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Agency of Evil Spirits
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and beast. The Saviour desired his followers to have a knowledge
of the foe whom they were to meet, that they might not be deceived
and overcome by his devices. It was also his will that the people of
that region should behold his power to break the bondage of Satan
and release his captives. And though Jesus himself departed, the
men so marvelously delivered, remained to declare the mercy of
their Benefactor.
Other instances of a similar nature are recorded in the Scriptures.
The daughter of the Syrophenician woman was grievously vexed
with a devil, whom Jesus cast out by his word. [
Mark 7:26-30
.]
One “possessed with a devil, blind and dumb,” [
Matthew 12:22
.] a
youth who had a dumb spirit, that ofttimes “cast him into the fire,
and into the waters, to destroy him,” [
Mark 9:17-27
.] the maniac,
who, tormented by “a spirit of an unclean devil,” [
Luke 4:33-36
.]
disturbed the Sabbath quiet of the synagogue at Capernaum, were
all healed by the compassionate Saviour. In nearly every instance,
Christ addressed the demon as an intelligent entity, commanding
him to come out of his victim and to torment him no more. The
worshipers at Capernaum, beholding his mighty power, “were all
amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this!
for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
Those possessed with devils are usually represented as being in
a condition of great suffering; yet there were exceptions to this rule.
For the sake of obtaining supernatural power, some welcomed the
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Satanic influence. These of course had no conflict with the demons.
Of this class were those who possessed the spirit of divination,—
Simon Magus, Elymas the sorcerer, and the damsel who followed
Paul and Silas at Philippi.
None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than
are those who, notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of
the Scriptures, deny the existence and agency of the devil and his
angels. So long as we are ignorant of their wiles, they have almost
inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their suggestions while
they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of their own
wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan
is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads