CHAPTER 13 SILENCING THE VOICE OF DEMONS
THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
By
Phil Scovell
Copyright (C) 2003/2007
All rights Reserved
CHAPTER 13 SILENCING THE VOICE OF DEMONS
Why is it possible for demons to put their thoughts into our
minds and their feelings into our emotions? I was preaching, I
pastored two different churches, I had been an assistant pastor, I had
traveled off and on for five years preaching as a guest speaker in
churches, I had memorized literally hundreds of individual Bible
Verses, including whole books, I had read the Bible over 100 times, I
had led many people to Christ, I had been to Bible college, I was an
intercessor, and I could easily add a lot more to my list as well. So
why could, and why did, demons have access to my mind and feelings?
Why did I begin having anxiety episodes and panic attacks? Why did
things get worse, instead of better, every time I began spending more
time in prayer and more time in God's Word? Why did I hear demonic
voices in my head? I mean, I knew I wasn't perfect but I hadn't done
anything wrong, as far as I knew, and I wasn't living ungodly, and I
had no unconfessed secret sins. So why me?
The chapter on my daughter running away clearly shows how, and
why, this is possible. We can, and do, give place to the devil, and
in many cases, without even knowing it or without committing sin. For
example, a sexual abused child has committed no sin but the act itself
has created an atmosphere where evil is present. Add to this a
perpetrating adult who intimidates the child and implants threats in
their little mind, and you can see, as the years roll by, how that
same child begins to live in fear and can be further intimidated by
demons. Such fear creates fertile soil for the demonics to function
and plant even more lies.
Let's say this offending adult manipulates the child by saying,
"It was all your fault. If you weren't a little girl, I wouldn't have
these feelings in the first place. Besides, no body will believe you
if you tell them what happened." Are not those statements lies? Of
course they are. So what if this little girl grows up hating men?
Could you blame her? I have a client, as a matter of fact, that falls
into this category. She is a lesbian. Her father molested her all
her adolescent years. Has she given place to the devil? Not as a
child. As an adult, on the other hand, the fear and anxiety certainly
have created an atmosphere which allowed demons access to her life.
What if the molester increases the level of intimidation by
threatening to kill the little girl if she tells. What if he says he
will kill the person she tells? What if he shows her a knife or what
if he actually holds the knife against her neck just to back up his
threats? Do you think that this, in and of itself, might create the
atmosphere of fear in her little mind? If so, what about demons that
function in the area of fear? Does this give them place, or room, in
which to function in the little girl's mind? The answer is obvious.
We must also not forget the molester. He, or she, has demonic
activity and emotional woundedness going on in their life as well.
He, by his very sinful and evil actions, introduces demonic influence
into the little girl's life. The demonic presence is there during the
act and doesn't go away just because the little girl grows up to be an
adult.
I am going to stick my neck out and address the same issue but
from the perpetrator's standpoint. He is functioning and committing
evil out of his own woundedness. Is it possible that he, too, is
being demonically influenced? The answer has to be yes. The
difference is, however, the little girl is not responsible and the
perpetrator is; both by law and by God.
The real question becomes, can the perpetrator also be healed by
God or is he condemned forever for his evil and unholy acts? If we
believe in an omnipotent, omniscient, and holy God, we have to believe
all of His Word. Thus, the perpetrator, if he turns to God, can be
born again and forgiven. Is he still guilty of his sin? the answer
is no. For many years, due to the way I was raised, I believe that
such a person could be saved and go to Heaven but could never be fully
set free. In short, I believed the perpetrator would always have such
desires, just like the homosexual, and could never be free of these
feelings. I admit freely now that I was wrong. I trust you will
understand why I feel this way in the balance of what I write. Keep
in mind, however, one who commits a crime, can, and should be, held
accountable for their crime. Yes, he might become born again, Yes,
his guilt can be healed. Some acts of sin, however, have a price to
pay and society, by the power given to it by God, and the laws of
society must collect the debt that is owed.
What about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the
topic of demonic influence in the life of a Christian? Let's examine
some applicable Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 10:20-21
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should
have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and
the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of
the table of devils.
2 Corinthians 6:14-2 Corinthians 7:1
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ
with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And
what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore
these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the
fear of God.
These passages are basically in reference to the worship of
demons or, at the very least, former occultic and cultic practices by
the Corinthian Christians. The second passage is specifically in
reference, however, to trying to live a spiritual life of duality and,
of course, that is impossible and creates spiritual conflict in our
relationship with the lord. I personally believe this is an aspect of
quenching the Holy Spirit mention in I Thessalonians 5:19.
The word for "Belial" is translated a devil or demons. The
second passage is literally saying, therefore, what agreement does
Christ have with Satan. As previously mention, however, the bulk of
this is in reference to what the Corinthian Christians once were in
their heathenism. Regardless, the same is true for born again
Believers. If we have given place to the devil, knowingly or
unknowingly, we must remove those places of legal demonic access or we
will always be influenced and tormented. This cleansing is done by
confessing the sin, if any, and renewing the mind.
"Is there any place else in the bible which clearly outlines
mental and emotional infiltration into the Christian life?" I am glad
you asked that question because there is a classic demonstration of
demonic activity in a Christian's life we need to consider.
1 Timothy 2:13-14
For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but
the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
the word for "deceived" used twice in this passage is the root
word translated "deceitfulness" in Hebrews 3:13 with which we started
this study. This passage means Eve was completely fooled by the lies
of Satan in the garden but Adam, on the other hand, sinned willfully.
It makes little difference because they both sinned. Let's read about
it in detail and then point out some specifics.
Genesis 3:1-14
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto
the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But
of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath
said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For
God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the
woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to
the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her;
and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew
that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made
themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking
in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the
garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where
art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was
afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told
thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I
commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The
woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I
did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou
hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field;
upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of
thy life.
First, let's Identify the lies.
Lie #1 And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said.
Lie #2 Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Lie #3 Ye shall not surely die
Lie #4 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
I believe there are possibly four lies in that last lie: "god
knows," and "your eyes shall be opened," and "ye shall be as gods,"
and "knowing good and evil." To me that appears to be four separate
lies. It makes little difference, I suppose, because it is far more
important what Eve believed and she believed the devil. Let's read
her reply.
"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of
the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither
shall ye touch it, lest ye die."
Do you see what happened? Satan planted the seed of doubt in her
mind. Eve turns around and switched God's Words for her own, while at
the same time mixing some of Satan's words with her own, and the mix
created a fatal lie. God never said any such thing concerning
touching the tree and dying by touching it; He just said not to eat
the fruit of it. Once Satan realized he had tricked Eve into
believing something that wasn't true, he released the rest of his
arrows of deceit and Eve committed sin.
May I be quick to point out that Eve, up to this point, was
perfect? Eve was the smartest woman ever created; she was the first
woman and she was sinless. Adam was the smartest man God ever created
and although he was created sinless, yet even he sinned. So I ask
respectfully, what makes you think you are exempt today from such
demonic attacks? Maybe because you are a New Testament Christian?
That's why? Yes, God defeated Satan at the cross. Yes, when you are
born again, Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life. You have been
cleansed by His blood. No question about it. Let me ask you this
then. Do you ever experience doubt, fear, guilt, shame, inferiority,
bitterness, unforgiveness, or anger? Of course; we all do as
Christians. Then what are those things I named? Are they of God?
Tell me, if you can, is God ever "ashamed" about anything? Does God
have any problems with "forgiveness?" Does God ever feel like some
days He's just not good enough to make it because He might feel
"inferior?" Does He ever "doubt" anything? When was He last "bitter"
about anything? Is God ever "fearful" or afraid of anything or
anybody? "Does the Lord ever lose His temper and displays "anger?"
Then from where do we get those character traits if they are not
Godly?
Now, I hear someone saying, but how can demonic feelings be put
into our emotions? Surely we would know it when it happens if that
were true. May I quote the Bible to answer this question?
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that
it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one
wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto
her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were
opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
together, and made themselves aprons."
Eve "saw" that the tree was "good for food." How did she know
that; never having eaten of this tree before? She also noticed that
it was "pleasant to the eyes." Apparently she was examining the tree
pretty carefully about this time even though she had been told it was
off limits. Finally, how did Eve know that this tree was one that
would make her wise? Who told her that? According to God's Word, she
actually thought it was a tree "desired" to make one wise. The word
for "desired" is a word which means it was appealing sensually, that
is, to the inner self and to one's own innate desires. If this is
true, how did Satan get in there in the first place? He didn't. He
used her mind and her feelings to confuse and deceive her. In light
of this, let's consider another passage.
1 John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the
will of God abideth for ever.
The lust of the flesh was identified by Eve as "good for food."
the lust of the eyes is what Eve recognized as being "pleasant to the
eyes." the pride of life is what Eve thought was a tree "to be
desired to make one wise." I find it interesting how the New
Testament confirms the same three areas of demonic influence the devil
perpetrated in the Garden: Physical, verbal, and mental.
Let's establish a line of truth by asking some questions about
what we've just read concerning Adam and Eve.
Question 1. Did Satan have physical access to Adam and Eve?
Question 2. Did Satan have spiritual access to Adam and Eve?
question 3. Did Satan have verbal access to Adam and Eve?
If the answer is yes, then what would hinder Satan from gaining access
to our lives today in the same areas and in the same ways? Most argue
against this idea by saying we are living in the New Testament times
now. Yet, as I pointed out, they have no explanation for the doubts,
guilt, bitterness, worry, fear, anxiety, and the numbers of other such
troubling emotions when connected with the life of a faithful
Christian. What if these things came from an earlier event in a
person's life and were demonically generated lies? I have described
one of my own events which clearly proves that Satan gained access to
my life without me committing any sin. I also illustrated the same
point by a traumatized little girl who was sexually molested. She
likewise committed no sin. Yet, lies were still being manifested in
her later life.
LIE BASED THINKING
Lie based thinking comes from and through events I have described
in this booklet. Of course, if we do commit sin, we can easily, and
quickly, be forgiven according to 1 John 1:9. What about the guilt or
fear which seems to hang around and often for years? Why doesn't it
vanish with the forgiveness of sin? The answer is lie based thinking.
Sinful acts, and acts which are traumatic but not sinful, gives the
devil room, or a place, to operate. The key, therefore, is to
eliminate the lies and let the true Lord Jesus Christ bring healing by
speaking His truth into our past woundedness. When this type of
healing is executed, it is called the renewing of the mind.
End Of Chapter 13
Go To: Chapter 14 - Renewing The Mind
Go To HOME