As you might expect, the literal nature of Satan is one of the major battles in the war for your soul. If Satan can make you believe he does not exist, he cannot be a threat.

I believe the same hermeneutic (method of interpretation) that proves from the the Bible the existence of Christ also proves the existence of Satan and his dark angels. Therefore, if you believe in Jesus, you have to believe in them. Beloved, Jesus did.

Let us consider Scriptre. The following study presents key references concerning Satan, demons, demon possession, and how spiritual warfare works. Look them up, compare them, and develop the big picture of Satan and the nature of his work for yourself.

Jesus Christ and Demons

1. Jesus' reputation regarding demons (Matthew 4:24)

2. Jesus' general dealings with the demon-possessed (Matthew 8:16: Mark 1:32-34, 39: Luke 4:41; 13:32)

3. Demons recognize Christ (Mark 1:34; Luke 4:41)

4. Healing the demoniac in the synagogue (Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:33-37)

5. The Gadarene demoniacs (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5: I-20; Luke 8:26-39).

6. Blind and dumb demoniac (Beelzebub Controversy) (Matthew 9:32-34; 12:22-30;

Mark 3:22-27; Luke 11:14-23; John 7:20; 10:20; 8:48; 8:52)

7. Evil spirits returning to the clean but empty house (Matthew 12:43-45;

Luke 11:24-26)

8. The Syrophoenician (Canaanite) woman (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)

9. Jesus heals a boy possessed by a spirit (Matthew 17: 14-21;Mark 9: 14-29,

Luke 9.37-43)

10. Jesus accused of being possessed (Mark 3:22-30; John 7:20; 8:45-59; 10:19-21)

Other People and Demons

1. John the Baptist accused of having demons (Matthew 11:18: Luke 7:33)

2. The apostles and demons (Matthew 10:8: Mark 3: 15, 6:13; Luke 9:1; 10:17).

3. Others and demons: it worked! (Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:49-50)

4. Others and demons: it didn't! (Acts 19:13-16)

Titles, Descriptions, and Classes of the Devil

1. Abaddon (Revelation 9:11)

2. Accuser (Revelation 12:10)

3. Ancient serpent (Revelation 12:9; 20:2)

4. Angel in charge of the abyss (Revelation 9.11)

5. Angel of light (ll Corinthians 11:14)

6. Antichrist (lJohn 4:1-4)

7. Apollyon, the destroyer (Revelation 9:11)

8. Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24)

9. Belial (II Corintians 6:15)

10. A Bird, to steal the seed (Matthew 13:3-23)

11. Deceiver (Revelation 20:10)

12. Dragon (Revelation 12:7)

13. Enemy (Matthew 13:39; I Peter 5:8)

14. Evil god of this age (II Corinthians 4:4)

15. Evil one (Matthew 13:18)

16. King of death (Hebrews 2:14)

17. Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1)

18. Liar (John 8:44)

19. A Lion, roaring (I Peter 5:8)

20. Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12)

21. Murderer (John 8:44)

22. Prince of demons (Matthew 12:24)

23. Prince of this world (John 12:31)

24. Ruler of darkness (Ephesians 6:12)

25. Ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24)

26. Ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2)

27. Ruler of this world (John 14:30)

28. Satan (Luke 10:18)

29. A Snake (Genesis 3:4)

30. Tempter (I Thessalonians 3:5)

31. Thief, to steal, kill, destroy (John 10:10)

32. Wicked One (Matthew 113:38)

33. A Wolf, to scare the uneducated (John 10:12)

Character of the Devil

1. Cunning (Genesis 3:1)

2. Slanderous (Job 1:9)

3. Fierce (Luke 8:29

4. Deceitful (II Corintians 11:14)

5. Powerful (Ephesians 2:2)

6. Proud (lTimothy3:6)

7. Cowardly (James 4:7)

8. Wicked (lJohn 2:13)

The Devil's Power Over the Wicked

1. They are his children (Acts 13:10: 1 John 3:10).

2. The wicked do his will (John 8:44).

3. The devil possesses (Luke 22:3).

4. The devil blinds (II Corinthians 4:4).

5. The devil deceives (Revelation 20:7-8).

6. The devil ensnares (l Timothy 3:7).

7. The wicked are punished with the devil (Matthew 25:41).

The Devil's Attack on God's Children

1. To tempt (I Chronicles 21:1)

2. To afflict (Job 2:7)

3. To oppose (Zechariah 3:1)

4. To stop (I Thessalonians 2:18)

5. To sift (Luke 22:31)

6. To deceive (II Corinthions 11:3; 1 Timothy 4:1)

7. To scheme against (l Corinthians 2:11)

8. To disguise himself as on one of the righteous (II Cor 11:14-15)

9. To come as Jesus Christ (2Thessalonians 2:3-4)
 

The Believer's Power Over Satan

1. Weapons Provided by God (Ephesians 6: 6:11-16)

2. Abilily to resist (James 4:7: I Peter 5:9: I John 4:4; 5:18)

3. Abllily to test the spirit (I John 4:14)

4. Knowledge of of victory (l John 2:13; Revelation 12:10-11)

5. God's power protects believers (John 10:22 10:22-29).

6. Christ has prayed to protect believers (John 17:15; Matthew 6:13).

7. The Lord strengthens believers (II Thessolonians 3:3).

8. Power over Satan (Luke 10:18)
 

Satan's Defeat

1. Believers are rescued by Christ (Colossians 1:13).

2. Satan is turned aside by the gospel (Acts 26.17-18).

3. The prince will be driven out (John 12:31: 16:11].

4. Satan is thrown Into the Abyss (ReveIation 20:1-3).

5. Christ destroys Satan's power (Hebrews 2:14-15).

6. Powers and authorities are disarmed (Colossians 2:14-15).

Christians Influenced by Demons

1. Christians follow deceiving spirits (l Timothy 4:l).

2. Satan stopped Paul (I Ihessalonians 2:18).

3. Instructions about testing spirits (IJohn 4:1-4)

4. Instructions about false teachers (II Peter 2:1-22)

Humans Can Be Controlled by Demons

1. Saul (lSamuel 16:14; 18:10-11; 19:9-10)

2. The two Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28-34)

3. The mute (Matthew 9:32-33)

4. The mute who could not see (Matthew 12:22)

5. The Syrophenician's daughter (Matthew 15:22-29)

6. The lunatic child (Matthew 17:14-18)

7. Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)

Christians Can Suffer Demonic Attack

1. Satan captures Christians (II Timothy 2:26).

2. Reoeivlng a differentsplrit (II Corinthians 11:3-4)

3. Christians can be tormented (II Corinthians 12:7-8).

4. Defensive weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18)

5. Sin gives the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27).

6. The devil sets traps (I Timothy 3:6-7).

7. While on the attack Satan prowls (I Peter 5:6-8).

8. Satan fills hearts (Acts 5:l-3).

9. Belief alone is not a defense (Acts 8:9-24; James 2:19)

10. Believers are subject to sin (I Corinthians 5:1-13).

11. Believers participate with demons (I Corinthians 10: 14-22).

Characteristics of Those Controlled by Satan (Romans 1:18-32)

1. Suppress the truth by their wickedness (18)

2. Do not glorify or thank God (21)

3. Have darkened hearts (21)

4. Think they are wise but, in fact, are fools (22)

5. Worship worldly things (23, 25)

6. Degrade their bodies with one another (24)

7. Exchange the truth of God for a lie (25)

8. Exchange natural relations for unnatural relations (26-27)

9. Reject the knowledge of God (28, 32)

10. Are filled with every kind of wickedness: evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife,deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hate, insolence, arrogance (29-30)

11. Boast, disobey their parents, hate God, and invent new kinds of evil (30)

12. Are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless (31)

13. Approve of those who practice evil (32)

Spiritual Authorities

Demons appeared to be part of the culture in the first century (Dickason, 1987). If they did not exist, demons were the explanation of choice for something, mental illness or erratic antisocial behavior perhaps. Many secular mental health workers today, especially those who serve in institutional settings, suspect demons are the source for many of the serious mental health problems their patients face. Whatever is going on, Scripture treats the manifestations it reports as if they came from personal beings with the power to act on their own.

The Sentry encounter suggests the same.

The being called the devil appears to be at the bottom of many evil and bizarre events. He is an illusive character by nature because he wants to hide the truth about himself, often clothing it in nice-sounding ideas.

Whoever the devil is, God has allowed him to have significant power over this world (Hebrews 2:8), and it appears that part of this strength over particular lives comes in their inviting him in and allowing it; in other words, they give him the legal right to operate.

The devil and related issues are main themes in Scripture and the underlying cause of much of the pain we experience. When bad things happen to anybody, we can be sure Satan or his minions are prompting everybody involved.