Bible Basics 6.3 Bible teaching about demons, unclean spirits, demon possession

Bible Basics 6.3 Bible teaching about demons, unclean spirits, demon possessionThe previous two sections have explained why we do not believe the devil or satan to be a personal being or a monster. If we accept that there is no such being, then it surely follows that demons, who are held to be the servants of the devil, also do not exist. Many people seem to think that God gives us all the good things of life, and the devil and his demons give us the bad things, and take away the good things which God gives us.The Bible clearly teaches that God is the source of all power (see Study 6.1), and that He is responsible for both the good things and the bad things in our lives.“I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Is. 45:7). “... disaster came down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem” (Mic. 1:12).“If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?” (Am. 3:6)Therefore when we get trials, we should accept that they come from God, not blame them on a devil or demons. Job was a man who lost many of the good things which God blessed him with, but he did not say: “These demons have taken away all God gave me”. No; listen to what he said.“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10)Once we understand that all things are from God, when we have problems in life we can pray to God for Him to take them away, and if He does not we can be assured that He is giving them to us in order to develop our characters and for our good in the long run.“My Son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He (not demons!) chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a Father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons” (Heb. 12:5-8).