Can Christians Have Demons? Dispelling The Myths

[Angelina]

Popular Christian Theology: Dispelling The Myths;
I struggle with approaching this subject because it has been discussed almost everywhere on various Christian forums, incorrectly. In reverential fear of the Lord and foreseeing the days we are in, I hope to dispel some of the myths and long held beliefs surrounding this “popular Christian theology.”

I have come from a background of many decades of working in the deliverance ministry, and it is from that vantage point that I put forth my discourse.

1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

We as born-again believers are spirit first; we have a soul and live in a body [our vehicle or tent]
We are essentially tripartite beings having a body, spirit, and soul... Genesis 2:7 shows the order of how God created us in the beginning.

7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, (spirit) and man became a living being (soul).

When we become born-again however, that order changes slightly - to spirit, soul, and body. 1 Thess 5:23

Our spirit is the life-breath first given to us by God. Our soul is who we are, made up of our heart, mind, will, and emotions, and our body is the vehicle in which we drive around.

The question posed by many believers is, “Can a Christian have a demon?” The answer is yes, they can. If you ask any Spirit-led deliverance minister this question, there would be no doubt in their heart. Based on experience, they deal with casting demons out of believers on a regular basis [including myself].

I believe that the reason why many believers have come to the conclusion, "Christians cannot have demons," is because they cannot believe that it is remotely conceivable that a demon can be in the same place as the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, many deliverance ministers have not taken the time to explain [or perhaps do not understand themselves] how or why this can come about.

Please keep in mind the above passage of scripture, 1 Thess 5:23 as we delve into this area a little more.

1 Corinthians 6
8 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The key word in the above passage is “Temple.” We are a temple where the Holy Spirit resides. If you have ever studied the OT Tabernacle or the temples in general, you will have a general idea of how it had been fashioned. This pattern is an exact copy of the true sanctuary, which is in heaven. Hebrews 8:5 [but that’s another study]

Briefly, the tabernacle/temple consists of the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.
The outer court; had the brazen altar where burnt offerings were sacrificed along with the laver, or bronze sea. This was used for the priests to cleanse themselves.
The Holy Place: housed the Table of Show Bread, or bread of his presence [consisting of 12 loaves]; the lampstand, or candlestick, which held 7 lamps; and the Alter of Incense, which was burnt as a soothing aroma before God.
The Holy of Holies: Where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. It was called the “most holy place” because it was the very place where God’s presence and his glory resided, between the two cherubim above the covenant lid.


Picture now that we are very much like that temple. This [body] temple is an exact copy of the heavenly one, which Jesus has entered into as the Great High Priest.

As born-again believers, we are spirit, soul, and body. Our body is likened to the outer court, our soul to the Holy Place, and our spirit to the Holy of Holies. It is in the Holy of Holies that the Holy Spirit resides.

The reason Christians can have demons, is because they can and do enter into the area of our soul [The Holy Place] but not in the Holy of Holies where our spirit and God's Spirit dwells Romans 8:16

Our soul is still going through a process of sanctification.

Paul puts it this way: Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Christians can have demons, but they cannot be totally possessed by them. That is because the Holy Spirit dwells within. They can, however, have a specific area in their lives where a demon has entered due to un-repented sin, unforgiveness, ignorance, hereditary ties, generational curses, and/or sinful practices...etc.

This is what deliverance ministers call an area that has been "demonized" not "Possession." That is entirely another matter, and Christians cannot be possessed, period!

And it takes a long period of general neglect and ignoring the Holy Spirit's prompting to confess & repent before a demon is able to enter in and establish a stronghold in the area of the soul.




Please remember that when you became a new Christian, you did not have some areas in your life completely dealt with. For example, if you were a drug addict, an alcoholic, or caught up in watching porn. All these areas did not disappear when you became saved, did they?

There is a sanctification process that we go through, with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is a daily, living process and not a one-off "bam!!!" You are now cleansed from every sinful way, every evil thought and action.

No...there is a sanctification process that is ongoing where the Holy Spirit helps us in the transformation of being from the world into the likeness of our Redeemer and Saviour, and sometimes areas in our lives need deliverance. I have personally delivered many people during my time in this ministry, which is entirely based on love, compassion, and God's amazing grace.

The enemy has ensured that God's people are kept in darkness and in bondage through lack of understanding and knowledge in this area. There is a real fear of judgement and being called "unsaved" from the Christian "peanut gallery," and many believers struggle with seeking the help they so desperately need because of it.

I hope this message brings fresh hope to those who struggle in this area and dispels the lies that have been propagated by the evil one.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Glory!!!

Angelina
written 13 Dec 2012