Can A Christian Be Demon-Possessed?
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A More Accurate Question
I think the more accurate question is, “Can a 'professing Christian' be demon-possessed?” These are the ones who 'honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him' (Mat 15:8). They are also known as 'carnal Christians' and some as down-right 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. Prov 26:24 states, "A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit." (NIV) Profession without confession:
Let's look at the difference in definition between 'profess' and 'confess', which is pertinent:
- Profess: Declare something openly; Declare something falsely - to make a statement falsely stating something is the case.
- Confess: Admit having done something wrong; acknowledge something to be true; admit sins.
Know that true, born-again, Holy Spirit-filled Christians cannot be possessed. An evil spirit cannot dwell in the temple of the Holy Spirit (Mat 12:25). The Holy Spirit is the power of God, and 2 Tim 3:1-5 states:
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
How can ANYONE harbor these things, yet hold to a 'form of godliness' in the public eye??? Unger, an authority on demonology says: The chief characteristic of demon possession is the automatic projection of a new personality in the victim, the inhabiting demon using the body of the possessed individual as a vehicle for his own thought, words and acts. (See DEMONS IN THE WORLD TODAY, pp.102ff. - see Amazon link above).
Physical or Spiritual?
We all know that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). He is the most proud, the father of lies and the master of deceit (John 8:44). Now, in these two passages, we should note that people do the same as their ‘father, the devil’. This could involve demonic influence, if not possession. The spirit will first deceive the victim; then, it attempts to deceive others through the victim. Satan is the accuser of believers; he spews hateful speech and will go to great lengths to inflict harm. His demons do the same. If a person seeks to harm him/herself or others, demon possession may be the issue. There are many different ‘stories’ out there, yet I will share with you some things I’ve observed about the phenomenon.
When an otherwise rational, ‘professing Christian’ has a marked, but temporary change in spiritual soundness and exhibits the above behaviors, demonic possession is suspect. Some people have mental illness; they may be bi-polar or have multiple personality disorder or perhaps, just a general personality disorder. For instance, demons often spoke in plurals in the Bible (Mark 5:7-9), yet those who manifest this in today's world are said to have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), aka Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). It takes spiritual discernment to know whether the change is physical or spiritual in nature. They could tell the difference in Biblical times (Mat 4:24) and we should know the difference by the Holy Spirit. I personally think possession has less to do with the mind and everything to do with the heart, namely the manifestation of hate and fear. It is always about self edification at the expense of others.
I find it strange when a ‘professing Christian’ goes through cyclical episodes of absolutely wicked behavioral/personality changes. They go from what appears to be normal ‘Christian’ behavior for a reasonable period of time (up to two or three months) to sudden lying, deception, manipulation, accusations, spewing hateful speech, and so forth, without accurately remembering what they did. In fact, the victim will NOT sense they’ve done anything wrong (no conscience). Though I used the word 'sudden', let me clarify that it's the 'hidden' things of the heart that are suddenly made manifest - visible. I have to wonder if it's really that they don't remember, or if this is yet another lie to escape accountability.
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The Chief Sin of Pride
While a born-again believer is submissive to the Holy Spirit (humility), a 'professing Christian' submits to no one (pride). Satan and his demons are prideful. Pride is exhibited in two major forms. I will call them 'Light' and Dark. The pride of 'Light' is hypocrisy. The person feels piously empowered and loves to be admired and seen by others. This gives them a feeling of 'righteousness' (the opposite of what they are) and feeds their ego. To talk 'about' God is as close to being a 'god' in their own mind. At the same time, sinful living is hidden from the public. That person is fornicating, abusing drugs (even prescribed) and/or alcohol, stealing, lying and so forth. They appear to be completely blinded to what they’re doing, 'justifying' (excusing) themselves and their behavior (aka DENIAL). Demons know they are guilty and tremble ~ they are without excuse (Rom 1:20; Jam 2:19). This guilt (conviction) breeds self-hatred in the possessed, which festers until the next episode.
The pride of Dark is when control and manipulation of others is manifested. As with the 'vampire' concept, it's 'feeding' time. While the 'Light' of hypocrisy involves many people, the 'Dark' manifestation is selective about its victim(s). It feels entitled to take whatever it wants from another and/or to project its own guilt and self-hatred upon that person, if met with opposition. Manipulation and lies are used to falsely accuse, belittle and shame, in order to gain. Satan loves to go after children of God, for they ‘have’ to ‘give’ and ‘forgive’. It also feels entitled to forgiveness, with zero accountability. The spiritual Christian will often struggle with this. It steals their peace and makes them feel like they've been 'poisoned', resulting in a nauseating oppression…see how it works? This is NOT OF GOD. Once again, 2 Tim 3:5 tells us to AVOID THEM. While true Christians can be oppressed by demons, they cannot be possessed.
Confronting a Demon
Should you ‘see’ with spiritual eyes and confront a spirit-possessed individual, don't expect NOT to get hurt. Whatever you say will be projected back on you. It's the "I know you are, but what am I" game. The person won’t ‘hear’ you, only the demon will speak. When demons speak, they LIE, and if you love the truth, lies will alarm and hurt you. Regardless, if you care about the person, you want to see them set free. This is a sickening battle. You will feel undoubtedly nauseous, while the possessed will feel more and more empowered. God is compassionate; the devil is hateful. I’m not talking about mere anger, but a murderous hatred is present.
Engaging a demon will bring ongoing harassment. The more you quote the Bible, the meaner it gets. Evil despises correction and conviction. Because it is more concerned about ‘winning’ than sinning, it will not let up and will become like a ‘stalker’ to wear you down (Dan 7:25). For the child of God, this will not work; it is just incredibly exhausting. A ‘professing Christian’ possessed by a demon will quote the Bible right back at you. Satan has quoted the Bible since the beginning. The difference is the motive behind the use of the passage. One seeks to set free, the other seeks to harm.
Experts say believers shouldn’t communicate with demons at all. We are simply to tell it to be quiet, in the name of Jesus. That is what Jesus did (Mark 1:25). If it won’t be quiet, cut off communication ~ however you can (2 Tim 3:5). Pray that the afflicted will be convicted of sin, of Christ’s righteousness and the certainty of judgment. Pray that the Lord Jesus will release this person from the bondage of the demon(s). Keep in mind, however, that if that person will not repent and get filled with the Holy Spirit, deliverance may cause a later, more wicked possession than at first (Mat 12:43-45).
Seared Conscience: Pride and Paranoia
Back to pride: the prideful spirit feels no sense of right or wrong (1 Tim 4:2). Everyone else is wrong (lie) and it is right (lie). A person with a seared conscience is labeled a 'sociopath' by the world today. It is estimated 1 in 25 Americans fall into this category. As prideful as this demon is, it is amazing it will also feel paranoid, believing the whole world is out to destroy it. It’s like the testimony of people who have experienced being high on drugs. They feel a sense of supernatural power, yet can get extremely paranoid. Prov 28:1 rightly states, "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion." This not to say demons aren't BOLD. They're viciously bold! Again, it comes down to LIES or TRUTH. Frankly, demons are terrified of being exposed and know they are condemned.
People who live in fear have an insatiable need to control others and thier environment. They are so competitive that envy, hatred, strife, covetousness, jealousy and many more sins envelop their hearts. They will use any means to 'one up' and defeat anyone who stands in their way. I liken this paranoia to a victim who is drowning and flailing in panic. First Aid classes will tell you to use wisdom in 'rescuing' them because you can surely get injured or pulled down with them (2 Tim 1:7; Mat 7:6).
Root of the Fruit
Jesus said we will know them by their fruit (Mat 7:16-20) and I'm telling you ~ you best NOT EAT OF IT. What is the ROOT of this poisonous behavior? What is the spirit behind it? Jesus also told us that, in addition to being the father of LIES, Satan was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). While some possessed people won't literally murder, the hate they have in their hearts is the same in God's eyes (Mat 5:21-22).
Satan and his demons are not out to make themselves obvious. They accomplish far more damage disguising themselves as everyday, 'normal' human beings. So, why can't they just stay hidden? Some are provoked by the presence of the Holy Spirit, others when fear and anxiety take hold. In combination, this is explosive. Once the demon is calmed (no longer provoked or has successfully manipulated its way to not feeling fear or anxiety), the possessed comfortably reverts back to the ‘professing Christian’ personality again, covering up their sin, shame and guilt. The prideful, ‘Light’ spirit is back in town.
Again, the fact that the person won’t acknowledge or 'remember' the severity of their sinful behavior or the damage imposed upon others is a sign that possession has occurred.
Responsibility
Someone under the power of demonic influence, if not possession, will no doubt read this and conclude that they are therefore, not responsible for their behavior, but will declare, "The devil made me do it."
Rom 6:16 states, "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
Dealing with demons is not a pleasant experience, to say the least. I truly feel compassion for people tormented by such things; however, the possessed are responsible for letting the demon(s) in by committing some serious offense(s), denying responsibility for those offenses, engaging in sinful living and refusing to submit to God. Preaching the Bible to others is not an issue for the ‘professing Christian’, but receiving the Word of God from an anointed believer will only provoke yet another demonic encounter.
- Demonic Possession - The Many Causes
A list of the many causes that can cause a person to be demon possessed.
A Step in the Right Direction
Demonic possession does not happen overnight. Though the ‘quick fix’ is to get delivered all at once, there is a lot a work to be done to make sure your house stays clean and locked to outside influence and unwelcomed guests. There are no short-cuts. The Christian walk is an ongoing battle between sin and obedience. A garden must be weeded and pruned regularly to reap the harvest. Jesus is the Gardener, and you must trust Him to keep your ground productive (Mat 13:25-27; John 15:2).
If you are seeing the behavioral elements shown in this hub in your own life, whether or not you understand the spiritual side of these things, there is only one solution that involves two: God and YOU. You have the power to make the decision to DO something about your situation. You do not have the power to change on your own. Know that it is not hopeless. While many who possess such characteristics abuse alcohol or other drugs, or may have even dabbled in occult practices, not all have or do. The 12-Step Recovery Program has worked for countless victims enslaved to darkness (and false 'Light'). If you're ready to get help, click on the link below to find a 12-Step Recovery Program near you. Take the first step to HOPE. The God that loves you is there to heal you.
- Meeting Finder - links to find 12 step recovery program meetings for AA, NA, CMA, SLAA etc.
a apge to help find twelve step meeings for recovery from alcoholism and addictions.
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Another great hub, I voted up, useful, and awesome. I always enjoy your hubs, my friend. They are well thought out and presented so well. Of course, all must go to the glory of God, and we praise Him for revealing these truths that will help set people free.
True Christians cannot be possessed for the very word possession indicates ownership. However, many true Christians are oppressed, but this issue can be resolved with fasting, prayer, and continual study of the Word.
Again, great hub, keep up the good work.
I am working on a hub about the tactics of our enemy, may I point others to this hub of yours by linking to it?
God Bless you always, and may He continue to give you wisdom in all things.
tlpoague, I'm glad you found this hub helpful. I've been through this and I pray unto God's glory. I know what you mean about struggling in your faith ~ note, that this only happens when you're dealing with such an entity. We are human. I have to say, demons get under my skin, and I pray not into my heart. Jesus had NOTHING positive to say to hypocrites and took authority over demons, even sending them to the sea. He never sinned and His rebuke was holy. We, as humans can get so angry because the anger of demons is infectious, like poison. I believe this is WHY the Lord's Word tells us to avoid them and leave the battle in God's hands. He has called us to peace. My heart is with you.
Jachda! Awesome to see you! Yes, when we are encountering such darkness and get wounded, the Lord is there to instruct us through it. The answers are in His word. Oftentimes I feel responsible to 'save' or 'deliver' a tormented individual, and though we have the power to do so, if the person does NOT want to acknowledge the severity of the condition or submit to God in truth, they can end up worse off than they are. Jesus said to the Church, "Feed My sheep", not "Feed ON My sheep". Experiencing this type of thing is like getting a taste of hell, and rather than destroy our faith, we need to cling tighter to the Lord and shut the door on wickedness, just as when Noah closed the door to the ark.
I very much look forward to your hub on the tactics of the enemy and am blessed you would link this hub to yours. I pray we will continue to use our experiences for the protection of the sheep. Oppression is not of God and we are not called to it. It will happen, but greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
God bless you, too Jachda. Wisdom and discernment come from God and it's given to us to keep us from harm. Thank you so much.
Another great, useful hub, sister! You make very clear where the decision point is, encouraging us that we have the power to choose.
Judah, great hub once again. I enjoy reading your hubs. It is very true that Christians fill with the power of the holy spirit cannot be possessed but they can be oppressed, and they have to be mindful of that fact because sometimes if you are oppressed you don't recognize it because you have given over emotionally to that feeling. Bind that spirit of oppression and it has to flee in the name of Jesus.
Amen, jagandelight! That's the thing...if we 'tolerate' this wickedness from others in the name of 'give and forgive', allowing ourselves to be victimized over and over again the oppression becomes habitual and 'normal'. Like the drowning person that pulls you down, misery 'loves' company. Jesus paid the price for sin; we don't have to. When He says to 'take up our cross', it is for the salvation of the lost, not the abuse of those who call themselves by His name and bring shame to His name. The scriptures about avoiding these people wouldn't be in the Bible, if we weren't supposed to heed them. May we get out to that quiet place, away from the insanity and give that oppression to the Lord through fasting, prayer, praise and worship. Hallelujah! Thank you and God bless you!
Ms Dee! Thank you for reading and for the edification in the Lord ~ that the point is indeed made that each is accountable for serving one master or another. We can serve sin (through mere profession without regeneration) or righteousness (through confession and regeneration). I've enjoyed studying Revelation with you, sister! I thank God for the true 'Light' of love in my life ~ there is no greater love than in Christ Jesus. Praise God and I just luv u bunches!!
This is a great hub. Well done.
There is a church in our area that claims to do this deliverance type counsel they claim that everyone has demons and they frequently dialoge with them in this process. I find this so unscriptural I was glad to see you clarify that we are not to diologue with them even the angels don't do that.
I also feel that many Christians chalk up a lot of thinks to demonic that is simply flesh.
The mental illness thing always confuses me as it behaves so similarly to biblical descritions of demonic activity.
Anyways ineresting information on the topic
You're so right when you say "an evil spirit cannot dwell in the temple of the Holy Spirit". then you confirmed what you stated with scripture (Mat 12:25). This is the right way to shed light on such a difficult subject. It is true, evil cannot reside in the same place as the Holy Spirit and we as true Christians are the vessel of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for so much insight into this complex realm. I pray that God continues to bless you in your work.
drbillfannin, I appreciate you coming by to read and for your compliment. I think we need to understand that evil exists and how to recognize the cause for such venomous (serpent-originated) hatred. People who are tormented have an insatiable need to torment others. They say those who have been victimized victimize others. The psychology of that is incredibly strange....certainly doesn't seem sound-minded to me ~ the opposite of God's Holy Spirit that gives us compassion, self-control and a sound mind. Blessings to you.
Hi sister Tamarajo ~ I can appreciate your testimony. I attended a group once that was all about demonic deliverance. People were encouraged to cough or even vomit (as evidence of demonic deliverance). Just plain stupidity, if you ask me. I just call it as I see it. One thing I know is that it's being in the presence of demons that makes a person feel nauseous. I don't feel nauseous, otherwise. That's why we have to CLOSE THE DOOR. It's no wonder we go to fasting (natural response) ~ we need to feel cleansed of that defilement and be freshly filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Thank God, His well never runs dry!
In the Bible, it was the demons who spoke the most. Jesus simply asked it, "What is your name?" and called it out. The woman that followed the apostles kept proclaiming they were men of God (true), but the Holy Spirit moved the Apostles to simply call it out. There's no engaging demons. Even the Archangel, Michael told Satan he dared not rebuke him, but said, "The LORD rebuke you!"
I've thought a bit about the psychology behind demonic possession ~ how it starts and why it continues. In the situations I've observed, the Lord explained (in a nut shell ~ I think I may try to capture this in another hub) that these people felt unloved as children. They felt incredible fear also, due to abuse. The reason anything they do seems to have strings attached is because they do 'good' to others with great expectation of receiving the love they've longed for in return. That's why they will fornicate, etc. When others can't meet their insatiable need for love, they get hateful and try to FORCE love, blaming others, using anger, guilt, bullying ~ even quoting the Bible with the wrong motive. All those unhealed, terrible emotions come flooding out on the one(s) who didn't fill the void. They push people away and thus, the feeling of being unloved, abandoned and fearful waxes worse.
They may claim to love others (they try, but with expectations) and should hang onto knowing God loves them, but truly ~ when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and KNOWS the love of God, they don't rely on others to do what only God can do. They even get mad at God! God understands and knows their needs ~ but, if they won't repent or realize they need help ~ and let Him in, they will continue in this cyclical sickness, which only gets worse. It's simply horrible. WOW, is all I can say.
Hi Becky Puetz, that's absolutely correct. God is just feeding me so much, as I am still processing on this topic. He's telling me to share that we should read the parable of the Sower and the Seed (Mat 13; Mark 4; Luke 8). Wherever that Seed landed, someone initially accepted it ~ and 'got saved'. Depending on the soil of the HEART, that Seed of salvation will either take root or wither away. If it takes root, it grows.
The Holy Spirit is about being submissive and controlled by God ~ thus, having self-control. This is not sporadic, but consistent. It's not about controlling others. There will be anger that rises up when in the presence of demonic attack, but it's righteous anger. Jesus got angry in the temple, overturning the money-changers' tables, yet was without sin.
I definitely get disrupted by demonic encounters, which immediately drive me to God, Who is my peace. The prayer of David is a righteous one, found in Psalm 139:23: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way."
He is faithful. Amen. God bless you!
JD Another inspired awesome hub of love 'sista' Thank you so much for 'clearing the air' by backing with scripture. I would expect no different from my sister in Christ. Amen. I just love ya, I encourage you to keep on In HIM. I know for me I have had some attacks but Our awesome God gave us power over the enemy. GOD is Wondrous and Glorious. In Jesus Name.
I wrote a hub kinda fun, 'how loud is your bark spiritual warfare' It was based on an inspired dream. I love you.
Sending a warm hub. You keep that light of yours shining
Judah's Daughter. ( - ;
I pray this indeed DOES clear the air for those who are being choked by darkness ~ praise God, it's not a permanent thing!! I'm sure there are many, many Spirit-filled, born-again believers that 'sense' and actually 'feel' the feelings of others ~ their torment, their darkness, their emptiness ~ the abyss in their very souls that need to be filled with Jesus' Light. For those who are drowning, Jesus is the air they breathe! 2 Cor 4:8-10 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." Hallejuah ~ we are not victims; we are victorious! We will keep on in Him, sista skye2day!! I could use a hub kinda fun right now ~ and I'm on my way over to your place! Thank you for shining His Light and love and blessings be upon you.
I really enjoyed this post as have been going through some changes right now. This passage has come to mind Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. I look forward to any new posts you have. Thank you !
I agree. A true Christian...follower of Christ cannot be demon possessed, but we can be oppressed. Have you ever read the book Shadow Boxing by Dr. Henry Malone? Excellent book on all this. I highly recommend it for anyone to read.
Hi newwoman53! I'm thankful you enjoyed this post and that you may have found it useful in the changes you're going through right now. Proverb 4:23 reminds me of sky2day's hub I just read ~ we've heard it said "home is where your heart is" and like a little puppy with a persistent bark, we are to guard our hearts with all diligence against the predator that seeks to force his way in, uninvited! Isn't it something that animals are instinctive to danger, whether physical or spiritual? I do hope you find more helpful information and inspiration in my hubs. Thank you for reading and I so appreciate your comment. God bless you.
Hi, sister His Daughter! Amen. A house divided against itself will fall (Mat 12:25). Here we have the Jews accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the lord of the demons, Beelzebub. Jesus refers to where demons dwell as the 'house' (heart/soul) in verse 29 of this same passage. Truly, Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. He says if anyone HEARS HIS VOICE and opens the door, He will come into him and eat with him (Rev 3:20).
It's important to understand that before we open the door, we best hear His voice. He said 'My sheep hear My voice and they know Me." (John 10:27) The Thief, on the other hand, uses deception to get you to open the door and let him in. He may dress 'like' Jesus, sound 'like' Jesus, quote (or should I say mis-quote) the Bible and promise to fill your heart's desires. He may even say you have a problem he needs to fix ~ so, he'll just come in for a moment to give you immediate relief....
On the other hand, for someone less likely to be deceived by the man at the front door ~ the Thief will climb up by some other way (John 10:1). See, Jesus is the Door. Everyone who seeks Him and knocks on His door is fully aware He knows EVERYTHING about them and cannot be deceived (Mat 7:7). They can only enter the gates of life through confession, truth, humility and willingness to allow Jesus to Shepherd them fully. There's no other way. No short-cuts.
Here we see the 'professing' thief standing at the door or trying to find another way in ~ and we see the 'confessing' sheep entering through the Door of truth. How to tell 'profession' from 'confession' is this ~ the 'professing Christian' is double-minded and unstable in all his ways (Jam 1:8). His fruit is calamity. The confessing Christian is single-minded (focused on Jesus) and is consistently stable ~ for we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. Any good tree will bring forth good fruit. For this, we know Jesus had to tell us to be fruit inspectors, for otherwise, the difference between the two 'trees' would be nearly impossible to discern.
I'm going to check out that book, "Shadow Boxing" by Dr. Henry Malone ~ I'll even post the amazon link here in this hub. This subject is not to be taken lightly, for we're going to see wickedness increase rapidly over these last days and we need to see this 'insanity' spot on and be there to reassure each other that this is really happening...God bless you!!
Please post the amazon link for this book.. I would also like to order it. Thanks everyone for the posts. This week I have heard "Guard your Heart" from many directions. I do believe with your last comment that we are seeing wickedness increasing rapidly and to watch out for the wolves and keep your eyes on Jesus.
God bless you Judah's Daughter, beautiful and tremendous hub. You know I love it, because you truly exposed the Enemy and his works. You are right a true christian can not be possessed by demons, God has built a fence around His saints, in order for the Enemy (Satan and his demons) to even come against us, he must have permission from God (remember Job). Judah's Daughter I love this writing, you know how I write, people have to know the wiles of the devil. You have truly brought it out in this hub, I am so joyful, knowing that I am not the only one that feels we are in spiritual warfare, the battle line has been drawn, as the Apostle Paul said, we have to fight the good fight of faith, we have to run our course for their is a crown of righteousness waiting for us. Judah's Daughter you are so blessed, continue to walk in the Way of the Lord, you are truly God's messenger. I love you in the Lord.
newoman53 ~ It is posted, my dear sister! I can't wait to read it, too! God is our Commanding Officer, and considering these last days are going to be more wicked than ever before, He is having us gird up for battle. Jesus said in Mat 10:21, "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death." The two verses just prior give us our hope: "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." May we endure till the end (vs.22).
VOICE CIW ~ Oh, you are certainly not alone and neither am I! I, too thought, "Am I the only one who 'sees' this stuff? Is my experience REAL?" I know in the past I have 'seen' stuff and sought Christian counsel to determine whether I was in error or on track ~ talking with another Christian and a psycholist at that, was refreshing, for the confirmation was there. This is really happening in this world.
It is absolutely TRUE, that Satan CANNOT come against God's children without God's divine permission. God certainly allows it, as He did with Job and Peter. Job and Peter came through it because they were men of faith. Judas did not because he was not a man of faith. Jesus said he was a devil from the beginning (John 6:70). For this reason, 'Satan entered him' (John 13:27) and killed him (Mat 27:5). On the other hand, Satan didn't kill Jesus, for Jesus said in John 10:18, "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again."
As painful as this 'dark' experience was (and I say 'was' because I CLOSED THAT DOOR), I continually brought my heart before God to make sure that exposing all this stuff would be unto His glory. He gave me the gentle, consistent push to have confidence in Him. My conscience is clean. I prayed that prayer of David (Ps 139:23) and I fully trust the Lord wanted me to expose this. He didn't bring me through this to keep it to myself. We are BOLD in the Lord, amen. I am praising God that this is confirmation to you and to all who have and will yet suffer through such things. Thank you so much, and God bless you always.
God bless you Judah's Daughter, God will keep His Own no matter what we go through. Thank God for the gentle consistent push He gave you, because look at you now, one of His Precious Jewels. You know a while back I was going through a fearful period in my christian life, and I felt that I was losing my faith, well, the Holy Ghost told me to read John 12:27-28, and it read, " Now is My (Jesus talking) soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour. Father Glorify Thy Name. " Then the Holy Ghost clarified those two verses for me, telling me how it applied to the situation I was going through. The Holy Ghost said just as Jesus was going to the cross, not only for our salvation, but, that God would be glorified. He (Holy Ghost) went on further to tell me that my situation was not hopeless, I would come out of it, because, God is going to get the Glory. He (Holy Ghost) told me that no matter what I or any other christian will or is going through, we should feel confident, that we will make it, because God is going to get the Glory. I apologize to you Judah's Daughter about this long comment, but when I communicate with someone like you who love the Lord, and know the Word of God, I get carried away. So accept my apology, don't want to take up all your time. God Bless You! I love you in the Lord.
Are you kidding, brother VOICE CIW? lol Look at my lengthy responses! You just let the Holy Spirit speak until He's through, praise God! I surely love to hear what Christians struggle with and how God answers them. I know when I go through a trial, my spiritual connection with God seems disrupted. I can't tell you how overjoyed I am when I hear His voice ~ hear His wisdom and know He's not ignored the situation. He cares about every detail of our lives. He is omnipresent and a very present help in times of trouble. He is GOD and each of us can know Him intimately, as our personal minute-by-minute Lord and Savior! You can get carried away anytime you want ~ praise God! Luv you in the Love of the Lord, too!!
Judah's Daughter, I just praise God, when I have a conversation with someone that loves the Lord like I do and is well-knowledgeabel, and deep into the Word, such as you. You know I just sometimes get tired when I comment on some of these hubs, where they talk against God, and have no knowledge of Who God is. I try to let them know that God is real and should be treated with respect, they should not talk against God, just because in their opinion God does not exist. So you know I will contend for the faith that has been delivered down from the prophets and apostles. A lot of these unbelievers are what God called Israel one time, stiff-necked people. Then Judah's Daughter, when I read your hubs and comment on your hubs, you are like a breath of fresh air. I thank God for you and other true christian hubbers, God said we are helpers of one another. Judah's Daughter you do encourage me in the Lord, and I hope I do the same for you. When it comes to God and His Word, I will always have your back. You stay blessed in the Lord. I love you in the Lord.
THANK YOU, brother VOICE CIW!! You know when I commented on your hub about hell, that the Jesus said He didn't come to judge [krino] the world, but to save it? Then, I shared that the Bible says the world is judged/condemned [krino] already? This is our chance to get saved and we have this life to make that decision; amen! It means regeneration by the Holy Spirit, not profession without confession; amen.
The lost are those who have an abyss of the soul, even now. It's a bottomless pit and there is no filling it by any worldly means. In fact, it is the habitation of demons. They are in waterless places (Mat 12:43). Jesus, on the other hand, is the well that never runs dry ~ full of living water ~ the only water that can fill that abyss of the hungering soul (Ps 42:1).
Imagine this world without the Light of Christ! One day, all those souls inhabited by evil will have only each other with which to dwell ~ that HOLE in their souls will never be filled with the Light of Christ. It surely makes us appreciate the love of God He shines through those who believe. It's not something that can be stolen from us, either. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39), when we abide in Him and His Word abides in us (John 8:31). I am truly thankful for His Light and love in you!!!
Judah's Daughter, you better preach that Word, Sister! I can see this world with the Light of Christ, and I don't want to ever imagine this world without the Light of Christ. That is one scary thought. We need Christ, Jesus says in John 15:5, and it reads, " He that abideth in Me and I in him, the Same bringeth forth much fruit: For without Me you can do nothing." My Sister we are nothing with Christ. In Him we live, move, and have our being. (Acts 17:28). Not profession without confession, I love that, and I say Amen to that also. Sister you are truly gifted of God, I love you in the Lord. We can go back and forth with Scripture, don't get me wrong now, this is a good thing, I love it. I know you are busy, so I will just look forward to the next time we communicate on the Word of God. You stay blessed you are forever in my prayers, you and your family. God Bless You!
Wonderful hub. GBY.
Thank you, stars439! Another tough subject ~ lol I so appreciate you coming to read and for the encouragment in the Lord's love. GBY 2U2!!
Great Hub! I've bookmarked this for future reading again. Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to us through you.
Blessings!
Thank you, Kristine Manley! I am thankful this hub ministered to you. You know, I thought about how some prefer not to use the word 'possession', but 'demonization' ~ I looked up the Greek word for 'possession' and it is 'daimonizomai', which according to Strongs means: "to be demon possessed". Okay, so this is about the human will being subject to the will of demons, right? Likewise, when we are born again, we are subject to the will of the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit were without our being, we would merely be 'influenced by' the Holy Spirit. When we allow the Holy Spirit to baptize us from the inside out, we are controlled by Him. It is the same for the other side. The problem is, man has to submit to one of two authorities in this life. God only gave us the free will to choose, but we will submit to following God or Satan. It comes through obedience to one or the other. We either do the will of our Father, God or the will of the other 'father', the devil.
God is the creator of all things, including the devil. God created every person, whether s/he submits to God or the devil. This is the time of grace to CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM WE WILL SERVE (Joshua 24:15). When it's all said and done, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. His coming to die for us on the cross was no small feat. The authority given to man by God was given by man to Satan in the garden. God came as a man to overcome sin in all its forms and die for us, in order to take that authority back from Satan and give it to us, once again. Only through the Lord Jesus Christ can we be saved ~ there is NO OTHER WAY. Praise God and Blessings to you as well!
I really like the information in your hub! I have been through it actually.... someone very close to me, who was a "Christian" but never opened the bible, prayed etc. I had married him, and he left, after I had enough of hid drinking, and asked him to stop or leave.... It was so much more, its so sad.... Everything you described described him to the teeth, and he is open to the possession, so is any "Christian" who thinks they are saved, but not ( if you have not submitted etc, you can't use a label to protect yourself) He listens to music that openly sings to satan such as Danzig and despite the alluring lyrics..combine addiction, no time spent in prayer or the Word, and songs that conjure up demons... and POOF! He was so cruel and manipulative, and his only goal was to destroy me... he wasn't happy until I hurt, literally, the only time he smiled, was when he made me cry....
Now that he is only here when he wants to see our kids at times (which scares me and I pray hard core) I can't get over the health nd well being of myself and the children.
I no longer have bruises all over me and I am not as weak and sick as I was around him, and th kids do not have nightmares as much or seem as stressed... they are so happy, safe and surrounded with Godly things, church, veggie tales, etc... Its amazing to see a person gone completely and a shadow inside them though.... I really appreciate how you made it so clear to understand , i tried to in my hub, but was not quite sure how to put it .
Oh dear angel115707 ~ can my heart and experience relate to yours! Unfortunately, those who are naive (as I was) can be entagled in such a dangerous situation. It IS very STRANGE when a 'professing Christian' husband, father of your child(ren) can go to church every week and 'praise the Lord', then terrify you with verbal, physical and even sexual abuse behind closed doors ~ merely because you didn't respond in the right tone of voice or you have that 'look on your face'. FLEE from them; praise God! We are not called to be abused!!
This article gives a bit more on the stats of domestic abuse in the United States: http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html
Abuse comes in many forms ~ I can tell you, as you know, it involves charm, then deception, manipulation and finally, bullying. It IS amazing the 'joy' (power/satisfaction) felt by the abuser while perpetrating! It's also amazing the 'sorrow' they allegedly 'feel' when you've set the boundary and left the relationship ~ all to suck you right back in for the next time. The only way to get rid of such a person is to shut the door and KNOW that they will feast on someone else and not let go...until THAT victim leaves, too.
Oh, how our senses have been trained to KNOW good from evil. We may have learned the 'hard way', but sometimes that's the ONLY way to make sure we value our freedom and sanity and STAY OUT of the cycle. I will head over to read your hub, sister. God is with you and He sticks closer than a brother! He is your Husband and the Father to your children. He is your Protector, your Provider, your everything. He loves you, and so do I!!!
Very informative article on a fascinating subject! I like your tender caring reply to Angel. We are here for ministry, not just to preach to the choir, but to help the hurting, to lead the lost to the One who brings salvation and healing. Your hub is spot on. Many tend to forget the reality of demonic forces. The are very clever and have been at their deadly game since the fall of man. They know full well who is protected and who is not. They prey on the weak. Making people aware of their agenda is an important cause. I applaud you for bringing this to light!
Hi brother, fred allen! You are so kind and I am always blessed to hear from you. Amen ~ when believers go through trials and tribulation, the fruit bourne is compassion for others who are tried in like ways. For those who don't truly believe, trials and tribulations are used as excuses to birth more wrath on the world ~ especially believers, who have something they can never obtain by carnal means. James 4:2 comes to mind: "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it." Oh, that they would submit to God's Holy Spirit!
I'm sure there are many incredibly 'UGLY' testimonies out there of encounters with the demon-possessed, professing 'Christian' ~ and if those stories were shared, what a very DARRRRRK place we would 'see'. The comforting thing about it is, we as believers have been given Godly wisdom and eyes and ears to 'see' and 'hear', for our Shepherd equips us to endure and find refuge in His care. God bless you always, brother ~ you are such a comfort.
Thank-you Judah's Daughter for writing this and bringing clarity to a theme that often detracts from the truth. This hub really hit home for me and I concur.
A lot of times the demonic loves to use the "professing Christian" to torment the real followers of Jesus Christ. If the demonic can't possess, then they will torment,taunt and manipulate. They love to throw out Bible verses to justify their behaviors using half truths.
It is very hard when a family member(s) is a "professing Christian", but is possessed by a demon(s). Through their behaviors they are attracted to mostly all the false ministries out there that feed off their carnality. We must be careful not to open up ourselves and entertain the spiritual harlotry within them and their false teachings which can open one up the doors to demonic possession and delusion. These "wolves in sheep's clothing" will want to lay hands on you and even surround you, but you must refuse their advances. The wolf pack is synonymous with their "biting" and leaving their victims "rabid".
When we allow ourselves to be surrounded by these "types" for extended periods of time, we often come away feeling "slimed" because the oppressive nature of the demonic is so strong in that person's life even though we can see through their deception.
A lot of ministries use "false anointing" to draw the masses. For example, the false heresy of "contemplative prayer" which opens one up to demonic possession. We do not need too empty ourselves because we are filled with the Holy Spirit. As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is important to allow the Holy Spirit in us to discern what is truth and what is the counterfeit. We don't go to battle unless the Commander commands it, otherwise His authority is not behind us and our legs can be taken out from under us.
The hardest thing can be separating yourself from the ones you love so much when the Lord tells us to, but we must stand on the solid ground of truth in Jesus Christ and allow Him to take over. We can lay our loved ones at His feet and trust and listen to what His will is for us and the one's we love.
Hallelujah, PlanksandNails! It is probably most common that Christians who encounter professing Christians that are enslaved to demonic possession have encountered it in their very family members. This is true in my case, except for one (a man I dated years ago, who manipulated me out of $6K, another who had prostate cancer out of thousands, and whose mother is still working at 80 years old because of refinancing her condo over and over again to support him - I believe he had a drug problem he wouldn't admit to). How many times do we get spiritually beaten by them (if not physically and/or financially) before we say, "Enough!"
The Lord yet brought me to another verse that supports shutting the door on them, and it is found in Tit 3:10-11 "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." Surely, the latest one was a family member that called me "Satan to the bone" when I tried to help her with unforgiveness, and again when I couldn't send her money, though she's already manipulated the very one she couldn't forgive out of thousands. When I finally closed the door, she then proclaimed it was "Satan who closed the door". The Lord's Word is filled with closing the door on the reprobate (2 Tim 3:5; 1 Cor 5:5 & 11; Mat 18:15-17 to name a few).
Because we know the Lord Jesus Christ and what He's done for us, we trust Him to be the Lord over those who are demonically enslaved. He is Lord of Satan and his demons and His staff and rod do not slumber. The more we try to make them 'see' the more venom is manifest. They are a victim of the poison within them, and until they get cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb and submit to the Lordship of the indwelling HOLY Spirit, they will dwell in their own judgment (John 3:18). As for we who are saved, we will not continue to allow their poison to defile us right along with them.
One big reason I did not suggest the possessed find a 'church' to deliver them is for the very reasons you mentioned. God is able to deliver them personally; amen. I went through it, so I know. I prayed to Him to deliver me from anything that was keeping me from truly knowing Him and that very night, He did. He was with me, spoke to my heart and gave me direction. He taught me the power of faith, rather than mere knowledge of the Word when it comes to warfare. Once I understood the power of faith and why by His grace we are saved by it (Eph 2:8), I have not fallen victim to futher victimization. He's given His children eyes to 'see' and discernment to 'know' holy from unholy. Again, I say we are no longer victims, but VICTORIOUS through faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen!!! God bless you and I thank you for your outstanding, right-on comment.
Note to the readers: newoman53 emailed me today because she got the book "Shadow Boxing" and read it in one night. She said there were things in there that didn't appear to line up with scipture and so she took it to her pastor with questions. That book has been removed from my site, as I haven't read it, but would rather not promote anything that may contradict the Word of God. Thank you, newoman53 for being a great Watchman!!
In answer to your question, it depends on whether you believe that conditions such as bi-polar disorders, dementia, amnesia, autism, CJD, dispraxia, depression, cerebral palsy, deafness, muteness..... are the rsult of chemical imbalances in the brain and something being amiss in its structure, or whenther they are the result of supernatural entities whose origins are in the dualistic Zorastrian belief system rather than Judaism.
Now I'm not a betting man, but I reckon that if you were to interview any world expert in the fields of neurosurgery, mental health care, or psychology, not one of them would put the above conditions down to bronze age deities.
So we have to ask ourselves, are all these learned experts with strings of letters after their names decieved by Satan? I think not.
Hi Disappearinghead, some conditions are medical, no doubt. One way to know it's medical is that the condition is consistent; it doesn't come and go, and it can be treated with medication/therapy. The ill will not necessarily despise help, but receive it gladly. This is because their hearts do not wish to feel victimized, nor do they want to endanger themselves or others.
I watched a video recently of a person with multiple personalities: she had one of a scared, small child who was happy being a kid ~ even a teen-ager. 'They' didn't appear to be extremely prideful, hateful and/or paranoid. Yet, when the "Enigma" personality showed up, all hell broke loose. That personality swore to kill the 'child' and began cutting her flesh, etc. to keep her from revealing the truth of the root of the illness. Is Enigma a demon? Perhaps.
A person under demonic influence, if not possession has inconsistent behavior and is incredibly gifted at lying and deceiving people for self-gain ('sound' in a reprobate way). They are equally prideful, hateful and paranoid. Why a person with schizophrenia, for instance, would hear horrible curse words when in the presence of Christians or be told they're worthless and to kill themselves is a phenomenon in itself.
Are there Christian 'world experts' in the fields of neurosurgery, mental health care and/or psychology that believe in demonic influence/possession? Certainly. Thanks for your contribution.
I like how you brought this hub in with: A More Accurate Question
I think the more accurate question is, “Can a 'professing Christian' be demon-possessed?” These are the ones who 'honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him' (Mat 15:8). They are also known as 'carnal Christians' and some as down-right 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. Prov 26:24 states, "A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit." (NIV)
GREAT intro, and with this in mind, yes this person can become Demon-Possessed. Voted-up!!
Thank YOU, drpastorcarlotta! You are one who KNOWS, amen! When doing research on the topic, very few, if any cover "the more accurate question". I don't think this question would even be out there, if people hadn't witnessed those who call themselves Christians enslaved to demonic influence, if not possession. It perplexes so many, and drives people away from Jesus Christ. I hope this answers the question adequately, as there will be MANY who say 'Lord, Lord' on that Day and will be told to 'Depart' because the Lord NEVER KNEW THEM. Astounding! God bless you as you keep that flame of the Holy Spirit's FIRE burning throughout the world in these last days, sister!! Let's stay FIRED UP for the Truth!!
Hey Judah's Daughter, you know I have to stay fired up for the truth, I have been SET FREE!!!!!!! I believe that God has brought us together because we will defend the faith! He knows who will do His work!! Love ya!
Judah's Daughter,
Have you read Blumhardt's Battle? It may give you a better understanding of what daemon possession is all about. It's a true account from over 100 years ago.
http://victory4you.net/blumhardtsbattle.aspx
Check it out! May change your outlook a bit, God bless!
Hi jstelletello, thanks for the link. I know there are those who, by involving themselves in occult activity, can be possessed by multiple demons and exhibit such extraordinary evil behavior. However, this is not always the case with exhibitions of demonic influence/possession. Some oscillate between hidden and manifest, while in the case above, there is no hiding. This hub is more about 'wolves in sheep's clothing', much harder to detect by the general population.
I just pray God's mercy be upon those enslaved to such strongholds, for greater is He who is able and willing to deliver from evil and empower to walk in His glorious Light. God bless you, too!!
Oh, this is so powerful! I often wondered why i did not imediately change after being baptized, and agonized for decades about whether i was sincere, and being terrified of people didn't help things, Church, along with any other activity involving people was agonizing.
I recently quit smoking, but see, I mean, really see my sins. It's not comforting. At all. The only thing that comforts me, is God never gave on me, no matter how stubborn the sin was, and altho I'm a complete hermit, people come and bless my life with great light and joy, even tho, they basically have to come to me.
I'm trying to change that, and went to church yesterday, and i didn't melt! haha! Yes, I believe even Christians, or those that mouth the word, as I have, can be possessed, but thankfully, if we intend, and always intend towards God, even if we are angry and lost, and offend him, he will find a way to reach us, in the most unlikely ways. Thank you for asking a difficult question, and the intelligent diswcourse that follows! lily
Hi Lily, what a beautiful spirit of truth and humility you have, sister. Let me remind you that demons lie and deny. They are not humble, but proud. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), yet if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). Moving on to the beautiful promise of 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Praise God. He loves you and what a powerful witness you are to all. Rev 12:11a "They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Keep on in the Truth, sister!!
I'm so happy to I know there are true angels of God on earth to teach what is good love from God is love Love is God!!!!!!!!!
Yes, generalbrat!! Love God, love self and others; Despise God, despise self and others. Know God, know Love. No God, no love.
tlpoague Level 7 Commenter 14 months ago
Great hub! I have bookmarked it for future reading. I am and have been in a place were my faith is in a constant struggle. Thanks for sharing!