Shelbyville Seventh-day Adventist Church

It’s in the Bible, Revelation 12:8-9 NKJV. "But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

We are in a spiritual battle with evil spirits - Satan and his fallen angels. It’s in the Bible, Ephesians 6:11, 12, NKJV. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The Bible warns us against trying to communicate with “familiar spirits,” or ghosts. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 8:19, NASB. “When they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?”

Can the dead communicate with the living? It's in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10, NKJV. "The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun…For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave."

How does the Bible describe death? It's in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, NKJV. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus"

If the dead are sleeping, who are the spirits of our deearly departed? Fallen angels can deceive us by appearing as good beings, even spirits of people we are familiar with. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, NASB. "No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds."

Evil spirits can perform miracles and signs to deceive. It’s in the Bible, Revelation 16:14, NKJV. “For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

We do not have to be afraid of demonic impersonations of the living and the dead, if we give our hearts to Jesus and stay away from such satanic activities as séances, ouija boards, etc. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 4:1, 4, NKJV. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. . ..You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Jesus has authority over demons. It’s in the Bible, Luke 4:35-36, NIV. “ ‘Be quiet!’ Jesus said sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!’ ”

God makes demons tremble. It’s in the Bible, James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

If we are true to Jesus and obey Him by faith, we do not need to be afraid of Satan’s power. It’s in the Bible, Luke 10:19, NKJV. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

The Name of Jesus has power and authority. It’s in the Bible, Luke 10:17, NKJV. “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Humble prayer and fasting are powerful weapons against the enemy. It's in the Bible, Mark 928-29, NKJV. "And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

You can’t just know Jesus’ name, you need to know Jesus. It's in the Bible, Acts 19:13-16, NKJV. "Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them,[c] so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Casting demons out doesn’t always mean you know God. It's in the Bible, Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV. "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

How else can I defend myself from demons? It’s in the Bible, Ephesians 6:14-18, NKJV. “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

Satan and his demons will leave us alone if we resist them and submit ourselves to God. It’s in the Bible, James 4:7, NKJV. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

What is the ultimate end for Satan and his fallen angels? It’s in the Bible, Matthew 25:41, NKJV. "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels'”