A teaching by Ivor Jefferies
1. What do we mean by demon-possession?
Read Mark. 5:2, 7-9, 13, Luke 22:3.
2. What are some marks of demon-possession?
Read Mark 1:21-24, 5:3-12, 15, 9:20-22.
3. How do people become demon-possessed?
Read John 6:70-71, 12:4-6, 13:2, 27 (contrast John 14:30).
4. What should and shouldn't you do if you encounter a demon? What should the delivered person do?
Read Jude 8-10, Acts 19:13-16, Mark 9:29, Luke 10:17-20, Acts 26:18, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, and Matt. 12:43-45.
5. Can a Christian become demon-possessed? Why or why not?
Read John 8:36, 14:16-17, 1 Cor. 2:12, Col. 1:13-14, 1 John 4:4, 5:18-19.
6. What can and can’t demons do to Christians?
Read Job 1:12, 2:6-7, 1 Cor. 5:5, 7:5, 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15, 12:7, Eph. 4:26-27, 1 Thess 2:18, 2 Thess. 2:9-12, Luke 13:11, 16, 22:31-32, Rev. 2:10.
7. Can someone under demonic influence successfully curse believers?
Read Num. 22:12, 23:8, 20, 23, 24:9, Deut. 23:5, 30:7, Ps. 109:17-18, 28, 1 Sam. 17:43, Prov. 26:2.
Many people believe in generational curses, i.e. a child is bound by his ancestors’ sin, and in this way demons gain a foothold in his life. Scripture and experience agree that children often follow the bad example of their parents. Furthermore, children sometimes bear the consequences of their parents’ sins (e.g. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). To say, however, that demons bind children because of their parents’ sins is simply untrue (Ezek. 18:20, Job 21:19). Children who repeat their parents’ sins are judged (Exo. 20:5, 1 Kings 15:26, 34, etc.), whereas those who follow a different way are blessed (Exo. 20:6, 2 Kings 21:21, 22:2).
8. What did Jesus do about the sins of our forefathers?
Read Rom. 5:12-21, Gal. 3:13-14, 1 Pet. 1:18-19.