Demons
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The bible tells us of the parallel existence of a spirit world. God Himself is spirit John 4:24; humans are created with both spirit and flesh. Paul in Romans 6:23 says that bodily death is a spiritual problem. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul again explains that many of life problems have a diabolical origin.
When I was a young Christian I found it difficult to appreciate a spiritual cause of many problems because I could not 'see' the other side. But when I studied the problems in my life, issues at work and patients' illness, Ephesians 6:12 illuminated a cause and effect I was blind to. I had witnessed doctors rebel violently against authority, Christian colleagues deliberately being mocked and opposed by both non Christian and nominal Christians. Patients whose own and family lives were wrecked by the effects of sin. When I was working in a psychiatry ward, I wondered why all mental illness caused negative emotions or disordered thoughts. Why were all disembodied voices in the heads of schizophrenia patients accusing, lying, threatening or advocating sin? Why were not the voices encouraging or guiding? Maybe the brains of schizophrenic patients were more in tune with the spirit world. So the voices were actually the voices of their own sinful spirits or may be evil spirits whispering to them?
There are 3 players in the bible. God and His angles; Satan and his devils; and us humans. In this relationship, our enemy is like a lion. And we are like sheep.
Matthew 9:6
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Jesus comparing us to sheep is not a compliment. Sheep are among the dumbest of all creatures. A sheep released into the wild cannot survive. Sheep have no survival skills . They are totally dependent upon the shepherd. Sheep are tasty lamp chops for the lion, helpless and weak, silly and easily fooled.
My interest in understanding the spirit world led me to do some research. I interviewed Reverend Philip Heng who had performed exorcisms. I have transcribed our 2 hour interview and put it as a feature article in my demon topic . I will follow up by putting Rev Heng notes on exorcism. I am also studying the book of Luke with audio and note guides from verse by verse ministry www.versebyverseministry.org. Verses by verse commentaries provide a sound biblical explanation of Jesus interactions with the demon world which I will summarize and post.
I hope my series of articles on demons will help demystify a difficult topic. And that it will spur an interest to understand the spirit side of patients and how it affects their lives and health. Ultimately knowing Christ is the only answer
Article 1st published on 18 Feb 2015
by Benjamin Cheah
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The bible tells us of the parallel existence of a spirit world. God Himself is spirit John 4:24; humans are created with both spirit and flesh. Paul in Romans 6:23 says that bodily death is a spiritual problem. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul again explains that many of life problems have a diabolical origin.
When I was a young Christian I found it difficult to appreciate a spiritual cause of many problems because I could not 'see' the other side. But when I studied the problems in my life, issues at work and patients' illness, Ephesians 6:12 illuminated a cause and effect I was blind to. I had witnessed doctors rebel violently against authority, Christian colleagues deliberately being mocked and opposed by both non Christian and nominal Christians. Patients whose own and family lives were wrecked by the effects of sin. When I was working in a psychiatry ward, I wondered why all mental illness caused negative emotions or disordered thoughts. Why were all disembodied voices in the heads of schizophrenia patients accusing, lying, threatening or advocating sin? Why were not the voices encouraging or guiding? Maybe the brains of schizophrenic patients were more in tune with the spirit world. So the voices were actually the voices of their own sinful spirits or may be evil spirits whispering to them?
There are 3 players in the bible. God and His angles; Satan and his devils; and us humans. In this relationship, our enemy is like a lion. And we are like sheep.
Matthew 9:6
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Jesus comparing us to sheep is not a compliment. Sheep are among the dumbest of all creatures. A sheep released into the wild cannot survive. Sheep have no survival skills . They are totally dependent upon the shepherd. Sheep are tasty lamp chops for the lion, helpless and weak, silly and easily fooled.
My interest in understanding the spirit world led me to do some research. I interviewed Reverend Philip Heng who had performed exorcisms. I have transcribed our 2 hour interview and put it as a feature article in my demon topic . I will follow up by putting Rev Heng notes on exorcism. I am also studying the book of Luke with audio and note guides from verse by verse ministry www.versebyverseministry.org. Verses by verse commentaries provide a sound biblical explanation of Jesus interactions with the demon world which I will summarize and post.
I hope my series of articles on demons will help demystify a difficult topic. And that it will spur an interest to understand the spirit side of patients and how it affects their lives and health. Ultimately knowing Christ is the only answer
Article 1st published on 18 Feb 2015
by Benjamin Cheah