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© 2000 Franz Sigel Shroy
MCM
Before we begin-
I could give you my answer right here, right now, ...and
save you both time and effort. I will not however, as this would
not have answered the question for you, but rather it would have
only informed you of my answer. You can read an article
or two, or listen to that speaker, or your friends may have said
this or that, or your pastor may have answered a quick little
bit on that other subject. It is not the same. The answer may
be on your lips, but the words do not live in your heart, unless
YOU do the work, and unless YOU follow the scriptures and then
understand the topic. In this way, you will KNOW the answer,
not simply parrot what somebody else thinks about it. And unlike
the shortcut answers that change from moment to moment,
forged by the skills of persuasion of the last speaker you listened
to, this honest truth will last forever. It will be yours! So,
get out your Bible, get a paper, a pencil, and an eraser, and
follow along. Before you get too far on this quest, make sure
you have a good environment, and the time to spend doing a really
good study. And finally, the most important part- ...
Take a few moments, clear your head, get comfortable,
and ask God to open your mind, your heart, and your spirit for
anything He wants to share with you regarding this study, and
then
WAIT..............
Give God a chance to be a part of this equation, by
letting the Holy Spirit work in your heart.
Great, lets begin-
The controversy-
There is much controversy about the topic of demonic
possession, especially in whether or not a Christian can be possessed
by a demon. Some of this confusion is simply an honest difference
of opinion between biblical scholars, while some by a lack of
study. Some of the confusion is brought on by people that begin
this study, with their mind already made up. Still, much of the
confusion is brought on by false teachers following their own
selfish personal agendas and greed. There are several ministries
that claim their entire reason for existence is to help nonbelievers
and Christians alike in their battle with this condition.
Entire Internet websites are dedicated to this narrow subject,
like DemonBusters.com1. DemonBusters.com, unlike several others
on the Internet, doesnt have anything to sell. They offer their
information, such as it freely.
Recently, in my own town, a famous radio personality, and
traveling exorcist Bob Larson, spoke at a local church, and offered
workshops on demon possession for $49 for the First Family Member,
and $30 for Each Additional Family Member..2 This is not, however,
some isolated incident. There are numerous exorcisms performed
each month. Daily, Televangelists are watched by millions while
they routinely teach things that are not scripturally accurate.
They teach on demon possession, and just about every other Christian
doctrine imaginable. The Trinity Broadcast Network, is literally
oozing with them. Millions of people watch these teachers daily,
and these powerful so-called ministers shape the thoughts and
beliefs of believers and nonbelievers alike. Why? Because these
people listen to the television instead of reading their
Bibles. They dont compare these teachings with the scriptures.
Benny Hinn, a known necromancer, and a Minister of God, is one
of the most prolific speakers and teachers on the network. He
likes to visit the tombs of Aimee Semple McPherson and Kathryn
Kuhlman at Forest Lawn Cemetery in California. Here Benny Hinn
explains his fascination with these tombs.
I actually, hear this, I trembled when I visited Aimees tomb.
I was shaking all
over, Gods power came all over me. The man with me - and I was
shaking -
Norm, and I were trembling under the power of God. Later he says,
I feel the
anointing, I began to weep. I believe the anointing has lingered
over Aimees
body. Someone asked me how it is you can feel, um, the anointing
around a
tomb? I said - I have no idea man - but I sure felt it man. ...you
gonna feel the
anointing at Aimees tomb. Incredible! And, Kathryn! Amazing!7 |
Can you believe these teachers? You will if you judge them
according to the worlds standards because theyre rich! Benny
Hinn teaches that Demons can not touch you, or your family3 He
must be right because he makes over $500,000 (plus benefits)
per year, and lives in a $650,000 house and stays in $2,200 per
night hotels. He even charges $100 just for his autograph.5 But
then again, Bob Larson has a ministry valued at over $2,000,000
back in 1990, and had an income of $1,200,000 from 1990-936.
Even in his lean years he averaged over $200,000 per year while
divorcing his first wife. He lives in a stunning $1,295,000 mansion,
in Colorados playground: the Vail Valley! In an exclusive gated
community, right on a private golf course, with a ski area in
the back yard.10 Certainly then, he must be right? Bob Larson
teaches that Christians CAN be possessed by demons, even if you
dont know youre possessed. How can both of these teachers teach
opposite views, and become millionaires by doing so? Because
Christians sit back and watch television instead of reading their
Bibles. They sit and they watch, and then they send money. Lots
and lots of money. Those criticizing these ministries are met
with absolute hatred and the fierceness of demons. Benny Hinn
said of a person critical of his ministry, Sometimes I wish God
would give me a Holy Ghost machine gun; Ill blow your head off!8
Lord, dont forgive them, let em have it!9 It seems that the wolves
(false teachers) have divided the flock (the Church) like a hunting
pack in this age. Robert Tilton is the expert of finances, Bob
Larson is the expert of demons, Benny Hinn is the expert of healing,
and Kenneth Copeland is the expert of witchcraft, (by teaching
others to say their word into the universe so that it can manifest
reality). Clearly Paul and Jan Crouch have cornered the market
as the experts of Tacky. And we, as Christians have rewarded
these so-called ministers for leading us astray by making them
millionaires.
They contradict each other, and they cant all be right! Why doesnt
TBN prevent these false
teachers from using their International network as a vehicle
to spread this false news to the entire world. Truth is not the
determining factor of this two billion dollar enterprise, greed
is. TBN is not the only place where false teachers congregate,
but it is one of the most popular and most viewed. Entire congregations
are formed around false teachings regarding the question of whether
or not, Christians can be demon possessed. John Wimber, the founder
of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship taught many things that
are straight from occultic practises, rather than from the Bible,
such as aura reading, aura manipulation, inner healing, astral
projection, and contact with familiar spirits.12 Yet thousands
of Christians followed John Wimber into these false teachings.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV
For such men are false apostles, deceitful
workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades
as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,
if his servants masquerade as servants
of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. |
If we cant believe those that stand up in front of the
world as experts and tell us wrong
things, where can we get the right information? The Bible!
Preexisting ideas....
Where do they come from?
Dont mix passive and active ideas-
There has been a long history of belief in demonic possession.
Secular views on satanic or demonic possession, should not be
adopted by Christians as a basis of faith. They should be investigated
and understood, so that informed Christians can determine what
the truth is regarding these confusing beliefs, and where they
came from in the first place.
Passive Ideas, we learn from Society-
I have heard the words By Jove, Ive got it, several
dozen times over the years, by many different people. I
almost always stop the person, and ask them who Jove is. In the
two or so decades Ive asked people this question, they can never
answer me. Not one single time. These people are always surprised
to find out that Jove was a mythical god of ancient times. When
I ask them why they said this, they dont know. I ask them how
long theyve been studying Jove and they claim that they
have never spend a minute studying this subject. How did
this idea get in their mind, and how did these words come out
of their mouth? It seems that we are able to absorb ideas, answers,
and beliefs without thinking about them very much. We just hear
them, and they find their way into our memories. We are not really
good at filtering the things that we file away in our memories.
And many times, if not most, we dont bother to go through
our thoughts and start checking on the things we believe, or
even repeat without thinking about them first. Some things we
have filed away, we heard as children, and were not at a point
in our development where we even had the resources to examine
or research these ideas. Some of this information weve collected
in our minds from television, movies, things weve read, and things
weve been told. Some things weve learned subconsciously,
by peoples attitudes, or by what people havent told us.
More Passive
Ideas we learn from family-
As a kid Ive been to several fun houses, or spook houses.
My parents allowed me to go to these events or places because
they didnt have any concerns about them. They seemed harmless.
I also participated in trick or treat almost every year. They
also had no concerns about this activity. These things were done
at my public school, in my neighborhood, in the stores, on TV
commercials, in the Newspapers. You stood out like a sore thumb
if you didnt participate in Halloween, because everybody was
doing it! There was a much stronger concern about too much sugar
than anything regarding the occult. There are several strong
influences at work in these instances. I went to the fun and
spook houses, or haunted houses as some called them, because
I was hoping to get scared. Getting frightened startles
or shocks your system. Because of this, you tend to create long
lasting memories from this experience. I havent been physically,
spiritually, or mentally damaged by this experience. But what
has happened, is I have subtly added this experience and the
information I gained through this experience to that already
existing pool of information in my mind. These experiences have
added to the general view I held regarding spooky things like
demons. I have several detailed memories of these experiences,
but at the same time, I couldnt tell you about more than 2 or
3 teachers I had until I reached High School, even though I only
went to a spook house, for about an hour, once a year. I was
in these teachers classes, most of the day, for the majority
of the year.
Still more passive
Ideas we get from our own experiences-
I also remember going to several movies, and watching
my favorite television shows as a kid. Most of these memories
have fallen out, or been crowded out by experiences that have
since followed. I learned what the movie maker intended me to
learn about bad guys, and cops, cowboys and Indians, and other
such topics of the era, including objects of the occult. These
subjects werent covered by my school curriculum, and the few
that were mentioned, were not presented in the fun way they were
in the media. I remember one such movie that disturbed my younger
sister for some time. It involved a spooky house, and I remember
that people seemed to disappear. Finally at the end of the movie,
we were informed that the woman that lived in this creepy old
house was a witch. She had this passageway about 40 or 50 feet
long, that had smooth walls and a rectangular hole in the floor
that made a small pool that reached from wall to wall and was
about 10 or so feet long, being maybe a foot or two in depth.
This pool was filled with acid. This very scary looking woman,
or witch, was walking towards the last person remaining alive.
I remember her walking towards the young and beautiful woman
scaring her towards the pool of acid. Now I understand that the
acid would have destroyed the floor, and that the attractive
woman could have stepped into the pool of acid, run to the emergency
clinic and survived this encounter. I was a kid, and I didnt
think about such things then. What I learned is that there was
an ugly woman that was a witch, and a beautiful woman that was
not. That the ugly witch had the power to scare you into doing
things even though she had no weapon, but that the helpless but
beautiful womans only power was turning her head, holding her
arms in front of her face, and screaming a lot. I learned that
witches wear dusty, oversized, weird black clothing, while the
opposite of that was a beautiful woman with a terrific figure,
that wore a silkish long gown, and had beautiful long flowing
blonde hair. This experience has not damaged me either, but for
many years I didnt understand that people claiming to be witches,
could look just like the attractive woman in the movie, while
some poor normal woman could look just like the witch. Herein
lies the danger of this kind of information.
The mixture of ideas- WARNING!
Most people have several of these ideas or beliefs (mentioned
above and below) set in their mind, either wholly or partially.
Without ever checking the validity of these ideas, people seem
to mix these ideas together randomly as the information
comes across their path. They read a little, they watch a little
TV, they go to a few movies, they listen a little. Gradually
all of this information combines to make up what you believe
about a subject.
My parents had a belief about balance that they never actually
discussed with me. They portrayed it in my life daily, but there
were never words. I could go to a Halloween event on Friday or
Saturday, and then Sunday morning I had to go to the local Baptist
Church for Sunday School. If I got into Halloween too much, that
would be wrong, but if I got into Sunday School too much, then
something also may be wrong. Moderation in everything, was the
motto. This came right after Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
I learned that I should practise moderation in everything, even
the good things. Apparently this even applied to using good judgement.
Four views regarding demons-
There seems to be four possible views on demons. The
first view is that they never existed, and that theyre fable,
and mythology. This view can not be true simply by the incidents
listed in the Bible. The second view is that they did exist,
but that theyre bound now, and there have no demons in the world
since the time of Christ. This view is also wrong as Acts 19:13
shows that there were still demons after Jesus ascended into
heaven. The third view is that they do exist, but the facts surrounding
them is wrong. The fourth view is that they do exist, and the
facts surrounding them is correct. Still some will not come to
a conclusion.
An interesting article of this type is Christians And
Demon Possession by Timothy Morton. This article states;
Over the years, while reading and discussing demon possession
with other Christians your author has found many are repulsed
by even the suggestion that a Christian may be susceptible to
demon possession. They talk as if one is extremely ignorant or
even demented to even think such a thing, but when asked for
their biblical proof that it is not
possible, their position becomes desperate. They simply cannot
produce a passage or verse that PROVES their argument, yet they
still cling to their belief. Over the years your author has found
that all the arguments against demon possession of Christians
are either based purely on emotion or on a misapplication of
Scripture. You may be thinking, Are you saying a Christian can
be demon possessed? No, I didnt say that. What I am saying is
there is no place in the Bible that conclusively says Christians
cant be possessed. But, on the contrary, there are passages that
seem to indicate (though not conclusively prove) that demon possession
of believers CAN occur. When asked for reasons why they think
Christians cant be demon possessed one will usually hear, Its
not possible for the Holy Spirit and demon to dwell in the same
body, It is unthinkable to believe the Holy spirit would let
a devil in a Christians body, which is Gods temple, A born again
believer has been redeemed by the blood of Christ and because
of that no devil can indwell him, etc., etc. But such arguments
are purely emotional without a single Bible verse to stand
on. These people have convinced themselves of something that
is not true because of the repulsiveness of the question, but
emotion and feelings do not make sound doctrine.14
This pre-emtive, non-position is really just a negative
argument and does not prove that there are not verses to support
the view that Timothy Morton criticizes, it just shows that he
has been given ample scriptural support, and that he himself
has refused to accept these verses as what they simply are, Bible
verses that support these peoples view. He chooses instead, to
have a doctrine of no doctrine. This is a technique I see often,
when those translating Bible verses into everyday applications
for Christians refuse to do their job and research a subject
fully, or they simply refuse to accept the research for what
it is. Proof. This fortified snipers view is a great place to
sit and watch while those youve tricked into bringing you scripture
after scripture to support their views can be picked off without
the slightest attempt to honestly determine what the Bible is
saying. This position shoots down BOTH sides of any doctrinal
discussion, and prevents any progress. Each of the verses that
have been presented to Timothy Morton, have offered him what
he has been asking for. Proof. He simply chooses to sit
in his tower and shoot down the offerings people bring him. The
truth is in the meanings of the words he has been presented with,
not in the words themselves. Words simply convey thoughts, it
is the meanings they convey that is important, not the individual
words. In the following writing you will see that in every sense,
God exists. And as God exists, Satan exists. Unlike our sniper
friend above, there are only two options presented in the Bible
for every single topic mentioned. There are only two masters
that you can choose from, God or Satan. The two are opposite
in every sense. To say that there is no way of knowing is totally
preposterous. There is no way NOT to know! God is light,
Satan is darkness. The two are opposite. God is clean, Satan
is unclean. The two are opposite. God is pure, Satan is impure.
The two are opposite. God is truth, Satan is untruth. The two
are opposite. God is good, Satan is evil. The two are opposite.
There is no middle ground to snipe from. To clean something,
you prune it. If you mix something that is clean, and something
that is unclean, it is only unclean, tainted, polluted, by the
very nature of the word. It is impossible to have clean and unclean
together, for to add uncleanliness to something clean, is by
the definition of the word, to make it unclean again. You
can not have both, light and dark, because they are opposites.
This concept is offered throughout the Bible in hundreds and
hundreds of places, in both obscure and plain language. They
are there for anyone searching with an open heart, and desire
to seek God. You will find many of these verses and concepts
to follow. Clearly the meaning of the words used in the Bible
show that being a Christian and being possessed by a demon have
opposite meanings.
What is a demon?
Greeks believed that every mountain, every tree, every
stream and river, every rock and every place had its demon.15
Some Jews believed in the shedim, evil spirits who haunted
empty houses.15 Other Jews believed that demons were the spirits
of the wicked dead.16 Some also believed that these demons could
be exorcised using roots and herbs and by invoking the name of
Solomon.3
The Book of Tobit claims that the odor produced by roasting
the heart and liver of a fish will keep demons away.17
Egyptians kept amulets, incantations, and strange formulas
to avert evil and attract good.15 The ancient Egyptian Book of
the Dead mentions many examples of these so called charms,
as well as written information regarding spirits.15 These spirits
were thought to have their own will, intelligence, personality,
and a distinctive character of its own. People believed that
diseases were caused by these demons, which in some way had been
sent to man by various gods for the punishment of sins.
In ancient times, Mental disease was often explained
as a consequence of demon possession. The plight of those referred
to as imbeciles, idiots, deaf and dumb, and demon-possessed,
and especially those thought to be witches became desperate with
the rise of Catholicism. These people were put into prison, burned
at the stake or tortured in some other manner. A fairly common
practise was to drill holes in the head of the victim which would
allow the evil spirit to escape. Many considered anyone with
bizarre behavior to be possessed by an evil spirit, even when
those effects were brought on by what was discovered later to
be the result of common poisoning. The term Mad as a Hatter actually
came from the fact that the people that made hats, usually of
felt, often became brain-damaged from inhaling mercury that was
used to condition the felt.19
One rather bizarre theory states that the male hyena
becomes a bat, then becomes a vampire, then becomes a nettle,
then becomes a thorn, then finally becomes a demon. With each
mutation taking seven years to complete.18
Still others claim that demons are spirits of a now
extinct race of giants that were a crossbreed of Angels and human
females. Ive talked to many people that believe that when humans
die, the good ones turn into angels and the bad ones turn into
demons. Ive talked with other people that think that angels and
demons are the spirits of humans, with the same general two categories
of good and evil. Ive talked with still other people, that
dont have any idea of where demons come from, or that doubt their
existence, but they are positive that angels are the spirits
of babies and children that die.
It seems that just about every culture has some mention
of demons in one shape or
another. It is little surprise that these stories, and beliefs
have filtered down to us through the years as these cultures
gradually mixed with each other. These ancient ideas, have been
recently exploited by Hollywood, and as a result, we have some
new combinations of these old ideas about what demons are, and
what they can do. The movie The Exorcist seemed to bring the
idea of demonic possession to the forefront of peoples minds
several years ago, and the idea simply has refused to return
to obscurity. These are just a few ideas regarding demons, but
there are literally thousands of these cultural and religious
ideas. Many writers use confusing terms, while others intermix
various terms while speaking or writing about demonic possession.
The term demonized is use by some writers to describe demonic
possession, or the condition of having a demon residing within
a person. Other writers use the term demonized to describe the
condition of being affected or tormented by a demon from the
outside of the person. Still other writers consider a condition
of partial demonic possession, or having a demon empowered to
effect (or be in) the mind of the person, without being within
the physical being of the person.
Many writers begin their study of demonic possession
by consulting a Bible Reference book such as a concordance or
dictionary. There is a fault to beginning a study in this manner.
You may find the term you are looking for in a Bible Dictionary,
and then you may look up its meaning. But you will not find out
how this word is used in the Bible, IF it is used in the Bible.
You must start by seeing what the Bible says.
There is a great majority of Americans that truly believe
that the words separation of Church and state actually exist
in the Constitution of the United States of America. They do
not. They will argue with you regarding this fact too! Bible
issues are no different. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is
a good example. Check the words out for yourself.
Can a demon possess a human being-
Yes. Human beings can be possessed. Although every form
of demonic contact is not possession. There are demonic influences,
and there is demonic possession. Demonic possession is a condition
where the unclean spirit resides within the person. This can
be a permanent situation, a semipermanent situation, or a temporary
situation. The next logical question is; Can a human being that
is a Christian be possessed? No! Note... I didnt say I dont think
so, or probably not. Being a Christian and being possessed
by an unclean spirit or demon are opposites to each other. A
Christian being possessed by an unclean spirit is as opposite
as Christ and Antichrist! Being a Christian means that the Holy
Spirit is within us. I also did not say a clean spirit, as compared
to the unclean spirit spoken of when discussing possession. I
said the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely no way an unclean
spirit and the Holy Spirit will live in the same place, namely
within a human being. There are many true Christians that claim
Christians can be demon possessed. There are many more people
merely claiming to be Christians that tell us that Christians
can be possessed.
One Christian writer offers us a list (shown below)19
of declarations that believers can say to refuse an evil spirit;
1. I refuse the influence of this evil spirit
and command you to leave in Jesus name.
2. I refuse the power of this evil spirit.
3. I refuse to be led by this evil spirit.
4. I refuse to be guided by this evil spirit.
5. I refuse to obey this evil spirit.
6. I refuse to pray to this evil spirit.
7. I refuse to ask anything of this evil spirit.
8. I refuse to surrender to this evil spirit.
9. I refuse all knowledge from this evil
spirit.
10. I refuse to listen to this evil spirit.
11. I refuse visions from this evil spirit.
12. I refuse the touch of this evil spirit.
13. I refuse messages from this evil spirit.
14. I refuse all help from this evil spirit. |
While this writer seems to be genuine enough, there
is much confusion regarding terms and phrases used in the
bible. This writer goes on to list several distinct spirits;
A spirit of divination.19
A lying and deceiving spirit.
A spirit of infirmity.
A spirit of fear.
Clearly the Bible is talking about a mind set and not
an individual spirit. Much confusion comes from the application
of lists like this. Unclean spirits are doing the work of their
master, Satan. As such, all demons lie, just as their master
does. The same is true of these other spirits. This belief comes
from pagan beliefs, not from the Bible.
Christians are the Temple of God-
|
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV
Dont you know that you yourselves are Gods
temple and that Gods Spirit lives in you?
If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will
destroy him; for Gods temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NIV
What agreement is there between the temple
of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
As God has said: I will live with them
and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be
my
people. Therefore come out from them and
be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will
receive you. I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from
God? You are not your own; you were bought
at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Ephesians 2:10-22 NIV
For we are Gods workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance
for us to do. Therefore, remember that
formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised
by those who call themselves the circumcision
(that done in the body by the hands of men) remember
that at that time you were separate from
Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to
the
covenants of the promise, without hope
and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far away have been brought near
through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who
has made the two one and has destroyed
the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in
his flesh
the law with its commandments and regulations.
His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of
the two, thus making peace, and in this
one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,
by
which he put to death their hostility.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace
to
those who were near. For through him we
both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you
are no longer foreigners and aliens, but
fellow citizens with Gods people and members of Gods household,
built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
In him the whole building is joined together
and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you
too are being built together to become
a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1 Corinthians 9:13 NIV
Dont you know that those who work in the
temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve
at the altar share in what is offered on
the altar? |
The word translated as temple used in 1 Corinthians
9:13 is not the same word that was translated to mean temple
used in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:16-20, and Ephesians
2:10-22. The word used in 1 Corinthians 9:13 is the Greek word,
hieron (hee-er-on) means the entire precincts of a sacred place.
The word naos (nah-os) means the central sanctuary itself, and
is derived from the word naio, or to dwell. Clearly there are
two distinct meanings here. The word temple when it is used to
denote believers, is speaking of dwelling, and of the inner sanctuary
of a believer, not in the precinct or district around a believer.
This is a point of confusion today. Possession by an unclean
spirit is when the spirit is within the believer. Being tormented,
tempted, deceived, or otherwise afflicted by an unclean spirit
because it is near you, is not at all like being possessed by
an unclean spirit!
The temple described in the Old Testament was built
to Gods exacting specifications. There were many ceremonies required
before it could be used. Only certain people could enter, wearing
only certain clothes, and literally hundreds of requirements
had to be fulfilled for worship to be acceptable to God. In 1
Kings we are told that the temple in the Old Testament even had
offset ledges around the outside of the temple so that nothing
would be inserted into the temple walls. Even noise pollution
was not allowed at the temple, and no hammer, chisel or any other
iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.
Nothing impure was allowed to enter the temple. The idea that
the temple of the New Testament, that is Christians, (the home
of the Holy Spirit) would be an acceptable place for the mixing
of cleanliness, (God), and uncleanliness, (Satan), is totally
absurd!
Ownership of Christians-
Christians have been bought by the blood of Jesus. We
belong to Him. We can not be stolen, or inhabited, or made unclean
without our own free will.
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Acts 20:28-32 NIV
Keep watch over yourselves and all the
flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds
of the church of God, which he bought with
his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will
come
in among you and will not spare the flock.
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth
in
order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never
stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit
you to God and to the word of his grace, which
can build you up and give you an inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from
God? You are not your own; you were bought
at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. |
Christians are the Vessels of God-
Throughout the Bible (both the Old Testament and the
New Testament) believers are compared to clay pots. We are made
of clay, and fashioned by the hand of God into useful utensils
for His purpose. Our use is holy, which really means wholly.
Not partly.
|
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are
the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Romans 9:20-21 NIV
But who are you, O man, to talk back to
God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, Why did you
make me like this? Does not the potter
have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery
for
noble purposes and some for common use?
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NIV
But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from
us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but
not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that
the life of Jesus may also be revealed
in our body.
|
Clay pots (or vessels) are mentioned with rules of cleanliness.
If a dead thing, or a serpent or any unclean thing falls into
a clay pot, the pot is to be broken or destroyed, not merely
recleaned. It is not acceptable for the uncleanliness to remain
in the pot. There is no room for clean and unclean. * (Note,
the entire price paid for the life of the Son of God, 30 pieces
of silver, was enough to buy the potters field which redeemed
all the broken pots, and provided a burial place for strangers).
|
Lev 11:31-33 NIV
Of all those that move along the ground,
these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are
dead will be unclean till evening. When
one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever
its use,
will be unclean, whether it is made of
wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean
till
evening, and then it will be clean. If
one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean,
and you
must break the pot.
Lev 15:11-12 NIV
Anyone the man with a discharge touches
without rinsing his hands with water must wash his clothes and
bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. A clay
pot that the man touches must be broken, and any wooden article
is to be rinsed with water. |
Christians are Holy (Wholly)-
Christians are holy. hagios (hag-ee-os) pure, blameless.
The Holy Spirit is what makes Christians holy. When the Holy
Spirit enters a person, it is not a measurement or partiality,
it is total. It is a filling. The Christian believer is fully
encompassed by the Holy Spirit. There is no room for another
spirit. Christians are filled with righteousness, and there is
no room for unrighteousness. This word is used in Luke 5:6-7
when describing a boat of fish, where the boat is beginning to
sink because it is so full.
|
Matthew 5:6 NIV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Luke 5:6-7 NIV
When they had done so, they caught such
a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they
signaled their partners in the other boat
to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so
full
that they began to sink.
1 Corinthians 10:21 NIV
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and
the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lords
table and the table of demons.
|
1 Corinthians 10:21
You cannot drink the cup of
the Lord
and the cup of demons
too;
you cannot have a part
in both the Lords table
and the table of demons
If Christians could actually be possessed by demons
like many of the demon deliverers claim, then Christians would
be prevented from The Lords Cup, or Communion. These teachers
go on to explain that Christians can be possessed without knowing
it. They have all sorts of methods where a demon can enter your
body. Reading certain books, watching certain movies, practices
of the occult, etc. Bob Larson even teaches us that we can have
a demon from previous generations.
Christians are Caster outers-
What is to happen to those Christians that profit by
casting out demons? Those that have made millions of dollars
by casting out demons have either forgotten or overlooked a very
important element of their so called ministry. If Christians
can get a demon by reading the wrong type of book, or movies,
or from their ancestors, or if a demon can just come over you,
what is protecting the exorcist? Certainly if reading the wrong
book can cause you to become possessed, then being around demons
constantly, talking with them, arguing with them, and taunting
them must put these exorcists at great risk. What is to prevent
one Christian from casting out a demon, and then having that
demon turn right around and inhabit the exorcist? Not one of
the so called ministers, pastors, or exorcists Ive been able
to find has any answer to this question. When Jesus cast out
the unclean spirits at Gadarenes, why didnt the spirits simply
enter the disciples? Why didnt they enter the watchers of the
pigs?
The answer? The answer is that no demon, evil spirit,
or unclean spirit can possess you, or be within you without your
approval and permission. Free will! Humans have free will. We
can choose to sin, or not to. WE decide who we will follow. As
Christians we CHOOSE to follow Christ. Those that CHOOSE to follow
someone else, may be at risk, but not Christians. He that is
greater in us, is greater than He that is in the world.
1 John 4:4 NIV
You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than
the one who is in the world. |
What that means for the Christian is, there is no power
on the earth, or in the Heavens that can overcome us, without
us allowing it to happen. Unclean spirits are subject to the
power of God. This is shown time and time again in the scriptures
throughout this writing. The unclean spirits know this, and this
fact is betrayed by their actions, their words, and by the things
they do not say and so. These unclean spirits can only do what
God allows them to do. And God will not allow them to tempt,
deceive, harass, or overpower, or torment us beyond what we are
able to bear.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
No temptation has seized you except what
is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let
you be
tempted beyond what you can bear. But when
you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
stand up under it. |
Christians are The Light of the World-
|
Matthew 5:14 NIV
You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 6:22-24 NIV
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your
eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But
if your
eyes are bad, your whole body will be full
of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great
is
that darkness! No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and Money.
Luke 11:33-41 NIV
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place
where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it
on its
stand, so that those who come in may see
the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your
eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when
they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to
it, then, that the light within you is
not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of
light, and no part of
it dark, it will be completely lighted,
as when the light of a lamp shines on you. When Jesus had finished
speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat
with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee,
noticing that Jesus did not first wash
before the meal, was surprised.
(Luke 11:39 NIV) Then the Lord
said to him, Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside
of the cup and
dish, but inside you are full of greed
and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who
made the
outside make the inside also? But
give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything
will be clean for
you.
Acts 26:17-18 NIV
I will rescue you from your own people
and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their
eyes
and turn them from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and a place among those
who are sanctified by faith in me.
|
This verse clearly shows that Satan is certainly opposite
from God, and that darkness is opposite from light. It also shows
that light is the way of God, and darkness is way of Satan. Darkness
is a lack of light. There is no way to mix the two because they
are opposites. Christians have the light of God in them, and
unclean spirits have the lack of light in them. As soon as you
add light to the lack of light, you have light. There is no way
to have them both because the contradict each other.
|
John 3:19-21 NIV
This is the verdict: Light has come into
the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds
were evil. Everyone who does evil hates
the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into
the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done through God.
John 8:12 NIV
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he
said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life.
Acts 22:6-11 NIV
About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly
a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground
and heard a voice say to me, Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute
me? Who are you, Lord? I asked. I am
Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,
he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not
understand the voice of him who was speaking
to me. What shall I do, Lord? I asked. Get up, the Lord
said, and go into Damascus. There you will
be told all that you have been assigned to do. My companions
led me by the hand into Damascus, because
the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
2 Cor 4:6-7 NIV
For God, who said, Let light shine out
of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the
light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to
show that
this all-surpassing power is from God and
not from us.
1 John 1:5-9 NIV
This is the message we have heard from
him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness
at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him
yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus,
his Son,
purifies us from all sin. If we claim to
be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in
us. If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:9-11 NIV
Anyone who claims to be in the light but
hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his
brother
lives in the light, and there is nothing
in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is
in the
darkness and walks around in the darkness;
he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has
blinded him.
|
Christians are full of the light of the Holy Spirit.
If demons were to occupy or inhabit a Christian, they would be
blinded by the light.
Seven cases of Demonic Possession in the New Testament-
Seven major incidents of demonic possession we are going to
study, listed in the New Testament are;
_________________________________________________________________
1 [Legion possession at Gadarenes]
Matthew 8:28-34 Mark 5:1-20
Luke 8:26-37
_________________________________________________________________
2 [Dumb possession]
Matthew 9:32-34
_________________________________________________________________
3 [Blind & Dumb possession]
Matthew 12:22
Luke 11:14
_________________________________________________________________
4 [Syro-Phonecian daughter]
Matthew 15:22-28 Mark 7:24-30
_________________________________________________________________
5 [Lunatic possession]
Matthew 17:14-21 Mark 9:17-29
Luke 9:37-42
_________________________________________________________________
6 [Synagogue possession]
Mark 1:23
Luke 4:33-36
_________________________________________________________________
7 [Phillipian slave possession]
Acts 16:16-19
[ 1 Legion at Gadarenes ]
Mat 8:28-34 NIV
When he arrived at the other side in the
region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from
the tombs met him. They were so violent
that no one could pass that way. What do you want with us, Son
of God? they shouted. Have you come here
to torture us before the appointed time? Some distance from
them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
The demons begged Jesus, If you drive us out, send us into the
herd of
pigs. He said to them, Go! So they came
out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the
steep bank into the lake and died in the
water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and
reported
all this, including what had happened
to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet
Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded
with him to leave their region. |
In this version, two demon-possessed men are living
either in or among the tombs. The pigs are not numbered.
The whole town was so frightened that they pleaded with Jesus
to leave their region. The demon possessed men came towards Jesus
and met Him. The words used in this example are possessed with
devils, the word devils being daimonizomai (dahee-mon-id-zom-ahee),
that is to be under the power of a demon. The voices coming from
the possessed men, ask Jesus questions as they relate to their
understand of supernatural things. Have you come here to torture
us, shows that Jesus had the ability to control these spirits.
Before the appointed time, shows that the spirits understand
that this torture is going to happen at some time in the future,
but they were not counting on that time being at that point in
time. These spirits also asked Jesus to send them into the pigs,
understanding that Jesus had both the authority and power to
do this. These spirits also could recognize that Jesus was the
Son of God. Something the Pharisees were unable to recognize.
The spirits were also to recognize that Jesus was the Son of
God, without this being pointed out to them, and in fact, without
Jesus even being pointed out to them. These spirits were quite
afraid of Jesus and His power over them.
Mark 5:1-20 NIV
They went across the lake to the region
of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man
with an evil
spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more,
not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and
foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons
on his feet. No one was strong enough to
subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he
would
cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees
in front of
him. He shouted at the top of his
voice, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? Swear
to God that you wont torture me! For Jesus
had said to him, Come out of this man, you evil spirit!
Then
Jesus asked him, What is your name? My
name is Legion, he replied, for we are many. And he begged
Jesus again and again not to send them
out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby
hillside.
The demons begged Jesus, Send us among
the pigs; allow us to go into them. He gave them permission,
and
the evil spirits came out and went into
the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed
down the
steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town
and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man
who had been possessed by the legion of
demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they
were
afraid. Those who had seen it told
the people what had happened to the demon-possessed manand told
about the pigs as well. Then the
people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting
into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed
begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said,
Go home to your family and tell them how
much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on
you. So the man went away and began to
tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all
the people were amazed. |
In this version, there is one demon possessed man. The
pigs are numbered. The whole region asked Jesus to leave
the region. The demon possessed man came towards Jesus to meet
Him. The spirits again recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most
High God, without this fact being pointed out to them. They also
recognized Jesus, without anyone telling them who He was. In
this example, the spirits were very afraid of Jesus, and of the
power He had over them. This example gives us more detail about
the supernatural strength of these possessed men, being to break
their shackles and chains, and also being able to resist attempts
at binding them. There is also an inference to an increasing
strength, by the words no one could bind him any more, showing
that they were bound at one time, but that they could break,
and could keep breaking the bindings now, even chains! These
spirits were extremely afraid of Jesus commanding them to leave
the region. This area was called Gerasenes, or also known as
Gadarenes.
The words used in this example are a man with an unclean
spirit, the word unclean being akathartos, and the word spirit
being pneuma. This is the same incident as that written in Matthew
8:28-34, yet different words are used. The word unclean is the
Greek word akathartos (ak-ath-ar-tos) and is used as a negative
particle and is a presumed derivative of kathairo (kath-ah-ee-ro)
which means to cleanse or specifically to prune. The word
spirit pneuma (pnyoo-mah) literally means breath or breeze and
is derived from the word pneo (pneh-o) which means breathe hard
or to blow. The words unclean spirit, or a hard, foul breath,
brings a very strong image to my mind. It is interesting to notice
that these unclean spirits seem to like to hang around unclean
or foul places like graves and pigs. The New Bible Dictionary
by Douglas says; Contact with a dead body rendered the individual
unclean (Numbers 19:11-22). The human corpse was the most defiling
according to Old Testament regulations. These unclean spirits
didnt end up living among the tombs accidently, they chose the
most unclean place they could find. When they were cast out,
they begged to be cast into the next closest unclean place they
could find, namely the pigs. It is clear from this description,
that the unclean spirit in this example is within the possessed
man, and is not merely affecting him. Clearly this man, or these
men, were possessed by an unclean spirit, or in other words,
the unclean spirit was within them.
Luke 8:26-37 NIV
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,
which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus
stepped ashore,
he was met by a demon-possessed man from
the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived
in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting
at the top
of his voice, What do you want with me,
Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, dont torture me!
For
Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to
come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though
he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken
his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Jesus asked him, What is your name? Legion, he replied, because
many demons had gone
into him. And they begged him repeatedly
not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs
was
feeding there on the hillside. The demons
begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.
When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs,
and the herd rushed down the steep bank into
the lake and was drowned. When those tending
the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this
in the town and countryside, and the people
went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus,
they found the man from whom the demons
had gone out, sitting at Jesus feet, dressed and in his right
mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people
how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then
all the people of the region of the Gerasenes
asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear.
So he got into the boat and left. |
In this version there is one demon possessed man. The
pigs are not numbered. Then all the people of the region asked
Jesus to leave. The demon possessed man met Jesus as He stepped
ashore. This example uses the words unclean spirit also, in difference
to the words used in the Matthew account of this incident.
One thing that is obvious from these passages, is that either
everybody, or nearly everybody in the region was extremely afraid
of this situation, namely that of demon possession, and Jesus
ability to order the demons to leave with the power of
His words. Another obvious point is the differences in the accounts.
Matthew tells us that there were two possessed men, while Mark
and Luke tells us that there was one possessed man. Why the difference?
I believe that everybody witnessing this must have been at quite
a distance to be unable to tell the difference between
one man and two men. Also, the account of the pigs seems
to vary a bit. I, personally believe, that everybody that witnessed
this event was so absolutely terrified of the situation, that
their fear forced them to remain a long distance away. I also
believe that this is supported by the action of the crowd after
the fact, of their being overcome with fear, and their asking
Jesus to leave them. It is also obvious that Jesus had authority
and power over the demons. Notice also, that in each case, the
demon possessed met Jesus alone. Where were the crowd that had
been following Jesus day and night? Where were the disciples?
Where were the Pharisees trying to entrap Jesus with their crafty
plans? On each of the listed accounts, the possessed man/men
met Jesus by themselves.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew 8:28 says ...two demon-possessed men coming from the
tombs met him.
The possessed men met him, not them.
____________________________________________________________
Mark 5:2 says
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came
from the tombs to meet him.
Again, the possessed man met him, not them. Also notice that
in this account, the pigs were feeding on a nearby hillside.
This is where the men attending the pigs would have been also.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Luke 8:26 says
.....he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. Here
again, he met the possessed man, not they met him.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Where did the disciples go? They were there just a minute
ago. They got into the boat with Jesus in Capernaum to cross
the lake. A big storm arrives without warning, and the disciples
all fear that theyre going to drown. Jesus calms the storm and
the water, and tells them they have little faith. Then they (Jesus
and the disciples) get to the other side. The man possessed with
an unclean spirit is face to face with Jesus almost immediately
after the boat lands on the other side of the lake. Matthew says
when he arrived at the other side, Mark says when Jesus
got out of the boat, and finally Luke says when Jesus stepped
ashore. This verse doesnt say when he saw Jesus and His
disciples, it just says when he saw Jesus. Where are the disciples?
|
Mark 5:6 goes on to say
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran
and fell on his knees in front of him.
Mat 8:23
Then he got into the boat and his disciples
followed him.
Mark 5:2
When Jesus got out of the boat , a man
with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
Luke 8:27
When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by
a demon-possessed man from the town. For a
long time this man had not worn clothes
or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
|
Heres a picture you wont forget soon. Here are the disciples
sitting in a boat that just landed, and Jesus steps out. You
then see a known demon possessed, naked man (or men) running
at you, screaming loudly, already being infamous in the entire
region for being so fierce that nobody could pass; and this man,
having cuts and bruises all over their body, and looking like
they had been living outdoors among the tombs for a long time;
and this man has broken his shackles and chains. Would you get
out of the boat? If you had just gotten out of the boat, would
you have gotten back into the boat? This is just after the disciples
had just been nearly scared to death in the boat during a fierce
storm where Jesus just commanded the storm to be still.
I have no doubt that just about everybody in this situation,
would run for their life in the opposite direction. Clearly the
idea of demon possession, as well as Jesus ability to cast the
demons out of people, seriously scared all of the people.
This is genuine demonic possession. Contrast that with todays
accounts. Bob Larson sells tickets (months in advance) to audience
members to attend his workshops, where he shows supposed real
encounters with persons possessed by demons on television shows,
and on the radio. Did you notice in the situations listed in
the Bible that people were unable to pass by the area where the
naked, screaming, moaning, demon possessed man lived. Yet, demon
possessed persons can attend the Bob Larson Show, fully
dressed, groomed, and pay for a ticket, wait in line to be seated,
and then wait patiently while the show begins. These same
people can fit in with all of the other people, without bringing
attention to themselves. These same people can also be completely
composed until Bob Larson approaches them. Another curious thing
happens, these demon possessed persons are rarely, if ever, censored.
They are somehow able to speak well within the acceptable norms
of behavior for television, radio, and church meetings. Yet Bob
Larson, is the only evangelist to be bleeped out on the Phil
Donahue show for using colorful metaphors.6 These
supposed demons are apparently better behaved than the evangelists
that are trying to cast them out. Or, are they really demons
in the first place? Bob Larson want us to believe that these
demons are comfortable sitting in church, surrounded by Christians,
listening to Bible verses?
Why then were the demons in the Bible so apposed to habitating
clean places? Bob Larson demons dont seem to be afraid of the
things that Biblical demons are. Bob Larson Christians dont seem
to be afraid either. These workshops and the radio show where
demons are routinely cast out are very casual, in contrast to
the reactions listed in Matthew, Mark, and Luke where entire
regions asked Jesus to leave their town because they were so
fearful of demon possession. These shows are so casual in fact,
that Bob doesnt think anything about taking a commercial break
in the middle of an exorcism.7 If it isnt amazing enough, that
Bob Larson would take a commercial break in the middle of a (so
called) exorcism, it will truly amaze you that he knew prior
to the fact how things would be going, that he would be doing
an exorcism this day, and that he would have a lull in the activity
of the exorcism at this point that he would have a chance to
play his specially recorded commercial created for this moment!
But in the same breath, he cant predict the end of this sale
with any degree of accuracy, nor can he predict the financial
needs of his ministry?
(commercial break)20
Im gonna let the audience slip away from this exorcism just a
moment and Im gonna
continue with what Im dealing with and Ill be back with you in
a moment with more of this in-person
exorcism.
(recorded message)7
On the Tuesday of the in-person exorcism I recorded a special
announcement before the
exorcism started so I wouldnt have to interrupt what I was doing
here and thats why Im
coming to you and letting you know this is a critical week for
this ministry. Our future is at
stake, Im battling the forces of darkness and Ive got to know
that you are there and you
care about me remaining behind this microphone to deal with the
devil and expose what
the forces of evil are doing to destroy your home, your church,
and your family so back me
now. Try to be a $1,000 Hero or a $500 Champion. And by the way,
the S.W.A.T. sale
continues. Just a few materials left! It could end any day. For
a gift of $40 videos, $100 - 4
books and 3 videos (including my book In the Name of Satan) AND
if you kick in an extra
$10 today I wanna add a fourth video bonus and that is my video
Lucifers Library about
Satanic books people read that open them up to demons. So kick
in that extra $10. do what you can and
back this ministry and call 1-800-223-CLUB.
Does it seem that the Bob Larson ministry is all about
money? Bob Larson and many of his supporters hold him out as
the premier expert on demonic possession. Enough of Bobs tacky
ploy for money. Perhaps in the heat of the moment Bob temporarily
had a moment of weakness, and succumbed to a lower state of mind.
Lets now leave the whole radio issue, and concentrate on the
Bob Larson webpage. This is a better method of measuring what
somebody truly believes, as you have time to design, craft, and
perfect your message on a webpage. You are not forced by the
immediacy of time like a radio program. This is a much cheaper
form of media anyway. Webpages can be pages and pages long, with
lots of information for curious readers. You are able to present
much more information without the expensive cost of radio shows,
television shows, and all of the travel related costs of
visiting churches, and offering workshops. In fact, in many cases,
websites can be free or nearly free. Lets visit his website to
see what Bob Larson has to say about the subject. Lets get down
to basics. Lets see what Bob Larsons views are. Lets ask the
one basic question everybody wants to know, and this from the
expert.
=============================================================================
What is a demon?
The very mention of the word demon conjures images of
gargoylish creatures of the night complete with fangs,
claws, and back hunched by the weight of depravity. Many
victims
of possessions claim they can see such creatures. Whereas
our normal eyes cannot
behold the spirit world, those who give themselves to the occult
can somehow see beyond this veil or else have demon-induced
visions. On some occasions when demons have appeared
during an exorcism, the victim has described the spirit as incredibly
beautiful.
This reminds us of Pauls warning in II Corinthians 11:14: When
it suits his purposes,
the devil can transform himself into an angel of light. But this
visible manifestation
of a demon says nothing about the actual nature of these fallen
angels. Both secular
and religious histories are filled with references to demons.
The ancients, who were untouched by the Jewish scriptures,
held demons in superstitious esteem. The Greeks believed
demons were the spirits of departed wicked men.
Recommended Resources:
Larsons Spiritual Warfare Book
Larsons Video of Spiritual Warfare
Four Part Videos Handbook of Spiritual Warfare
How To Beat The Devil At His Own Game (video)
Devil-Proofing Prayers (video)
Every Day Demon (cassette album)
Spiritual Warfare Workshop (6 one-hour cassettes)
S.W.A.T. (6 one-hour cassettes)
Can A Christian Have A Demon? (cassette)
The Devil: Who He is and What He Does (cassette)
Five Ways to Deal with the Devil (cassette)
What is a Demon? (cassette)
What The Devil Cant Do To You (cassette)
========================================================================
Thats it. Thats the information, the world famous Bob
Larson, demonic expert is willing to publish on the Internet
for those seeking to find out what a demon is. There is a total
of 10 sentences, which included one Bible verse. Along with this
wealth of information are several Bob Larson products you can
purchase. Over 18 cassettes, two videos, and three books. 10
sentences, and 13 products. It looks like if you want any
information, other than the teaser, then you are going to have
to pay for it.
It seems that the disciples in the Bible didnt make
money for casting out demons, nor did they give casting out demon
lessons for money.8 Bob Larson seems to take a very long time
casting out demons while things seemed to go much faster in the
Bible.
Demons are mentioned 11 times, and the Devil is mentioned
6 times.
Of the ten sentences that Bob Larson carefully crafted
and presented to his public, he has forgotten to mention God
even one time. There is no mention of Jesus, and there is no
mention of the Holy Spirit. There are however 13 (thirteen)
opportunities to mention money, simply by clicking an a hyperlink.
Yet, it is by Gods power that he supposedly casts demons out.
It is by the Holy Spirit that these demons must listen
to him, and it is in the name of Jesus Christ that these demons
can not resist his commands.
|
Matthew 12:34 NIV
You brood of vipers, how can you who are
evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart
the mouth speaks.
Matthew 6:21 NIV
For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
|
This one webpage clearly reduces the Bob Larson down to a
central theme.
God is not found here!
The path chosen here does not point to Christ.
The focus of this page is not sharing the Gospel, offering help,
or sharing information.......
it is simply to make money for Bob Larson!
Matthew 6:24 NIV
No one can serve two masters. Either he
will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve
both God and Money. |
Every man must choose which master he will follow. Clearly
in this case, Bob Larson has chosen to love money, and to hate
God.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus cast out demons with a word.
Mat 8:16 NIV
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed
were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits
with a word and healed all the sick. |
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus said Go, and cast out demons.
Matthew 8:32 NIV
He said to them, Go! So they came out and
went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep
bank into the lake and died in the water. |
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus casts out a demon, without saying a word, and the possessed
person wasnt even in His presence.
Matthew 15:28 NIV
Then Jesus answered, Woman, you have great
faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was
healed from that very hour. |
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus says Come out of him!
Luke 4:35 NIV
Be quiet! Jesus said sternly. Come out
of him! Then the demon threw the man down before them all
and came out without injuring him. |
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus seemed to treat those with disease, and those possessed
in a similar manner.
Ive never heard of Bob Larson healing anyone. The command
Jesus gave regarding casting out devils is found in Matthew.
Matthew 10:7-8 NIV
As you go, preach this message: The kingdom
of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give. |
Bob Larson doesnt raise the dead, or cleanse people
from leprosy either. Bob seems to take a really long time to
cast out his demons in comparison to those events listed in the
Bible. Another thing that contrasts from Biblical events and
the Bob Larson Show, is that some of the same people come to
have the demons cast out time after time. Somehow, these poor
demented souls are able to take quite a bit of time off from
work to attend these exorcisms, they can afford to find lodging
and dining services, and even travel expenses to get from one
location to another. These locations are not near to each other
either. Some of the shows are separated by many states, and the
frequency of these shows, would almost make air travel a necessity.
Bob Larson flys to these events. KCBD TV, the NBC affiliate,
in Lubbock, Texas reports that two of the three random people
we interview appeared at other shows. When these interviewees
were asked about participating at previous exorcisms, they answered
Yeah, more than once...11
In comparing the approach that disciple Bob Larson uses,
with that of the disciples listed in the Bible, there are some
notable differences.
The numerous Bible verses clearly establishes the fact,
that unclean spirits can inhabit a human being. But, what about
unclean spirits inhabiting a Christian? Clearly, the demons begged
and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs rather than to some
other place. There were other options available in that circumstance.
The men watching the pigs were available, Jesus could have sent
the unclean spirits into those men. Removing an unclean spirit
from one human being to another human being, isnt much of an
improvement, even if it did give provide a temporary break for
those first possessed. Clearly the unclean spirits strongly desired
to remain in an unclean environment, if they begged again and
again not to be sent out of the area.
[2 Dumb possession]
Matthew
9:32-34 While they were going out, a man
who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
And when the demon was driven out, the
man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, Nothing
like this has ever been seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said,
It is by the prince of demons that he
drives out demons. |
In this case, a man with an unclean spirits could not
speak, and Jesus drove out the unclean spirit, but the Pharisees
claimed that Jesus was the prince of demons. Many of those today
that claim to be casting demons out of Christians tend to taunt
the supposed demons into speaking to put on a good show. When
Jesus cast out this demon, we see the picture of healing. There
is no growling, rolling on the floor, or dialogue between the
demon and Jesus.
[3 Blind & Dumb possession]
Matthew 12:22-37 Then they brought him
a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed
him, so that he could both talk and see.
All the people were astonished and said, Could this be the Son
of
David? But when the Pharisees heard this,
they said, It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that
this
fellow drives out demons. Jesus knew
their thoughts and said to them, Every kingdom divided against
itself
will be ruined, and every city or household
divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan,
he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people
drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive
out demons by the Spirit of God,
then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong mans house and carry
off his possessions unless he first ties
up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He who is not with
me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,
but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone
who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but
anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
either in this age
or in the age to come. Make a tree
good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit
will be bad,
for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
For out
of the overflow of the heart the mouth
speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored
up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil
stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account
on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you
will be condemned. |
In this example, Jesus casts out an unclean spirit that
has made a man both blind and mute, but the Pharisees claimed
that Jesus was doing this by the power of Beelzebub, the prince
of demons. Jesus corrects them, and then warns them of blaspheming
the Holy Spirit. Jesus uses the example of a tree and its
fruit. The examples says that a good tree will bear good fruit,
or a bad tree with bear bad fruit. This is simple and plain language.
There is not a mixing idea here that is allowed to stand. Jesus
says there is no combination of a good tree with a bad tree,
or good fruit with bad fruit. A bad tree can not produce good
fruit.
Clearly, Jesus has addressed demon possession, and he give
only two scenarios. One good, and one bad. There is no mention
of a tree being good and bad, or the tree bearing good and bad
fruit. There is only one possible situation. It is good, or it
is bad. Thats it. Are we to believe now, that the Holy Spirit
is willing to inhabit a person while an unclean spirit also resides
within him? Jesus also talks about entering a house and biding
the strong man before he can carry off his possessions. The power
of God can bind an unclean spirit, but the power of an unclean
spirit is nothing compared to God. In several of the verses included
here, we can see that unclean spirits are very afraid of Jesus,
to the point of begging for mercy. Yet, there are Biblical teachers
that tell us that these same spirits, or others like them, are
willing to inhabit a person where the Holy Spirit resides? This
clearly is not the case in any of the scriptures. Within these
same scriptures there is mention of blaspheming the Holy Spirit,
and also mention of judgement of every careless word. Teachers
of the Word, must exercise extreme care in what they present
to others as doctrine. Jesus links the Holy Spirit with the topic
casting out of demons. When a Christian is redeemed by the Blood
of the Lamb, they are cleansed, made clean, pruned of impurities,
and they have been purchased by Jesus. Claiming that the Holy
Spirit is willing to live in an unclean vessel, or in a vessel
with something unclean goes against every verse of scripture,
and violates the entire meaning of clean. You can not take
a vessel and put in something clean, and then put something unclean
in and maintain the character of the clean. It is now all unclean,
or unpruned.
1 Cor 5:6-13 NIV
Your boasting is not good. Dont you know
that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get
rid of the old yeast that you may be a
new batch without yeastas you really are. For Christ, our Passover
lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival,
not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but
with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. I
have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually
immoral people not at all meaning the people of this world who
are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that
case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing
you that you must
not associate with anyone who calls himself
a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater
or a
slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With
such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge
those outside the church? Are you not to
judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked
man from among you. |
We, as Christians, are told are told not to associate
with those calling themselves Christians but are really sexually
immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and swindlers,
and we are further instructed with such a man do not even eat!
Here God has commanded us not to have anything to do with a false
brother, not even to eat with him. Still there are those that
tell us that this same God would allow a demon, a workman of
Satan, to inhabit a Christian. The scriptures tell us in the
strongest way possible that God tells us not to associate with
evil, and God does not allow evil to inhabit The Body of Christ.
For it would not be us, the individual believer, because we collectively
make up The Body of Christ. Those teaching that Christians can
be possessed, make no less claim than that The Body of Christ
can be possessed by a demon.
Those teaching that Christians
can be possessed,
make no less claim than that
The Body of Christ can be possessed
by a demon.
Luke 11:14 Jesus was driving out a demon
that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute
spoke, and the crowd was amazed. |
[4 Syro-Phonecian daughter]
Matthew 15:22-28 A Canaanite woman from
that vicinity came to him, crying out, Lord, Son of David, have
mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly
from demon-possession. Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples
came to him and urged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying
out after us. He answered, I was
sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.
The woman came and knelt before him. Lord, help me! she
said. He replied, It is not right to take the childrens bread
and toss it to their dogs. Yes, Lord, she said, but even
the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from
their masters table. Then Jesus answered, Woman, you have great
faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed from
that very hour. |
In this example, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit from
the daughter of a woman begging Jesus for help, without Jesus
even going to where the daughter was. This was not a difficult
task for Jesus. The possessed person was set free instantly by
a thought of Jesus. Today, it is still the power of God that
is at work in believers. We can pray for others, even though
we are not there with them, and God can still heal them. There
is no need to take a person to an exorcist to have them healed.
[5 Lunatic possession]
|
Matthew 17:14-21 When they came to the
crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. Lord, have
mercy on my son, he said. He has seizures
and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into
the
water. I brought him to your disciples,
but they could not heal him. O unbelieving and perverse generation,
Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall
I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me. Jesus rebuked the
demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that
moment. Then the disciples came
to Jesus in private and asked, Why couldnt
we drive it out? He replied, Because you have so little faith.
I tell
you the truth, if you have faith as small
as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here
to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for
you.
(Mat 17:21 NIV)
There is no verse for 21 in the NIV version.
Mark 9:17-29 A man in the crowd
answered, Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by
a spirit that
has robbed him of speech. Whenever
it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth,
gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I
asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could
not. O unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, how long
shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring
the boy to me. So they brought him. When
the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion.
He fell to the ground and rolled around,
foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boys father, How long has
he
been like this? From childhood, he answered.
It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if
you can do anything, take pity on us and
help us. If you can? said Jesus. Everything is possible for him
who believes. Immediately the boys father exclaimed, I do believe;
help me overcome my unbelief! When Jesus
saw that a crowd was running to the scene,
he rebuked the evil spirit. You deaf and mute spirit, he said,
I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. The
spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and
came out. The boy looked so much like a
corpse that many said, Hes dead. But Jesus took him by the hand
and lifted him to his feet, and he stood
up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,
Why couldnt we drive it out? He replied,
This kind can come out only by prayer.
Luke 9:37-42
The next day, when they came down from
the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called
out, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only
child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws
him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely
ever leaves him and is destroying him.
I begged your disciples to drive it out,
but they could not. O unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus
replied, how long shall I stay with you
and put up with you? Bring your son here. Even while the boy
was
coming, the demon threw him to the ground
in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the
boy
and gave him back to his father.
|
This incident is written about by a great many authors. Many
claim that this is some type of disease, and not demon possession.
There is great danger in second guessing what is written plainly.
This is a case of demonic possession, as the condition was not
constant, and it showed intent. Clearly the demon tried to kill
this person several times by throwing them into the water and
into the fire, and even onto the ground. There is no disease
that tries to kill a person by throwing them into fire to burn
them, or water to drown them. There is also a statement by Jesus
to have faith. Jesus heals the boy and returns him to his father.
[6 Synagogue possession]
|
Mark 1:23-26 NIV
Just then a man in their synagogue who
was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, What do you
want with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy
us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God! Be quiet!
said Jesus sternly. Come out of him!
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with
a shriek.
Luke 4:33-36
In the synagogue there was a man possessed
by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out
at the top of his voice,Ha! What do you
want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you arethe Holy One of God! Be quiet! Jesus said sternly.
Come out of him! Then the demon threw the man down before them
all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed
and said to each other, What is this teaching? With authority
and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!
|
This passage is used frequently by those that claim Christians
can be possessed by a demon, even though Christians are the Temple
of the Holy Spirit. Here is a demon possessed person at the synagogue.
As explained elsewhere in this writing, this demonic possession
is in the area, or the district of the synagogue, and not in
the interior of the synagogue. In this incident, the demon started
talking, and Jesus demands that the demon stop speaking. This
is contrasted by those exorcists that taunt the suppossed demon
and coaxes them to speak to enhance their show. This incident
also shows that the demons in this and other incidents can recognize
Jesus without others telling them who He is.
[7 Phillipian slave possession]
Acts 16:16-19 NIV
Once when we were going to the place of
prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which
she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for
her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed
Paul and the rest of us, shouting, These
men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the
way
to be saved. She kept this up for many
days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and
said to
the spirit, In the name of Jesus Christ
I command you to come out of her! At that moment the spirit left
her. When the owners of the slave girl realized that
their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and
Silas and dragged them into the marketplace
to face the authorities. |
This incident is also interesting because of several elements
mentioned. This incident is used by many people trying to show
that demon possessed people have supernatural powers of fortune
telling. This is not shown by the verses at all. What is said
is that this girl earned a great deal of money for her owners.
Recently the Psychic Friends Network made millions of dollars
by suppossedly telling the future. Apparently this so called
psychic fell to the same end as the Psychic Friends Network,
by going out of business without any prior notice that this would
happen according to their psychic abilities. Notice also, that
the authorities did nothing about a demon possessed person in
their midst, or that she was telling the future. But the loss
of income, now thats reason to contact the authorities. This
also seems to be true today. There are a great many evils surrounding
us in our modern world, many of which do not see any official
action, until someones income is reduced.
Final Thoughts -
The position that demons never existed clearly is not true,
as demonic possession is mentioned several times in the Bible.
The position that demons used to exist, but they have been
bound after Jesus arose from the grave. This is also clearly
not the case as demonic possession is mentioned in Acts, after
Jesus arose.
The case against demonic possession of Christians -
Christians are filled with light, from which darkness flees.
TOTALLY!
Luke 11:36
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of
it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of
a lamp shines on you.
Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit, which no demon
can enter.
God required so many cleansing ceremonies for a priest to enter
the temple, that they cant even be listed here. Certainly He
would not allow a demon to enter His new temple.
Christians can not be demon possessed, because there would
be no way to cast out the demon. If a Christian can cast out
a demon from another Christian, they would risk the demon
possessing themselves. Christians are vessels, shaped by the
hands of God for His purposes, which God protects from uncleanliness.
Christians are holy, which no unholiness can inhabit. Christians
are owned by God, being paid for by His Son, Jesus, which no
demon is powerful enough to wrestle from His hands.
These are just a few of the many illustrations spoken of in
the Bible. This is one side of this debate.
The other side is......
The case for demonic possession of Christians -
The two instances most proponents of this teaching rely on
are
Ananaias, and Pauls thorn.
Acts 5:1-11 NIV
Now a man named Ananias, together with
his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wifes
full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but
brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet.
Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that
Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy
Spirit and
have kept for yourself some of the money
you received for the land? Didnt it belong to you before it was
sold?
And after it was sold, wasnt the money
at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing?
You have
not lied to men but to God. When Ananias
heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all
who
heard what had happened. Then the young
men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and
buried him. About three hours later his
wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her,
Tell
me, is this the price you and Ananias got
for the land? Yes, she said, that is the price. Peter said to
her,
How could you agree to test the Spirit
of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband
are
at the door, and they will carry you out
also. At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then
the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out
and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the
whole church and all who heard about these
events. |
In this case, we are asked (by those that tell us Christians
can be demonically possessed) to believe that Ananias and his
wife were possessed by a demon or demons, and that they sold
their property and divided the money before they gave it to the
church. The phrase how is it that Satan has so filled your heart,
is talking about a frame of mind, not a case of demonic possession.
Weve seen demons cause a person not so speak, to blind a person,
to try and kill a person by throwing them into fire and water.
Weve seen a demon so fierce that they would let nobody pass through
the area in which they lived. Weve seen demons that couldnt be
bound with shackles and chains, or be overpowered by anyone.
In this case, we see none of these behaviors. We see somebody
that decided to lie to the Holy Spirit because they were tempted
by greed. Their minds were not on God, but these two people were
not possessed either.
God is a fair God!
If these two people were possessed by demons, then the evil
that was caused, was caused by the demons and not by the people.
There was no attempt to cast any demons from these two people.
There is no discussion of such a plan. Certainly it would be
unfair to kill a person that was acting involuntarily because
of the influence of demons. This is not the case here. In no
case mentioned in the Bible, did Jesus, God, or the apostles
kill the possessed person. In every case the person was delivered
from the control of the demon. In this case the two people that
lied to the Holy Spirit were struck dead. If their actions were
the fault of the demon, then to strike the person dead would
by contrary to every other teaching in the Bible. These two people
brought the results they deserved upon themselves. The name Ananias
(an-an-ee-as) is from katagnumi (kat-ag-noo-mee) to rend in pieces,
crack apart. From kathairesis (kath-ahee-res-is) which means
demolition. To lower violently. This is not the work of
a demon, or demons, this is the sinful human nature at work.
This incident also shows a contradiction of intent, if the
person was truly possessed. Demons are out to destroy the Kingdom
of God. Certainly they would not allow these two possessed persons
to give any of the money to the Church, moreless the lions share.
Many of those that make their ministry casting demons out
of Christians often identify these
so-called demons with names such as bitterness, hatred, fear,
anger, resentment, abuse, and many other similar names. Galations
5:19-21 lists sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions envy; drunkenness, orgies, and
the like as results of the sinful nature. Calling these sins
demons contradicts the Bible, and denies the Christians responsibility
for their own sin.
We now have the case of Judas. Judas was possessed by Satan
when He betrayed Jesus. This was not an instant situation however.
Judas had been planning to betray Jesus for some time, and at
this point, his heart became so hardened that it became a great
place for Satan to inhabit. Clearly the betrayal of Jesus
was not the act of a Christian, which means there is still no
evidence of a Christian being possessed by a demon. Judas was
possessed by Satan, not by a demon, and this was of his own choosing.
At the point when Jesus is establishing the first Communnion,
Judas chooses to leave and commune with the Pharisees. Jesus
even prompts Judas to leave this gathering of true Christians,
showing that Judas didnt belong with the group. Jesus addresses
Judas, the person, not Satan. He even calls him friend.
Judas, on the other hand, asks Jesus, Is it me? all the while
knowing that he was about to make all his plans come to pass
by betraying Jesus into the hands of the Pharisees.
There are no recorded instances of a Christian being demon
possessed in the Bible. All instances are that of being influenced
or harrassed by a demon or an unclean spirit.
There are no instructions, warning, or information regarding
casting demons out of Christians.
When Jesus left us to ascend into heaven, He left us with
instructions. The apostles left us with instructions, the Old
and New Testaments also left us with instructions. The idea that
God left us in a dangerous situation, namely that of having demons
roaming the earth, with the power to possess Christians, is absurd,
at best! God has told us how to organize the Church, how to deal
with widows, children, false teachers, diet, money, faith, wine,
love, fear, pride, envy, lust, confusion, death, beatings, insults,
and far too many other topics to mention here. The idea that
He left us on our own regarding demonic possession is totally
rediculous.
Finally we are at one of the most interesting verses in the
Bible. 2 Corthinians 12:7.
King James - And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance
of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure.
This is an interesting verse in many different ways. Some
of the words used in this verse are very rare. I am including
this verse because many supporting the idea that Christians can
be possessed, use this verse to show that even well established
Christians can be affected by demons, and that they can deliver
damaging blows to Christians.
Paul mentions getting buffeted by using the word kolaphizo
(2852 Wigrams Greek Concordance) (kol-af-id-zo) which is used
only five times in the Bible. The first is when Jesus is being
scourged in Matthew 26, then again during the same incident recorded
in Mark 14. This word is used only three times when discussing
anyone other than Jesus. In all of these instances, the writer
is showing the connection that Christians have to the suffering
of Christ. (1 Cor 4:11, 2 Cor 12:7, and 1 Pet 2:20).
Another word used in this verse is huperairomai (hoop-er-ah-ee-rom-ahee)
(5229 Wigrams Greek Concordance). This word means be exalted
above measure. This word is used only three times in the Bible.
One time in 2 Thes 2:4, and both of the other times, it is used
in this one verse. The other time it is used, it is talking about
the Anti-Christ. Paul statement is a sandwich of this word, with
a phrase in between and then this word again. There is no way
for Paul to phrase this statement in any stronger terms than
this. He is saying that God allowed this affliction he was suffering
from so that he wouldnt become puffed up, and he uses the most
extreme case of puffed up he could name, that of the Anti-Christ.
2 Th 2:4
He will oppose and will exalt himself over
everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets
himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming
himself to be God. |
Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Allowing a demon
into this human temple, would be the same as Satan entering the
Temple in Jerusalem. The temple would be defiled! So we now have
a verse that begins with a statement, and ends with the same
statement. Then we have a word that is used in only one other
verse in the Bible, and we have a word that is only used in four
other verses in the Bible. Paul also uses the word skolops (skol-ops)
(4647 Wigrams Greek Concordance) which is used as the word thorn,
but this word actually means a tent stake. This word is used
only one time in the Bible. Paul has an affliction as big as
a tent stake in his side |