DEALING WITH DEMONS #4

 Dealing with DEMONS!

Disease Demons!

by

Ralph Woodrow

DISEASE DEMONS      Many Christians recognize the work of demons in a person who is violently insane. But not as well known, or as widely recognized, is the fact that demons can also work in the realm of disease. What? Disease caused by evil spirits? Admittedly, this appears to have all the earmarks of superstition! We might picture a "witch doctor" performing magic rites over sick people to drive off evil spirits or putting on some horrid-looking costume in an attempt to scare them away!      From a wall carving at Nineveh, the illustration given here shows how the ancient Assyrians portrayed a demon of disease. It was a lion-headed, eagle-footed creature holding instruments to wound and afflict.      In spite of the primitive methods and concepts that have existed, however, the basic concept that evil "spirits" can physically afflict people - is certainly based on scripture. DEMONIC DEFORMITY      As Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, "there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself." Jesus spoke words of deliverance: "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." He laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight! Jesus did not diagnose her trouble as spinal arthritis or a bad case of dislocated vertebras. In this case, a "spirit of infirmity" was the cause - and though she was a "daughter of Abraham" - "Satan" had bound her for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-16).      I think it is fair to assume that this woman was a daughter of Abraham, not just in some fleshly sense, but in the same sense Jesus used the term in John 8:33-39. Those who are of faith are the true seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). The victim of a demonic attack is not necessarily a bad person.      Today, especially in lands where demons are actually worshipped, and demon power is strong, missionaries are not unfamiliar with cases of deformity caused by demon spirits. DEMONIC SEIZURES      The word "epilepsy" is based on the idea of being seized upon by an outside force - reflecting an old belief that seizures were caused by demonic attack. I don't believe all cases of epilepsy are caused by demons, many of which can be controlled by medical treatment. But, that demonic attacks can throw people into "fits," as they have been termed, stands on solid Biblical ground.      A woman who sought help for her daughter, said to Jesus, "My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil" (Matt. 15:22). But Jesus cast out the demon, even at a distance. "And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed" - still, quiet, tormented no more (Mark 7:30).      The inference is that before her healing, the epileptic condition would throw her off the bed uncontrolled.      When Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, "there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil" who cried out such things as: "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?" Deliverance came when Jesus "rebuked" the demon in this man (Luke 4:33-36). A few verses later (verse 39), Jesus "rebuked" a fever from Peter's mother-inlaw. In this case, we are not expressly told the fever was caused by a demon, but the fact that Jesus rebuked the fever implies a demonic personality was involved.      Some might object to "rebuke" implying personality, pointing out that Jesus also rebuked a storm (Mark 4:39). But who is to say the power behind this storm was not Satan, "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph.2:2)? A Hebrew word that appears only twice in the Bible - translated "devils" (Deut.32:17; Ps. 106:37) - stems from a word meaning to devastate. It is believed these were storm demons - evil powers that sought to devastate by storms. "TORMENTED"      Though we are not directly told it was demons that caused the centurion's servant to be "grievously tormented" (Matt.8:6), by comparing this wording with other Biblical descriptions, demonic activity is strongly implied. Also, we notice that the centurion (an army captain over one hundred men), spoke of how he could command the soldiers under him and they would obey. In the same way, he felt that Jesus had the authority to issue a command or rebuke to that personality that was tormenting the suffering servant.       Could a case of skin disease, like severe boils, be caused by Satan? According to the book of Job, "Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown" (Job 2:7). This may be a unique incident, but it shows that a Satanic attack can cause physical affliction.      Could demonic oppression cause difficulty in breathing? In the Old Testament, an "evil spirit" caused king Saul to be taken with fear so that he was "troubled." But relief came when David "took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed [breathed freely - Moffatt translation] and was WELL, and the evil spirit departed from him" (1 Samuel 16:23).      I know a minister's wife whose parents, both dedicated Christians, were deaf mutes. It always bothered her when evangelists would come to the church and make statements to the effect that deaf mutes are demon possessed. The Bible does not say that all deaf mutes are demon possessed - and it would be cruel to imply this. However, we read that Jesus healed a deaf mute boy by "rebuking the foul spirit," saying: "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him." When the evil spirit came out he fell over "as one dead" - some even thought he had died! But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up. With the evil spirit gone, he was normal (Mark 9:17-27).      On another occasion, "they brought to him [Jesus] a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake" (Matt.9:32,33). Another man, "possessed with a devil," was blind and dumb. When the demon was cast out, he could see and speak (Matt.12:22).      I once talked with a man who had been a deaf mute. He told me he wanted to talk, but some strange power would not let him. He wanted to hear, but could not. But when a man of God laid hands on him and commanded the deaf and dumb spirit to come out of him, an evil pressure released its hold and came out. Since that time he has been able to talk and hear.      Years ago I knew a man quite well who was deaf in one ear. Apparently his wife had been deaf. When she died, according to his story, he became deaf in one ear. Was this a spirit of deafness that left her and then afflicted him? I don't know, but the Bible does imply in several scriptures that a spirit leaving one person can transfer its abode to another (Matt.12; Mark 5).      Thus we see that the Bible tells of cases of dumbness, deafness, blindness, deformity, and other afflictions that were caused by evil spirits. This is not to say all cases of infirmity are caused by demons. Several scriptures draw a distinction between "healing" and "casting out of demons." An example would be Mark 16:17,18: "These signs shall follow them that believe; they shall cast out devils," while "they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover," is listed as a separate ministry. AN UNUSUAL HEALING      Mark records the healing of a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. As in many of the healings of the Bible, there is no mention here of an evil spirit being cast out. "And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue" (Mark 7:32,33).      Why would Jesus spit and touch the man's tongue? In his commentary, Adam Clarke argues, and I think plausibly, that it was the man, not Jesus, who did this. Not being able to speak and explain his condition, he put his fingers into his own ears, as though to say to Jesus: "I cannot hear." And then, so there would be nothing offensive when Jesus looked into his mouth, he spat out, and touched his own tongue, as though to say to Jesus: "I cannot speak." This gives a good sense to this passage. His healing was instantaneous - "his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain" (verse 35).      When is a disease demon related? I would think, as a general rule, these would be cases that are extremely abnormal, cases for which there is no physical cause. If a person burns a finger while cooking, for example, I don't believe this is a case for demonic exorcism. (I once knew a preacher who would say in such cases: "You burn devil, I command you to come out!").       If a person is in ill health because of a bad diet, diet, not demons, is the source of the problem. Just exactly where we draw the line on all of this, is not always clearly known.      Nevertheless, the basic thesis stands: the Bible does teach that physical diseases, in SOME cases, can be caused by demons.                             ................... To be continued