 12:9, demons are trying to lead us away from that. They do this by tempting us, according to James 1:13, and then by accusing us, according to Revelation 12:10.  Demons encourage sin, so they can accuse.  When it comes to sin, the enemy is always saying it’s not a big deal, while God is saying it’s a huge deal; it’s strange if we do sin, the enemy now says its a huge deal, while God says “it’s not a big deal, I forgive you”.  That’s called grace. 

2…DEMONS DECEIVE US.  2 Corinthians 11:13-15, says that demons disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, and according to John 8:44, they always lie, they can only lie.  Any voice or thought that goes against the Word of God is demonic. Demons are always lying to Christians.  However, the enemy’s voice often sounds like my voice, and his thoughts often feel like my thoughts.  

For example, here are some thoughts that I may have that go against the Word of God:

I’m not loved – however, Psalms 103 says that God crowns me with love and compassion

I’m such a loser – however, Psalm 60:12 says with God, I win 

I’m stressed out – however, Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep me in perfect peace

I’ve sinned too much – however, Colossians 1:22 says that Jesus presents me before God blameless, without blemish

When thoughts like this comes into our minds, we have two options:  we can come into agreement with these thoughts (I Corinthians 10:20), or we can, according to I Corinthians 10:5, demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Demons deceive us, tempt us and accuse us…BUT…

3…DEMONS MAKE US BETTER – what?!?

Let me explain, because obviously we are never to encourage demonic activity.  We are never to seek a conversion with a demon, for example, or want a visitation from a demon.  That’s always wrong.  However, Ephesians 6 says that we wrestle against demonic forces. Watch any wrestling match, or any sporting event, and the opponent always makes the athletes better. 

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul was given a thorn, by God, which was a messenger of Satan.  Why?  To make him better, the Bible says to keep him from becoming conceited.  Instead of taking it away, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So…is it Gods will for me to struggle?  Yes.  Should I ask to struggle, or for a demon, like Paul?  Definitely NO.  But we do wrestle against powers of darkness – and its Gods will. As I wrestle, I get stronger – and I win.  And that’s what I want!  Without an opponent, we get lazy, we get sloppy, we get out of shape, and we never win.

James 1:2-4 says to “consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, because the testing of your faith will develop perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its good work so that we can be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”  Without trials, or what Ephesians 6 calls wrestling matches, I never grow up. 

According to James 4:7,  we are to “Submit ourselves to God. Resist the devil and he, and every demon, will flee.”  

It goes on to say, in James 4:8, if I draw near to God, he will draw near to me.  I submit to God, I resist the devil and no matter what I’ve done, who I’ve been, or whatever demonic wrestling matches I’ve won or lost, if I come close to God, he will always come close to me…no judgement, no condemnation, only love. 

That’s in the Bible and the Bible is always right. 

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