Notes.—“In undiminished possession of their intelligence and strength, they constantly assault us in every weakness, through every avenue, by every means, by methods foul or fair.... Whom they cannot destroy they cease not to worry, torment. They inspire evil tempers; arouse dark passions; instil ill will; beget malice, envy; impose care, fear, distrust; suggest deceit, fraud, and all the forms of crime.” “Supremely do they revel in the criminal domain. They foster falsehood, incite revenge, fan jealousy, beget quarrels, help on thefts, robbery, and arson, further divorces, plan defalcations, instigate murders. They run the saloons and edit the Police News.”—“Footprints of Angels in Fields of Revelation,” pages 9, 10, 22.
6. What are we admonished not to do?
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.” Eph. 4:26, 27.
Note.—Those who give vent to anger or retain old grudges, who parley with temptation or tamper with vice, who indulge in intemperance, pride, foolishness, or levity, or give way to any other weakness, give place to the devil; that is, they give the devil an opportunity to work through them—give him an advantage over them. We should therefore close every avenue to Satan and his angels. We should suppress anger, be sober and watchful, and nip in the bud every prompting to sin.
7. What spirits stand ever ready to deceive and ruin those who are off guard or bent on going astray?
“And the Lord said, Who shall persuade [margin, deceive] Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?... And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.” 1 Kings 22:20-22. See 2 Thess. 2:10, 11.
8. With what were many possessed in Christ's time?
“And they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils.” Matt. 4:24.
Note.—Vampire-like, evil angels take possession of, and make their abode with, all over whose minds and bodies they can gain control. Only through Christ can this demoniacal captivity be broken. Until this is done, one in this condition is led captive by Satan “at his will.” His self-control and power to resist temptation are gone. See 2 Tim. 2:26.
9. How do evil spirits sometimes treat those thus possessed?