Evil spirits/demons came out of many of these people, shouting: You are the Son of God" (Luke 4:41).

It's the story of Jesus healing in Capernaum. One of the major characteristics of Jesus' ministry was confronting demons in people and casting them out. Who or what is a demon? When Satan was thrown out of heaven, a large number of angels had joined in his revolt fell with him. A number of names are given to these beings in the Bible; such as demons, unclean spirits, gods, thrones, principalities and powers. Jesus speaks of the devil and all his angels' in Matthew 25:41.

The New Testament writers speak of them inhabiting the heavenlies' or the air', and apparently they are the minions of the devil who needs them to carry out his wicked schemes. (A minion is a follower who will do anything he is told to do). Their aim is to oppose God in every way. They work through temptation, and varying levels of influence, oppression and possession.

They can cause physical affliction and emotional turmoil, and they attack the mind using lies, fear and confusion. They also seek to pervert truth and by the use of worldly wisdom and doctrinal error. When Jesus encountered demons, he did not reason with them - he drove them out. They recognised him as coming from God and having superior authority.

A demon can dominate a person through their persistent, habitual and deliberate sin; so that a promiscuous person may be taken over by a spirit of lust for example. Sometimes a spirit of fear may overcome a person through deep trauma, or a spirit of rejection through neglect and abuse. The good news is that demons cannot withstand the authority of Jesus. Read aloud this verse from James 4:7: Be humble before God...but resist the devil and you'll find he'll run away from you'.

This week's thought: The Lord sends the food and the devil sends the cook.