Is it possible for a demon to
take possession of a believer in Christ?
by JACK WELLMAN
Who can be possessed by demons? Has demon
possession happened in the past? Does demon possession still happen
today?
Can Christians Be Demon Possessed?
Can a born-again believer in Jesus Christ,
who has been saved be possessed by the devil or by a demon or fallen
angel?
The short answer is no. The Bible is very clear about who is
in control of the spiritual world.
In 1 John 4:4 it says, “You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in
the world.”
Christians are called children of God and the Holy Spirit dwells within each and every believer.
Demons cannot occupy the same space that is occupied by
God the Holy Spirit because God is greater than any evil spirit since God is
the Creator of everything, including angels.
This supremacy of God includes even the fallen angels or
demons. We can know and recognize false spirits and by God’s Spirit we can
discern them and resist them since God lives inside every believer (1 John 4:15).
Who can be Possessed by
Demons?
Every time we see Jesus or the apostles casting out demons, they
are people who don’t know Jesus yet and are not saved.
We read the many stories of demons or wicked
spirits being cast out by the power of Jesus’ name or by Jesus Himself. Then
and only then can people come to faith in Christ.
Luke 8:1-3 says, “After
this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil
spirits and diseases [including] Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons
had come out …”
Again, every time you read of someone being
possessed by demons or wicked spirits, they are always unbelievers.
Another example is in Matthew 8:28-33:
“When he arrived at the other side in the
region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him.
They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with
us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the
appointed time?’
“Some distance from them a large herd of pigs
was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into
the herd of pigs.’
He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and
went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake
and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and
reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.”
Has Demon Possession
Happened in the Past?
In Mark
5:15-20, Jesus exorcised a demon possessed man. This happened many times in the
past from reading the New Testament.
.
In the case of the man that had the demons cast out, he
became a believer in Christ.
This clearly indicates that if you are not a believer, it
is possible to be possessed by demons. However, once you come to faith in
Christ, God dwells within the believer.
Mark 5:15-20 shows that those who lived in
the area knew a certain man who was possessed and were afraid to go near
him:
“When they came to Jesus, they saw the man
who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in
his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people
what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as
well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man
who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but
said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for
you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to
tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were
amazed.”
Here the man that was freed from a legion of
demons. This is incredible since a legion in Roman occupied Palestine was composed
of 6,000 soldiers.
This former demon possessed man then began to tell others
about Jesus Christ. From that day forward, this man would never have to
worry about being demon possessed again.
Does Demon Possession
Still Happen Today?
Since
demon possession has happened in the past then it most certainly can happen
today.
The first king of Israel, king Saul, was troubled by an
evil spirit. But it was only after the Spirit of God had departed him (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
Jesus gives a clear warning about wicked
spirits in Matthew 12:43-45,
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it
goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I
will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house
unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven
other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the
final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with
this wicked generation.”
Today, there are so many stories of demon or
wicked spirits possessing people. It is clear that demon possession still
happens
There is only one way to avoid being possessed by a wicked
spirit or demon - accept Jesus Christ and believe in Him. No wicked spirit can
dwell where the Spirit of God dwells.
Demons cannot occupy any place that God has conquered (1 John 4).
You can know for sure that demons will never
possess you because, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God
lives in them and they in God” (I John
4:15).
That is your true assurance that wicked spirits or demons
will never possess you. (1 John 4:12b).
In
this spiritual war, there are no fence-sitters – you are either with the Lords’
victorious army or with the wicked “Powers” of Satan.
Be
sure you are listed with the victorious army of the Lord. Settle that sin issue
right now by saying this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from
You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected
from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my
heart from this day forward.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for
the rest of my life. Thank you, Lord, that according to Your Word, I am born
again. I promise to obey You and study your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/12/names-of-demons-in-bible-i-was-only.html
The praises of God in our mouth
As we dance with joy
We will go forth
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
“War Song”
Robert Gay
lyrics
We have a weapon of warfare
The praises of God in our mouth
We have the Sword of the Spirit,
The word of truth. The word of God.
For no weapon formed
Against us will prosper.
For the battle is the LORD’s
And He’ll not fail.
We will go forth
And praise the name of Jesus.
And execute His vengeance
On the powers of the air.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
For no weapon formed
Against us will prosper.
For the battle is the LORD’s
And He’ll not fail.
We will go forth
And praise the name of Jesus.
And execute His vengeance
On the powers of the air.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The hosts of hell will flee
As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised.
And with a shout of Victory
(WOOO) His name
Will be praised.
a shout of Victory
(WOOO)
a shout of Victory
a shout of Victory
His name
Will be praised.J
Jack Wellman is a father
and grandfather and a Christian author, freelance writer, and pastor at the
Mulvane (KS) Brethren church in Mulvane, Kansas. Graduate work at Moody Bible
Institute. His books are inexpensive paperbacks that are theological in nature:
“Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children,“ “Do Babies Go To
Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?,“ "The Great Omission; Reaching the
Lost for Christ," and “Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical
Methodologies & the Bible."
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/can-christians-be-demon-possessed-a-biblical-analysis/
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