In Matthew 12 we read about the man brought to Jesus who was both blind and mute. The Bible says, “He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw” (Matthew 12:22 NKJV). In this verse, deliverance is connected to healing. The word used for salvation in the Greek is sozo. It takes five English words to fully define the one Greek word used for salvation. Words like healing, deliverance, wholeness, and safety carry the same meaning. Keep these words in mind as you read Bible verses that have to do with salvation, healing or deliverance. Note how both wholeness and safety become the person’s experience.
The Bible permits some attempts at categorization of demonic activity. Let’s look at four areas that can be helpful to our understanding of how the demonic world operates.
We begin with the word temptation. The Genesis account of the fall of man is the classic biblical illustration as seen in Genesis 3:1–7. Temptation can be subtle in its approach. It appeals to the base nature of a person. It causes one to come to conclusions out of one’s own reasoning and not God’s Word. It causes one to question God and His purpose of forbidding involvement in a particular practice.
Temptation operates through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James 1:13–17 NASU
The temptation will align with one of these areas. If one finds that the same temptation keeps reoccurring, it is very possible that a demonic spirit may be at work trying to trip one up. All demons are driven by pride and lust. Some have specific assignments to torment Christians by harassing them regularly around these weaknesses.