Fear and Submission of Demons
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In the biblical narrative, demons are portrayed as malevolent spiritual beings that oppose God and His purposes. Despite their rebellious nature, Scripture consistently depicts demons as recognizing the authority of God and His appointed representatives, often responding with fear and submission.

Recognition of Jesus' Authority

The Gospels provide several accounts where demons exhibit fear and submission in the presence of Jesus Christ. In Mark 1:23-24 , a man possessed by an unclean spirit cries out in the synagogue, "What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" This acknowledgment of Jesus' divine identity and authority is accompanied by a plea for mercy, indicating the demon's fear of impending judgment.

Similarly, in Mark 5:6-7 , when Jesus encounters the Gerasene demoniac, the possessed man runs to Jesus and falls on his knees, shouting, "What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!" The demon's posture and plea reveal an acute awareness of Jesus' power and a dread of His authority to command and judge.

Submission to Jesus' Commands

Demons not only recognize Jesus' authority but also submit to His commands. In Mark 1:25-26 , Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" The spirit convulses the man and comes out with a loud shriek, demonstrating its inability to resist Jesus' authoritative word. This pattern is repeated in other exorcisms, such as in Luke 4:35 , where Jesus commands a demon to be silent and depart, and it obeys.

Fear of Judgment

The fear of judgment is a recurring theme in the interactions between demons and Jesus. In Matthew 8:29 , the demons possessing two men in the region of the Gadarenes cry out, "What do You want with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?" This question reveals their awareness of a future judgment and their fear of premature punishment.

Authority of the Apostles

The authority to command demons was also granted to the apostles. In Acts 16:16-18 , Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. After several days, Paul commands the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" and it leaves her immediately. This account illustrates that the authority of Jesus over demons extends to His followers, who act in His name.

Theological Implications

The fear and submission of demons underscore the supremacy of God's kingdom over the forces of darkness. Despite their opposition, demons are ultimately subject to God's sovereign will. James 2:19 states, "You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." This verse highlights the demons' recognition of God's oneness and their fear in response to His majesty.

In summary, the biblical portrayal of demons is one of reluctant submission to divine authority. Their fear and obedience to Jesus and His representatives affirm the ultimate victory of God's kingdom over evil.
Subtopics

Fear

Fear and Anxiety

Fear of God: A Motive of Obedience

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Abraham, Tested in the offering of his Son Isaac

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Cornelius, Who Revered God With all his House

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: David

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Hanani, Which Qualified Him to be Ruler Over Jerusalem

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Job, According to the Testimony of Satan

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Jonah, During the Storm

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Levi, in Receiving the Covenant of Life and Peace

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Nehemiah, in his Reform of the Public Administration

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Noah, in Preparing the Ark

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: The Jews, in Obeying the Voice of the Lord

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: The Women at the Grave

Fear of God: Cultivated

Fear of God: Guilty

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Adam and Eve

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Demons

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Judas

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: The Guards at Jesus' Tomb

Fear of God: Hezekiah, in his Treatment of the Prophet Micah, Who Prophesied Harm Against Jerusalem

Fear of God: Jacob, in the Vision of the Ladder, and the Covenant of God

Fear of God: Jehoshaphat

Fear of God: Obadiah, in Sheltering One-Hundred Prophets Against the Wrath of Jezebel

Fear of God: Phinehas, in Turning Away the Anger of God at the Time of the Plague

Fear of God: Reverence

Fear of God: The Egyptians, at the Time of the Plague of Thunder and Hail and Fire

Fear of God: The Midwives of Egypt, in Refusing to Take the Lives of the Hebrew Children

Fear of God: The Nine and One-Half Tribes of Israel West of the Jordan River

Fear of the Lord

Godly Fear: A Characteristic of Saints

Godly Fear: A Fountain of Life

Godly Fear: A Treasure to Saints

Godly Fear: Abraham

Godly Fear: Advantages of

Godly Fear: Christians

Godly Fear: Commanded

Godly Fear: Cornelius

Godly Fear: Filial and Reverential

Godly Fear: God is the Author of

Godly Fear: God is the Object of

Godly Fear: Hatred of Evil

Godly Fear: Job

Godly Fear: Joseph

Godly Fear: Motives to Judgments of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Forgiveness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Goodness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Greatness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Holiness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to Wondrous Works of God

Godly Fear: Necessary to Avoiding of Sin

Godly Fear: Necessary to Impartial Administration of Justice

Godly Fear: Necessary to Perfecting Holiness

Godly Fear: Necessary to Righteous Government

Godly Fear: Necessary to The Service of God

Godly Fear: Necessary to The Worship of God

Godly Fear: Nehemiah

Godly Fear: Noah

Godly Fear: Obadiah

Godly Fear: Sanctifying

Godly Fear: Searching the Scriptures Gives the Understanding of

Godly Fear: should Accompany the Joy of Saints

Godly Fear: should be Constantly Maintained

Godly Fear: should be Exhibited in Giving a Reason for Our Hope

Godly Fear: should be Exhibited in Our Callings

Godly Fear: should be Prayed For

Godly Fear: should be Taught to Others

Godly Fear: The Wicked Destitute of

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Accepted of God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Blessed

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Pitied by God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Afford Pleasure to God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Confide in God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Converse Together of Holy Things

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Days of, Prolonged

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Depart from Evil

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Desires of, Fulfilled by God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Receive Mercy from God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: should not Fear Man

Godly Fear: Wisdom

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Future Punishment

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Idols

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Judgments

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Man

Unholy Fear is Described as Consuming

Unholy Fear is Described as Overwhelming

Unholy Fear: A Characteristic of the Wicked

Unholy Fear: A Guilty Conscience Leads To

Unholy Fear: Adam

Unholy Fear: Adonijah's Guests

Unholy Fear: Ahaz

Unholy Fear: Belshazzar

Unholy Fear: Cain

Unholy Fear: Exhortations Against

Unholy Fear: Felix

Unholy Fear: God Mocks

Unholy Fear: Haman

Unholy Fear: Midianites

Unholy Fear: Philistines

Unholy Fear: Pilate

Unholy Fear: Saints Delivered From

Unholy Fear: Saints Sometimes Tempted To

Unholy Fear: Saul

Unholy Fear: Seizes the Wicked

Unholy Fear: Shall be Realised

Unholy Fear: Surprises the Hypocrite

Unholy Fear: The Wicked Judicially Filled With

Unholy Fear: Trust in God, a Preservative From

Related Terms

Unholy (23 Occurrences)

Unhurt (2 Occurrences)

Evil-doing (106 Occurrences)

Keepers (78 Occurrences)

Fear and Stillness
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