Can A Christian Be Possessed?

What Is Deliverance Ministry?

Deliverance ministry is a more confrontational ministry that attacks the lies, deceptions and workings of the wicked one in the life of a person. All Christian ministries are a form of deliverance one way or another as truth takes the place of a lie. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.

However, “Deliverance Ministry” involves a more personal and direct confrontation with people who are in deeper bondage through Satan’s lies and to people who are bound to the point of demonic inhabitation.
Deliverance ministry also has a discipleship aspect that ministers to delivered people to give them the knowledge, authority and boldness to take back those things that Satan has stolen from them as well as maintaining their freedom so as to not become entangled again.

Why Study The Subject Of Deliverance?

•Because there is a tremendous increase of interest and practice of eastern mysticism among the populace, which contains a high amount of demonic spirit contact. Many people from the West have been involved in eastern religions that involve inviting a spirit to come in them, or invoking spirits to help them.

•Occult practices are on the increase. New converts are coming into the church which have been formerly attached to Satanism, witchcraft, and other cultic practices which are experiencing difficulties and attacks which are spiritual in nature. Many Christians prior to their salvation have used drugs and entered altered states of consciousness while practicing occult worship and have given themselves to spirits. Today there are false religious experiences

•The increased practice of cross denominational deliverance ministry throughout the world has re-opened the debate among evangelical believers.

•There has been an increased volume of books written on the subject both pro and con. It has ignited a large controversy within the church which requires study and investigation.

•Controversy within deliverance ministry raises the question as to whether or not a Christian can be spatially inhabited by a demonic entity. If a Christian can be demonized then there are many people in the church that are suffering with no prospect of hope because of the doctrinal position of the leadership. If a Christian cannot be inhabited by a demon then people are being subjected to a false regiment of ministry that is completely un-necessary and potentially psychologically harmful. .

Origin And Personality of demons

Their origin – There are three basic views in Christendom:

•They are fallen angels – (no scripture)
•They are the souls of wicked men that are allowed to roam the earth (no scripture)
•They are the Nephilim of Genesis six. The offspring between fallen angels and women before the flood (Gen. 6:4 – Jude 1:6) The offspring were killed in the flood and operate in the world as demons.

Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
(Note – The word for “wives” in the verse above can also mean “women”. It is the same word “ishshâh” in the Hebrew. Only by context can one know for sure, sometimes it isn’t clear even by context, such as in the above verse)

There is no clear biblical information as to what a demon really is but the Pharisees saw a distinction between a demon and a fallen angel.

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Their personality

The Bible uses personal pronouns and assigns to them the attributes of personality, i.e. they have intellect, etc. Along with the Greek word for demons we find the following descriptive adjectives: "unclean", "evil", "more evil", "deaf", "dumb", or "mute", "spirits of infirmity", and "divination".

The Work Of Demons

As Satan's subjects they carry out his work in the world. In general, their work seems to be one of temptation and deceit. I Tim. 4:1. More specifically, they seek to torment their victims in various ways. Luke 16:13

They can vex, or demonize people, but they can’t own people or possess people like a productfrom a store.
They can intensify the natural strength of a person. Mt. 8:28; Mk.5:4.
They can speak through people using the demonized person’s voice. Mk. 5:6; Acts 16:17
They can amass themselves in a person. Lk. 8:2; Mk. 5:9; Matt. 12:45
They can change a person’s behavior. Mt. 8:28; Lk. 8:27
They can bring illness and physical defects. Lk. 8:2; Lk. 11:14; 13:11 Mk. 9:17
They can work miracles. Rev. 16:4
They can physically injure a person. Lk. 9:39; Mk. 1:26; Mk. 9:20;26
They can prophesy truth through people. Acts 16:17
They can cause the demonized victim to attack another person. Mt. 8:28, acts19:1
They can pretend to be departed spirits of the dead. (familiar spirits)

Understanding the power of demons in the above verses one can ask the question, “If demons can do all the above, could it be possible for a demon to penetrate through the skin of a person and enter a body of a Christian? Is a Christian protected from demon inhabitation by virtue of their being a Christian? Do their personal choices and sanctification have any bearing at all in the matter?

What Place Can Demons Have In The Life Of A Believer?

The following is an attempt to evoke thought concerning a very controversial subject. I don’t believe a Christian is more or less spiritual because of his views concerning the capacity of demonic work in the life of the believer; the question is more about biblical accuracy and action.

In Pro 6:27,28 the question is asked, Pro 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? Is the answer, “Only if he isn’t a Christian”? In Gal 6:7-8 Paul makes a statement to Christians who were sinning, Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Will a man reap what he sows? Is the answer, “Only if he isn’t a Christian?” Paul warned in Eph. 4:27. “neither give place to the devil”. If a man gives place to the devil, will the devil take it? Is the answer “Only if he isn’t a Christian?”

If a Christian jumps off a tall building and violates the law of gravity, is he immune to the consequences? If a Christian participates in sinful or demonic activity is he immune from its power? Does sin still only work death? Does the fruit of sin change when one becomes a Christian? Is sin less sinful in the life of a believer? We are told we are at war with Satan. If we lower our shields and do not use the provided warfare equipment of God what will be the result?

In vain will one find a portion of scripture that grants immunity to Christians from demonic attack and the reaping of sin. This is contrary to numerous scriptures warning the believer against the power of the enemy and self-deception. Christians aren’t protected from the reaping of sin and disobedience just because they are Christians. A Christian can only withstand these things by putting on the whole armor of God, being obedient, and being filled daily with the Holy Spirit.

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1Co 10:6 And these things were our examples, that we should not be lusters after evil, as they also lusted. 7 Nor should we be idolaters, even as some of them, as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Nor murmur as some of them also murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 And all these things happened to them as examples; and it is written for our warning on whom the ends of the world have come. 12 So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Scriptural warnings and statements concerning Christians and the enemy

The following scriptures are a list of what the bible says the enemy can do to believers. If what these verses say are true, then one can ask, “Is it really so hard to believe demons can penetrate under the skin of a Christian and inhabit our bodies for a period of time if we give place to him?”

1. He can take a place in a believers. Eph. 4:27
2. He can oppose the believer. James 4:7
3. He can lead believers astray. I Tim. 5:15
4. He can devour believers. I Pet. 5:8
5. Jesus said he can kill, steal, and destroy. Jn. 10:10
6. He can tempt the believer. I Cor. 7:5; I Chron. 21:1
7. He can put thoughts in the mind of believers. Acts 5:3; I Chron. 21:1
8. He can attack our bodies. II Cor. 12:7; Job 1,2
9. He can deceive believers. II Cor. 11:3; Gal. 3;1
10. He can trick believers. II Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:11
11. He can take advantage of believers. II Cor. 2:11
12. He can build a stronghold if a place is given. II Cor. 10:4,5
13. He can speak through believers. Mt. 16:22,23; Luke 9:54
14. He can hinder believers. I Thes. 2:18
15. Demons can deceive believers through false doctrines. I Tim. 4:1
16. Believers can become one flesh with another person if they fornicate. I Cor. 6:16
17. Believers have the potential to fellowship with demons. I Cor. 10:19,20
18. Believers can be made a captive by Satan. II Tim. 2:26

A personal word - In my ministry I have come across demonized people who became Christians later in life. I am one that fell in this category. In my past I had given myself over to mind altering drugs, the supernatural and eastern religion. At age twenty I gave my heart to Jesus and was wonderfully saved, loving the Lord and full of His joy. However, after I was saved something else began to happen as well. Thoughts began to assault my mind on a level that I had never experienced previously for a long period of twenty years. I believed that is was the reaping for my sin and that I would have to endure it for the rest of my life. I was taught in Bible College that a Christian could not have a demon so I never believed they were the problem therefore I didn’t seek to have them removed. Much unnecessary grief was in my life as a result. Through the ministry of two Alliance missionaries I was set free from demonic vexation and have stayed free for ten years.

Are demons expelled the moment one truly believes in Jesus?

Proponents against the teaching that a demon can dwell in a Christian often make the statement that the moment someone truly receives salvation that all demons would automatically have to leave the believer. They admit that there is no specific statement declaring this in the bible, but is inferred through the collective verses that declare our standing in Christ. To them forgiveness of sins is equivalent to exorcism.
In my opinion we make a mistake to think that forgiveness of sins is synonymous to demons leaving simultaneously at salvation. I am not saying it isn’t possible that deliverance from demons can come the very moment Jesus enters into the heart, but I am saying there is no example of it in the bible.
It is clear that all demonized people recorded in the bible had to have the demons cast out. Why didn’t Jesus just tell the people to believe in Him and all the demons would leave them? Truly we must believe that demonized people can hear and believe the gospel. If this is true then we must ask the question, “Do all the demons leave the bodies of the believer the moment they believe?” There is no scripture that answers this question.
This next section is intended for you to consider if it is really strange to think about a demon in a Christian. As we have seen, Satan can do a host of things to us so why couldn’t demons penetrate our bodies. (Remember we are body, soul and spirit)

The Anointing and ministry of Jesus

In the following verses we see our Lord’s own words concerning His earthly work.

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

After Jesus spoke these words he began to practice what he preached in the same chapter of Luke. (look at verses 21-41) He healed the sick, cast out demons, and preached to the people.

In the gospel of John we see Jesus declared He finished that work His Father had given Him to do. . This statement is made before He went to the cross.

Joh 17:4 I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

Healing people, casting out demons, and preaching God’s word are the three things that entail the entire work of Jesus on the earth apart from His work on the cross. Look at the following verses and think about the ministry of Jesus on the earth.

Joh 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father.

Joh 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you.

When we look at the ministry of the disciples in Acts we see their participation in the same three things. I believe casting out demons was a regular work of the early church but it isn’t so today.

Jesus sent out seventy disciples to solely Jewish people in Luke chapter ten. They came back from ministering to the covenant people of God and declared how they cast demons out of people (Jews –covenant people). Jesus sent them out to do what He did; to preach, heal the sick, and cast out demons. John 20:21 is for the church today. Our ministry should entail the work of Jesus on the earth.

Can a believer be Inhabited by Demons?

Much of the legitimacy of deliverance ministry stands or falls on whether or not a Christian can have a demon/demons inside his/her body. There are many godly teachers that deny that possibility. If they are correct, then the practice of commanding demons out of a Christian is completely false, and unbiblical. On the other hand, if these godly teachers are wrong, then many people who truly need help in this area will not be able to get it because it wouldn’t be recognized as demonic. Therefore it is my opinion that the matter must be considered carefully in the light of the Holy Scriptures.
Personal experiences can also be legitimate as long as they don’t conflict with scripture and if the individuals are credible. Since my deliverance God has used my wife and myself to help other Christians be set free from demonic bondage. I pray that the following information will be helpful to you in reaching a decision in this matter, or at least help you to be open-minded.

The Greek terms for demons

Spirit – Gr. pneu-mah

This word is used for every kind of spirit, such as angels, demons, and the Holy Spirit. When used for demons adjectives such as evil, or unclean are placed before it to reveal the character of the spirit.

Demon – Gr. daimonion – dahee-mon-ee-on

This word is only used for evil spirits.

The Greek terms for demonization

It is very important to know that most English translations use the words “possessed by demons” or “possessed” when addressing a person that is inhabited by a demon. It is a poor translation and portrays a concept that isn’t biblical at all. The following is a list of the Greek terms that are used to describe people that are inhabited by demons.

(2x – Vexed Gr. ochleō - molested, troubled)

Luk 6:18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits (demons): and they were healed. (see Acts 5:16 – same word)

(2x possessed – echo – to hold̄ )

Act 16:16 And as we went to prayer, it happened that a certain girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by divining. (See Acts 8:7)

(1x Gr. pentho – vexed, to be affected)

Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and grievously vexed; for oftentimes he falls into the fire, and often into the water. .. Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour.


(1x - katadunasteuō - to exercise harsh control over someone)
Act 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him.

(12X – daimonizomai – to be vexed or troubled)

Mat 4:24 And His fame went throughout all Syria. And they brought to Him all those being badly ill suffering various diseases and torments, and those who had been possessed with demons, and those who had been moonstruck, and paralytics. And He healed them. (See Mt. 8:16,28,33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mk. 1:32; 5:15,16,18; Lk. 8:36)

Daimonizomai is the verb noun form of daimonion that describes their vexation in people’s lives by mental and physical torment. It merely takes a proper noun and changes it to a verb. We do the same in English at times. For instance, if I play a joke on you and someone asked you what happened, you might reply, “I just got Tonied”. My proper name was turned into a verb. Daimonizomai doesn’t even come close to the term “possession”. This verb form of vexing or oppression by demons is always seen in the scripture as coming from the inside of a person.

The Greek words “ktema - Mk.10:22 and “huparchonta - Acts 4:32 are the primary words used for ownership. God is the only one who truly possesses all things. The bible makes it plain that, “earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof: (I Cor. 10:28) As Christians we have been bought with the blood of Jesus. We belong to God. No Christian can be possessed in the sense of ownership by Satan, but I believe he/she can be vexed or demonized. Even the most demonized unsaved person in the world is not owned by the devil, and can come to Jesus. (See Mk. 5:6)

So what is demonization?

Demonization is merely what takes place when a demon spirit or spirits enter into a human body. It is the vexing of a person from within. A demonized person isn’t the property of Satan but a person that is being affected by demonic influences from within.

What is deliverance from demons?

It is a healing

Act 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him.

It is a removal of an evil spirit

Mar 1:39 And He proclaimed in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out demons.

It is a person, “Jesus”

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage.

It is the truth of the word of God

Joh 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Arguments Used By Others That Teach A Christian Can’t Be Demonized

I was taught dogmatically in Bible College that a Christian couldn’t have a demon in them. Because of the way God has worked in my life I was forced to go back to the scriptures and revisit what I had been taught. Listed below are several reasons that some bible leaders give to prove a Christian cannot be inhabited by a demon.

Argument one - There is no clear N.T. example of a true believer ever having been
demonized.

Response

•If we argue that because there is no N.T. example of a demon being expelled from a believer, therefore it can’t be true, then we must understand that our stand or belief is being built on silence alone.
•The same argument could be used for the O.T. believers. There is no internal evidence that a covenant child of God, namely the Jews could be demonized. In the Old testament there is zero mention of any practice or methodology of deliverance or exorcism except David playing the harp for King Saul.
•However, the silence of scripture didn’t prevent the reality of the event. Neither Moses nor the prophets ever spoke to it doctrinally. There was no methodology or guidelines mentioned to the priesthood as to how to deal with such things, yet we know by Jesus’ statement in Matthew and by the book of Acts that there were priestly exorcists.

Mat 12:27 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

Act 19:13 And certain from the strolling Jews, exorcists, undertook to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having evil spirits, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.

Jesus came under the O.T. economy to the Jews and cast demons out of His own covenant people. If the Pharisees had said to Jesus, “Where do you find this in the scriptures?” He could not have pointed to any scripture stating that a child of Abraham could be demonized. If someone asked the Pharisees where they received authority to cast out demons, where would they point in the scriptures? There was no clear scripture they could use.

It is a matter of historical and biblical fact the Jews practiced exorcism before Jesus came and after he had left. The question must be asked, “If one needs scripture alone as a basis for the possibility of something, where did the Jews get the idea of casting out demons?” Jesus recognized the practice of it in his day.

However, we have a very plain example of a saved woman who was demonized in Luke 13:10-16.

Luk 13:10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together and was not able to be completely erect. 12 And when Jesus saw her, He called and said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your infirmity. 13 And He laid His hands on her. And instantly she was made erect, and she glorified God. 14 And answering, the synagogue ruler, being angry because Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, said to the crowd, There are six days in which it is right to work. Therefore in them come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 And the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the sabbath loosen his ox or ass from the stall and lead it away, to give it drink?
Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound, lo these eighteen years, be loosened from this bond on the Sabbath day?

Jesus called this woman a “daughter of Abraham”, which is a term in scripture only used for true believers having genuine salvation. (See Rom. 4:8-22 especially verse 11,16; Rom. 9:8;) All true believers are the children of Abraham, whether Jew or Gentile. (Gal. 3:7) In Jn. 8:31-41; 44, Jesus told the Jews who boasted in the fact that they were of the physical seed of Abraham that Abraham was not their father, rather Satan. Being a Jew did not make one a child of Abraham.
The argument naturally develops to the difference between a saved person under the O.T. economy, and a saved person under the N.T. economy. Those that believe that a born-again believer can’t be demonized/possessed say that the O.T. believer did not have the Holy Spirit, but the N.T. believer does. This leads to the next argument or objection.)

Argument Two - In the O.T. People didn’t have God’s Spirit in them as Christians have now, therefore demons and the Holy Spirit could not possibly dwell in the same body simultaneously, because God would not tolerate such an evil presence in the same body in which He dwells.

Response

•It is understandable that many would have great difficulties in believing that God would share the same space with the presence of evil, especially as one contemplates the stark contrasts of character between the two. The force behind this objection seems to be that somehow God is tainted, or too holy to tolerate a presence of a demon; therefore one or the other has to be absent.
•It carries the idea of a woman in a gorgeous white wedding dress in a coalmine. The beautiful white dress is so incompatible with the filthy black coal that it must leave or be defiled by the coal, or that the coalmine is transformed into a clean wedding chapel.
•Though this view is very understandable in the realm of human reasoning, it fails to portray the biblical view of God’s nature and character. Does it really matter where Satan or demons are? According to the scriptures they are all in the omnipresence of God. (Ps. 139:7-8) God is omnipresent. The bible makes it plain that the Spirit of the Lord is everywhere beholding the good and the evil.
•The bible teaches that the temple of God has three sections, the Holy of Holies, the Holy place and the outer court. Satan has daily access into the very throne room presence of God to accuse the saints. (Rev. 12:10; Job 1:6) Is God defiled or dirtied by the presence of Satan?
•The scriptures teach Christians are the temple of the Living God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in all true believers.
•If Satan can gain access before the very Throne of God in heaven why is it that many presume that he can’t enter into the temple of God called “a Christian” if the believer gives him a place? The enemy loves to tread his filth on holy ground.
•God experiences demonic presence regularly, whether they are inside a believer or outside a believer. What difference does it make? Is God less Holy outside a believer than inside a believer? God has tolerated the world’s sin, Satan and demons in His omnipresence for over six thousand years. Can God only tolerate demons at a distance? Does close proximity cause God to recoil? Can the difference of being underneath the skin of a believer or above the skin of the believer cause God to recoil in repugnance? The answer to me is no.

Another biblical truth that would seem to refute the idea that God and evil can’t dwell together in the same body of a believer is the fact that God dwells in us whether we have a demon or not. The flesh is every bit as evil, corrupt, and sinful as any demon. (Jer.17:9) Yet God dwells in us as His temple. If we are as unholy in our flesh as God says we are and we don’t taint God’s holiness by His dwelling in us, then certainly a Christian that is demonized can’t either.)

•The scripture makes it plain a Christian can receive “another spirit”.
2Co 11:4 For if, indeed, the one coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these .
Paul speaks of the possibility of Christians receiving a different spirit. We know there are doctrines of demons that had been introduced to the church from heretics and that they would abound in the last days. ( I Tim. 4:1) Paul warns Christians from adhering to such doctrines. Many Christians have been deceived and damaged from such doctrines.
Our minds can be lead astray by listening to false teachers preaching false doctrines. Paul rebukes believers for receiving a "different spirit". How can believers have a different spirit than the Holy Spirit? By "receiving" it without testing the spirits.
This is what is being done in the current "counterfeit" revivals from certain Pentecostal groups and Word of Faith groups. I have personally cast demons out of Christians that had been deceived by these teachings. Christians all over the world are blaspheming God in unknown tongues from spirits they received in such meetings even though they were believed they were glorifying God. The experiences of many Christians with being “drunk in the spirit”, “slain in the spirit”, laughing in the spirit”, and “barking and growling in the spirit” are all counterfeits of the Holy Spirit. These false spirits need to be renounced and cast out of God’s people.
In my opinion, believing that a Christian is automatically protected from demonization when they disobey God or adhere to demonic doctrines solely by the virtue of being a true believer produces a false security and doesn’t take into account the stern warnings and exhortations contained in God’s word.
I think it is shallow and unreasonable to say that all the people that have pursued false spiritual experiences are unsaved or merely self deluded. Their experiences are very real but demonically energized

Argument Three - The scriptures teach that it is impossible for a Christian to be
demonized.

The evidence from the scriptures that are used to disprove that Christians can’t be demonized are not weighty and are taken out of context. In my studies I have found that the following scriptures are used to support the negative argument.

Scripture argument one – God is greater than demons so no demon could be in a Christian

1Jn 4:4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Response

•Many teachers say that this verse makes no sense if a Christian can be inhabited by a demon. However, the context is making a declaration that God is superior in power over Satan. That is the very essence of deliverance ministry. It is the driving force that gives the saints the confidence to dispossess the enemy.
•There is nothing in this verse that proves a demon can’t be in a Christian, only that God in us is greater Satan.

Scripture argument two – The bible states we don’t have the spirit of the world

1Co 2:12 But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.

Response

If one is honest with the context of this scripture it will be seen that this verse has nothing to do with a demon, but to the world’s system. The word “spirit” is also used to describe an attitude or mindset. (Eph. 4:23) It is interesting to note that in II Cor. 11:3 Paul speaks about the Corinthian believers receiving, “another spirit”.

Scripture Argument Three – We are separated from demons

1Co 10:20 But I say that the things which the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not desire that you should have fellowship with demons.

Response

•Once again, if the context is looked at, it will be quickly seen that these verses deal with eating meat offered to idols. Paul declares to eat the meat is to be a participant with the ones the meat is being offered too. He challenges the Christians not to be participants with demons by the act of eating the meat. Isn’t it interesting he declares we can be participants with them?

Scripture Argument Four – There can be no fellowship of God with demons

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you 18 and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Response

•This scripture is only dealing with the unequal yoking between a believer and unbeliever. The unsaved is a child of Satan and the saved is a child of God. The two should not yoke. Besides, there are multitudes of Christians yoked with non-Christians in marriage, and in business. It has nothing to with demons. Keep in mind there is a huge difference between a demon in a Christian vexing him and that same demon fellowshipping with God. The two are completely different things. This is light as a straw as an argument to prove a Christian can’t be demonized.

Scriptural Argument Five – God and demons can’t be in the same body

Jas 3:11 Does a fountain send forth at the same hole the sweet and the bitter?

Response

•The context of this verse is dealing with the words that proceed out of the mouth of the believer, not the ability of God and demons to co-habitat the same body.
•Even though a fountain doesn’t send at sweet and salt water at the same time we know all too often it happens concerning believers with gossip, backbiting, and judgmentalism.

Scriptural Argument Six – Demons look for unoccupied houses, a believer is an occupied house - Their soul of the man below is “unoccupied” — that is, the Holy Spirit does not indwell him. Thus he is open to demonic invasion. That cannot be true of those whose bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 6:16).

Mt. 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came” ; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation .

Response

•The context of this verse is obvious. Jesus declared that the present generation of Jews to which he ministered was like a man who had demons cast out of him but wasn’t repentant, resulting in a worse condition. Jesus said it would be the same for the present generation of Jews who had the Messiah in their midst, bring truth and deliverance but still they rejected Him. The house of Israel was an empty house which refused its builder entry.
•Notice, this has nothing to do with believers, only unrepentant unbelievers that Jesus called “evil”.
•We have already discussed other verses that hold dire warnings in connection to the believers walk and what happens if he gives ground to the enemy.
•This isn’t a proof text that can be used to say that demons can’t enter a believer because a believer as a temple is occupied by the Holy Spirit. Satan enters the occupied temple of God to accuse the brethren before God day and night.

Scriptural Argument Six – A born-again Christian is promised he can’t be touched by Satan

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God guards himself, and that wicked one touches him not.
Response

• The word “touched” is the Gr. word “haptomai” which means to cling, to fasten oneself to. It is used by Jesus when he told Mary not to “touch” him because he had not yet ascended to His Father. This verse isn’t speaking to whether or not a believer can have a demon but that Satan doesn’t have the hold on us that He had before our new birth. The whole world lies in wickedness but we have eternal life in Christ.
• The Christian can be vexed by demons but Satan can’t have a hold on them the way he does in the lives of the unsaved.
• The new birth brings a change of nature so that the one born again can’t practice sin as a lifestyle the way he did before his salvation, he is a new creation in Christ. But he must guard himself so that he doesn’t give Satan a place or advantage. We know that there are many exhortations to believers concerning the possibility of failure and disobedience.
• The bible makes it very clear a believer can be taken captive by Satan

2Ti 2:24 But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient, 25 in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.

• This verse is written about believers and not unbelievers who were opposing Timothy’s authority. All unbelievers are already captive by Satan and are the children of wrath. The whole world lies in wickedness. The unbeliever is captive the moment he is born. The ones Paul speaks of are people who had been taken captive by falling into a snare.

A Quote from John MacAuthor - You say, "You mean a Christian could be caught in the snare of the devil?" You better believe it. First Timothy 3:7 says even an elder could, an overseer. It says, when you're choosing men to be pastors and overseers, make sure that they have a good reputation with those outside the church so they don't fall in to reproach and the snare of the devil. Yes, the warning there is that even an elder could fall into the snare of the devil. And I see right here believers who have listened to vain speculations, who have gotten involved in useless words and arguments and debates and have bought in to the lies of Satan, have fallen into his trap, have gone into a spiritual stupor. And they need to get out of because he says at the end of verse 26, "They are held captive by him to do his will." They are literally in a captive state, captive to Satan. Christians...imagine that...becoming captive to Satan, becoming the pawns to do Satan's duty in the church because of their sin. (John is totally opposed to the teaching that a Christian can be inhabited by a demon but he does acknowledge II Tim. 2:24 IS SPEAKING ABOUT BELIEVERS)


Scriptural Argument Seven – Jesus disarmed the enemy and rendered him powerless

COL. 2:14-15"When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him" (or, through it, the cross).

Response

•Then why put on the whole armor of God if we wrestle with a powerless foe that can’t attack us? This makes no sense. The disarming was God taking the power of sin, which was the law, which Satan used for guilt and condemnation and nailing it to the cross rendering it of no effect. Though glorious, the law was an administration of death that was powerless to save or produce righteousness.
•Once again this has nothing to do as to whether or not a Christian can be demonized.
•The scriptures makes it clear by way of admonition that we as the church are to learn from Israel, whom God has established as an object lesson.(I Cor. 10:1-11; Heb. 4:1-11) Because of unbelief and disobedience they were taken captive and defeated many times by their enemies. Though given great promises by God that depended on their obedience, they were never protected by their enemies solely by virtue of being the covenant people of God.

I could go on and on with verses that people use to teach that a Christian can’t be demonized but in reality and truth it is a vain attempt to find in scripture immunity from the demonization of demonic spirits. Many Christians, prior to their salvation, have been in deep gross sin that may have opened the door for demonic infestation. It is unwise and scripturally presumptuous to presume that just because they asked Jesus in their lives and received forgiveness of sin, that the enemy automatically vacated.
There is no statement of Scripture to clearly indicate that Christians are incapable of being harassed or even invaded by evil spirits if they give ground to evil spirits. Ignorant Christians have done many foolish things because of lack of understanding and knowledge. They have pursued false religious experiences that emanated from doctrines of demons, and have dabbled in horoscopes, Ouija boards , Bloody Mary, making the table talk, practicing old wives tales that have occult roots, putting occult objects in their homes, astrology, hypnosis, Yoga, transcendental meditation, cast spells through occult video games like “Dungeons and Dragons” and dabbled with Harry Potter style incantations and chants, and the list goes on.
I know the subject of deliverance ministry evokes much debate and emotion, but we must not allow emotions to obscure our objective approach to the Scriptures. The Word of God, not our religious prejudices must be our foundation and hope. Satan will flee from the believer who submits to God and resists him (James 4:7). We have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, the authority of Christ, and the whole armor of God that enables us to stand and be delivered from every trick of Satan (Eph. 6:10-13). Deliverance ministry directly confronts a powerful adversary and overcomes him with truth and the power of God. May all of God’s people who are in need of deliverance stand strong and begin to take back what the enemy of their souls has stolen.

Early Church And The Exorcism Of Believers

It isn’t a new idea that Christians were in need of deliverance after faith in Christ. In my studies of church history I have found that exorcism for the believer was a common practice prior to their baptism.
I want to make it clear that the early church believers do not supersede scripture but at times they can be helpful to our understanding of early practices and beliefs whether they were bad or good. The first three centuries of church history is replete with pre-baptism converts to go through exorcism. Cultic worship mixed with sexual perversion, idolatry, drunkenness, and drugs was so rampant that exorcism was a constant practice among early believers.
Church leadership began to deal with a new convert’s past before he/she was baptized. In the early Church a person especially trained and appointed to pray and drive out evil from those about to be baptized performed exorcisms.

Read the following accounts of some early church writings concerning what we would call today, “Deliverance Ministry”.

“This exorcism, which at first only called on them to renounce the devil and all his works, was subsequently modified so as to include certain prayers; adjurations in the name of Christ, commanding the demons to leave the persons about to be baptized; and imposition of hands.” (Tertullian, Apology, 23, translation in ANF 3:37–38.)

Breathing upon (insufflation) the catechumen (pre-baptism convert) was next added and was administered both before baptism to signify the expulsion of the devil and after immersion to symbolize the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cyril of Jerusalem exhorted his catechumens to receive exorcism with diligence in the time of catechising; for whether it was insufflation or exorcism, it was thought to be salutary to the soul. (Cyril of Jerusalem, Procatechesls, 9, translation in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 14 vols. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1978),

“Moreover, from the day they are chosen, let a hand be laid on them and let them be exorcised (exorkizein) daily. And when the day draws near on which they are to be baptized, let the bishop himself exorcise (exorkizein) each one of them, that he may be certain that he is purified. But if there is one who is not purified let him be put on one side because he did not hear the word of instruction with faith. For the evil and strange spirit remained with him” (Apostolic Tradition 20.3-4, 8 This instruction appears in every versional form of the Apostolic Tradition, including the Sahidic, Arabic, and Ethiopie, implying that this was the practice in these areas of the church as well.)

And when the days approach [for the occasion of baptism], let the bishop exorcise each one of them separately by himself, so that he may be persuaded that he is pure. For if there be one that is not pure, or in whom is an unclean spirit, let him be reproved by that unclean spirit. If then anyone is found under any such suspicion, let him be removed from the midst (of them], and let him be reproved and reproached because he has not heard the word of the commandments and of instruction faithfully, because the evil and strange spirit remained in him (Testamentum Domini 2.6).

Egcria attests to this practice in the Jerusalem catechumenate (Peregrinatio 46). Similarly, Cyril of Jerusalem urges the catechumens to receive the exorcisms with earnestness and goes so far as to say that "without exorcisms the soul cannot be purified" (Prochatechesis 9). In one of his writings on catechesis, speaking about an exorcism prior to baptism, he told a catechumen, "on the command to stretch out your hand, you renounced Satan as though he were there in person" (Mystagogical Catechesis 1.2).

Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Ambrose, Cyprian, Augustine, and other early Church fathers testify to the practice. It certainly cannot be described as a practice isolated to the Roman church; it was practiced in the catechumenate in Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, North Africa, Asia Minor, Italy, and elsewhere.
A corollary to this practice was a time of renunciation of Satan and deliverance during the actual baptismal ceremony. As the new Christians were baptized, they were also instructed to make a verbal renunciation of Satan:

“And a deacon shall take the oil of exorcism and stand at the left hand of the presbyter . . . And when the presbyter grasps each one of those who will receive baptism, let him command him to renounce, saying, "I renounce you, Satan, with all your service and all your works." And when he has renounced all these, let him anoint him with the oil of exorcism, saying, "Let every spirit be cast far from you" (Apostolic Tradition 21.8-1O).

Immediately following this exorcism and renunciation of Satan, the person being baptized would confess their allegiance to Christ in a creedal form:

I believe in the only true God, the Father, the Almighty, and his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior with his Holy Spirit, the giver of life to everything, three in one substance (homoousios), one divinity, one Lordship, one kingdom, one faith, one baptism, in the holy catholic apostolic church, which lives forever. Amen (Apostolic Tradition 21.12).

Deliverance ministry has taken place throughout church history. It isn’t a new doctrine produced by charismatics. It crosses all denominational lines. I can’t think of a more logical time to deal with people than right after their conversion and before their baptism. Especially with the kinds of gross sin that have invaded our society.
Too many in the church today have reduced everything to a simple prayer that they believe immediately brings us into God’s fullness. However, we know in Ephesus people burned their books and renounced the hidden things of darkness.
Deliverance ministry contains within itself a form of discipleship that runs counter to our modern culture and seems strange to the majority of Christians today. It is equated by many denominations and church movement leaders as balderdash, hogwash, and as foolish as little green men on the moon. However, I think it very important to begin to take it more seriously in this time of great falling away where people are getting more involved with strange fire religion.
Deliverance ministry in the early church also involved bible study, learning Christian doctrine, and growing in the grace of God. There are so many important truths being overlooked by conservative Christian leaders because of outrageous and sensationalistic abuses by some in the church. I think that we need to revisit what the early church understood about the power and influence of the enemy. Instead of overreacting and condemning deliverance altogether, it may be better to learn how to employ better deliverance methodologies and create a better environment for discussion.
The teaching of demonology and spiritual warfare may be considered irrelevant to people who have been raised in modern society that has a world view so different from the first-century polytheistic culture. But if we throw out the baby with the bathwater then we are in danger of not being able to deal with the full effects of the rise of false religions that are exploding in the west.
This is a real phenomenon in our postmodern world. People in the west are deserting Christianity while at the same time exploring spirituality through other religions. Are we ready to deal with people and their religious experiences as they are converted and come into the church?
What will be the most effective form of discipleship? Could deliverance play an important role as it has in the past?

The early church sets for us a challenging example on how to train new believers and help them grow in Christ during the first three years of their walk with the Lord. It is my hope that evangelical churches would invest more time, thought, prayer, planning, and resources into a healthy assimilation of new believers.

Keeping The Balance Between Deliverance And Discipleship

Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name. 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Yet do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven. 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for so it was pleasing before You.

One of the problems in deliverance ministry by practitioners is an improper balance between discipleship and the act of deliverance. Deliverance is sometimes overemphasized and seen as a cure all for Christian victory. There are inherent dangers in deliverance ministry just like any other ministry, namely, pride and over emphasis. This must be guarded carefully.

In the portion of scripture above we see two very important things:

First, we are not to glory in power and authority but in our God and Savior and the salvation He has provided for us.
Secondly, we must read all of Luke 17 in context and see that at no time did Jesus tell His disciples that they could practice deliverance or even indicate that it was one of their privileges, although in other passages we are told that he gave them authority over demons. We can’t be sure if he verbally told them about their authority because of their surprise and joy they had when they returned as they reveled in the fact that demons obeyed their commands. Jesus in returned thanked the Father that He revealed to them this authority. The only thing Jesus told them to do was to speak of the kingdom of God and how they should conduct themselves. Not a single word was overtly mentioned about demons.
A very important point should be made here. This is the only time we see Jesus rejoicing in the NT. As Jesus saw the power of the spiritual truth His Father had shown the disciples, He saw Satan fall like lightening as a result. I encourage you to meditate on this portion of scripture.

As in all things, we must always be careful not to allow what we do by the power of God to become our focus or a matter of pride. But we do need to rejoice that God has given us something that is powerful in the bringing down of satanic strongholds in the lives of people. The church must re-discover what she knew in ages past but at the same time keep her balance lest she falls.

Learning From Israel And Applying It To The Church
Was Israel protected from the captivity of the enemy just because they were the covenant people of God? In the scripture above God makes it clear that everything about Israel in the Old Testament was written specifically for the church as a divine object lesson. What would God have us to learn from Israel’s sin and captivity? (Look up I Cor. 10:6-14; II Chron. 6:36; I Kgs. 8:46—50; Neh. 9:27;33,36; Ps. 106:40-41)
When God tells us as Christians not to sin and for us to remember His divine object lesson in Israel, I think we need to re-evaluate the capacity of the enemy when we give him ground. (Eph 4:26-27)
The Apostle Paul is not stating a new spiritual principle or insight. Paul is only offering a specific instance of the general principal that when God's people continue in sin, He gives them over to an enemy. Yet many in today's church completely deny even the possibility of this biblical and spiritual dynamic. They are "just sure" this could not happen, even when it does.
After the prisoners of war were released after the Viet Nam war our country declared that there were no more prisoners left in the country. The truth of the matter was that there were more prisoners but our government didn’t want to deal with the issue. I believe there are prisoners of war in the church that we don’t want to acknowledge. Some don’t want to believe it is true. Some though they know it is true don’t know what to do. It is my prayer that God will raise up some spiritual John Rambo’s so that some rescue missions are attempted. The sad thing is that there are many Christians that know they are captives of the enemy and have been in captivity so long that they have resolved within themselves to call the place of their captivity “home”.
2Ti 2:24 But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient, 25 in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.
Imagine a man caught in a bear trap. He cannot get loose and doesn’t know what to do to in order to escape the steel jaws. Suppose he then sees his friend approaching through the trees, and feels terribly embarrassed to have gotten into this predicament, so he tries to duck down and hide. But his friend has already seen him, so the helpless captive decides to straighten up as if he were standing there with no problems. His friend, approaching, says, "Where have you been? We've missed you. Is anything wrong?" "Oh, no. Nothing at all. I’m fine" (The Christian “fine”- F.eelings I.nside N.ever E.xpressed) The captive man smiles the best he can through the pain and hopes that his friend will go away, so that he can get back to the struggle of trying to free himself. But the friend has noticed the trap and is already prying the jaws open. "You nut!" the friend says, "Why didn't you call out for help? Why did you try to hide from me and then to hide the problem? Come, you are free now--it was easy for me, and the pain will go away soon.
Another problem would be if the man told his friend that he had been caught in the bear but the friend told him that he didn’t believe him because that just doesn’t happen to people, only bears. You can see that both men need a proper response.

Conclusion

If it is possible for a Christian to be inhabited by demons and Christian ministers refuse to believe that Christians can be demonized, this will only leave the believer without help in the church. In my opinion, not to believe a Christian can be demonized produces a false security for the believer. It can work on behalf of evil spirits because Christians won’t even consider the possibility of a Christian being demonized? Though the Bible does make much of a believer's walk in victory, and gives every assurance of protection and preservation, it still does not rule out that a believer might fall, or sin, or come under demonic control to some extent.
I do not wish to minimize anyone’s feelings, but it is important to understand that a personal opinion is just that, and that it is not the final authority. All of us are guilty of bias determined by presuppositions, which we have been taught, and our own personal experiences.
Because of our propensity towards bias, we must carefully and earnestly try to establish ourselves in the truth as we prayerfully search the scriptures to see if these things are so. (Acts 17:11) I do not see myself as more spiritual than a brother who doesn’t agree with me. It only means that those who believe in deliverance ministry will help others in a way that some ministers will refuse to help because of their personal convictions on this subject.
Remember, just because you are a Christian doesn’t automatically protect you from Satan and demons. The armor of God is available to every Christian but he must put it on himself/herself. It doesn’t automatically come on just because one is a Christian. The devil has everyone's destruction in mind, including Christians. Many Christians today do not have on the full armor of God. We must be ready as Christians, on all fronts, to stand and rebuff the power of the enemy in our lives, holding fast to our salvation, our faith, the Truth, Jesus righteousness, the Word of God, the gospel of peace -- and, last but not least, in prayer constantly.

I am thinking now of a group of Christian girls from a Baptist church who had an overnight party at the home of one of the girls. They were all professed Christian teenagers, howbeit, young and ungrounded in scripture. One of the girls had brought an Ouija board, which is considered a harmless game in the US and is sold in stores. The girls all put their hands on the pointer and began to ask the board questions. Suddenly a demon entered one of the girls and spoke through her. It terrified the girls. The mother of the girl that spoke a demonic utterance began to notice changes in her daughter. I talked to the pastor about it but he thought the girl would be all right and refused to believe there was any demonic activity. Today the girl is outside the church today and has many problems. I pray the day will come when she will renounce what she did and seek help in order to be set free.

As a pastor who practices deliverance I want you to know that I still have many questions and I am not sure of a few things connected with certain methodologies and points of view in certain areas. But I am convinced that scripture doesn’t tell people that have demons before they are saved that those demons leave the moment they believe on Jesus. I believe this is mostly presumption on our part. I also believe that if Christians give ground to demons they will take it to the fullest extent of their power.
I hope this outline will begin a good time of study, conversation, and prayer. I look forward to having a solid time of discussion on this subject in the summer.

God bless you all,

Pastor Tony



Questions Related To Deliverance Ministry

How does one define demonization?

Answer: Demonization is an invasion on any level whereby a demonic spirit enters a human body.

What about mental illness and neurological diseases, which may have the appearance of the demonic?

Answer: One of the questions people ask about deliverance ministry is, “How can you know if the problem is spiritual, physical, or mental?” It is a perfectly acceptable question to ask and deserves an answer. Some things have been called demonic by certain people only to find out that it was a physical problem like epilepsy. However, some things have been explained as a physical problem when in reality a demon was behind it.

Just as doctors have tests to find a problem in the body, one can test for a demon as well. Once a person has agreed to have themselves tested for a demon it is only a matter of approaching the area in which the demon is working and put the spirit under command. The demon must leave under the authority given to us in Christ. If the problem persists then other avenues can be explored. As a rule, most people who have gone through deliverance and have been healed have already exhausted all the other possibilities.

Sometimes doctors treat demonic symptoms as only a mental problem with drugs that only mask the real problem. For example, a person can be overcome daily with unreasonable fear and anxiety. The doctor writes out a prescription that keeps the person numb to their feelings. Drugs have now masked how the demon was working. Demons don’t mind this since the whole idea is to keep people defeated. I have personally cast demons out of a woman who was declared mentally ill and was only treated by strong drugs, none of which can cure but only help a person to cope.

There is no doubt that discernment is needed in deliverance ministry. With the aid of the Holy Spirit one can have godly insight. Deliverance is not the realm of the shallow, timid, or ignorant. One must have on all the armor of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is a serious thing but God can give tremendous insight into the unseen spiritual realities.

Was demonization a first century phenomenon or is it real today as well?

Answer: It appears from earliest human recorded history the idea of spirits or entities has been understood and recognized by humans in every country and culture. The only difference is how the spirits are perceived as to whether or not they are good or evil and differences as to their origin. Right up to modern time spirit activity is recognized as a reality among the common people in most countries of the world. The elite and well learned have been educated beyond their intelligence and have discarded the possibility of demonic existence. They have merely traded demon spirits for science and technology and have equated spiritual entities to little green men on the moon. They are secularist and refuse to acknowledge the supernatural.
There isn’t a single country on the earth where demonization isn’t seen in some capacity. Man is a spiritual creature and is subject to spiritual experiences. Not all of them are good and not all of them are evil. There is a great need for spiritual authority so one has the capacity to define and recognize good and evil spirits. In my opinion that authority is the Word of God. God declares in His Word the existence of good holy angels, fallen angels and demonic spirits as well as their character and work. There is nothing in the Word of God that would suggest that demonic activity w0uld diminish in the latter days but exactly the opposite. (See I Tim. 4:1,2)

To what extent of deliverance does salvation bring the moment one believes?

Answer: Deliverance in the bible can’t be relegated to demons alone. It is also a deliverance from an evil master, deliverance from a kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light, deliverance from a sinful spiritual state into a righteous spiritual state, and it is a deliverance from deception into the truth. Jesus is the “Deliverer” and flowing from Him comes all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
At the moment of salvation comes new birth, forgiveness of sins, justification, positional sanctification and a host of other blessings. But I think it is presumptuous to think that if a person has demons in them when they trust in Christ that they automatically leave the moment they are saved. That isn’t to say it isn’t possible but only that it isn’t specifically taught in scripture. It is clear through the ministry of Jesus and the disciples that all demons that were in people had to be cast out.

I would also like to say that salvation doesn’t make one immune from the vexations of the enemy by virtue of salvation alone. I spoke to this in more detail in the article above.

Is there a difference between demonization, obsession, and oppression?

Answer: The word obsession isn’t a biblical word but rather a substitute word used by Christians who recognize the work of Satan against a Christian but at the same time refuses to admit that a demon can be in a Christian. However, the word “oppressed” (Gr. katadunasteuō” Acts 10:38) is found in the KJV. In its context it is clear that the oppression was taken care of by Jesus through the removal of demonic spirits, therefore making “oppression” and “demonization” the same thing.

Some people are claiming the ability to name the demons and map their territories by divine word of knowledge, is this possible?

I believe the only way to get a name of a demon is by the demon telling you his name which would involve communication with the lying, unclean, deceiving spirit. I don’t think it is necessary to have that information in order to cast out a demon or demons. The ones who claim the supernatural ability to name the demons and map them out must be scrutinized carefully as to their soundness and motivation less their pundits become like Don Quixote attacking a windmill. I call people to caution because of possible over zealousness that lends itself to do more harm to deliverance ministry than to help it.

Only one time in scripture did Jesus ask for the name of a demon and then He asked for it in a singular way, “What is your name?” The leader demon responded in a singular and plural way by saying, “My name is legion for we are many”. (A legion consisted of more than 4,000 soldiers) The scripture then goes on to say how Jesus sent “them” into a herd of pigs that committed suey-cide. He didn’t need all the names of all the demons. Jesus cast out many demons from the Jews but only asked for a name one time as far as the scriptural record is concerned.
Is it possible for a man to get a genuine knowledge from God in a certain situation that would only come to him supernaturally by the Spirit? I suppose a sovereign God could speak in such a way to a person. I know of no scripture that it would directly violate, but I am under no obligation as a believer to follow the one that says he has such knowledge. I would be very cautious and ask a lot of questions before I even thought about being involved with such a person. The people I know of that persuasion base the majority of their ministries on the subjective rather than the objective Word of God. The two can work together but again I call people to great caution.

Aren’t there false teachers and extremist who misrepresent deliverance?

Answer: Yes! They abound everywhere just like different gospels abound everywhere but that doesn’t do away with the real. I don’t stop using real money because some people make counterfeit money. There are a lot of knee jerk reactions in the Christian community that do just that concerning deliverance ministry.
It is important that every Christian investigates the doctrines and lives of those that profess and teach the truth of God’s Word. It isn’t so easy or cut and dried. At times the real can look like the false and at times the false look like the real. Human nature is an important element that God speaks much about. Christians can do bad things and non-Christians can do good things. But God knows those that are His.
It is incumbent upon all believers to search out the truth and discern between the truth and a lie. Admittedly we all see through a glass darkly but the day will come when we all as true believers will be 100% doctrinally pure. Until that day we must study and rightly divide the word and be as accurate as we can, that we be not blown around by every wind of teaching.

Why doesn’t the bible say a Christian can be demonized?

Answer: That is a good question and should be carefully considered. I dealt with it in my article above but I would like to approach it a little differently here. The bible isn’t a book designed to answer all our questions but it is an inspired book that equips every Christian with everything he needs in this life for the work of God. (II Tim. 3:16,17)
I have tons of questions which the Bible doesn’t address. There are many things the Bible says that are shrouded in mystery and will never be fully understood in this life. The bible speaks of a “catching away” or “rapture” but has little specificity so that the teaching is crystal clear. Thus we have pre-mid-pre-wrath-post- and no rapture theories that has caused much division in the body of Christ. Division and statements to the point of Un-Christ like attacks on fellow believers which hold opposing views. A reaction clearly taught against in the scripture.
Collectively I do believe the scripture contains warnings of what can happen to Christians by the work of the enemy. I believe those warnings are very clear. For me it isn’t a real stretch to believe the enemy can invade a Christian if the Christian gives him the ground.
One could ask the question, “Why doesn’t the bible say that a Christian can’t be demonized?” People who hold that view do just like me and take scripture as a collective whole and through their understanding of those verses make a judgment call on the subject of deliverance. Neither side has verses of specificity but only limited insight coupled with a certain amount human bias.
Scripture doesn’t convince me of error concerning my view that a Christian can be invaded by a demon but scripture and personal experience does convince me that the ministry of deliverance is valid. I have seen many set free from demonic vexations who were Christians, myself included.
The Pharisees had no scripture that authorized them to cast out demons but the silence of scripture didn’t prevent the reality of it, which Jesus Himself affirmed. One thing for sure, it didn’t go against scripture and the experience was real.
I don’t know why God didn’t plainly spell out every question we have about the bible so there would be no division or possibilities of false teachers. It would be wonderful if scripture said exactly what we wanted to know. Imagine if the apostle Paul had written something like this, “Paul an apostle to the body of Christ to set everyone straight concerning the rapture. The rapture will take place before the great tribulation period, it will not take place in the middle nor at the end. If anyone teaches anything other than a pre-tribulational rapture he is a false teacher and isn’t to be acknowledged as having any spiritual authority in this matter?”

It would be wonderful if such subjects like free will, predestination, once saved always saved, proper church government, baptism, church discipline, binding and loosing, and many other things were written about with such specificity as to leave absolutely no room for misunderstanding. But that is a pipe dream and a non-reality. The Bible says what it says and has been written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We must study and seek to know God’s interpretation. It seems that it is possible and that He will hold us accountable for our opinions. Though I can understand the question above it isn’t sufficient within itself to do away with deliverance ministry.

Why is there not a single record of any apostle casting out a demon from a believer?

Answer: The answer above applies to this as well in my opinion

Why is there no admonition of any apostle telling us to cast out demons, bind Satan, or cast demons into the pit?

Answer: Again, the answer above applies but there are many scriptures that would answer the question. Where did the centurion get the idea that Jesus as a man of authority could just speak a word and his servant would be healed? Jesus was amazed by His faith. What scripture did he have? What he did have was an understanding of authority and applied it to his own circumstance. Jesus didn’t ask him where in scripture he had come up with such an idea. Jesus responded with amazement that the Centurion understood something about God and spiritual realities more than His own Jewish people.
Jesus has given His church authority to act in His name for His glory. (Jn. 14:13;15:16;16:23) When acting in that authority through faith, He told us that “whatever we ask” in His name it would done. That sounds like a carte blanche to me. It tells me as we walk in life we have liberty in our varied circumstances to cash that check and get what we need at that time as long as it is truly for His glory and in His name. (Only God can know the true motivation of the believer)
Jesus said whoever believed on Him would do the works He did and even more, some of which he did comprised of casting out demons. (Jn. 14:12) The seventy did it in Luke 10 and the twelve did it as well.
Jesus commissioned us with His authority; Jesus put within us the very Spirit that raised Him from the dead. Jesus gave us promises concerning victory over the enemy. Jesus told us we can bind and loose. Jesus was sent to set the captives free and said as the Father sent Me so I send you. With those words came no specifics as to how that would work through every generation and culture, only principles that allow for a lot of freedom within the body of Christ. Wherever the enemy is working I have authority in Christ to confront it when need be.
Specific words aren’t needed. Our authority isn’t caused by a specific chant or prayer but through a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. One may say, “Satan I bind you in the name of Jesus, come out of this person.” Another says, “Satan I command you to come out of this person.” Another says, “In the name of Jesus leave this person and go to the abyss.” All three fall into the realm of asking within the authority of Jesus standing by faith in Christ’s ability and not their own. Does the specificity of the words mean so much? Is it the methodology or the Master? Is it the promise of His word or exact human expressions?
If the term “bind and loose” wasn’t in scripture the promise of scripture concerning those asking in His name still would be there. Shall we relegate that authority to the apostles alone and say it is no more for our day? Are we to say we have no authority over demons today and are powerless to directly confront them. Who is the Grande Poobah that would state such things and rob God’s people from standing in who they are in Christ? The scriptures tell us that our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think in accordance to the power that works in us, namely, the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 3:20) How does that verse work through two thousand years of church history. It is great to quote from a pulpit and make people say A-men, but how is it applied in everyday life? Will He not do in us what He did two thousand years ago. Is the problem with God or us?
What is binding and loosing? Who can do it? Why is there no record of the apostles binding and loosing?

Mat 18:18 Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.

Answer:

To bind something is to forbid and to loose something is to free.
It is an act of one who has been given authority. The Jews were very familiar with binding and loosing through the Jewish Rabbis. The Rabbis would interpret the law and bind (command certain things from being done) or they would interpret the law and loose (make certain allowances).

Jesus gave the apostles and the whole church this authority to bind and loose.
Binding and loosing isn’t about saying the words, “I bind and I loose”, but it is about the authority connected with binding and loosing. It is the same when we do something in the “name” of Jesus. It isn’t about the mere use of His spoken name but the authority and motivation behind the person of Christ to whom the name is attached. When a policeman tells me to stop in the name of the law, it isn’t the mention of the law that makes me stop but the authority attached to the policeman through the law.
Jesus applied binding and loosing to all of life when He said, “whatever”. Some would relegate it to church discipline alone but the language of the verse appears to be broader. Other scriptures give us the whole picture concerning binding and loosing when we see it must be by faith, in His authority, and for His glory. It isn’t about Christians running around binding and loosing everything they want to bind and loose.

There is no need to read of an apostle binding and loosing.
Jesus told the apostle they could do it. Does it matter if we read in the New Testament an actual written occurrence where they practiced what Jesus told them they could do? To me it is clear they bound and loosed by using their authority in Christ. Just because we don’t read in scripture where Peter says, “I bind this and I loose that” doesn’t mean they didn’t practice binding and loosing.
No amount of mystery attached to this verse is going to take away from its truthfulness and authority. Unbelieving and powerless people who reduce God’s Word to cerebral objectivism love to dispensationalize away the practical power of it but it still says what it says. Yes, there is mystery with no explanation as to exactly how it works and when it is to be employed. However, no one has the right to remove it from the church because it isn’t completely understood. Nor should anyone tightly confine it to an area of church discipline that is barely even practiced by churches today. When is the last time you saw church leadership binding or loosing in church discipline?

The answers to the questions above aren’t intended to be complete answers but are written in hopes of further inquiry, study, thought, and discussion by God’s people. Like all controversial subjects, this one won’t be settled until we are all with the Lord and know the full truth of the matter. I have no problem with anyone who disagrees with me. I don’t measure a man’s spirituality by his stand on this subject. Grace and peace be to you all and may God prosper you even as your soul prospers in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. A-men


Pastor Tony Butler

KILLER BABY

Dealing with the ruination of sin in the life of the a person, James gives a birth analogy. He paints a picture of the believer having a baby. It is no ordinary baby, but a baby called “sin.” It was conceived and born, due to the believer’s own evil desires. The Scriptures tell us to put away the sin that so easily ensnares us, but instead, we often treat our sin as a baby to be cradled and controlled in our arms, believing somehow that the child that we have birthed will treat us differently, and will bring no harm. After all, what can a little baby do to an adult? The problem is that babies don’t stay babies. As we feed and nourish them, they grow, they grow bigger, and become more difficult to handle.

The child of sin that we produce as believers, if not repented of, will continue to increase in size to the place of maturity. In its adult stage, James is saying that it will come and look into our eyes, and stick a knife into our hearts and kill us. Sin only has one result, and that is death. Christians are not to play with it, but to forsake it.

There is a story of a woman who found a snake near to death, and took the snake into her home, nursing it back to health. She grew to love that snake, and would take it into her bosom and caress it. One night, as the snake regained its strength, it bit the woman in the neck and released the venom into her blood stream. Sensing earth was imminent, the woman cried out in shock, “O snake, why have you done this? I took you into my home and nourished you, and cherished you. Why would you bite me and put your poison into me?” The snake replied, “Because I am a snake.”

People, do not believe for a moment that you can put a hot coal to your breast and not be burned. It matters not if you are a Christian, or a non-Christian. Sin has but one nature. No matter how you treat it, cherish it, and protect it, it can only bring forth death when it is of full age. If you do not believe this is true, read verse 16. Let us treat sin for what it is, an enemy that seeks to kill us. Today you may believe your child of sin which you have conceived and birthed is controllable, and that it will never hurt you. Unfortunately, there are many who have found out the hard way who believed the same thing. Let’s believe God, and put away what He hates, and cling to what He loves.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; For God cannot be tempted by evil,
nor does HE, Himself, tempt anyone. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; And sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived,My beloved brothers.” James 1:13-16

THE ASS HAS SPOKEN

PASS THE KOOL-AID PLEASE

Hi god! There are a bunch of us that have come to give you a better insight as to how things should be done. We came to help you determine what is acceptable to us. We are here to show you the wisdom of “The Smorgasbord”. We are here to let you know that religion should be about what we like so we can all have that we desire. After all, who needs to be encumbered with narrowness and lack of variety?

Oh, you agree with us you say. Great! Hey god, How about a portion of a Lesbian Priest and Homosexual Bishop. And if it isn’t too much, how about a spat of “What’s in it for me?” and a lot of “Self Glorification”. Just think about all the possibilities of selection. Something for everybody! We come to you god because we’re really hungry. Would you please give us an extra plate of “Personal Prosperity and Easy Believism”. Yum Yum This stuff sure is good!

Thank you so much god for all this diversity. Ever since some of the Dr.’s of theology and liberals realized the Bible wasn’t the inspired Word of God and that Jesus isn’t the only way to heaven, more and more people will delight in the smorgasbord. After all, the idea of sin and judgment is no longer in vogue. That holiness stuff is a real drag. We would rather save ourselves and express our spirituality in our own way. Hey god, got any Crystals in the selection?

What a great smorgasbord you laid out for us god. It really makes us feel so good about ourselves. We used to feel guilty about the stuff that was fed to us. All that “You must be born again” and death to self “ talk. We don’t like those preachers that speak of sacrifice, servant-hood, and fellowshipping in Christ’s sufferings. However, we do love these new milk toast preachers that won’t speak the hard things. We have some of the best comedians and storytellers right behind the pulpit. After all, it’s a lot more entertaining and more people will come. We need those preachers that emphasize getting and not giving. Nothing like personal prosperity! We all know that love makes the world turn around, but god, lets be for real, it’s money that greases the axle.

Hey god, we want to thank you for the fine diverse smorgasbord. It is only proper to thank the chef for such delicacies. Thanks god! But wait a minute. You don’t look like God. There’s something about you that seems a little unusual, but we just can’t put our fingers on it. As a matter of fact, our stomachs are starting to feel a little queasy. What’s that you say? You have a special solution of Kool-aid that will solve the problem? Great, give us some.

(If you don’t get the Kool-aid line, look up Jim Jones on the internet)

II Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry

THE "BORN" IDENTITY

There was a woman in need who came to stay with a mother who had two children. The needy woman was so thankful and caused no trouble. She helped around the house and was pleasant to be around. However, the mother’s two children were sometimes lazy, they griped and complained, often they were not as thankful as they should have been to their mother, rebellious at times, and somewhat spoiled.

As time went on the woman that had moved in with the family discovered the inheritance the children were going to get. She came to the mother and demanded that she get a share of the inheritance because of her diligence and good works in the home.

The mother informed her that the inheritance was only for her children. The woman then declared that because of her good works that she also was the mother’s child. Surprised by the ridiculousness of the statement she told the woman that the children were hers through birth. She alone had birthed them into the world and that all the good deeds of anyone could not make them her child. She refused to accept the woman as her child and the idea that she had right to any inheritance.

You probably agree that the woman staying with the family was ridicules to think she was the mother’s child and deserved inheritance just because she did good things. But how is she unlike people who think because they are religious, full of good deeds, and nice that they too should receive heavenly inheritance and be considered children of God.

All of God’s children come into that relationship through birth. That is the only way God identifies any of His children. This is why Jesus said, “Except a man be “born again” he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. ( Jn. 3:3) The Apostle Paul made it plain that new birth comes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. . Gal 3:26 )

Reader you must understand this precious truth. A not so wonderful child of God is completely accepted and receives inheritance because he/she is identified through birth as His children. A wonderful sinner is rejected because he/she has no birth identity.

No one can come to heaven or be a child of God through personal merit, deeds or anything else. We must be born a second time in order to become God’s child.

It isn’t hard to understand. Our children are not our children through performance but through birth. They have shortcomings but they are ours. Other people’s children may behave better than our own but that doesn’t make them our child. The same is true of God. There are wonderful sinners out there that are religious, moral, kind and benefit society, but that doesn’t make them a child of God. So the question is:
Do you have “The Born Identity?”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1Pe 1:3

The Ass Has Spoken

Get The Dung Out!!!

In Nehemiah chapter two and three you will read about a particular gate in Jerusalem called the “Dung Gate”. This gate was an important gate and played a very specific role. God had given Israel very specific instructions on getting rid of their dung. After all, if the dung were not removed from the city there would be a tremendous health hazard with all kinds of disease. If Jerusalem was to be healthy it had to get the dung out.

Our bodies have a God designed dung gate as well that serves a very important role. If the body doesn’t rid itself of its waste, inevitably all kinds of physical complications will occur resulting in death. Jerusalem knew what to do with its waste; the body knows what to do with its waste; how is it that the body of Christ often times doesn’t know what to do with its waste? Dung is a natural, normal part of every day life. It wasn’t to be piled up in the home or the city. No one should make a memorial out of it. It is merely to be removed.

So many believers today seem to want to collect and save past offenses, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, and etc. Instead of removing their spiritual dung they store it, save it, justify it and talk about it to as many people as they can, and strangely enough, sit around and stare at it constantly. They come to church with it and then leave with it. Some people have been known to carry their dung around for twenty years. If that isn’t weird enough, sometimes they have dung fights within the church. Dung gets thrown everywhere. Yuck!!

Anytime dung sets out in the open there is a bad smell and flies invade. They are attracted to dung. In Luke 11:18 Satan is called “Beelzebub” which literally means, “lord of the flies”. Dung in the church invites demons to do their dirty work among the saints. If the body of Christ will get rid of its dung as God intended and directed, there will be greater spiritual health and a more difficult environment for Satan to penetrate. As believers we should avoid and admonish manure spreaders in the church. Would you allow someone to bring his or her dung into your house and pile it on your living room floor? Of course not!

Remember, a dung free dwelling is a healthier environment. God has a waste management program. It is called forgiveness. The blood of Jesus cleanses and purifies us daily. Let us labor to keep the body of Christ healthy. Collect all past dung, walk through the dung gate and get rid of it. Be blessed and healthy!

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. By the way, I know this article really stinks.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children; Eph. 4:31-5:1

The ass has spoken

Saved By An Ass - Numbers 22

Sometimes people are too stupid or blind to see what is coming down the road. We all need God's dumb ass to be around when we are bent on self destruction. Like Balaam, we think we have things figured out only in reality the sword awaits to take off our head. Through the "Ass" comes answers that make us think and adjust our journey.

Let's face it, we all need alot of adjusting. I don't think there is a more needy creature on the planet than man. A dumb ass knows who his master is, but not man. A dumb ass knows when to speak and when not to speak, but not man.

Man is walking down a path of destruction which will lead to tribulation the which has never been known in the morbid history of humanity. He speaks of a kinder gentler world, an evolving world resting in the hope of science, medicine and technology. A grand dreamer he is, an idealist with a heart as large as the world itself. What beautiful words he can utter and spellbind the simple,how lofty he can reach with his ideals, to the stars themselves, but how incapable he is in attaining those ideals.

The best thing man has going for him is his short memory of his own historical failings, which is the basis of his good conscience. As he Repeats his lying ideals and promises to himself over and over again, soon he will believe and renew his hope. But deep down, because eternity dwells in his conscience he silently wonders, as a gentle sigh of the spirit breathes the atmosphere of hopelessness, knowing that something is missing.

Is man looking for the answer, or is the answer right in front of him as he walks away from the answer in order to find the answer?

Hey, let's play a game. I will pay ten thousand dollars to any of you that win my game. It is very simple. Are you ready? OK Begin!

What did you say? You want to know the rules of the game? Oh, you think games need boundaries and parameters. Hmm, you know what, I think you may be right. It would seem God thinks so as well. Oh, but you don't like His rules and parameters. What's that? You want to remove yourself from His rules and order to establish your own. Hmm Well it is time for the dumb ass to speak to save your life.


Psa 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!"

Psa 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'"

Psa 2:10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him

Kiss the Son or get your head lopped off. The dumb ass has spoken.

Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.