Know Your Enemy Pt 2: What Do Demons Do?
Last Monday, we explored the origin of demons, and I think, for many, it was an unsatisfying blog as there were very few concrete answers. There is more to go off of here as we explore the question What do demons do?, but still, some of the activity that we attribute to demons is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Now, if we experience something evil that is not explained in the Bible, that’s not to say that it’s not demonic, but that should make us hold our judgment and study further.
Disclaimer: This is a long blog, but I hope it’s as interesting to you to read as it was for me to write.
The Goal of Demons: Destroying Faith
Like we saw last time, the words Satan and devil can be translated as “adversary,” and I think that’s primarily the goal of Satan and his demons. They are enemies of God’s plan, which we saw in Ephesians 1:9–10 (cf. Colossians 1:20) is to unite all things in Christ to himself. Since this union to Christ comes through faith in Christ, it seems that the highest priority of demons is to try to destroy faith—to stop unbelievers coming to faith in the first place and to lead believers to reject their faith.
So, what are some of the tactics that demons use?
Tactic #1: Demonic Deception in the World
Satan is not called the father of lies for nothing (John 8:44; cf. Revelation 12:9). We see demonic deception in several ways in the world:
- Blinding Unbelievers to the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3–4)
- Empowering False Religions and Occult Practices (Deuteronomy 32:16–17; 1 Corinthians 10:20)
- Influencing False Teachers in the Church (2 Corinthians 11:4, 13–15)
Satan and his demons are not ignorant. They know that the closer they can bring teaching that sounds like Christian truth (but is the devil’s lie), the more Christians will be led astray by it. Satan even used Scripture when he was tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:6)! Paul declares that this deception will increase as the end is drawing near (1 Timothy 4:1–2).
Are Demons Hiding in the West?
In speaking of demonic empowerment of false religion, let’s consider something. We all know that the Western world is very skeptical of anything supernatural, and many of us have heard that the rest of the world claims to experience the supernatural frequently. But demons are set on deception by empowering false worldviews.
Do you think that they are going to work in obvious ways in the West? Or do you think that they hide their activity here to deceive people into thinking that the spiritual world does not exist? I think that this is the case. Truthfully, if I saw something clearly demonic happening, that is only going to be a bolster to my faith! What this means for me is that materialism is probably just as much of a demonically empowered worldview as something like Hinduism or sorcery.
Tactic #2: Temptation—How Demons Try to Make Us Fall
Temptation to sin seems to be grounded in Satan’s role as an “accuser” (Revelation 12:10). If they can get people to sin, Satan and his demons feel that they have the ability to accuse them before God. These accusations can shake the faith of even the most solid believers.
Temptation is seen most prominently in Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4:1–11). Temptations that lead to discord in the church and the destruction of marriage are priorities for the demonic realm (2 Corinthians 2:6–11; 1 Corinthians 7:5).1 1
Can Demons Plant Thoughts in Our Minds?
Many of us believe that Satan and demons tempt us by putting thoughts into our heads. But I’m skeptical about this (and I could be wrong). From meditating on the Biblical evidence, I can find no convincing evidence to support the conclusion that Satan or demons can put thoughts into someone’s head without possessing them.
Some commonly cited passages don’t conclusively prove this, especially when viewed in light of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in believers. Instead, demons orchestrate external temptations—tempting events, ideas, and influences—without necessarily controlling minds directly.
So, how does Satan tempt believers? Ephesians 2:1–3 provides a clue. The devil sets up a world system filled with things that tempt our flesh. And while we can walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:13), we can also choose to walk in the flesh—and that’s where demonic schemes thrive.
Tactic #3: Demonic Possession and Its Purpose
Possession occurs when an evil spirit inhabits a human. Why demons possess people is an interesting question, but it probably has something to do with the faith-crippling effects of fear.
Possession is often accompanied by physical or mental affliction:
- Nakedness, mental anguish, masochism (Matthew 8:28–33; Mark 5:1–10; Luke 8:26–39)
- Inability to speak or see (Matthew 9:32; 12:22)
- Seizures, hallucinations22 (Matthew 4:24; Mark 9:17)
This does not mean every physical or mental illness is demonic, but demons can afflict in this way.
Can Christians Be Possessed By Demons?
Here are verses that suggest Christians cannot be possessed if they have the Holy Spirit:
- Matthew 12:28 – The Spirit’s presence is a sign of God’s kingdom.
- Matthew 12:43–45 – Demons return to a house that is “empty”—not filled with the Holy Spirit.
- 1 John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Even in contested cases like Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7–8), it seems to be external harassment or persecution—not possession.
The Limits of Demonic Power: God’s Sovereignty Over Demons
Another thing that Satan and demons cannot do is perhaps the most important: They cannot do anything that God will not allow.
The clearest example is Job. Satan had to ask God for permission to afflict him. Even Paul’s thorn was something God allowed—possibly to keep Paul humble. This should give believers peace: if we are in Christ, any demonic attack must pass through God’s sovereign hand first—and it will be used for our sanctification (Romans 8:28–29).
FAQ: Common Questions About Demons
Q: Can demons harm Christians physically?
A: While they cannot possess Christians, Scripture suggests they may harass or afflict under God’s permission (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
Q: Are all supernatural experiences demonic?
A: Not necessarily, but those that contradict biblical truth or promote falsehood may be empowered by demons (1 John 4:1–3).
Q: How can Christians resist demons?
A: Through truth, prayer, Scripture, and submission to God: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10–18).
Conclusion: How to Respond to Demonic Influence
When faced with deception, temptation, or fear, the believer’s response isn’t panic—it’s trust. We rest in the reality that God limits demonic power and uses even attacks for our ultimate good.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
No matter how powerful the demonic realm may seem, it bows to the sovereignty of our God.
- Many would then ask whether denominations are Satanic or whether churches should split over certain issues. But as we saw earlier, Satan is an intelligent enemy. He can bring in false teachers and deceive some, but then those who call out the false teaching are called divisive by the deceived. Then, the results could either be a split or a sinful accommodation to false doctrine. The church is to be united in the truth (Ephesians 5:11-15). Who decides what’s worth splitting over? It is the pastors who are called to account by God for how they protected both the purity of the doctrine of the church and the unity of love among the flock of God (Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:17). ↩︎
- S.E. McClelland in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Third Edition ↩︎
