GOD'S RESTRAINING HAND CONFINES THE POWERS OF DARKNESS.


Demons Constrained
The demonic realm is real. And its obscurity and limited ability to openly manifest and reveal itself is another evidence of the restraining hand of God. There are spirits everywhere. But why is it they can only show themselves in a limited way? Why not openly show themselves, take charge, and govern directly, and in the daylight? Why do they not simply show themselves and make us their open slaves and release a flood of control, fear, pain, and chaos upon us? Why do they tend to skulk around in the dark? Why are they so hidden? The answer is simple. God has confined them to the realm they are in and has given them limited power of influence and operation. Otherwise, they would visibly show up, command obedience, and do as they please as any tyrant and evil dictator would do. But the goodness, wisdom, and mercy of God is evident in His restraining hand. The powers of darkness are hidden because God has ordained it so. However, They do exercise much power and influence over fallen, rebellious, and ignorant mankind. When we reject God’s rule we provide a chair for and give power to the devil. And those who willfully dabble in his deceptive and dark arts such as the occult and the psychic practices will increase the ability of demonic powers to expose themselves. This is evident in paranormal activity, haunted houses, etc.

The Biblical Approach
There are three erroneous approaches to the subject of Satan and demons. The first is the open and active involvement in demonic activity as in the occult, psychic phenomena, the animism of primitive societies, and practices in New Age mysticism. The second erroneous approach is to deny their existence altogether. The third and somewhat irrational approach is that of Christians who believe in the existence of evil spirits because they read about them in the Bible but simply ignore the subject as if the evil spirits described in the biblical examples somehow mysteriously faded into the background and do not relate in any real way to our contemporary society except to entice people to sin. The spiritual realm as described in the Bible is real. If we will follow the biblical pattern, we will present the subject of the demonic in a balanced and proper perspective. But still, it is difficult to make it palatable to those who reject the Bible or the reality of the spiritual realm.

I have seen the reality of our authority in Jesus' name and the power He has given us through the Holy Spirit. There is much to be said and taught on the subject. The Biblical examples are true...and they are models of what we can do today. ----Billy Long

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