A new Christian recently told me that she was asked, "Do you believe in demons?" It is interesting that this can even be a question in the Christianworld.
My thought is, "Who cannot believe?" Unclean spirits are certainly present throughout Scriptures, so why would we doubt their existence? If Jesus gives those who believe in Him the power to cast out demons, then why do we think they have all of a sudden gone away or are no longer an issue?
There is not much teaching on this subject, and when there is, it is often not based on the Scriptures. The purpose of this post is to get each individual to study this subject for themselves. See what God's word says in the matter, for how will we be able to stand if we are ignorant of the devil's devices?
Can a Christian Have a demon? Is it possible for light and darkness to dwell together? What do the Scriptures really say about demons and demon possession? The following messages on this topic are from Aggressive Christianity and I thought they did a pretty straightforward job of looking at what the Scriptures say and don't say in this area. Simply click on the "play" icon in the audio bar after clicking the following links:
Can a Christian have a demon? - Part 1
How the speaker became introduced into deliverance by God. Definition of common terms.
Can a Christian have a demon? - Part 2
Can the Holy Spirit coexist in the same body as a demon? Can light abide in the same place as darkness? What do the Scriptures say on this matter?
Can a Christian have a demon? - Part 3
How do we open doors to unclean spirits? Why do most Christians not demonstrate the authority God has given us over powers of darkness? Why deliverance is called the "children's bread" (Matthew 15:26, Mark 7:27) and why deliverance is primarily for the believer (Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26)? Does the power to cast out demons come from Satan or from God?
Can a Christian have a demon? - Part 4
Isn't what is called demons mostly just the flesh? Is a demon on the outside or inside of a person? Doesn't a Christian just need to do is resist the devil and he will flee? Why so many Christians are unable to handle demonic manifestations and are ill-equipped to wage war against the devil? How our walk in salvation is paralleled in Israel's taking of the Promised Land?
Can a Christian have a demon? - Part 5
There are 2 classes of Christians: 1) Christian Civilians; and 2) Christian Soldiers. God calls us to be soldiers (II Timothy 2:4). Not everything is a demon, but not everything is just "the flesh". Soldiers must study the enemy and the strategies of warfare (II Corinthians 2:11). Somebody must be a watchman on the wall and not stick our heads in the sand. You only have as much authority over demons as Jesus has authority over you; this is why we need consecration unto God.
What should a Christian know and do about demons? Why doesn't religion prepare you to deal with the supernatural? Listen to the following message by Omega Church & Ministries Center:
Inter-dimensional Warfare and the Strongman Part 1
The Church runs off of supernatural power. Denominations and religious schisms are merely ways Satan has devised to divide and conquer the church. God is waiting for people to be filtered through religion and finally come to know Jesus, just like Israel left Egypt to wander in the Wilderness of Sin prior to entering the Promised Land. Casting out devils is as normal as breathing for Christians, but religious indoctrination makes this a foreign thing. An inter-dimensional warfare is taking place between our three dimensional world and the fourth dimension of the spirit world.
Inter-dimensional Warfare and the Strongman Part 2
The fourth dimension (the spirit world) is sealed to the four carnal senses; one must be given spiritual perception to pick it up. It takes time for God to reformat the mind of a born again believer in order to deal with the spirit world. Fear is not normal; fear is a spirit. We must walk by faith and be guided by God's word. There must be a sacrifice offered in order to breach the spirit world for spirits to come over. Jesus died on the cross as the last Adam (I Corinthians 15:45) placing a stake through the mind of the Adamic race (Golgatha - Skull Mountain). Being born again allows us to receive the mind of Christ and thereby the Holy Spirit; the essence of our transformation. Similarly, sacrifices are made to satan for his unclean spirits to comes over into vessels.
Inter-dimensional Warfare and the Strongman Part 3
As the spiritual world begins to open up more in the last days and supernatural events begin to transpire more, your mind must be formatted by the Spirit of God to deal with this. Most people have no understanding of God's supernatural power because there has been a period of delay as God prepares a people for this work. God is creating vessels fit for His use in order to take on the spiritual kingdom of darkness who are holding people captive so that they can be set free.
10 comments:
It seems either believers don't believe in them at all or they believe in them too much and study them too much, even to the degree they believe they procreate with humans and there is an entire race of half demon/half human creatures.
Hi Anonymous,
Error about any spiritual matter is likely not the result of too much study; afterall, we must be diligent to study (2 Tim. 2:15).
Scripture is clear that fallen angels mated with the daughters of men to create the nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4). While fallen angels are not demons, there are such things as a fallen, hybrid creation according to the word of God.
As in all things, we must let the word of God be the final arbiter of all truth.
Thanks for your comments.
It is not clear at all, unless we are reading the bible with that view already in place. [I don't see it at all.] We have to read more into scripture to come up with it. An angel cannot impregnate a human anymore than a dog can impregnate a cat. Every seed reproduces after it's own kind.
We don't have to agree on everything and I don't think this is something to argue about. It certainly isn't a salvational issue.
As far as my comment about too much study, I meant that we can go down rabbit trails and spend more time studying demons than Christ. I surely didn't mean it was possible to spend too much time in the word!
Hi Anonymous,
I can certainly understand that such is not clear to you. I also agree that it is not an issue of salvation, however it certainly is germane to the spiritual warfare of which those in salvation are engaged.
And no, one doesn't have to read into Scripture to see it; one simply needs to take what is written as being true.
The Scripture doesn't tell us how Mary was impregnated when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, but we know from Scripture that it happened because it says so. Similarly, Scripture does not say how the fallen angels impregnated the women, however we know from Scripture that it happened.
Thanks for clarifying your statement about study.
I've listened to the entire teaching and there is much truth in what Jim Green is teaching here. But I believe there to be much error as well. I for one would like to hear a more detailed explanation of his belief that God created Satan. He also seems to lean toward "Dominion" or "Kingdom Now" theology. He shows himself to be adamantly against the possibility of a pre-tribulation rapture (though he used to believe once upon a time), and there have been accusations of alleged cult activity within his ministry. Nevertheless I can relate to his initial shock at the reality of it all. Shock over Christians that would rather see those suffering with the demonic talking to psychiatrists, counselors, and taking drugs...as opposed to being delivered. I've been sharing on this for the past two years and the reactions are always the same. Unbelief or just flat out rebellion against any teaching that concerns the enemy.
Hey Broken_Skai!
I hope you are well.
While I know you understand this, for the sake of others I'll say that I cannot answer for any one else. However, I will share that I did not find "much error" in Jim Green's teaching here.
I thought he did a good job debunking the common response some Christians have that "Christians cannot possess a demon because light cannot dwell with darkness". While there are not specific examples of demons being cast out of Christians in Scripture, there are certainly examples of demons being cast out of God's people. Further, there is no Scripture which says that a Christian cannot have a demon, yet multiple Scriptures which illustrate that deliverance from demons is for believers.
So, I linked to those teaching solely for his breakdown of what the Scriptures say in this area.
From what I can recall, He seemed to cite God as creating Satan in the context of God being the Creator of all things (i.e. light & dark). Surely God did create Lucifer before he fell and became Satan, which I understood to be his point.
I also recall him speaking about how Christians must take "dominion". A flag went up at that time to make sure he was not getting into that Kingdom Now heresy. However, his context seemed to be in terms of exercising spiritual authority over powers of darkness, which again I believe is Scriptural.
I too am adamantly against the possibility of a pre-trib rapture primarily because I have never seen even one Scripture to support it. So again, no error there for me.
Maybe there are other areas you would consider errors beyond those, but I really didn't have any qualms with his teachings in the above topics.
When I first got saved, my own family thought I had gone off and joined a cult because of how significantly it changed my life (and even my interactions with them). So I usually takes such allegations from the world with a grain of salt.
I am not personally familiar with Jim Green although I have corresponded with the ministry a little. I too am aware of the allegations of cult activity. At the same time, I know that the ways of the world are alienated from the ways of Christ. Even Jesus they called Prince of the devils and He said they would call us even worse.
I am not saying that those allegations are false or founded. I am simply saying that I found this particular message valid enough to share.
I also can identify with what you share as people's reactions to discussing the casting out of demons...especially from professing Christians. This is rarely discussed in the churchworld and when it is, you get hit with a chorus of "you are talking too much about devils and not God." Seems that the only amount some are comfortable talking about such things is 0%. LOL
Either way, the info I share here is never intended to be swallowed hook, line, and sinker. Nor should a shared posting be considered a full endorsement of a minister. I am confident that God's Spirit is able to lead folks into picking out the meat and throwing away the bones, even from my own writings. :-)
God Bless!
Hello again,
I meant to thank you for sharing on this subject in my previous response. I don't know if you've ever heard of Derek Prince(1915 - 2003), but he preaches on deliverance and has written on the subject. One such book is titled "They Shall Expel Demons". I thought it an extremely useful and informative read. Now if only I could get other Christians to give it a chance.
As for Jim Green, I've never heard of him until now. Although I may disagree with him on certain points... the bulk of his teaching concerning bible language and the scriptures often used in arguments against this subject are spot on. I would recommend this teaching to others, coupled with advice to simply glean what you can.
The Lord warned me years ago not to make an idol of any of the ministers that He would use to teach me. Coupled with Scripture reading and prayer... I often listen to David Wilkerson, Leonard Ravenhill, Paul Washer, Derek Prince, G. Craig Lewis, Perry Stone, Mike Hoggard, and Katherine Kuhlman... and I do so with the understanding that these preachers and teachers are human beings. They're not above making mistakes, and none of them have all of the answers. In fact, they disagree on many issues themselves. For example, Paul Washer and Leonard Ravenhill disagree on the issue of whether salvation can be lost. Washer is Calvinistic(it can't be lost) while Ravenhill was Armenian in belief(you can walk away from salvation). Yet both men respected one another. Ravenhill and Charles Stanley attended functions together yet they were opposed on their belief about salvation.
I think it's the same with Jim Green. I'm sure he would disagree on different points with half of the ministers I listen to. But I respect what he teaches. There is a lot of truth in what he shared.
I was going somewhere with this and I just lost my train of thought...(hate when that happens) I guess that's a sign that I'm posting too much. So I'll just end this with a thank you for sharing on this subject.
May the Spirit of the Lord bless you and keep you ^_^
Hi Broken_Skai,
I too brother am fed from many of the preachers you named. Even though there may be sharp doctrinal differences among them, that doesn't mean that there is no light which can be received. Thank God that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own!
When my husband and I were reading Derek Prince's "They Shall Expel Demons" years ago, God stopped us and told me to copy a chapter to send to my cousin. Apparently - according to God - she was dealing with demons of the same kind being addressed which had come in through rock music. It really is a wonderful book for those seeking info on deliverance.
This is the first time I have posted a message from Jim Green and - as you - I thought there was enough meat for others to use in their own study of the topic. I do take what and who I post here very seriously, yet I also trust the Holy Spirit to lead as He sees fit. He is surely more capable than I. :-)
While I may have posted generally about demons before, this is the first time I think I have dealt with the topic of Christians and demons. People can have all sorts of theoretical discussions in the matter, but what do you do when a demon is casting someone down in front of you? What do you do when a demon is manifesting & speaking through a person, yelling profanities, spitting at you, and threatening to harm the person they are in? At such times, one cannot afford to theorize. You have to deal with what is in front of you by the power of God.
May God continue to strengthen, purify, and prepare all His people in these times.
I also neglected to mention that God had me send my cousin that information from Derek Prince when she was a teen. However, her family does not believe (although they consider themselves Christian) and nothing was ever done.
She is now an adult who has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and is trying to cope with this via medication and pysch treatment.
As you suggest, I do believe that much of what keeps psychologists/psychiatrists in business is demonic activity.
This was a great post!! I have left the field of counseling and psychology due to my belief in Christ. I use to work in a mental health facility and I was suppose to counsel individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, etc... I wasn't a believer at the time, but I knew deep down that these people's problem were spiritual. Once I became a believer I tried to continue working in the field because that was what I went to college for, but I could not because I knew that these people needed deliverance and not medication. I felt so bad because I knew the Truth and it was Christ. I just could not go on diagnosing individuals and labeling them disorders when I knew full well it was demonic possession. When I quit my job and left this line of work people thought I was crazy,they said I was wasting my education, etc... but I knew God was calling me to leave it until I became more mature in my faith to even fully understand these things.
This is a subject that does not get much discussion or explanation in the churches. But we know that God's Word is true and we must bring these things to the surface so that we all can be totally set free!
P.S. You all continue to pray for me as I battle a spirit of fear!
Post a Comment