In his book Deliver Us From Evil, author Don Basham describes how he, as a Christian minister, was gradually led into a ministry of driving out demons. He is certain that devils are real and still today they take possession of some people. He reports on his development of a means of detecting presence of devils and of his method of overcoming them. He believes it is important to have the devils state their names and then to drive them authoritatively in the name of Jesus. Generally they depart with a wail. As we see New Age people today operating with devils and the occult, we agree with Basham that devils are real.

In a scientific study of the book of Colossians we find a number of references to devils. In 1:13 Paul states that forgiveness translates the Colossian Christians from darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. In 1:16 thrones, dominions, principalities and powers refer to angels and devils, devils being the fallen angels. In 2:10 principalities and powers includes devils. In 2:15 where we read that Christ triumphs over principalities and powers, reference is to devils only. In Eph. 2:2 we read of the power of the prince of the air and in Eph. 6:12 Paul reminds us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians is a companion book to Colossians and aids our understanding.... St. Paul was combating the gnostic philosophy that people progress from one spiritual stage to another through ritual exercises. These were allegedly ruled by angels and were called principalities, powers, mights, dominions, and thrones. Actually, they were devils and the apostle is showing that Jesus Christ has power over angels and devils.

Dr. Clifford Burdick (geologist) tells about trying to help a young Mexican person who had been attending the Church of Satan in Los Angeles. As they were in Dr. Burdick's apartment in Tucson, Az., reading the Bible, fire broke out on the wall and they had to extinguish it. The next day as they again read the Bible, fire broke out on a sweater which Dr. Burdick had bought in Cusco, Peru on our trip there in 1979. He rolled on the floor to put out the flame. For a long time he wore that sweater with a hole in the back. This is evidence that in a pagan culture, the devil at times materializes. . .. Author Basham notes that when he talks of devil possession, people smile and say no one still believes in devils. Though they are invisible and not subject to experimentation, they are very real. As in the apostle Paul's day, Jesus Christ provides the power to overcome them.

Reference 10.

Prayer: That we may recognize the reality of devils and that through Jesus Christ we may overcome them.