Victory Over Evil
Have you ever walked into a place and immediately sensed something wasn't right? That unexplainable heaviness that settles over you, making the hairs on your neck stand up?
Several years ago, a woman invited me to her home, visibly distraught when I arrived. "Jason, I sense a real demonic presence here in this house," she confessed, describing how she lived in constant fear, unable to sleep, feeling darkness pressing in around her.
In our modern society, it's easy to dismiss such experiences. We've seen too many horror movies, heard too many urban legends. We quickly label people as superstitious or paranoid.
Yet, many of us have encountered moments where evil feels tangible. Missionaries often return from abroad with disturbing accounts of spiritual warfare and oppression unlike anything they've witnessed at home.
So how should we approach this reality as believers? What does Scripture reveal about our position in Christ when confronting spiritual darkness and evil in this world?
The Demon Possessed Man
Luke reveals a powerful encounter in his gospel that demonstrates Christ's absolute authority over evil. In Luke 8, Luke tells us that Jesus and his disciples sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, where they encountered a man whose life had been utterly devastated by demonic possession:
"When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs."
(Luke 8:27)
Consider the devastating condition of this man. The demonic presence had stripped him of every aspect of human dignity:
He wandered naked, exposed and humiliated before all
He lived in complete isolation, severed from community and relationships
He dwelled among tombs, surrounded by death and decay rather than life
Luke even goes on to tell us that this man exhibited supernatural strength, breaking chains meant to restrain him, and was repeatedly driven into solitary places by the demonic presence controlling him.
His condition represents the ultimate picture of what evil seeks to accomplish in human lives—isolation, shame, and destruction.
The Demons Recognize Jesus
What happens next says so much to us about the spiritual realm:
"When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, 'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!'"
(Luke 8:29)
This moment reveals two realities about Christ's position in the spiritual hierarchy:
The demons immediately recognized Jesus's identity. As fallen angels, they knew exactly who stood before them—not merely a teacher or prophet, but their Creator and Judge.
They acknowledged Jesus's absolute authority. Despite their tremendous power over this man, they instantly cowered before Christ, begging not to be sent to judgment before their appointed time.
What is so striking about their acknowledgment of Jesus’ authority is that there were apparently so many of them. When Jesus asked for the demon's name, he said, "Legion," which means thousands of demonic entities were possessing this one man.
So, you’d think when they saw that it was One versus thousands that they’d stand their ground and put up a better fight.
Yet they cowered in the presence of Christ. They pleaded not to be sent into "the Abyss," instead requesting permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs.
Jesus granted this request, resulting in about 2,000 pigs rushing down a bank and drowning in the lake—a visible demonstration of both the reality of these spirits and Christ's authority over them.
Complete Transformation Through Christ
The transformation in the demon possessed man was immediate and complete:
"When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind."
(Luke 8:35)
Luke paints a beautiful contrast of where this man was before his encounter with Jesus and after:
Instead of being "driven by the demon," (8:29) he was "sitting at rest" (8:35)
Instead of shameful nakedness (8:27), he was "dressed" in dignity (8:35)
Instead of dwelling among tombs (8:27), he sat "at Jesus' feet" in a life-giving relationship (8:35)
Instead of being chained and guarded (8:29), he was "in his right mind"—restored to wholeness (8:35)
One encounter with Jesus completely reversed what evil had stolen. This wasn't partial healing or a temporary improvement—it was complete liberation and restoration.
Your Unshakable Position in Christ over Evil
This demon possessed man’s encounter with Jesus reveals profound truths about your position as a believer in today's world:
1. Christ's Victory Is Absolute and Uncontested
It was One versus thousands, yet Jesus prevailed without struggle or uncertainty. Demons recognize who Jesus is, and they fear Him. His authority isn't partial or limited—it's complete.
When Scripture declares that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow" (Philippians 2:10), this includes every demonic power.
2. Your Union with Christ Places You in a Position of Authority
The same Jesus who made demons cower now dwells within every believer through the Holy Spirit. When you placed your faith in Christ, you didn't just receive forgiveness—you were united with Christ Himself.
As Paul declares, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
This means the enemy fears not just Christ, but also those who are in Christ. You now live from a position of victory, not striving toward it. His triumph at the cross is your triumph. His authority is now expressed through your life as you abide in Him.
3. Believers Cannot Be "Possessed" by Demonic Forces
For those who have been born again through faith in Christ, demonic possession as seen in this story is impossible. Scripture teaches that you are now in Christ's possession (Ephesians 2:14), and "nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
You are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13), and your life is now "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). The enemy has no legal claim on what God has purchased and indwells. You have been transferred from "the domain of darkness" into "the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13).
Does this mean the enemy won't attempt to influence believers through deception, accusation, or temptation?
No. Scripture warns us to "be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan will still attempt to rob us of experiencing the fullness of life in Christ through lies and distraction.
But he cannot take possession of someone who already belongs to Jesus. The difference is ownership—and you have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Victory over Evil
When confronted with spiritual darkness in any form, remember that you don't need to live in fear or anxiety. Your security isn't based on your own strength or spiritual maturity, but on your position in Christ. Through your regeneration as a new creation in Christ, you have been given everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Jesus has already won the battle. His presence dispels darkness and evil, and in Him, we find peace that overcomes every spiritual attack. Safety isn’t found in rituals or spiritual techniques, but in the finished work of Christ and our identity as His beloved child.
Like the man freed from Legion, we too can sit at Jesus' feet, clothed in His righteousness, in our right minds, and at perfect rest—regardless of what evil may surround us. We don't fight for victory; we fight from victory already secured at Calvary.
When darkness meets the light of Christ, darkness always retreats. This is the unshakable truth that transforms how we live in a world where evil is real. In Christ, you stand not in fear, but in unshakable victory.
