The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his101/chrt005.arj/CHRT005.TXT

Text File | 1991-01-09 | 9KB | 172 lines

               CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMON POSSESSED?
                   8/27/83-Computer For Christ
                         Copyright 1983

     Paul,   the   Apostle,   exhorted  both  Timothy  and  Titus
concerning sound doctrine in I Timothy 1:10 and Titus 1:9;2:1. To
Timothy  he  said,  "For the time will come when  they  will  not
endure  sound doctrine;  but after their own lust shall they heap
to themselves teachers,  having itching ears, and they shall turn
away  their ears from the truth,  and shall be turned to  fables"
(II Timothy 4:3,4). What is the only criteria for sound doctrine?
It must be,  that God's written Word can be and is the ONLY basis
for sound doctrine.

     The words of 'spiritual teachers or experiences' must  never
supercede the Word of God.  Paul said that is he or an angel from
Heaven preached any other Gospel that that which they had ALREADY
heard,  let  him  be accursed (Galatians 1:8).

The  relating  of experiences that
are fables can never be the true basis for sound
doctrine, and the minute we open the door and begin to teach from
experience,  we  lose authority and introduce  confusion.  People
have  a  great  variety  of  experiences and  if  we  accept  one
unscriptural experience as evidence of doctrinal truth, then I am
bound  to accept all experiences;  for each one would have  equal
authority  as  a basis for doctrine.

It is unfortunate  that  of
late, satan has been getting more than his share of attention; it
is  sad  that many Christians and non-Christians seem to  have  a
greater interest in satan and being possessed by demons than they
do in Jesus Christ and being possessed by His Holy Spirit...

     The  question has been forced upon us:  "Can a Christian  be
demon  possessed?" We wish to look at this in the manner  of  the
Bible and not on the basis of the pre-conditioning of theologians
and   philosophy.   "Let  us  reason  together"  is  the  Bible's
admonition  and to "Test all things;  hold fast to that which  is
true." We wish to look at the matter in the light of reason.

     The  term  "syllogism"  refers to  a  process  of  deductive
reasoning  based upon a major premise,  a minor premise,  and the
subsequent  conclusion.  An example is that we say "All  men  are
foolish" (Major premise).  We then make the observation "G. Smith
is a man" (Minor premise) and we arrive at "Therefore G. Smith is
foolish"  (Conclusion).  As you can see it is imperative that all
three parts of the syllogy are correct, else it fails.

     The past writers have made the syllogy:

1. A Born-Again Believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
                      (Major premise)

2. The  Spirit  of  God cannot permit demons  to  reside
   where it resides.
                      (Minor premise)

3. Therefore, No Born-Again Believer can be possessed by
   demons.
                       (Conclusion)

     However, we must point out the major fault in the syllogy in
that by the minor premise could also be phrased:

2. The  Spirit of God cannot tolerate sin and  will  not
   allow it in its presence.

     The conclusion would thus follow:

3. Therefore, no Born-Again Believer can have sin in him
   or commit a sin.

     We  wish  to point out that the Bible never  uses  the  term
"possessed" in references to demons residing inside someone.  The
term  is "demonized" and never refers to ownership in relation to
this "demonizing" of a person.

     Now,  it  should  be  obvious that the  conclusion  of  both
syllogies are false.  A Born-Again Believer does sin,  does  have
sin  in his flesh and is constantly warring against the Spirit of
God.

Those who choose to think that Born-Again Believers  cannot
be  demonized always quote the Scriptures that refer to our place
of residence "in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6) and that we
are in Christ (John 14:20)) and Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27)
and make the conclusion "If I am in Christ and satan has  nothing
in  Him,  satan can have nothing in me!"

We must make note of the verses
used  to substantiate the argument ALWAYS refers  to  the
spiritual  part  of  man - not the flesh.  All  the  verses  make
reference to the issue of our spiritual relationship with God. To
claim  that we are isolated from the demonizing of satan and  his
forces  only makes others let down their guard.  We are  able  to
rest  in  Christ and know that Jesus will cover us in His  hands;
However,  we must look to the matter of those who fail to rest in
Jesus and actively participate in occult activities,  either with
some knowledge or in ignorance.

     Too  many appointments for counseling have come up from  the
issue of a Born-Again Christian having attended a seance, or been
to  a  retreat that was (unknown to the Believer) run by  a  cult
group  where  Tarot cards and other demonic activity  was  taking
place.  TM  (Transendental  Meditation)  is an  example.  Many  a
Christian  who  has failed to "test all things" has  attended  TM
meetings and participated in the initiation rites of the cult. In
the process of being given their "mantra" they are given  phrases
in  Sanskrit that are LITERALLY request for the gods of  Hinduism
to come into their lives.

     The  point  we  are making is two  fold.  FIRST,  a  person,
whether he be a Believer in Jesus Christ or a  non-believer,  who
INVITES  demons  into  his/her  life  will  have  his  invitation
answered.  The  invitation  is  not nearly as  difficult  as  the
eviction will be.  SECOND,  A Born-Again believer cannot, without
his/her will be demonized!  Those who succumb are those who have,
unwittingly, consented to the demonizing.

     We are told that satan can appear as "an ANGEL OF LIGHT" and
we  can look at the words in the original and see that the intent
of  satan  would  be  to make the  "viewer"  believe  that  satan
represented  the truth!

The Mormons have succumbed to this  same
angel  (Look  at the first vision of Joseph Smith),  and  many  a
Believer  has been baptised by the mormons and in so  doing  have
received  the "blessing of the powers and dominions upon yourself
and  your generations after you unto the fourth  generation."  In
the  Bible,  who is referred to as "powers and dominions?"  Satan
and  his  forces are the references.

The difficulty is that  the
only basis for the "test" of "Test all things" is the Bible.  The
problem is in the fact that many (too many) Born-Again  Believers
have  chosen to keep one foot in the world and one foot in heaven
and fail to read their Bible.  The latest survey of  Christianity
tells  us that the average Christian reads his Bible less than 12
minutes a WEEK!  this is not enough "meat" to provide strength to
be strong against the weakest of satan's demons.

     To close, we wish to state that a Born-Again Believer in the
Lord Jesus Christ can be "demonized" only if the Believer  yields
room  to  the demonic forces - either knowingly  or  unknowingly.
Only  through the "growing to be elder men" through constant  and
consistant  feeding  of  the  Word of  God,  through  prayer  and
complete  communication with our Father in Heaven can we even  be
aware  of  the  dangers  that  lurk  in  the  most  innocent   of
activities.

Only  if we are aware that such demonizing can occur
can we be wary and take the necessary time to "Test ALL  things."
We  need to "test the spirits to see if they are of God" all  the
time  (without ceasing) and be more aware that we "can do NOTHING
without Jesus Christ!"

     If  you believe that you have engaged in any  activity  that
you  may  have  made the unknowing invitation to  satan  and  his
demons,  then  we urge you to get counsel NOW!  You must have the
demons  evicted,  and  ONLY through the power of the  Lord  Jesus
Christ  can that be accomplished.  It is our recommendation  that
you  approach the Elders of your church body to have this  effort
made. If they cannot assist, please feel free to call us at (408)
578-3162 - or leave us a note at the time of your termination  of
this call.

     It  is our prayer that each of us can become more  conformed
to  the image of Jesus Christ and that we recognize that we  must
be aware of the power that satan has.  We must be even more aware
that "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!"