The Devil and Demons

Do you believe there is a devil and that there are demons?

Gallups surveyed people about their belief in supernatural beings.

In 2001, 68% said they believe in the devil.

In 2023, 58% (10% less) said they believe in the devil.

This means that as time passes, less people believe in the existence of a spiritual being called the devil or Satan.

I asked ChatGPT, is the devil real, and this is the answer.

If you mean a literal, supernatural being

—there's no scientific evidence proving the devil exists. However, many religious traditions affirm his existence.

So the ChatGPT model / algorithm assumes that if there is no scientific evidence of the existence of something, then it cannot exist.

So…the devil and demons do not exist.

However, as Christians we believe the Bible is God’s word and it is absolutely truthful in all that it says.

Today, we come to a story in the Bible that teaches us three important lessons:

Hechos de los Apóstoles 19:13–16 NIV

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

The devil and evil spirits are real.

Just because we cannot see them, because they are spirits, does not mean they do not exists.

The devil and spirits can posees a human being.

Demonic possession means that one or more evil spirits come to take over a person’s body, their emotions, and mental state such that they are essentially under their power.

In this case, we see the evil spirit speaking through the vocal chords of the demon possessed person. Then, the evil spirit makes the possessed person come against seven men, beating them up, leaving them without clothing and bleeding.

Evil spirits recognize the power of Jesus.

Notice how the seven men are trying to cast out the demon from the demon possessed person.

They try to do this by reciting as if it where a magic spell - In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.

The demon replies - Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?

The demon knows exactly who Jesus is and who Paul is.

But…why did the demon not come out?

Because these seven men are powerless, they do not believe in Jesus.

They use Jesus’ name as if it where a magical word that makes demons come out…but they have no faith in Jesus’ power to do this.

Evil spirits can overpower human beings.

Notice how the evil spirit entered and possessed the poor man.

Notice how they also beat up the seven men.

Evil spirits are not to be trifled with. They are power beings that can do much damage and hurt human beings.

They are powerful evil beings that seek to destroy humans because we are created in God’s image.

But the last lesson I want you to take away is that if you believe in Jesus Christ there is no need for you to fear the devil and demons.

If we have truly put our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and the devil is unable to overcome us.

1 Juan 4:4 NIV

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.