Welcome to part two of our series, Angels and demons: A Biblical Perspective. Hollywood has overinflated the idea of Angels and demons, leaving many with a fearful perspective.

Fear is an automatic physiological reaction to a real or unreal threat triggering one of two responses; fright or fight. It’s not feeling fear that the Bible condemns but making fear-based decisions.

God has given us a spirit of;

• Power, to master our fears;
• Love, to cast out all fear;
• Self-control to make sound decisions. (2 Timothy 1:7)

So when fear strikes, remember who you are in Christ and that greater is He in you than any enemy or difficulty you face!

In Luke 11, Jesus shared a parable about the dangers of an empty house. Accepting Jesus’ gift of forgiveness is not enough. You must fill your house with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

To live a victorious Christian life, we understand this one important fact: You are a spiritual being in a physical body.

To reverse this equation is to view our weapons as carnal and our battle against flesh and blood. Yet the Bible teaches the exact opposite. We must get this right, or faith-living will be a constant grind.

Christians are instructed to live by the Spirit and not the flesh. “The Spirit gives life, the flesh is not help at all. The words I have spoken are spirit and life.” John 6:63

Luke 11 Jesus describes a person with an unclean spirit that was evicted. The term “unclean spirit” was a Hebrew phrase referring to demons/evil spirits. As it leaves, it searches for another person to reside.

After searching and finding no one to inhabit, this unclean spirit decides to revisit its former residence. “And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.” Luke 11:25 This illustrates a life that has turned around.

The danger in having an encounter with God but not surrendering entirely to Him is what Jesus explains in verse 26, “Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

When you decide to follow Jesus, He cleans your house. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says you become the temple of the Holy Spirit.

It has always been God’s intent to dwell with you. The Bible documents this truth.

• In the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the morning.

• But after sin entered the world, creating a barrier between creation and the Creator, God instructed the Israelites to build a tabernacle, a portable temple, so He could dwell among them.

• Then when they entered the promised land, God had the people build a temple because He wanted to be with His people.

• After Jesus’ resurrection, all who repent and call on the name of the LORD become the temple of the Holy Spirit. But He doesn’t stop there.

• Jesus is currently preparing a place for us to be with Him in Heaven for eternity!

• God wants to dwell with you!

I have heard unbelievers say they don’t want “religion” because they want to be free. But only the Son can set you free. Without Jesus, you’re a slave to your desires, but at worst, Luke 11:26 gives a much darker outlook.

“²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there…”

As a Christian, you can’t be demon-possessed because there is no vacancy in your life. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet if you are not on guard, you can be oppressed or influenced by evil spirits.

A case in point is Peter’s interaction with Jesus. Peter boldly states he will never allow Jesus to be arrested and crucified, and Jesus responds, “Get behind me satan,” Matthew 16:23. Peter belonged to God. Still, his undisciplined thoughts were influenced by satan.

At the end of His parable, Jesus gives an alarming warning. “And the state of that person is worse than the first.” In the MIV (Mike International Version, lol) this is translated as, “if you thought things were bad before, it is about to get much worse.”

Is your home vacant? Are you filling it with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit? Stay connected to God!