“Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him.” Luke 8:30
I’ve talked to people who say that learning about and studying demons is a way to empower oneself to fight them. This is a fallacy. An exorcist I heard told how risky that endeavor is. To get to know or study the demons opens one’s mind and soul to the demonic influences. Focusing on the demonic, even to fight against it, slowly weakens the spirit and will. While you are studying them, they are getting to know you. The demons will swirl around your spirit looking for a weakness, any crack that will gain them access. Before long, they get in and you lose. Unless you have some very special calling for some very special reason, with extra protections, don’t do this. Just knowing the demonic is real is enough to fight them. If you see them around you or another, identify their presence, call for help and first and foremost, pray for Jesus to cast them away.
Sin is the same. Focusing upon the sin of your past, sin already cast out by God’s Divine Mercy is like studying it. The sin will grow in power. It’s seed, guilt, will slowly take hold. The sin will strangle your soul. Isn’t that a horrible thought? Something Jesus destroyed and forgave, gaining power enough to destroy you? Jesus warned it this.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26
When the sin or demons prowl around, realize their presence, look past them and see Jesus. Listen to His words only – “don’t look at them, keep your eyes on Me.” Sin and demons only have power when you focus on them. Focus on the sin or the demons slowly, even in strength, allows fear to creep in. Jesus overcomes all fear and power of hell. He overcame hell’s greatest power, death. Do you think lesser powers of sin or demon stand a chance?
Don’t study what you’ve done wrong in the past. Don’t try to strengthen yourself for the fight by getting to know a demon’s weakness. Just keep your eyes on Jesus. When the demons prowl around you and Joel in fury at you, when the sin rings in your ears and scratches it’s temptation on your mind – look to Jesus. Lock your eyes on His, and ask Him to cast them and their powers far from you. Let His mother crush the head of the demon for you.
Victory is the Lord’s and your victory is in Jesus.