Page updated 18 Dec 2015

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What does the BIBLE say about Demons

How Can a Christian Have a Demon?

If you were walking down the street and a person approached you that was clearly manifesting a demon, what would be more important, making sure that individual knew Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior or casting the demon out? Of course, making sure that person is saved is most important. If you cast the demon out of that person and their name was not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, what good would you have done if that person was free from oppression but still eternally lost? Now, say you led that person in a prayer of accepting Jesus into their heart first, is the demon automatically cast out? No. But now that person is a Christian. If leading a person through a prayer cast out demons, that would be all we would ever have to do and we would all be automatically free from all oppression. But that is not the case. Jesus commanded us in His word to CAST out demons, not pray them out. In order to understand how a Christian can have a demon we must look at the Word for our answer.

What are we?

• Man is a spirit. That’s whom we really are, the part that will someday leave this flesh body.
• We have a soul. That’s our mind, our will and emotions.
• We live in a body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5 verse 23)

Once a person becomes "reborn" in Christ, their spirit is "sealed" and belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.1 Corinthians 1 verse 22) But our soul can still be afflicted. James 4:7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.James 4 verse 7 says that we are to resist the devil and he must flee from us. If a Christian couldn't be oppressed, why would we be instructed to resist the devil?

When you became a Christian, did all of your addictions, sinful ways and attitudes automatically leave you? No because we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (or souls) to the Word. (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12 verse 2)

But Christians do sin according to John 1:8-9(verse 8) He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.

(verse 9) [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.John 1:8-9 . We can also be prompted by demonic influence to sin with the words of our mouth as Peter did in Matthew 16:23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.Matthew 16 verse 23. Jesus said to Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan" proving that what Peter had said to Jesus was clearly influenced by Satan.

Christians can be prompted to sin by their actions as Ananias and Sapphira did in Acts 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?Acts 5 verse 3. Lets look at verse 3,

Peter knew that this could happen to a believer because it had happened to him.

When a person is set free from any torment of the devil, that is considered a healing. Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.Acts 10 verse 38 says, "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil."

In Luke 13:10-13(verse 10) And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

(verse 11) And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself].

(verse 12) And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

(verse 13) And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.Luke 13 verses 10-13 we see how a "daughter of Abraham" which was a follower of the Law in those days was bound with a spirit of infirmity.

This passage of scripture goes on to explain what had actually happened to her in verse 16.

As a daughter of Abraham, this woman was a believer in that day.

In light of these scriptures can we say, "The devil made me do it" and excuse our lack of self-control? No, sanctification is an ongoing process. We are to crucify our flesh. (Galatians 5:24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Galatians 5 verse 24) We are to walk in the spirit so we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.Galatians 5 verse 16)

If becoming a Christian got rid of all the demonic oppression, then we would never have to "cast out a demon" at all. We could just convert people to Christianity. Jesus said very clearly in Mark 16:17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.Mark 16:17 ,

Who will cast out the demons? Jesus’ believers. Out of who shall we cast demons? Out of other believers. If you were to cast out a demon out of an unbeliever you would be doing that person a grave injustice. Why? Because they do not have access to the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 12:44-45(verse 44) Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished.

(verse 45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.Matthew 12 verses 44-45 Jesus taught that when an evil spirit is cast out, it will say, "I will return to my house." And having it been swept clean it will bring with it 7 more." If you cast a demon out of an unbeliever, that person now has 8 demons because there was no authority of Jesus or protection of the Holy Spirit in their life to protect them and now they far worse!

The word "possessed" is not in the original Greek text. The actual word is "demonized." A demon cannot own a spirit. But it can attach itself to areas of the soulish realm through unconfessed sin, such as unforgiveness, is or in deep wounding from our past. Until we enforce the victory we have in Jesus, areas of our life can remain hidden to us thereby giving the enemy a stronghold to us. (2 Corinthians 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)2 Corinthians 10 verse 4) These strongholds are brought down through obedience to God's word and the breaking of generational curses. Every born again child of God needs to have some form of deliverance from the enemy. We all have ancestors that did something that could have put a curse on us. Jesus paid for our total freedom at the cross; why not take advantage of this precious gift Jesus purchased for us?