Tis the Season… to be Spooky
Email is a wonderful thing! The regular mailings I receive from GotQuestions.org are always very timely and enlightening. The following Halloween message arrived in my inbox last week, and I wanted to pass it on to you. Blessings, e-Mom ღ
(Reformatted in point form for easy scanning.)
• While the Bible does not explicitly state whether a Christian can be possessed by a demon, related biblical truths make it abundantly clear that Christians cannot be demon possessed.
• There is a distinct difference between being possessed by a demon and being oppressed or influenced by a demon.
• Demon possession involves a demon having direct/complete control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person (Matthew 17:14-18; Luke 4:33-35; 8:27-33).
• Demon oppression or influence involves a demon or demons attacking a person spiritually and/or encouraging him/her into sinful behavior.
• Notice that in all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, there are no instructions to cast a demon out of a believer (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• Believers are told to resist the devil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), not to cast him out.
• Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Surely the Holy Spirit would not allow a demon to possess the same person He is indwelling.
• It is unthinkable that God would allow one of His children, whom He purchased with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19) and made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), to be possessed and controlled by a demon.
• Yes, as believers, we wage war with Satan and his demons, but not from within ourselves.
• The apostle John declares, “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” (1 John 4:4).Who is the One in us? The Holy Spirit. Who is the one in the world? Satan and his demons. Therefore, the believer has overcome the world of demons, and the case for demon possession of a believer cannot be made scripturally.
Discover more here…
Related
1. Pumpkins Three Ways
2. Honoring Christ During Halloween
Photos: Top. jessamyn (Flickr) Bottom. Google Images
Up Next—Marriage Monday
Your thoughts and reflections?
4 Comments:
Yes and Amen! Good post! Oppression yes, possession No!
I love this post and you're right it is very timely. I was just talking with my children the other day about a Christian not being able to be possessed by oppressed. Thanks for reposting it!
awesome...and timely! Our pastor (rex Keener) is starting a sermon series on Satan tomorrow...he said in all the years he's been preaching (over 20 and before that, with the Billy Graham Association) he has never done a sermon series on Satan...Dave and i are SOOO looking forward to this!
Janette, Kim, & Faith: Personal emails on the way to all of you! Hugs.
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