Can a Christian have a demon?

What an interesting thread! I must admit that prior to reading all the responses I would have simply said "no." After reading such articulate and thoughtful responses I must reconsider my understanding of this issue. I am still hesitant to use the word possessed, but I will plead ignorance on this one. Thanks for bringing the topic up for discussion.

Diane_Windsor said:

Then why does the Vatican have exorcists?

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To try to excorcise demons out of the unbaptised that become possessed.

Rob

I thought for along time that there was no way demons can posses a Christian, but lately my mind have been changed a bit, even though I don't yet freely feel that it is possible. I believe that when God lives in us through His Spirit Her only lives in the Holy of Holies - our Spirit. Not in our flesh or our souls ....



So therefore I think it is still possible for demons to have possession over a persons soul/body. I feel we all are like castles/temples. And every sin we do we give place for the devil too take a foothold (yet no possession). But after a while when one continues in a sin, you are giving the devil permission over that faculty, and he can then use it for his own will, because you gave it to him.



I still however (and this will never change) feel that the devil has no power over us until we choose to give him power. But he is a liar and deceiver, and sometimes he deceives people into giving control to him when they thought they were giving control to God. This can especially happen in "spirit filled" meetings ...



I am not yet black and white on this topic, but I am finding that perfect middle ground. (Not being fanatical either way)

hal weeks said:

I would like to get a concensus of what other spirit-filled Christians think.

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harrased yes ......... living in 5 star accomodation watching TV and eating a curry with you .......... No!

The most common answers to this question is: “How can holy spirit and a devil spirit occupy the same space;” which from a logical point of view makes sense. Because the devil is darkness and God, whose seed is in you is light, and the two do not mix. And yet we know that Christians {those born again of Gods seed} can and do sin …..As an example we know that Christians have the ability to murder, which requires possession as this is not a natural act. I am not talking about the desire or thought to do this but the act of committing murder is brought about by possession. And I am certainly not speaking about a Christian who is walking the walk, obviously I am speaking about a Christian who has gotten to the point in his mind where he has opened him/herself up ……. so how can this be.

Sin such as murder lies in the realm of the physical I am not saying all sin is possession, but murder is sin, and all sin is in the physical realm, not in the spiritual.

I John 1:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Possession from a devil spirit/s is the taking control of a physical part of the mind or the body due to the relinquishing of control by the individual, brought about by that individual opening themselves up. The devil uses the physical laws of matter and space to possess it does not affect the spiritual (seed) part of those born again ……different realms.

Robbie_James_Francis said:

To try to excorcise demons out of the unbaptised that become possessed.

Rob

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Are there not documented cases where baptised RCs needed a priest to exorcise a demon???

diane

Egghead said:

Id have to wonder if they were a ''real'' christian to begin with.
What has darkness to do with the light?

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I have had a discussion recently with a missionary friend from Papua New Guinea who spoke about a tribal friend, converted to Christ out of their version of fetishism and occult practices. This person, became a strong witness for Christ despite suffering severe demonic influence and oppression for several years. Despite having been delivered from her sin by Christ's sacrifice, she had, for years, given herself willingly to occult practices and worship. She had never been told, or had it explained to her that she had "ground" in her heart and mind to Satan because of her practices and that that "ground" had to be reclaimed by publically renouncing Satan and her former public practices. Thhis left a foothold in her life for the demonic influence and oppression.

Remember the Ephesian believers? Christians for awhile, but they still had 50,000 silver pieces worth of magic books and paraphernalia that they were clinging to, until they saw a public display of G-d's power through Paul. After this they gathered and burned the material publically.

When this Missionary left the field to come back to the States on deputation, this young women's former associates moved back into her life and lured her back to her former practices. When my friend returned to the village this young woman was living chained in the village and acting just like the descriptions of the Gaderene demonic and Nebuchadnezzer. Acting just like a wild animal until the demon was exorcised and she renounced her former lifestyle completely.

hal weeks said:

I would like to get a concensus of what other spirit-filled Christians think.

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Not unless the Holy Spirit in us has started taking in boarders.

I remember listening to a former missionary teach through the book of Acts. He stated that most of us who have grown up in the West have no idea what liberation means when associated with the demonic. Thankfully so. He said that in some areas of the world when one is converted you hear testimonies of real deliverance. He did say, though, he could see a time coming in our own country when we too may have to learn how to better deal with the demonic. This was said in 1982. I wonder if, in fact, it is not going to be so in light of all the cartoons, TV shows and movies that daily expose our children (and ourselves) to magic, demons, out of body experiences, and a belief in many different deities? I think our culture, once committed irrationally to rationalism and science, has now come to an openness to all things spiritual. Is this not going to bring the demonic that is ever present out into the open? Wow, I sound like a wild-eyed evangelist ready for the alter call. Gee. Sorry.

theend0218 said:

I remember listening to a former missionary teach through the book of Acts. He stated that most of us who have grown up in the West have no idea what liberation means when associated with the demonic. Thankfully so. He said that in some areas of the world when one is converted you hear testimonies of real deliverance. He did say, though, he could see a time coming in our own country when we too may have to learn how to better deal with the demonic. This was said in 1982. I wonder if, in fact, it is not going to be so in light of all the cartoons, TV shows and movies that daily expose our children (and ourselves) to magic, demons, out of body experiences, and a belief in many different deities? I think our culture, once committed irrationally to rationalism and science, has now come to an openness to all things spiritual. Is this not going to bring the demonic that is ever present out into the open? Wow, I sound like a wild-eyed evangelist ready for the alter call. Gee. Sorry.

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Wow! I appreciate this post. It was thoughtful and well put. I too have heard similar statements from Christians in other countries speaking of how most in teh West have no real understanding of the demonic and its influences.

I also agree that the demonic in this country is often cloaking under what seems benign; using enetertainment as a way of exposing our children and even adults to the occult.

May God help us and keep us with spiritual eyes to see so that we can become mature in the faith, exercising our spiritual senses to discern good from evil.

Anyway, I digress. Just wanted to thank you for your post.