Can demons cause people to feel things?

Summary:

There may be biblical evidence suggesting that demons can cause people to feel things. 

There can be three main sources for the feelings that we can feel within ourselves: 

- Ourselves.

- God. 

- Demons.

Because it is possible for feelings to be caused by demons, these feelings can function as temptations to sin. Being tempted by feelings is not a sin, as merely being tempted is not a sin. But because feelings can function as temptations to sin, it is necessary to examine if what we are feeling may be in accordance with God (or not).

Demons can cause feelings from the outside or the inside of the person, so not every negative feeling is an indication that there would be a need for a demon to be cast out. BUT if the same feelings tempting someone to sin keep on reoccurring often and may not depart, they may need to be investigated further as it could be a possibility that the person may have a need for a demon to be cast out.

In any case, it is possible to exercise SELF CONTROL over feelings, and when feelings are in accordance with God, it is okay to be moved by them. When feelings are NOT in accordance with God, they can be eventually LAID ASIDE.

You can find more details below:

Can demons cause people to feel things?

Demons can be interchangeably described as spirits, and spirits can be described with adjectives of what they do.

For more information:

What are demons?
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Spirits can be described with adjectives (of what they do):
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For example, there is "(a) SPIRIT (of) DREADFULNESS" (2 Timothy 1:7). This can describe a demon having for function to cause someone to feel DREAD. 

There can be three main sources for the feelings that we can feel inside of ourselves:

There can be three main sources for the feelings that we can feel within ourselves: 

- Ourselves.

- God. 

- Demons.

Regarding OURSELVES being the source of feelings inside of ourselves, it is written: "it displeased JONAH exceedingly, and HE WAS ANGRY" (Jonah 4:1). It is written in James: "(the) ANGER (OF) MAN does not produce (the) righteousness (of) God" (James 1:20). When feelings come from ourselves, this can mean many things. It could be a conscious choice, like when Jonah chose to be angry. It can also stem from our physical bodies, such as feeling irritable when we are tired or sick, or from our past experiences and memories.

Regarding GOD being the source of feelings inside of ourselves, it is written: "may the GOD (of) hope FILL YOU (WITH) ALL JOY AND PEACE in believing" (Romans 15:13).

Feelings can function as temptations to sin:

Because it is possible for feelings to be caused by demons, these feelings can function as temptations to sin. Being tempted by feelings is not a sin, as merely being tempted is not a sin. It is written about Jesus that He was "(One) HAVING-BEEN-TEMPTED in all (things) in-accordance-with (our) likeness, WITHOUT SIN" (Hebrews 4:15).

Because feelings can function as temptations to sin, it is necessary to examine if what we are feeling may be in accordance with God (or not). Paul indicated that such an examination was necessary for example in the following passage: "the GRIEF IN-ACCORDANCE-WITH GOD works unregretted repentance leading-to salvation. But the GRIEF (OF) THE WORLD produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). 

Demons can cause feelings from the outside or the inside of the person:

Not every negative feeling is an indication that there would be a need for a demon to be cast out.

For more information:

Not everything is an indication that a demon needs to be cast out:
Click here

But if the same feelings tempting someone to sin keep on reoccurring often and may not depart, they may need to be investigated further as it could be a possibility that the person may have a need for a demon to be cast out.

For more information:

What can be done to find out if there is a need for a demon to be cast out?:
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It is also wise to remember that our bodies and minds are complex. Reoccuring and overwhelming feelings can sometimes have natural roots, so investigation is necessary. 

People can exercise self control over feelings:

In any case, it is possible to exercise SELF CONTROL over feelings.

For example it is written: "Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place TO WEEP. And he entered his chamber and WEPT THERE. Then he washed his face and came out. And CONTROLLING HIMSELF he said, “Serve the food.”" (Genesis 43:31-32). Here even though Joseph was overwhelmed by feelings, he took a time to express and process them, and then decided to exercise SELF CONTROL over them in order to continue his duties without having his feelings taking control of him. 

When feelings are in accordance with God, it is okay to be moved by them, as even for example when a man died and people wept, Jesus "WAS-DEEPLY-MOVED in (His) spirit" (John 11:33) and "Jesus WEPT" (John 11:35), "So the Jews were-saying, “Look, how HE-WAS-LOVING him" (John 11:36). Jesus was "WITHOUT SIN" (Hebrews 4:15).

Paul wrote: "BE-ANGRY and DO NOT BE-SINNING" (Ephesians 4:26). Jesus who was without sin came to face people who were hard of heart and it is written that He was One "having-looked-around (at) them with ANGER" (Mark 3:5). Jesus' anger was in accordance with God, and it was not an anger that led Him to sin. 

When feelings are NOT in accordance with God, they can be eventually LAID ASIDE. 

It is possible for ANGER to NOT be in accordance with God, as James wrote that "(the) ANGER (OF) MAN does not produce (the) righteousness (of) God" (James 1:20). For such, Paul wrote: "LAY-ASIDE all (these things): wrath, ANGER, malice" (Colossians 3:8).

When a feeling that is not in accordance with God arises, it is important to distinguish between the initial experience of that feeling and our choice of what to do with it. Simply experiencing a flash of anger, envy, or fear is not in itself a sin; it is a part of our human experience and a temptation we can face. The crucial step is what we do next. We are not called to suppress our feelings by pretending they don't exist, as this is often unhealthy. Rather, we are called to process them and then make a conscious choice not to entertain or dwell on them. This active process is what the Bible means when it calls us to lay aside the feelings that end up not being in accordance with God. 

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