When you were a new Christian, chances are that you avoided the concept or the idea that demons exist and are very real today. That's because the world and media today have forced us to believe some ideas about demons that may haze our concept of the truth.

Horror films and ghost stories make us believe that evil spirits are on the move to destroy us. That part is true, but they don't use chainsaws and spells to do that. And while it is the number one mission of demons to destroy our lives, there are more damaging ways that they do that.

Demons were once glorious angels who fell short of the glory of God and are doomed to one day be locked up in eternal damnation, and their one goal in their lives is to take as many people with them. What does the Bible teach us about demons?

Demons don't want you in a relationship with God

John 10:10 says that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Demons don't just want your heads chopped off or your minds shattered in pieces. Their goal is to sever your spirit from the Spirit of God both today and for all eternity.

The Bible tells us that demons are already set for defeat. Matthew 25:41 says, "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.'"

Demons use temptation, deception and accusation as weapons

Demons are powerful and are even more powerful than humans. They have the ability to take various forms and overcome people. So those stories of demon possessions are very real. In fact, the Bible is full of accounts of demon possessions.

The primary arsenal of demons is made up of temptation, deception and accusation. They tempt people to commit sin, deceive people into thinking sin is okay and then condemn people. All this they do to draw us away from the presence and love of God.

Demons can be defeated

James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The biblical emphasis on demons is that they are already defeated because of the finished work of Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, it made all of the darkness shudder in fear because He had finally broken the power of sin.