Demon Possession:

Do you believe this happens today?

I need practical Biblical advice on exactly how to deal with a situation in which you believe a person is possessed. This is not a hypothetical situation. Please advise.

Thank you!

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2001

Answers

D. Lee;

Yes, I believe it happens today - I believe I have run across two such people in my life so far. To avoid opening myself - and you - to public ridicule (I'm not sure how the rest of the forum denizens will behave on this issue), I would be glad to continue this convo via email if you like. Not sure how much help I will be, however.

In His Service,

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Demon possession was once very common, and reported in the Scriptures, so we know that it DID exist.

There is nothing in God's Word that says demon possession would end, so I have no reason to believe it can't exist today.

From experience, and the teaching of missionaries whom I believe to be great men and women of God and of the Bible, it seems that demon possession is much more common in areas of the world where the Gospel has not been preached. Once God's Word permeates a people group, the instances of demon possession seem to at lease deminish somewhat.

Can a person be possessed in someplace like the US where the Gospel has been presented and shared for some time? I think it is possible, but not the norm. I met one man in Orlando, FL while in Bible College that I am fairly convinced was possessed. That is the only time I have seen anyone stateside that I considered to be possessed.

Can a Christian be possessed of a demon? NO! I believe the Bible to be very forward on this. Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world. Once we have the Holy Spirit as a part of our life, indwelling us, then no demon can have residence in us. That is why Jesus was so keen on teaching that the man who had been "swept clean" of the demon, but had nothing to come in to take it's place, was soon possessed by more demons.

Now, while a Christina can't be demon possessed, I am certain that they can be demon OPPRESSED. It may be because they have taken a strong stance for God, and Satan is trying to weaken them, or because they have opened themselves up to demon oppression through the occult, ouija boards, tarot card readers, fortune tellers, or maybe by spending too much time engrossed in demonic stuff such as certain music, movies, tv shows, reading material, etc.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

D.Lee,

I have to agree with John & Darrell on this one.

We know it did occur in Bible Times and that the Scriptures are silent on their status today - therefore there is no reason to think that a Possession could not happen today.

And by parousing the scriptures that mention possessions, it seems (at least to me) that they tend to occur more frequently when God is up to something.............i.e. like bringing His people out of Egyptian bondage or most especially when He sent His Son into the world to redeem mankind. Satan is always a step behind God, so when God "ups the ante", Satan has to counter with a move of his own. God had His Son take on human flesh - so Satan countered by trying to take over human flesh via demon possessions.

With that though in mind, one could easily see why 3rd World, unevangelized countries might have more possession cases - as it would be Satan trying to thwart the spread of the Gospel in that land.

I really agree on the idea of Demon Oppression. Since Jesus is no longer in the flesh (as we know it), Satan does not need to possess a person's body - just his mind. It only takes 1 sin to be condemned, and if the Evil One can oppress a mind so that it never desires to seek repentence - then his job is done on that particular person.

Now.......how do you deal with such cases? Pray! Pray Hard! Pray Hard with as many people as you can! And Speak the words of Christ to them at every opportunity. Demons of the New Testament were cast out by either the Words or Name of Jesus Christ; so invoke His Name, His Word, & His help.

Beyond that..............God only knows what can be done!

And if you figure something out in this matter....let me know - as I got a good case of Oppression occurring around here myself.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

I agree with Mark and Darrell. Good sound advice.

Darrell: One of the people I met who I believe to have been possessed was in Washington State (which is a hotbed for the New Age), the other here in Southern California. A pattern?

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Ya can't get much further away from Christ than the "left coast!" :)

Though I agree ... when ya mess around with demonic stuff, you can certainly be oppressed. And if ya mess around with that stuff, and you are outside of Christ, what would keep Satan from indwelling that person with one of his demons/spirits? Nothing that I can see.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

I believe that demon possession is a lot more common than is realized. A possessed person need not show outward signs of that possession especially if the demon or demons inhabiting that persons body are not especially powerful.

The matter of whether a Christian can be possessed or not is a controversial one. I have a friend who has a ministry in deliverance and he has told me of cases of genuine Christians who were possessed and have been thrown to the ground writhing, screaming etc. when he was in the process of commanding the demon/s to come out in the Lord's name.

Derek Prince the well known Christian and author of many books has written a book on deliverance; well worth reading though I can't remember the title of the book.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Since missionaries were cited, let one chime in. I have attended, for research purposes, spiritism sessions in which the principal actors were supposedly possessed by spirits. I saw nothing that could not be explained by psychological inducement. Here in Brazil, Protestantism (and also the Christian Church) has been overrun by the Pentecostal and charismatic movements, one main characteristic of which is demon expulsion. Said practice is nothing more than men making a show (and, let us hasten to add, profit) and deceiving naive, simple people that they have been possessed. Their theatrics have nothing in common with the simple NT examples.

People crave such things because of today's insatiable desire for fantastic, impressive miracles, just as in Jesus' day when the Jews required a sky-splitting sign from heaven.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

You raise a good point Randal! I've seen the charismatic influence you speak of in the Carribbean Islands and know exactly where you are coming from.

Unethical "Christians" can be found wherever a buck can be made......al Baker, Swaggert, Roberts, etc.

There is a need to "test the spirits" when there is a claimed possession or oppression before getting "caught up" in the episode. We need to remember that the phoney possession is every bit as much an act of the Devil as is an actual possession, so we must not get "caught up" in that which is evil.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

I agree with you, Randal, that with slick marketers like Benny Hinn, who's TV shows are nothing more than infomercials to get you to send money and attend their crusades like the self-help gurus do, a lot of "demonic possession" and "excorcism" is done for show today. But not all of it is: the two people I ran across whom I believe to have been possessed were not in a religious setting whatsoever; I just ran across them in my day-to-day life.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

He who believes in the devil, is already the devil's own. Who said that? I don't know, but I like it. But alas I don't believe in the devil, the bogeyman, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny nor God. I grew up and used my brain for something besides brainwashing.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001

oh.........

So you used you brain as a seat cushion instead??????????????????????

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001

The New Testament shows us several examples of identifying and casting of demons. The New Testament also teaches on the aftercare of the newly delivered person.

Demon possession is very, very real. As far as Benny Hinn and other spiritist groups, remember, satan is the counterfeiter.

While demon possession is quite high in areas around the world where folks do not yet have Jesus and are forced to serve demons, demon possession is a growing problem here in the states. Whenever there is a poliferation of unrepented sin, unclean spirits gain access to the participating population. Take a look at the kiddie shows on tv, and the occultic child's play that is pushed to them, not to mention the results of child abuse and drug abuse and you can see that there are many, many people who do not have a human in the driver seat.

Can a Christian be possessed? That is a double edged sword, isn't it? Can a person with several demons desire fellowship with Jesus? If he "says the words and do the deeds" do the unclean spirits just leave without a fight? I believe the New Testament answers these questions for us.

I believe a person can accept Jesus as their savior, but unless the demons are actively rebuked and cast out, that person will never know the fullness and glory of God through His Holy Spirit. These are the spiritual cripples and spiritual blind men and the chronic backsliders of the church.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2001

http://www.christianwarfare.co.nz/bdmdel.htm

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001

Laura,

Do you have any personal experience with someone that was demon possessed? If so, I'd like to hear your experience. I am very interested in this. If you don't want to discuss it on the board, just e-mail me. [I assure you, I am not setting you up for an attack!]

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001