THE PERSONALITY OF DEMONS!

Today we want to consider THE PERSONALITY OF DEMONS. What is personality? Your personality is the visible (noticeable) aspect of your character that makes you socially appealing (as it impresses others). It is the sum total of your physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics. It is the very noticeable characteristics that make you socially appealing.

What is a characteristic? A characteristic is a defining feature or quality that makes somebody recognizable. It is your identity – that by which you are known.

Though demons have no bodies of their own because they are spirit beings, they have all the accepted marks of personality.

1.       Demons have emotions: James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!”

Trembling is an emotion. Anger is an emotion. During deliverance, if you command the demons inside the person being delivered to tremble in the Name of Jesus, the person will go into violent trembling.

2.       They have knowledge: They have knowledge not derived from natural sources.

In Mark 1:23-24 the Scriptures say, “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!”

Acts 19:15 says, “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

3.       They have self-awareness: Demons know who they are. They can name themselves as Anger, Hate, Jealousy, Fear, Criticism, and Contention.

In Mark 5:9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name? And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

The demon knew his name was Legion. A Legion is approximately 2000 in number.

In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus said, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first….”

From the above Scripture we see that:

4.       They can travel from place to place: They walk through dry places (Matt. 12:43, 45).

5.       They can search and investigate (Matt. 12:43) – “findeth none.”

6.       They are continually tormented: So they seek a place to rest – “seeking rest” (Matt. 12:43).

7.       They have ability to see: They can tell that there is no vacancy. “findeth none”(Matt. 12:43).

8.       They have the ability to speak: “he saith” (Matt. 12:44). Demons can speak through the vocal cords of the person they are occupying. Sometimes their voice comes out as a high pitched voice or as scream, or gabble [to speak or say something rapidly and incoherently], or sometimes they will speak in a demonic tongue. In the case of a demonic tongue, they seem to take over the person and the person seems to go into a kind of trance.

In Mark 5:6-13 the Scriptures say, “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."

Acts 19:15 says, “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

Thus, demons can speak using the person’s vocal chords as a channel.

9.       They have a will: they have ability to decide – “I will” (Matt. 12:44). They can exercise their will.

10.    They have a mind of their own:  - “return” (Matt. 12:44).

11.    They have faith: - “my house” (Matt 12:44). They believe they will get that house back. The demons that inhabited your body still believe they can claim that house back no matter how long it takes them to do so. They are watching you 24 hours a day for a crack in your hedge of protection (Eccl. 10:8).

12.     They remember: “from whence I came out” (Matt. 12:44).

13.    They examine your life continually: “he findeth it empty” (Matt. 12:44).

14.    They plan: “then goeth he” (Matt 12:45).

15.    They call for help: “calleth 7 spirits stronger than they are” (Matt. 12:45).

16.    They are unable to respond to the Gospel because their conscience is completely seared. Their conscience has become permanently hardened.

1 Timothy 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing [deceiving] spirits, and doctrines of devils. 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”

These are the noticeable characteristics of demons by which they are known.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.

• Your friend, I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor)