Insight on demon possession

[Ave Maria]

Holly, remember God will only allow what you can handle...and he offers protection, strength and comfort.

Praise God alright!!!

Yes and thank God for that! I don't think I could handle seeing a demon!

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Mustang - I have read a few of your posts in different sections of the board and I do not believe your stories.

I too have encounterd many of the same experiences as Mustang has described. Just because you don't believe them does not mean they did not happen.

Back to the topic - Demonization and Demon Possesion are two different things.

Very true

Personally, I have never encountered a case of demon possession in a biblical sense here in the U.S. in all my years in ministry.

Perhaps you have just not been where they were or you did not recognize it. When one is convinced it does not exist it's very easy to accept all the signs as normal. Also, perhap's demon's are not interested in acting Biblically so to make it obvious to the undiscerning. I've seen them get most disruptive only after they've been found out and exposed. If they are not found out and revealed they usually keep to themselve's just acting in way's that some may deem weird but not demonic.

Demonization is all around us though.

Very true The Bible say's we reap what we sow. If we sow things that are of an evil spirit, we can expect to reap what that evil spirit give's. There is hope though: James 4:7 Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

So instead of having excuses why we continue to submit to sin, we need to do what this scripture say's and the devil will flee. It's a promise.

 

[plmarquette]

I think that although demon possession is possible and does exist, it is really quite rare. Well, at least it seems rare in the Western World.

a staircase downward ....
sinning saint / heathen staddling the fence , luke warm , part time
sins - 1 corinthians 6.9 , spiritual and body damage , life style
noconviction --- no longer feel guilt
given over to -- controlled by flesh , sin nature
oppression -- black cloud over your
obsession -- a compulsion , a fixation on body part , cleanliness , etc.
possession -- life no longer under your control

while we see few people like Linda Blair in the Exorcist ...
many are obsessed with cosmetic surgery ; sex ; power ; greed ;
lust ; unnatural life styles .... etc. that may or may not be demonic in origin

many people in " psychiatric " hospitals are not sick , but oppressed of the devil .... voices , multiple personalities

Lester Summeral has some good stuff on Demonology

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

a staircase downward ....
sinning saint / heathen staddling the fence , luke warm , part time
sins - 1 corinthians 6.9 , spiritual and body damage , life style
noconviction --- no longer feel guilt
given over to -- controlled by flesh , sin nature
oppression -- black cloud over your
obsession -- a compulsion , a fixation on body part , cleanliness , etc.
possession -- life no longer under your control

while we see few people like Linda Blair in the Exorcist ...
many are obsessed with cosmetic surgery ; sex ; power ; greed ;
lust ; unnatural life styles .... etc. that may or may not be demonic in origin

many people in " psychiatric " hospitals are not sick , but oppressed of the devil .... voices , multiple personalities

Lester Summeral has some good stuff on Demonology

You've hit a good button there plmarquette, although I'm sure it will create quite a stir. It's true. . .we've been programmed to believe that demonization looks only like Linda Blair in the Exorcist but it does not.

There are people who keep falling into the same sin's over and over and over and they can't figure out why. Then well meaning believer's just assure them "it's allright, we are still sinner's just forgiven".

While it's true we are forgiven we don't have to continue in bondage to things that make the churched look more and more like the world and no less delivered from their self distructive behavior than those who don't know Him at all.

We don't need to be afraid of demon's we need to get rid of them. And we get rid of them by "submitting ourselve's to God" AND "resisting the devil". Personally, I have found the more I submit to God the less problem I have resisting the devil and he leave's simply 'cause he's bored with trying to intice me to do somthing that God with my continual submission to Him is cleansing. He is faithful to see through to the end every good work that He has started.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

I usually post this as a bible study but this one is a topic I would like many people input if possible.

I usually do a bible study each week but this week we have two because this one just came up that we needed to talk about. Anyone with any insight please input. Thank you very much.

http://www.atomichawk.com/message_board/viewtopic.php?t=4535

Personally I think there is a great misunderstanding of what the Bible call's demon possession. I think that when we hear the word's demon possession, we visualize as mentioned above, Linda Blair in the Exorcist. While I do believe there are severe cases like that I don't think it's that common. HOWEVER , demonization is quite common and most people are unaware of it and anyone who want's to continue walking in sin will reap it.

I looked through the Strong's Concordance on line and I tried to find the Greek ref for possession but could not find it. I believe though that the Amplified Bible version of Matt 4:24 explains it well: "So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them."

The list given:

• sick
• various diseases
• torment's
• those under the power of demons (demonization)
• epiliptics
• paralyzed people

Demonization can cause all of the above symptom's. But just because someone has one of the symptoms does not mean that the person is demonized. Geneally, when a symptom is the result of demonization, it rejects ALL medical treatment. In other word's what would usually work to control the symptom does not. . .because it's not a medical issue.

Can a Christian be demonized? A Christian can have anything they put their efforts toward's. It does not take a long drawn out fight with the demon's to get them to leave. As I've stated above when we set our minds and hearts on God and submit to Him and resist the devil's they will flee. Then after that we are instructed to "give no place to the devil". It does not mean that every little error is going to cause something to jump on us

, but if we don't jump on it and repent and rid ourselves of all the things that so easily distract us then it grows from a little error to major problem.

Anyway, sorry to be so long winded on this. . .I just know that when we ask God into our life we are no longer bound to doing what is sin but we are freed to do what is right. Knowing the Truth, following the Truth, living the Truth, and obeying the Truth sets us free.

 

[brinley45cal]

Yikes! Sounds pretty scary! I hope and pray I never meet someone like that!

well you have to remember you are a child of god and theres nothing they can do to you because they are already defeted,you have the blood of christ covering you.

 

[brinley45cal]

a staircase downward ....
sinning saint / heathen staddling the fence , luke warm , part time
sins - 1 corinthians 6.9 , spiritual and body damage , life style
noconviction --- no longer feel guilt
given over to -- controlled by flesh , sin nature
oppression -- black cloud over your
obsession -- a compulsion , a fixation on body part , cleanliness , etc.
possession -- life no longer under your control

while we see few people like Linda Blair in the Exorcist ...
many are obsessed with cosmetic surgery ; sex ; power ; greed ;
lust ; unnatural life styles .... etc. that may or may not be demonic in origin

many people in " psychiatric " hospitals are not sick , but oppressed of the devil .... voices , multiple personalities

Lester Summeral has some good stuff on Demonology

Amen thats correct ,good post.

 

[Ave Maria]

well you have to remember you are a child of god and theres nothing they can do to you because they are already defeted,you have the blood of christ covering you.

That is so true! I guess it would just be kind of scary to see one anyways. But I honestly don't think a Christian can be demon possessed. The Holy Spirit which is within cannot cohabitate with evil.