Can a Christian have a demon?
Luke 11.36 (KJV) IF your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark the whole shall be full of Light, as the bright shinning of a candle doth give thee light.
The Lord says “IF” your WHOLE body be full of light! Which means that it is possible for a body to have light but not be FULL of light. Jesus, Himself stress’ the point even further by repeating it again using different words: “having no part dark” the whole shall be full of Light.” The Lord Jesus Christ states plainly that the physical body of man can have darkness and light. It is ONLY full of Light when there is NO darkness there. Jesus says YES, a Christian can have a demon!
Brothers and Sisters, it is also very note worthy to be aware that Luke Chapter 11 is what I call the deliverance chapter. It is the Chapter where the pious religious people, Pastors of the day accused HIM of casting out demons by the power of the devil, satan, AKA Beelzebub. Jesus then, outlines the steps of standard deliverance and exorcism of Christians and others that have demons.
Main Objection:
The most common verse sited of why a Christian CANNOT be possessed by a demon is “…what communion hath light with darkness?…” this verse has been taken out of context in an effort to twist the truth of God’s Word into what they beleive, instead of beleiving what God’s Word says.
Below are the verses in question:
2 Cor 6.14-18(AV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We immedaitely see the subject and point of this passage are the relationship’s of God’s people! What (agreement) FELLOWSHIP does justice have with injustice? How can the light hang with the dark? What agreement does Jesus have with satan? The beleiver has no part or is not like minded with the unbeleiver. So how can we the our bodies being the temple of God be in FELLOWSHIP with the IDOLS the unbelievers worship and beleive. The Lord entreats us to come out and be seperate! Two cannot WALK together unless they are in agreement. You cannot serve two masters or you will hate the one and love the other. One of those in this type of relationship must come into the light or go into the darkness. The loss light; of our eternal life with Jesus Christ is very real. Watch and pray and forsake not the assembling of your self’s together. Are we then to have fellowship with unbelivers? No,not FELLOWSHIP but witness and aquintances.Yes For we know that in 2 Cor 5-6 The Holy Spirit teaches us that we are the Ambassdors of Jesus Christ and that we have a ministry of Reconcillation! Simply put, unbelievers are not suppose to be our BEST FRIENDS! The ones that we hang out with or that is to say have fellowship.
Here is a verse that I place before you for consideration: Rom 7.19-23 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
What Paul is saying here is that even though he is a Christian and That God dwells in him. Sin is still dwelling in his body! If light cannot dwell with darkness then how can sin still be in his body?
May God Bless and Keep you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen and Amen.
A CHRISTIAN CAN HAVE A DEMON
LIST OF SCRIPTURE
Matthew 12:43-45 A non-Christian was delivered and was worse off than before.
Matthew 15:22-28 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 1:23-27 Man in the synagogue (Believer) who had an unclean spirit.
Mark 1:39-42 Jesus cast out devils in synagogues throughout all Galilee.
Mark 7:25-30 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 8:33 Jesus Called Peter, Satan, because he had rebuked Jesus.
Mark 9:17-29 Believer’s son had a dumb and deaf spirit.
Luke 4:38-39 Spirit of fever is a demon.
Luke 11:24-26 A non-Christian is delivered and is worse off than before.
Luke 13:11-17 Daughter of Abraham (Believer) had been bound by Satan for eighteen years.
Luke 22:3 Satan entered Judas, one of the disciples.
Acts 5:3-4 Ananias and Sapphira were believers who sinned against the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:5-7, 13 The people gave heed to things spoken of Christ when they saw the miracles.
Acts 8:20-24 Simon was a believer who was in bitterness and iniquity.
Acts 10:38 Sickness is an oppression of Satan.
I Cor. 5:1-5 Corinth Believer delivered to Satan for fornication with his mother.
II Cor. 2:10-11 Satan getting advantage of believer who is ignorant of his devices.
II Cor. 11:3-4 Believers receive another spirit, Jesus or gospel.
II Cor. 12:7-9 Paul’s messenger of Satan in flesh was a demon.
Gal. 3:1 Foolish Galatians were bewitched by spirits.
Eph. 2:1-3 The influence of Satan on the world.
Eph. 4:26-27 Anger gives place to Devil if you go to bed with it.
I Tim. 1:18-20 Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers who blasphemed.
I Tim. 4:1-2 Believers will depart from the faith in the latter days.
II Tim. 2:24-26 Help believers recover themselves out of the snare of Devil.
Heb. 12:15-16 Root of bitterness is a spirit which will trouble many.
James 4:6-8 Submit to God and then the Devil will flee from you.
I Peter 5:8-9 The same afflictions that are in the brethren are in the world.
GENERAL
There is nowhere in the Bible that says explicitly that a Christian can have a demon. But it does talk about believers having demons. If you are a believer, you are a Christian!
The multitudes that came to Jesus received deliverance; some were bound to be believers!
You can memorize the Bible and go to Hell. No part of the Bible is any good to you unless it is used! Head knowledge will not get you to Heaven; it takes heart knowledge.
Bible scholars can argue about theology until Jesus comes again and not settle the question of whether a Christian can have a demon; it takes experience.
When you start casting demons out of people, you find that Christians not only have demons but they have many demons! In our years of ministry, we have worked with thousands of people – small groups to large groups. We found that the congregation could have many demons. Then the Lord started us working with pastors and their families. We found that the five-fold ministry also had almost as many demons as the congregation. Finally the Lord had us to work with deliverance ministers. We found that they also had quite a few demons too!
We have seen leaders go into false doctrines. These can even be leaders that cast out demons. It appears that pride is their downfall. Pride is an abomination to God and is an active demonic area.
HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE DEMONS?
How can a demon spirit indwell the same body at the same time as the Holy Spirit does?
The New Testament word for spirit is pneuma. In comparison with the natural or soulish, the spirit is that part of man which has the ability to grasp and perceive divine things (I Cor. 2:14).
The word for soul is psyche. This word defines the self life – the emotions, the intellect and the will. Paul shows us that man is a three-fold being (I Thes. 5:23).
The Scripture teaches that prior to salvation a man is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Jesus comes into the human spirit and brings in His life (I John 5:11-12).
Jesus has made adequate provision for the whole man, but part of the responsibility now rests upon us as is shown in Phil. 2:13-15.
The word for salvation in this passage is soteria. The primary meaning of this word is deliverance from the molestation of enemies. The picture becomes clear. Jesus has delivered our SPIRIT from the power of Satan; now He says to us, Work out your own deliverance from the molestation of enemies until you have freed both SOUL AND BODY.
RESULTS WHEN PARENTS DO NOT PRACTICE DELIVERANCE
ON THEIR CHILDREN
The greatest need in the church today is teaching the whole Bible without fear or favor of man, and the practice of deliverance for every Christian. As you see the children, so you see the parents and the nation. Look at your children and see the parent’s mistakes in their lives!
In one day in 1988 – 2753 teenagers get pregnant, 1099 teenagers have abortions, 367 teens miscarry, 1287 teenagers give birth, 666 babies are born to women who have had inadequate prenatal care, 72 babies die before one month of life, 110 babies die before their first birthday, 9 children die from gunshot wounds, 5 teenagers commit suicide, 609 teenagers get gonorrhea or syphilis, 988 children are abused, 3288 children run away from home, 49322 children are in public juvenile correctional facilities, 2269 illegitimate children are born, and 2989 kids see their parents divorced. What do you think the statistics are today – probably much greater?
WHO IS A BELIEVER?
Because so many promises are given to those who are believers, it is important to know who the Bible classifies as a believer.
In the Greek believe indicates one relying on Jesus Christ for salvation. In Acts 5:14 the word means unadulterated trust. In I Tim. 4:12, trueness, to entrust one’s spiritual faith, assurance, well-being.
A check list for believers: must bear fruit (John 15:2); signs shall follow (Mark 16:17-18); shall do works Jesus did (John 14:12); answered prayer (John 15:7); friend of Jesus (John 15:14); and witnessing (John 15:27).
WHAT ABOUT DEMONS IN CHRISTIANS?
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such as one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 5:4-5). The apostle here deals with the case of a disobedient and sinful believer in the church at Corinth.
In another case, Paul writes: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck; of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:19-20).
In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves; if God preadventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (II Tim.2:25-26).
When you go into the ministry of casting out demons, inevitably you are challenged by the question, Is it possible for a born-again believer to have a demon? In charismatic circles the question is, Is is possible for a believer who is baptized in the Spirit to have a demon?
Absolutely not! comes the stock answer. The Holy Spirit cannot coexist in the same body with a demon!
Actually, the answer to both questions above is definitely yes. Almost one-hundred percent of the deliverance ministry we have had has been among the born-again believers, and most of them were Baptized-in-the-Spirit Christians also.
Several arguments are advanced to prove that under no circumstances can a born-again person have a demon. The most common statement is that a Christian cannot be possessed. This will be discussed later as a misnomer. The arguments in summary run something like this:
The believer is inhabited by the Holy Spirit; therefore, the demons cannot coexist within the same body. The proof text usually used is I Cor. 2:12; however the verse does not say this.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (I John 3:8), and indeed He did. In the case of problems caused by demons, the remedy and method of doing this is cast out the demons in His Name.
The struggle inside the believer is always revealed to be the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and not a struggle involving demons (Rom. 6 and 7). Were that the case, the conscientious claiming of the promises of God would solve every human problem.
The believer is delivered from the power of Satan and his demons (Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 2:1-3). Yes, but like many other promises, not automatically, but only as we voluntarily meet God’s conditions for deliverance.
The Christian is provided with complete protection from the fiery darts of the enemy (Eph. 6). This overlooks the rather obvious fact that the armor is designed for defense from external, not internal enemies, and even so, the believer’s armor is not always in place.
In spite of these arguments, the dismaying fact remains that born-again Christians, including leaders, are having difficulties and problems which can find no solution in natural infirmities or the endless conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.
It is no secret that many have become discouraged and filled with awful despair.
Experience, of course is not the basis for the interpretation of the Bible. Nevertheless, if consistent experiences run counter to an interpretation, the dedicated seeker after truth will set out to find the reason. He must be willing to re-study his interpretation under the direction of the Holy Spirit and be prepared to make any necessary corrections in his own belief so as to be in full agreement with the facts as they are. Understanding the Biblical doctrine of human depravity should cause one to wonder that the Holy Spirit would enter a person under any circumstances.
You cannot argue anyone into believing that the old fundamental stand against Christians having demons is fallacious.
In demon influence, evil spirits exert power over a person short of actual possession. Such influence may vary from mild harassment to extreme subjection when body and mind become dominated and held in slavery by spirit agents. Christians, as well as non-Christians, can be so influenced. They may be oppressed, vexed, depressed, hindered and bound by demons.
Scripture does not clearly settle the question. It was based on the assumption that an evil spirit could not indwell the redeemed body together with the Holy Spirit.
As a result of erroneous teachings and beliefs, which are based neither upon Scripture or experience, Satan has deluded many concerning the question, can a Christian be oppressed by Satan or possess evil spirits? Can one who has never participated actively in any form of occultism be subjected or oppressed? The answer to both questions is yes, supported both from the Scriptures and experience.
The New Testament Greek word for demon is daimonion…in the King James Version…often translated devil. Associated in the New Testament with the noun daimonion is the passive verb daimonizomai. The literal meaning of this verb is to be demoned, that is, in some way under the influence or power of demons. In the King James Version this verb is usually translated by some phrase such as to be possessed or to be vexed by demons or by evil spirits. However, there is no distinction in the original Greek text to support these (translated) distinctions.
Believers were definitely subjected to demonic attack in the Scriptures. The physical afflictions and other disasters of Job are shown to be Satan’s work in Job 1 and 2. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23). A woman called a daughter of Abraham (father of the faithful) was bound with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:11-16).
There is no reason to conclude arbitrarily in the two latter cases that the persons involved were not believers. In II Tim. 2:23-26, where Paul discusses contention and disputing over doctrine, believers are indicated who have evidently slipped and need to recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are taken captive of him at his will.
A member of the church in Corinth seems to have been overcome by a spirit of lust (I Cor. 5:1-5). Jesus rebuked a spirit of fever in Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39) and the demon left her, and she was well. In Mark 3:33 and Mark 9:25, Jesus uses this same term to rebuke Satan. Sickness is described as an oppression of the Devil in Acts 10:38 and Jesus often healed by removing spirits of infirmity, which are simply another method of Satanic attack (Luke 4:40-41).
Consider Peter, who one moment spoke by Divine Revelation, declaring that Jesus was the very Christ, and in the next moment was reprimanded by Jesus, who rebuked Satan in him, saying thou savorest not the things that be of God (Matt. 16:13-23). Simon the magician is presented as one who believed and was baptized, but had evidently not been delivered from his occult bondage and was commanded to repent and pray (Acts 8:20-24). How did Satan manage to fill the heart of the believers Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5:3). Paul himself reports he suffered buffeting from a messenger of Satan (II Cor. 12:7).
The unguarded Christian may have demon possession in the soul, which would affect mental processes and emotions; or in the body, as was the case of the woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself (Luke 13:11). Of her, the Saviour said when He healed her, Ought not this woman,being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? To say that a Christian cannot be demonized in any area of his life is a happy but inaccurate generalization.
Paul reproves the Corinthian Christians for receiving another spirit than the Spirit they had previously received (II Cor. 11:4).
Paul inquired, in Gal. 3:1, about who had bewitched the believers to draw them away from the truth.
It appears that the full force of deceiving spirits is directed against the spiritual believer in doctrinal rather than worldly matters, although the latter may be used after the believer has been ensnared by the most subtle means. In I Tim. 4:1-2 the Apostle Paul gives a full account of how wicked spirits attack the spiritual believer and by deception beguile him away from the faith through the use of false prophets.
There is an almost universal sense of fear and loathing toward the whole subject of Satan and the evil spirits. Many believers have adopted the fallacious idea that if they ignore Satan, he will ignore them. Scripturally, such a position is indefensible (I Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7; II Cor. 2:11).
When the power of God begins to move in a person’s life, he quite naturally becomes an object for the Devil’s most crippling attacks.
The unreasoning fear of demons is fostered and promoted by Satan and his hosts directly.
A Christian can be tormented or afflicted by evil spirits in some area of his life and still be a sincere Christian; just as he can be tormented by physical sickness and still be a sincere Christian.
It is always a blessing to see truths, not mere speculations, in print concerning spiritual warfare.
I shudder when I hear someone remark skeptically, Well, I just can’t believe that. I’d have to see it first. They seek to shield themselves by mere ignorance!
I had no real problem believing in a personal Devil and in the fact that demons can infest both lost and saved as they have opportunity.
It was as foolish as telling Peter he could not walk on the water when he was already doing it.
When a person is born again by confessing his sin and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him, he is received by the Father and salvation comes instantaneously in the experience of the new birth (Rom. 3:23-24; 6:23; Rev. 3:20). Love, joy and peace are the initial, logical by-products.
The Holy Spirit comes to indwell and seal the believer as God’s earnest of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14) and His abiding presence is guaranteed until the believer is redeemed (in point of time) completely by being taken to be with the Lord, whether it be through the door of death, or through the door in the sky (I Thes. 4:16-17).
The Holy Spirit therefore inhabits the body of the believer in a peculiar and special way in these days since Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the assembled believers. The child of God (John 1:12) is accepted in the Beloved, Jesus (Eph. 1:6) and blessed with the assurance of God’s presence and blessing. (John 10:28-30).
In spite of these wonderful changes, however, a week will scarcely pass in a babe’s life (assuming he follows the Lord in Bible study and prayer), that he will not be convicted of some sin of omission or commission (James 4:17), which must be confessed (I John 1:9) and put away (Prov. 28:13). This will continue indefinitely as long as the believer is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many of these sins of omission and commission were present at the time of conversion and some will lie unnoticed by the believer for months, until the Lord deals with them. The Holy Spirit is able to coexist with these unconfessed sins. Why then is it so difficult to accept the fact that the Holy Spirit is able to also coexist with indwelling demons until they are detected, hated, renounced and expelled in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
PRAYER
I forgive the false teachers that say a Christian can not have a demon within their flesh or soul. God please forgive the false teachers and show them the truth. Please forgive me for believing the false teachers. I forgive myself for the damage done to me and my family by practicing false teachings. I break any curses of false doctrine on me and my descendants. I ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Master and Savior.
LIST OF DEMONS
Unclean spirit Devils Divers Diseases
Leprosy Satan Dumb
Foul spirit Deaf Fever
Infirmity Lies Falsities
Sorcery Bewitchment Fornication
Destruction Unforgiveness Another Jesus
Another Spirit Another Gospel Beguiling
Subtlety Corruption Weakness
Messenger of Satan Disobedience Anger
Lusts of the Flesh Blasphemy Hate
Desires of the Flesh & Mind Hypocrisy Profanity
Doctrines of Devils Striving Pride
Seared Conscience Afflictions Foolishness
Root of Bitterness Cults Despair
Angels of Light Error Hopelessness
Spiritual Pride Deceiving Suicide
Occultism Fear Resentment
Doubt Depression Sickness
False Doctrine & Teachers Magic Ignorance
Death Seducing Spirits
JESUS IS THE DELIVERER
Can a Christian be demonized?
Can a Christian have a demon?
Luke 11.36 (KJV) IF your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark the whole shall be full of Light, as the bright shinning of a candle doth give thee light.
The Lord says “IF” your WHOLE body be full of light! Which means that it is possible for a body to have light but not be FULL of light. Jesus, Himself stress’ the point even further by repeating it again using different words: “having no part dark” the whole shall be full of Light.” The Lord Jesus Christ states plainly that the physical body of man can have darkness and light. It is ONLY full of Light when there is NO darkness there. Jesus says YES, a Christian can have a demon!
Brothers and Sisters, it is also very note worthy to be aware that Luke Chapter 11 is what I call the deliverance chapter. It is the Chapter where the pious religious people, Pastors of the day accused HIM of casting out demons by the power of the devil, satan, AKA Beelzebub. Jesus then, outlines the steps of standard deliverance and exorcism of Christians and others that have demons.
Main Objection:
The most common verse sited of why a Christian CANNOT be possessed by a demon is “…what communion hath light with darkness?…” this verse has been taken out of context in an effort to twist the truth of God’s Word into what they beleive, instead of beleiving what God’s Word says.
Below are the verses in question:
2 Cor 6.14-18(AV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We immedaitely see the subject and point of this passage are the relationship’s of God’s people! What (agreement) FELLOWSHIP does justice have with injustice? How can the light hang with the dark? What agreement does Jesus have with satan? The beleiver has no part or is not like minded with the unbeleiver. So how can we the our bodies being the temple of God be in FELLOWSHIP with the IDOLS the unbelievers worship and beleive. The Lord entreats us to come out and be seperate! Two cannot WALK together unless they are in agreement. You cannot serve two masters or you will hate the one and love the other. One of those in this type of relationship must come into the light or go into the darkness. The loss light; of our eternal life with Jesus Christ is very real. Watch and pray and forsake not the assembling of your self’s together. Are we then to have fellowship with unbelivers? No,not FELLOWSHIP but witness and aquintances.Yes For we know that in 2 Cor 5-6 The Holy Spirit teaches us that we are the Ambassdors of Jesus Christ and that we have a ministry of Reconcillation! Simply put, unbelievers are not suppose to be our BEST FRIENDS! The ones that we hang out with or that is to say have fellowship.
Here is a verse that I place before you for consideration: Rom 7.19-23 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
What Paul is saying here is that even though he is a Christian and That God dwells in him. Sin is still dwelling in his body! If light cannot dwell with darkness then how can sin still be in his body?
May God Bless and Keep you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen and Amen.
A CHRISTIAN CAN HAVE A DEMON
LIST OF SCRIPTURE
Matthew 12:43-45 A non-Christian was delivered and was worse off than before.
Matthew 15:22-28 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 1:23-27 Man in the synagogue (Believer) who had an unclean spirit.
Mark 1:39-42 Jesus cast out devils in synagogues throughout all Galilee.
Mark 7:25-30 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 8:33 Jesus Called Peter, Satan, because he had rebuked Jesus.
Mark 9:17-29 Believer’s son had a dumb and deaf spirit.
Luke 4:38-39 Spirit of fever is a demon.
Luke 11:24-26 A non-Christian is delivered and is worse off than before.
Luke 13:11-17 Daughter of Abraham (Believer) had been bound by Satan for eighteen years.
Luke 22:3 Satan entered Judas, one of the disciples.
Acts 5:3-4 Ananias and Sapphira were believers who sinned against the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:5-7, 13 The people gave heed to things spoken of Christ when they saw the miracles.
Acts 8:20-24 Simon was a believer who was in bitterness and iniquity.
Acts 10:38 Sickness is an oppression of Satan.
I Cor. 5:1-5 Corinth Believer delivered to Satan for fornication with his mother.
II Cor. 2:10-11 Satan getting advantage of believer who is ignorant of his devices.
II Cor. 11:3-4 Believers receive another spirit, Jesus or gospel.
II Cor. 12:7-9 Paul’s messenger of Satan in flesh was a demon.
Gal. 3:1 Foolish Galatians were bewitched by spirits.
Eph. 2:1-3 The influence of Satan on the world.
Eph. 4:26-27 Anger gives place to Devil if you go to bed with it.
I Tim. 1:18-20 Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers who blasphemed.
I Tim. 4:1-2 Believers will depart from the faith in the latter days.
II Tim. 2:24-26 Help believers recover themselves out of the snare of Devil.
Heb. 12:15-16 Root of bitterness is a spirit which will trouble many.
James 4:6-8 Submit to God and then the Devil will flee from you.
I Peter 5:8-9 The same afflictions that are in the brethren are in the world.
GENERAL
There is nowhere in the Bible that says explicitly that a Christian can have a demon. But it does talk about believers having demons. If you are a believer, you are a Christian!
The multitudes that came to Jesus received deliverance; some were bound to be believers!
You can memorize the Bible and go to Hell. No part of the Bible is any good to you unless it is used! Head knowledge will not get you to Heaven; it takes heart knowledge.
Bible scholars can argue about theology until Jesus comes again and not settle the question of whether a Christian can have a demon; it takes experience.
When you start casting demons out of people, you find that Christians not only have demons but they have many demons! In our years of ministry, we have worked with thousands of people – small groups to large groups. We found that the congregation could have many demons. Then the Lord started us working with pastors and their families. We found that the five-fold ministry also had almost as many demons as the congregation. Finally the Lord had us to work with deliverance ministers. We found that they also had quite a few demons too!
We have seen leaders go into false doctrines. These can even be leaders that cast out demons. It appears that pride is their downfall. Pride is an abomination to God and is an active demonic area.
HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE DEMONS?
How can a demon spirit indwell the same body at the same time as the Holy Spirit does?
The New Testament word for spirit is pneuma. In comparison with the natural or soulish, the spirit is that part of man which has the ability to grasp and perceive divine things (I Cor. 2:14).
The word for soul is psyche. This word defines the self life – the emotions, the intellect and the will. Paul shows us that man is a three-fold being (I Thes. 5:23).
The Scripture teaches that prior to salvation a man is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Jesus comes into the human spirit and brings in His life (I John 5:11-12).
Jesus has made adequate provision for the whole man, but part of the responsibility now rests upon us as is shown in Phil. 2:13-15.
The word for salvation in this passage is soteria. The primary meaning of this word is deliverance from the molestation of enemies. The picture becomes clear. Jesus has delivered our SPIRIT from the power of Satan; now He says to us, Work out your own deliverance from the molestation of enemies until you have freed both SOUL AND BODY.
RESULTS WHEN PARENTS DO NOT PRACTICE DELIVERANCE
ON THEIR CHILDREN
The greatest need in the church today is teaching the whole Bible without fear or favor of man, and the practice of deliverance for every Christian. As you see the children, so you see the parents and the nation. Look at your children and see the parent’s mistakes in their lives!
In one day in 1988 – 2753 teenagers get pregnant, 1099 teenagers have abortions, 367 teens miscarry, 1287 teenagers give birth, 666 babies are born to women who have had inadequate prenatal care, 72 babies die before one month of life, 110 babies die before their first birthday, 9 children die from gunshot wounds, 5 teenagers commit suicide, 609 teenagers get gonorrhea or syphilis, 988 children are abused, 3288 children run away from home, 49322 children are in public juvenile correctional facilities, 2269 illegitimate children are born, and 2989 kids see their parents divorced. What do you think the statistics are today – probably much greater?
WHO IS A BELIEVER?
Because so many promises are given to those who are believers, it is important to know who the Bible classifies as a believer.
In the Greek believe indicates one relying on Jesus Christ for salvation. In Acts 5:14 the word means unadulterated trust. In I Tim. 4:12, trueness, to entrust one’s spiritual faith, assurance, well-being.
A check list for believers: must bear fruit (John 15:2); signs shall follow (Mark 16:17-18); shall do works Jesus did (John 14:12); answered prayer (John 15:7); friend of Jesus (John 15:14); and witnessing (John 15:27).
WHAT ABOUT DEMONS IN CHRISTIANS?
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such as one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 5:4-5). The apostle here deals with the case of a disobedient and sinful believer in the church at Corinth.
In another case, Paul writes: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck; of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:19-20).
In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves; if God preadventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (II Tim.2:25-26).
When you go into the ministry of casting out demons, inevitably you are challenged by the question, Is it possible for a born-again believer to have a demon? In charismatic circles the question is, Is is possible for a believer who is baptized in the Spirit to have a demon?
Absolutely not! comes the stock answer. The Holy Spirit cannot coexist in the same body with a demon!
Actually, the answer to both questions above is definitely yes. Almost one-hundred percent of the deliverance ministry we have had has been among the born-again believers, and most of them were Baptized-in-the-Spirit Christians also.
Several arguments are advanced to prove that under no circumstances can a born-again person have a demon. The most common statement is that a Christian cannot be possessed. This will be discussed later as a misnomer. The arguments in summary run something like this:
The believer is inhabited by the Holy Spirit; therefore, the demons cannot coexist within the same body. The proof text usually used is I Cor. 2:12; however the verse does not say this.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (I John 3:8), and indeed He did. In the case of problems caused by demons, the remedy and method of doing this is cast out the demons in His Name.
The struggle inside the believer is always revealed to be the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and not a struggle involving demons (Rom. 6 and 7). Were that the case, the conscientious claiming of the promises of God would solve every human problem.
The believer is delivered from the power of Satan and his demons (Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 2:1-3). Yes, but like many other promises, not automatically, but only as we voluntarily meet God’s conditions for deliverance.
The Christian is provided with complete protection from the fiery darts of the enemy (Eph. 6). This overlooks the rather obvious fact that the armor is designed for defense from external, not internal enemies, and even so, the believer’s armor is not always in place.
In spite of these arguments, the dismaying fact remains that born-again Christians, including leaders, are having difficulties and problems which can find no solution in natural infirmities or the endless conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.
It is no secret that many have become discouraged and filled with awful despair.
Experience, of course is not the basis for the interpretation of the Bible. Nevertheless, if consistent experiences run counter to an interpretation, the dedicated seeker after truth will set out to find the reason. He must be willing to re-study his interpretation under the direction of the Holy Spirit and be prepared to make any necessary corrections in his own belief so as to be in full agreement with the facts as they are. Understanding the Biblical doctrine of human depravity should cause one to wonder that the Holy Spirit would enter a person under any circumstances.
You cannot argue anyone into believing that the old fundamental stand against Christians having demons is fallacious.
In demon influence, evil spirits exert power over a person short of actual possession. Such influence may vary from mild harassment to extreme subjection when body and mind become dominated and held in slavery by spirit agents. Christians, as well as non-Christians, can be so influenced. They may be oppressed, vexed, depressed, hindered and bound by demons.
Scripture does not clearly settle the question. It was based on the assumption that an evil spirit could not indwell the redeemed body together with the Holy Spirit.
As a result of erroneous teachings and beliefs, which are based neither upon Scripture or experience, Satan has deluded many concerning the question, can a Christian be oppressed by Satan or possess evil spirits? Can one who has never participated actively in any form of occultism be subjected or oppressed? The answer to both questions is yes, supported both from the Scriptures and experience.
The New Testament Greek word for demon is daimonion…in the King James Version…often translated devil. Associated in the New Testament with the noun daimonion is the passive verb daimonizomai. The literal meaning of this verb is to be demoned, that is, in some way under the influence or power of demons. In the King James Version this verb is usually translated by some phrase such as to be possessed or to be vexed by demons or by evil spirits. However, there is no distinction in the original Greek text to support these (translated) distinctions.
Believers were definitely subjected to demonic attack in the Scriptures. The physical afflictions and other disasters of Job are shown to be Satan’s work in Job 1 and 2. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23). A woman called a daughter of Abraham (father of the faithful) was bound with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:11-16).
There is no reason to conclude arbitrarily in the two latter cases that the persons involved were not believers. In II Tim. 2:23-26, where Paul discusses contention and disputing over doctrine, believers are indicated who have evidently slipped and need to recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are taken captive of him at his will.
A member of the church in Corinth seems to have been overcome by a spirit of lust (I Cor. 5:1-5). Jesus rebuked a spirit of fever in Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39) and the demon left her, and she was well. In Mark 3:33 and Mark 9:25, Jesus uses this same term to rebuke Satan. Sickness is described as an oppression of the Devil in Acts 10:38 and Jesus often healed by removing spirits of infirmity, which are simply another method of Satanic attack (Luke 4:40-41).
Consider Peter, who one moment spoke by Divine Revelation, declaring that Jesus was the very Christ, and in the next moment was reprimanded by Jesus, who rebuked Satan in him, saying thou savorest not the things that be of God (Matt. 16:13-23). Simon the magician is presented as one who believed and was baptized, but had evidently not been delivered from his occult bondage and was commanded to repent and pray (Acts 8:20-24). How did Satan manage to fill the heart of the believers Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5:3). Paul himself reports he suffered buffeting from a messenger of Satan (II Cor. 12:7).
The unguarded Christian may have demon possession in the soul, which would affect mental processes and emotions; or in the body, as was the case of the woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself (Luke 13:11). Of her, the Saviour said when He healed her, Ought not this woman,being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? To say that a Christian cannot be demonized in any area of his life is a happy but inaccurate generalization.
Paul reproves the Corinthian Christians for receiving another spirit than the Spirit they had previously received (II Cor. 11:4).
Paul inquired, in Gal. 3:1, about who had bewitched the believers to draw them away from the truth.
It appears that the full force of deceiving spirits is directed against the spiritual believer in doctrinal rather than worldly matters, although the latter may be used after the believer has been ensnared by the most subtle means. In I Tim. 4:1-2 the Apostle Paul gives a full account of how wicked spirits attack the spiritual believer and by deception beguile him away from the faith through the use of false prophets.
There is an almost universal sense of fear and loathing toward the whole subject of Satan and the evil spirits. Many believers have adopted the fallacious idea that if they ignore Satan, he will ignore them. Scripturally, such a position is indefensible (I Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7; II Cor. 2:11).
When the power of God begins to move in a person’s life, he quite naturally becomes an object for the Devil’s most crippling attacks.
The unreasoning fear of demons is fostered and promoted by Satan and his hosts directly.
A Christian can be tormented or afflicted by evil spirits in some area of his life and still be a sincere Christian; just as he can be tormented by physical sickness and still be a sincere Christian.
It is always a blessing to see truths, not mere speculations, in print concerning spiritual warfare.
I shudder when I hear someone remark skeptically, Well, I just can’t believe that. I’d have to see it first. They seek to shield themselves by mere ignorance!
I had no real problem believing in a personal Devil and in the fact that demons can infest both lost and saved as they have opportunity.
It was as foolish as telling Peter he could not walk on the water when he was already doing it.
When a person is born again by confessing his sin and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him, he is received by the Father and salvation comes instantaneously in the experience of the new birth (Rom. 3:23-24; 6:23; Rev. 3:20). Love, joy and peace are the initial, logical by-products.
The Holy Spirit comes to indwell and seal the believer as God’s earnest of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14) and His abiding presence is guaranteed until the believer is redeemed (in point of time) completely by being taken to be with the Lord, whether it be through the door of death, or through the door in the sky (I Thes. 4:16-17).
The Holy Spirit therefore inhabits the body of the believer in a peculiar and special way in these days since Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the assembled believers. The child of God (John 1:12) is accepted in the Beloved, Jesus (Eph. 1:6) and blessed with the assurance of God’s presence and blessing. (John 10:28-30).
In spite of these wonderful changes, however, a week will scarcely pass in a babe’s life (assuming he follows the Lord in Bible study and prayer), that he will not be convicted of some sin of omission or commission (James 4:17), which must be confessed (I John 1:9) and put away (Prov. 28:13). This will continue indefinitely as long as the believer is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many of these sins of omission and commission were present at the time of conversion and some will lie unnoticed by the believer for months, until the Lord deals with them. The Holy Spirit is able to coexist with these unconfessed sins. Why then is it so difficult to accept the fact that the Holy Spirit is able to also coexist with indwelling demons until they are detected, hated, renounced and expelled in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
PRAYER
I forgive the false teachers that say a Christian can not have a demon within their flesh or soul. God please forgive the false teachers and show them the truth. Please forgive me for believing the false teachers. I forgive myself for the damage done to me and my family by practicing false teachings. I break any curses of false doctrine on me and my descendants. I ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Master and Savior.
LIST OF DEMONS
Unclean spirit Devils Divers Diseases
Leprosy Satan Dumb
Foul spirit Deaf Fever
Infirmity Lies Falsities
Sorcery Bewitchment Fornication
Destruction Unforgiveness Another Jesus
Another Spirit Another Gospel Beguiling
Subtlety Corruption Weakness
Messenger of Satan Disobedience Anger
Lusts of the Flesh Blasphemy Hate
Desires of the Flesh & Mind Hypocrisy Profanity
Doctrines of Devils Striving Pride
Seared Conscience Afflictions Foolishness
Root of Bitterness Cults Despair
Angels of Light Error Hopelessness
Spiritual Pride Deceiving Suicide
Occultism Fear Resentment
Doubt Depression Sickness
False Doctrine & Teachers Magic Ignorance
Death Seducing Spirits
JESUS IS THE DELIVERER
n a Christian be demonized?
Can a Christian have a demon?
Luke 11.36 (KJV) IF your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark the whole shall be full of Light, as the bright shinning of a candle doth give thee light.
The Lord says “IF” your WHOLE body be full of light! Which means that it is possible for a body to have light but not be FULL of light. Jesus, Himself stress’ the point even further by repeating it again using different words: “having no part dark” the whole shall be full of Light.” The Lord Jesus Christ states plainly that the physical body of man can have darkness and light. It is ONLY full of Light when there is NO darkness there. Jesus says YES, a Christian can have a demon!
Brothers and Sisters, it is also very note worthy to be aware that Luke Chapter 11 is what I call the deliverance chapter. It is the Chapter where the pious religious people, Pastors of the day accused HIM of casting out demons by the power of the devil, satan, AKA Beelzebub. Jesus then, outlines the steps of standard deliverance and exorcism of Christians and others that have demons.
Main Objection:
The most common verse sited of why a Christian CANNOT be possessed by a demon is “…what communion hath light with darkness?…” this verse has been taken out of context in an effort to twist the truth of God’s Word into what they beleive, instead of beleiving what God’s Word says.
Below are the verses in question:
2 Cor 6.14-18(AV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We immedaitely see the subject and point of this passage are the relationship’s of God’s people! What (agreement) FELLOWSHIP does justice have with injustice? How can the light hang with the dark? What agreement does Jesus have with satan? The beleiver has no part or is not like minded with the unbeleiver. So how can we the our bodies being the temple of God be in FELLOWSHIP with the IDOLS the unbelievers worship and beleive. The Lord entreats us to come out and be seperate! Two cannot WALK together unless they are in agreement. You cannot serve two masters or you will hate the one and love the other. One of those in this type of relationship must come into the light or go into the darkness. The loss light; of our eternal life with Jesus Christ is very real. Watch and pray and forsake not the assembling of your self’s together. Are we then to have fellowship with unbelivers? No,not FELLOWSHIP but witness and aquintances.Yes For we know that in 2 Cor 5-6 The Holy Spirit teaches us that we are the Ambassdors of Jesus Christ and that we have a ministry of Reconcillation! Simply put, unbelievers are not suppose to be our BEST FRIENDS! The ones that we hang out with or that is to say have fellowship.
Here is a verse that I place before you for consideration: Rom 7.19-23 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
What Paul is saying here is that even though he is a Christian and That God dwells in him. Sin is still dwelling in his body! If light cannot dwell with darkness then how can sin still be in his body?
May God Bless and Keep you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen and Amen.
A CHRISTIAN CAN HAVE A DEMON
LIST OF SCRIPTURE
Matthew 12:43-45 A non-Christian was delivered and was worse off than before.
Matthew 15:22-28 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 1:23-27 Man in the synagogue (Believer) who had an unclean spirit.
Mark 1:39-42 Jesus cast out devils in synagogues throughout all Galilee.
Mark 7:25-30 Deliverance is the children’s (Christian’s) bread.
Mark 8:33 Jesus Called Peter, Satan, because he had rebuked Jesus.
Mark 9:17-29 Believer’s son had a dumb and deaf spirit.
Luke 4:38-39 Spirit of fever is a demon.
Luke 11:24-26 A non-Christian is delivered and is worse off than before.
Luke 13:11-17 Daughter of Abraham (Believer) had been bound by Satan for eighteen years.
Luke 22:3 Satan entered Judas, one of the disciples.
Acts 5:3-4 Ananias and Sapphira were believers who sinned against the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:5-7, 13 The people gave heed to things spoken of Christ when they saw the miracles.
Acts 8:20-24 Simon was a believer who was in bitterness and iniquity.
Acts 10:38 Sickness is an oppression of Satan.
I Cor. 5:1-5 Corinth Believer delivered to Satan for fornication with his mother.
II Cor. 2:10-11 Satan getting advantage of believer who is ignorant of his devices.
II Cor. 11:3-4 Believers receive another spirit, Jesus or gospel.
II Cor. 12:7-9 Paul’s messenger of Satan in flesh was a demon.
Gal. 3:1 Foolish Galatians were bewitched by spirits.
Eph. 2:1-3 The influence of Satan on the world.
Eph. 4:26-27 Anger gives place to Devil if you go to bed with it.
I Tim. 1:18-20 Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers who blasphemed.
I Tim. 4:1-2 Believers will depart from the faith in the latter days.
II Tim. 2:24-26 Help believers recover themselves out of the snare of Devil.
Heb. 12:15-16 Root of bitterness is a spirit which will trouble many.
James 4:6-8 Submit to God and then the Devil will flee from you.
I Peter 5:8-9 The same afflictions that are in the brethren are in the world.
GENERAL
There is nowhere in the Bible that says explicitly that a Christian can have a demon. But it does talk about believers having demons. If you are a believer, you are a Christian!
The multitudes that came to Jesus received deliverance; some were bound to be believers!
You can memorize the Bible and go to Hell. No part of the Bible is any good to you unless it is used! Head knowledge will not get you to Heaven; it takes heart knowledge.
Bible scholars can argue about theology until Jesus comes again and not settle the question of whether a Christian can have a demon; it takes experience.
When you start casting demons out of people, you find that Christians not only have demons but they have many demons! In our years of ministry, we have worked with thousands of people – small groups to large groups. We found that the congregation could have many demons. Then the Lord started us working with pastors and their families. We found that the five-fold ministry also had almost as many demons as the congregation. Finally the Lord had us to work with deliverance ministers. We found that they also had quite a few demons too!
We have seen leaders go into false doctrines. These can even be leaders that cast out demons. It appears that pride is their downfall. Pride is an abomination to God and is an active demonic area.
HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE DEMONS?
How can a demon spirit indwell the same body at the same time as the Holy Spirit does?
The New Testament word for spirit is pneuma. In comparison with the natural or soulish, the spirit is that part of man which has the ability to grasp and perceive divine things (I Cor. 2:14).
The word for soul is psyche. This word defines the self life – the emotions, the intellect and the will. Paul shows us that man is a three-fold being (I Thes. 5:23).
The Scripture teaches that prior to salvation a man is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Jesus comes into the human spirit and brings in His life (I John 5:11-12).
Jesus has made adequate provision for the whole man, but part of the responsibility now rests upon us as is shown in Phil. 2:13-15.
The word for salvation in this passage is soteria. The primary meaning of this word is deliverance from the molestation of enemies. The picture becomes clear. Jesus has delivered our SPIRIT from the power of Satan; now He says to us, Work out your own deliverance from the molestation of enemies until you have freed both SOUL AND BODY.
RESULTS WHEN PARENTS DO NOT PRACTICE DELIVERANCE
ON THEIR CHILDREN
The greatest need in the church today is teaching the whole Bible without fear or favor of man, and the practice of deliverance for every Christian. As you see the children, so you see the parents and the nation. Look at your children and see the parent’s mistakes in their lives!
In one day in 1988 – 2753 teenagers get pregnant, 1099 teenagers have abortions, 367 teens miscarry, 1287 teenagers give birth, 666 babies are born to women who have had inadequate prenatal care, 72 babies die before one month of life, 110 babies die before their first birthday, 9 children die from gunshot wounds, 5 teenagers commit suicide, 609 teenagers get gonorrhea or syphilis, 988 children are abused, 3288 children run away from home, 49322 children are in public juvenile correctional facilities, 2269 illegitimate children are born, and 2989 kids see their parents divorced. What do you think the statistics are today – probably much greater?
WHO IS A BELIEVER?
Because so many promises are given to those who are believers, it is important to know who the Bible classifies as a believer.
In the Greek believe indicates one relying on Jesus Christ for salvation. In Acts 5:14 the word means unadulterated trust. In I Tim. 4:12, trueness, to entrust one’s spiritual faith, assurance, well-being.
A check list for believers: must bear fruit (John 15:2); signs shall follow (Mark 16:17-18); shall do works Jesus did (John 14:12); answered prayer (John 15:7); friend of Jesus (John 15:14); and witnessing (John 15:27).
WHAT ABOUT DEMONS IN CHRISTIANS?
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such as one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 5:4-5). The apostle here deals with the case of a disobedient and sinful believer in the church at Corinth.
In another case, Paul writes: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck; of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:19-20).
In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves; if God preadventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (II Tim.2:25-26).
When you go into the ministry of casting out demons, inevitably you are challenged by the question, Is it possible for a born-again believer to have a demon? In charismatic circles the question is, Is is possible for a believer who is baptized in the Spirit to have a demon?
Absolutely not! comes the stock answer. The Holy Spirit cannot coexist in the same body with a demon!
Actually, the answer to both questions above is definitely yes. Almost one-hundred percent of the deliverance ministry we have had has been among the born-again believers, and most of them were Baptized-in-the-Spirit Christians also.
Several arguments are advanced to prove that under no circumstances can a born-again person have a demon. The most common statement is that a Christian cannot be possessed. This will be discussed later as a misnomer. The arguments in summary run something like this:
The believer is inhabited by the Holy Spirit; therefore, the demons cannot coexist within the same body. The proof text usually used is I Cor. 2:12; however the verse does not say this.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (I John 3:8), and indeed He did. In the case of problems caused by demons, the remedy and method of doing this is cast out the demons in His Name.
The struggle inside the believer is always revealed to be the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and not a struggle involving demons (Rom. 6 and 7). Were that the case, the conscientious claiming of the promises of God would solve every human problem.
The believer is delivered from the power of Satan and his demons (Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 2:1-3). Yes, but like many other promises, not automatically, but only as we voluntarily meet God’s conditions for deliverance.
The Christian is provided with complete protection from the fiery darts of the enemy (Eph. 6). This overlooks the rather obvious fact that the armor is designed for defense from external, not internal enemies, and even so, the believer’s armor is not always in place.
In spite of these arguments, the dismaying fact remains that born-again Christians, including leaders, are having difficulties and problems which can find no solution in natural infirmities or the endless conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.
It is no secret that many have become discouraged and filled with awful despair.
Experience, of course is not the basis for the interpretation of the Bible. Nevertheless, if consistent experiences run counter to an interpretation, the dedicated seeker after truth will set out to find the reason. He must be willing to re-study his interpretation under the direction of the Holy Spirit and be prepared to make any necessary corrections in his own belief so as to be in full agreement with the facts as they are. Understanding the Biblical doctrine of human depravity should cause one to wonder that the Holy Spirit would enter a person under any circumstances.
You cannot argue anyone into believing that the old fundamental stand against Christians having demons is fallacious.
In demon influence, evil spirits exert power over a person short of actual possession. Such influence may vary from mild harassment to extreme subjection when body and mind become dominated and held in slavery by spirit agents. Christians, as well as non-Christians, can be so influenced. They may be oppressed, vexed, depressed, hindered and bound by demons.
Scripture does not clearly settle the question. It was based on the assumption that an evil spirit could not indwell the redeemed body together with the Holy Spirit.
As a result of erroneous teachings and beliefs, which are based neither upon Scripture or experience, Satan has deluded many concerning the question, can a Christian be oppressed by Satan or possess evil spirits? Can one who has never participated actively in any form of occultism be subjected or oppressed? The answer to both questions is yes, supported both from the Scriptures and experience.
The New Testament Greek word for demon is daimonion…in the King James Version…often translated devil. Associated in the New Testament with the noun daimonion is the passive verb daimonizomai. The literal meaning of this verb is to be demoned, that is, in some way under the influence or power of demons. In the King James Version this verb is usually translated by some phrase such as to be possessed or to be vexed by demons or by evil spirits. However, there is no distinction in the original Greek text to support these (translated) distinctions.
Believers were definitely subjected to demonic attack in the Scriptures. The physical afflictions and other disasters of Job are shown to be Satan’s work in Job 1 and 2. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23). A woman called a daughter of Abraham (father of the faithful) was bound with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:11-16).
There is no reason to conclude arbitrarily in the two latter cases that the persons involved were not believers. In II Tim. 2:23-26, where Paul discusses contention and disputing over doctrine, believers are indicated who have evidently slipped and need to recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are taken captive of him at his will.
A member of the church in Corinth seems to have been overcome by a spirit of lust (I Cor. 5:1-5). Jesus rebuked a spirit of fever in Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39) and the demon left her, and she was well. In Mark 3:33 and Mark 9:25, Jesus uses this same term to rebuke Satan. Sickness is described as an oppression of the Devil in Acts 10:38 and Jesus often healed by removing spirits of infirmity, which are simply another method of Satanic attack (Luke 4:40-41).
Consider Peter, who one moment spoke by Divine Revelation, declaring that Jesus was the very Christ, and in the next moment was reprimanded by Jesus, who rebuked Satan in him, saying thou savorest not the things that be of God (Matt. 16:13-23). Simon the magician is presented as one who believed and was baptized, but had evidently not been delivered from his occult bondage and was commanded to repent and pray (Acts 8:20-24). How did Satan manage to fill the heart of the believers Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5:3). Paul himself reports he suffered buffeting from a messenger of Satan (II Cor. 12:7).
The unguarded Christian may have demon possession in the soul, which would affect mental processes and emotions; or in the body, as was the case of the woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself (Luke 13:11). Of her, the Saviour said when He healed her, Ought not this woman,being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? To say that a Christian cannot be demonized in any area of his life is a happy but inaccurate generalization.
Paul reproves the Corinthian Christians for receiving another spirit than the Spirit they had previously received (II Cor. 11:4).
Paul inquired, in Gal. 3:1, about who had bewitched the believers to draw them away from the truth.
It appears that the full force of deceiving spirits is directed against the spiritual believer in doctrinal rather than worldly matters, although the latter may be used after the believer has been ensnared by the most subtle means. In I Tim. 4:1-2 the Apostle Paul gives a full account of how wicked spirits attack the spiritual believer and by deception beguile him away from the faith through the use of false prophets.
There is an almost universal sense of fear and loathing toward the whole subject of Satan and the evil spirits. Many believers have adopted the fallacious idea that if they ignore Satan, he will ignore them. Scripturally, such a position is indefensible (I Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7; II Cor. 2:11).
When the power of God begins to move in a person’s life, he quite naturally becomes an object for the Devil’s most crippling attacks.
The unreasoning fear of demons is fostered and promoted by Satan and his hosts directly.
A Christian can be tormented or afflicted by evil spirits in some area of his life and still be a sincere Christian; just as he can be tormented by physical sickness and still be a sincere Christian.
It is always a blessing to see truths, not mere speculations, in print concerning spiritual warfare.
I shudder when I hear someone remark skeptically, Well, I just can’t believe that. I’d have to see it first. They seek to shield themselves by mere ignorance!
I had no real problem believing in a personal Devil and in the fact that demons can infest both lost and saved as they have opportunity.
It was as foolish as telling Peter he could not walk on the water when he was already doing it.
When a person is born again by confessing his sin and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him, he is received by the Father and salvation comes instantaneously in the experience of the new birth (Rom. 3:23-24; 6:23; Rev. 3:20). Love, joy and peace are the initial, logical by-products.
The Holy Spirit comes to indwell and seal the believer as God’s earnest of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14) and His abiding presence is guaranteed until the believer is redeemed (in point of time) completely by being taken to be with the Lord, whether it be through the door of death, or through the door in the sky (I Thes. 4:16-17).
The Holy Spirit therefore inhabits the body of the believer in a peculiar and special way in these days since Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the assembled believers. The child of God (John 1:12) is accepted in the Beloved, Jesus (Eph. 1:6) and blessed with the assurance of God’s presence and blessing. (John 10:28-30).
In spite of these wonderful changes, however, a week will scarcely pass in a babe’s life (assuming he follows the Lord in Bible study and prayer), that he will not be convicted of some sin of omission or commission (James 4:17), which must be confessed (I John 1:9) and put away (Prov. 28:13). This will continue indefinitely as long as the believer is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many of these sins of omission and commission were present at the time of conversion and some will lie unnoticed by the believer for months, until the Lord deals with them. The Holy Spirit is able to coexist with these unconfessed sins. Why then is it so difficult to accept the fact that the Holy Spirit is able to also coexist with indwelling demons until they are detected, hated, renounced and expelled in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
PRAYER
I forgive the false teachers that say a Christian can not have a demon within their flesh or soul. God please forgive the false teachers and show them the truth. Please forgive me for believing the false teachers. I forgive myself for the damage done to me and my family by practicing false teachings. I break any curses of false doctrine on me and my descendants. I ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Master and Savior.
LIST OF DEMONS
Unclean spirit Devils Divers Diseases
Leprosy Satan Dumb
Foul spirit Deaf Fever
Infirmity Lies Falsities
Sorcery Bewitchment Fornication
Destruction Unforgiveness Another Jesus
Another Spirit Another Gospel Beguiling
Subtlety Corruption Weakness
Messenger of Satan Disobedience Anger
Lusts of the Flesh Blasphemy Hate
Desires of the Flesh & Mind Hypocrisy Profanity
Doctrines of Devils Striving Pride
Seared Conscience Afflictions Foolishness
Root of Bitterness Cults Despair
Angels of Light Error Hopelessness
Spiritual Pride Deceiving Suicide
Occultism Fear Resentment
Doubt Depression Sickness
False Doctrine & Teachers Magic Ignorance
Death Seducing Spirits
