Birds of the Air: Understanding Demonic Opposition
- Bennett Joseph
- Sep 29
- 3 min read

“And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.”— Matthew 13:4 NKJV
Later, Jesus explained this parable:
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”— Matthew 13:19 NKJV
Jesus was clear: the birds of the air in this parable represent the evil one. The devil seeks to steal the Word of God before it can take root. But how does he do it?
The Prince of the Power of the Air
Paul describes Satan in this way:
“…in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—”— Ephesians 2:2 ESV
The devil is called the prince of the power of the air. He influences the atmosphere of this world and works through the spiritual forces of evil. But here’s something important: Satan is not omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at once like God. So how does he still manage to afflict so many across the earth?
The answer: demons.
Demons at Work
Throughout scripture, we see multiple examples of demonization:
Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)
The demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14–18)
Legion in the region of the Gerasenes (Mark 5)
The slave girl with a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16–19)
Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:3)
These accounts remind us that demonic activity is real and persistent. But what exactly are demons?
Angels vs. Demons
People often confuse fallen angels with demons, assuming they are the same. Scripture shows us otherwise.
Angels have spiritual bodies. We see them worshiping, ministering, delivering messages, and even fighting battles—but never entering or possessing a human.
Demons, on the other hand, are spirits. They seek embodiment. Possession is their defining characteristic.
Jesus Himself described this reality:
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.”— Matthew 12:43 ESV
Demons look for bodies to inhabit because they lack one. This is why possession and oppression are so common in scripture.
Where Do Demons Come From?
The Bible does not explicitly state the origin of demons. However, Genesis 6 offers us a strong clue:
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”— Genesis 6:4 NASB
The Nephilim were the offspring of rebellious spiritual beings and human women. Their wickedness was so great that God sent the flood in Noah’s day to wipe them out. Since they were not part of God’s created order, their spirits could not return to Him. Many scholars believe these disembodied spirits became what we now know as demons.
Whether or not this is their precise origin, one truth is clear: demons are bodiless spirits seeking to inhabit or afflict human lives.
Possession vs. Oppression
The devil uses demons to lead people into sin, rebellion, and destruction. But here we must make an important distinction.
The Greek word daimonizomai is often translated “demon-possessed.” A more accurate rendering is demonized—to be harassed, influenced, or under partial control of a demon.
To oppress means “to exercise power over, to exercise harsh control over one, to use one’s power against another.” Demonic oppression is real, and believers must learn to recognize and resist it.
This distinction matters. Christians, sealed with the Holy Spirit, cannot be fully possessed or owned by a demon. However, they can be oppressed.
The Enemy’s Tactics
So when Jesus warns us that the birds of the air devour the seed, He is teaching us that the enemy’s goal is to steal the Word of God before it takes root. He uses the birds of the air, demons, to steal, kill, and destroy.
But take heart—while demons are real, Jesus has given us the authority to overcome them. There is power in the name of Jesus. The enemy often triumphs because of our ignorance, not because he is stronger or greater. I pray your eyes are opened to see the reality of the demonic opposition and that we have to stand against and drive them out.
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”— Luke 10:19 NKJV
The devil may try to snatch the Word, but he cannot overpower the authority of Christ in a surrendered life.
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