In my last post we looked began to into the nature and origin of demons. This began with the Lord Jesus explaining what occurs when a demon is cast out of a person. We began with Matthew 12:43-45 43 and ended discussing why they wander through “dry places” as described in Matthew 12:43.

We discovered the answer to that question comes from the word of God and Jewish history, particularly second temple period history, when Israel retuned to the land after 70 year of exile in Babylon. Those returning were fed up with the pagan ways of the land their sin had brought them to live in and they were committed to reformation and revival.

This began with a proper understand of the spiritual realm, particularly the powers of darkness, which had been glossed over in the nations apostacy prior to their exile. Therefore, they first returned to the law of God and the prophets, to understand where they went wrong and follow the Lord in commitment.

This leads to their understanding of where demons came from, beginning with Genesis 6.

Genesis 6:1-2 1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

Genesis 6:4-5 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

In this passage we discover that demons had their beginning, in the abominable union of angels and human woman. These abominable sexual unions produced “giants”; the Hebrew word for which is “Nephilim”.

These hybrid abominations were as much as twice the height of men, also having 6 fingers and 6 toes on both hands and feet (II Samuel 21:20; I Chronicles 20:6) and were vicious and wicked.

Interestingly, most ancient cultures account for these abominations existing prior to their own accounts of the Noahic flood.

It was the flood that killed the Nephilim and as it is reported in the second temple period writings, that upon death, these hybrid creatures’ spirits, were dislodged from their physical frame.

As we discussed in part 1 of this series, demons are not fallen angels. (to read part 1 click this link OCCUPIED BY CHRIST! We Better BE! | Return, Revive, Repair, Restore (4rs4thechurch.com)

The disembodied spirits of the Nephilim have three places to be, until the final judgment [1] Influencing a human for the purpose of possibly inhabiting them [2] roaming through dry places looking for a host [3] to be cast into the abyss.

Because of these three reasons it is important we understand the te importance of the abyss.

Biblically speaking the “abyss” is the bottomless pit, a temporary place of holding for demons, until Revelation 9, when a fallen angel, who has the key to the bottomless pit opens it.

From this event, the king over demons, “Abaddon” or “Apollyon”, leads them out for a time. It is for this reason demons do not want to go to the Abyss, because it is a reminder of their forever torment when Christ returns.

In Luke 8:31, we read one of three accounts of the demon horde “Legion”, which gives us more clarity concerning the desire of demons to be anywhere other than the abyss.

In this account the demon begs the Lord Jesus to allow them to go into a herd of pigs, rather than Christ sending them into the abyss. The Lord permits the transfer into the pigs, who then run off a cliff into the Sea of Galilee.

Here we see why demons wander through dry places. In the first place, water reminds them of the flood and God who will one day end them forever. Secondly, in second temple period history, water covers the abyss.

You may ask why this is important to us? Because a delivered person can come under the influence of demons again, should they not be occupied, by the right person.

Matthew 12:43-45 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

“Seeking rest” and finding none “I will return to my house…”.

In the first place the demon’s statement is a lie. Even in those completely demonized, what we called “possession”, the demon has not legal right to be there. It is for this reason, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all followers of Christ, in His name, can dislodged a demon from a person who never asks for deliverance.

Demons are squatters, hiding out until one comes who is equipped to cast them out. They never really possess a person, but that the person gives themselves over to the demon’s influence, through rage, sexual immorality, violence, using drug (pharmakia), excessive lying or other perversions.

Sadly, some people, especially children who are demonized, come to be so by experiencing entracted physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

To be demonized means the degree to which a person is under demonic influence. This could be little or a lot, but in any case, a little is just as dangerous. This is why we need to learn how to overcome temptation, in the power of God’s Spirit.

James 1:12-15 reveals the nature of temptation. We understand it arises from some thread in us that can be pulled, but that pull comes from the world, through the flesh and it is the devil’s plan. Much temptation comes through demonic suggestion. When we fall to temptation, we are giving in to influence from the darkness.

Since any Christian can fall to temptation and into sin, we must understand the pathway to overcoming and occupation of ourselves, by Christ.

“And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order”.

To be swept and clean, means that a person has adjusted their moral and practical life, after finding deliverance. This of course is a good thing, and a good start, but incomplete, if that is where it remains.

Swept and clean can be seen in the deliverance of the Gadarenes demoniac, of whom it is written that the people of his region found him “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid”.

It would be what this man did afterward, which would bring Him to safety in Christ, or at risk of re-occupation by more demons than at first. It is imperative to remember that Christ told him, to return to the cities in the region and glorify God. It is in obedience to God, that we are experiencing the growing of the earnest of the Spirit. In fact, scripture indicates obedience brings the amplification of our faith, through the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:21-23 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Believing Jesus is the Son of God, who died for our sins, is awesome, but not is not the end all be all of salvation. In this life we are to be transformed, by the Spirit of God, as we have been given a deposit, an earnest of the Spirit.

An earnest ,in banking terms, is to grow the deposit until the entire house is possessed by the one making payments (Ephesians 1:13-14). In the case of salvation, that owner/occupier is to be Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

He must be Lord of our life occupying our heart as His throne. Not as the resident, but as the president, executing God’s will, through our obedient faith.

Jesus words in Matthew 12:43-35, were not to lost people, but to His disciples, so the are a warning and admonition.

Peter in his second letter, addresses those Christians who are at risk, by only being swept and cleaned, but not occupied by Christ, as Lord, in all His fullness.

2 Peter 2:20-21 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Of course, this passage is dealing with those who have fallen away, and it brings to remembrance what is revealed concerning the condition of the one who is “swept and put in order”, but not occupied; that their last state is worse than their lostness prior to knowing Christ.

This is very important because without Christ being both our Savior, and our Lord, all we are is swept and ordered, with the Holy Spirit with us, as a resident, but not occupying us as Lord. This is an inviting position for the demons that traffic around our lives.

In America there are too many “Christians” who are swept and ordered, according to the culturally Christianity, but not being continuously filled, as we are called to be in Ephesians 5:18-19. This essential aspect of our relationship to God, is the power of our ministry and godliness. In this aspect we are not to be passive but active in pursuit of His fullness of Spirit

It is for this reason the church in America is falling away, fooled, as characterized by II Timothy 3:1-5.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.

So let us press in to being filled with the Spirit of God, where Christ dwells in our hearts, by faith, as the ruling Lord of His own abode. It is the Christian, who pursues obeying Christ’s commands, that is filled with the righteous power of Christ’s fullness (Matthew 5:6; Acts 5:32).

May we be swept and put in order, but may Christ fill our life, as His abode with the Father, fully.