“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
demonic
“Demonic” signifies proceeding from or resembling demonic activity – demoniacal (not devilish). The Bible always distinguishes between the function of the devil and those of his demons. Those who operate on bitter envy and self-contentedness act like demons, fallen angels. Those who think that they can function by operation bootstraps fall into the fallacy of satanic deception.
2 Co 11:3-15, But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
1 Ti 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”
PRINCIPLE:
Those who function by operation bootstraps fall into the fallacy of satanic deception.
APPLICATION:
The devil cannot possess a believer because the Holy Spirit indwells him permanently. The Christian is the “temple of the Holy Spirit.” This is not to say that the devil cannot influence a Christian.
The devil can influence the Christian by his “doctrine of demons” (1 Ti 4:1). First, the Christian neglects the Word of God. He is not hostile to the Bible, just indifferent. Then a vacuum opens up in his soul. In this condition, he is vulnerable to the teaching of Satan over a gradual process. This eventually leads to calloused rejection of the influence of the Word of God on his life.
This decline puts the believer under the influence of demons — he has a “demonic” orientation toward life. The doctrine of demons then controls his thinking and choices. This is because he went an extended period with a blackout of the soul toward the Word of God. He does not want to go to church; he does not want to listen to the Bible because he is under a different influence. He sublimates his spiritual vacuum with the doctrine of demons in a frantic attempt to fulfill his soul.
Some Christians have a propensity to get into religious activities that run counter to divine truth. Others go into wild living. All of this momentum builds further callousness on the soul toward God. When we allow a great amount of callous to build on our soul, we will enter into a stage of blackout toward divine things. Many Christians go into very kooky things because they do not want to deal with the principles of the Word in their lives.
