Can a Christian be possessed?

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T

tstumf

Guest
#21
Can a Christian be possessed?

I have no doubt in my mind. I will be vulnerable here and share a sensitive story. I’ve first hand stared at a Demonic spirit eye to eye through my late mother. I lived in my childhood household at least 4 years under my mother whom was possessed by either Legion or a demonic spirit of equal rank. I didn’t ever catch on to what was actually happening in the moment but Holy Spirit revealed it to me when I came into the faith and surrendered to Christ a little over a year ago. I came to this revelation the first time I saw Mark 5:1-13 being re-inacted And every time since then. When I see it my first reaction is “hey it’s Judith” my hair stands up on end, get goosebumps and a far too familiar mental awareness gives me the ebby Jeebies just typing it . I sincerely believe my mother whom was a devout Christian. She called herself a “Judeo-Christian” A regular Sunday church service attender . She had this split personality thing going on some of it was no doubt mental illness but there was something else beyond the mental illness. Something dark that could only be described as Sinister and pure evil at its core . There was mom we knew and loved one minute happy loved scriptures,loved God and Jesus and generally peaceful, gladly took her mental meds and at the flip of the switch mid conversation sometimes mid sentence her alter personality took over which was dark and evil.you could watch it change in her eyes. Gives me the goosebumps just thinking of it. Judith, her alter personality was a creature who loved to sit in the dark with a coat on and hood over her head. She would fly into fits of rage and accusations. She would hear things that weren’t being said. See things that weren’t there. She would flush her meds. around my teens she abused us emotionally regularly used Bible scriptures to accuse us of things she was clearly hallucinating and imagining in her mentally ill state. She would do these really odd Old Testament olive oil anointing everything in the home soaked with it. Judith would take our clothes at night because she didn’t sleep till she passed out from exhaustion. Judith was know to stay awake for 3 days straight. Pass out and be regular Judy my mom. Judith would sew in oil soaked bible verses she cut from her bible, that she felt were appropriate to condemn and accuse us with. We lived under this really odd dark perversion of Old covenant law where she was judge and jury for years till finally I turned 18 and promptly moved far away.

I really think her mentally ill state allowed the Demonic to allow entry through a weak point.
when I think back I could almost tell you exactly when the demonic took over initially . She landed in the hospital out of nowhere. She was allegedly dying according to the doctors and they could not determine why her vitals were shutting down. And she was on her death bed and made a strange reversal. Medically they could not explain it from then on evil Judith was very prominent and almost the default personality.

people can believe as they wish but there is no doubt in my mind I witnessed a Demonic possession.
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#22
I do not believe that a Christian can be possessed as their spirit in reborn of incorruptible seed. However, the soul is not instantly transformed. Sanctification is a process. They can also attach to the body. Care should be taken in the laying on of hands, as evil spirits can be transferred this way.
I said this is what I believe and do not demand that anyone accept it, though I suggest that one consider what I say.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,600
3,622
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#23
I do not believe a Christian can be possessed..

A Christian is indwelled by the Holy Spirit.. And there is no way the Holy Spirit will share it's temple with a demon..
 
O

Omegatime

Guest
#24
The soul is what is sealed by the Holy Spirit, that living vibrant part of who you are. The body can be corrupted by sin yet our souls sealed in the Day of Christ. The body which goes into the ground is no longer of value. Sickness comes from evil spirits. Take the case of ancient patriarchs living up to 969 years and why??? And this was because there were no evil spirits on the earth before the flood! Notice how lifespans began dropping ----
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#25
Shalom, brother.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,600
13,861
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#26
Here is what being denon possessed looked like.


Luke 8:27-29
New International Version


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. 28 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, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure 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.

In the New Testament we never see once a Christian being controlled by demons. We also only have commands on how to resist forces of evil in spiritual warfare and not cast it out. James 4:7


Romans 8:9-11
New International Version


9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.



1 Corinthians 6:19
New International Version


19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Where God resided in the temple was the holy of holies. We are now that temple and through Christ we are made holy.

So due to these facts demon possession is not possible for a Christian a true follower.
You're employing the non sequitur fallacy; your conclusion does not follow from your assertions.

While yours is a reasonable conclusion, it is not actually supported by Scripture. I wouldn't hold too tightly to any doctrine that cannot be supported by Scripture. It is better to hold tightly to what is stated, and not draw unwarranted conclusions that depend on tangential assumptions.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
#27
I do not believe a Christian can be possessed..

A Christian is indwelled by the Holy Spirit.. And there is no way the Holy Spirit will share it's temple with a demon..

Agreed.

There are those who we see with demon presence must be qualified as a Christian.

First there are many ....."christians"...who are not keeping the faith and commitment to Christ. They are not Christian but, I fear are often included in the conclusion that a Christian can be possessed. So the numbers are skewed.
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#28
When some do not know the difference between the spirit and the soul; nor the difference between oppression and possession, they won't understand what I'm saying. Oh, well.
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#29
And if we cannot agree on non-salvation issues, then perhaps we can agree to disagree without becoming disagreeable. After all...
"…2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;…" - Ephesians 4:2-4
 
O

Omegatime

Guest
#30
When some do not know the difference between the spirit and the soul; nor the difference between oppression and possession, they won't understand what I'm saying. Oh, well.
I think you need a hug!!!
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#31
Yeah, you're probably right! Lol
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,600
3,622
113
#32
Agreed.

There are those who we see with demon presence must be qualified as a Christian.

First there are many ....."christians"...who are not keeping the faith and commitment to Christ. They are not Christian but, I fear are often included in the conclusion that a Christian can be possessed. So the numbers are skewed.
To me Christianity is like Pregnancy..

A woman is either Pregnant or not Pregnant.. There is no woman coming forward claiming to be half pregnant or quarter pregnant.. They are either 100% pregnant or 100% not pregnant..

So to me a Christian is an Actual TRUE Christian,, one who believes Jesus and trusts in the Atonement Jesus secured on the cross for them.. Yes there are many religious people who self identify as being Christian and you will find that they will be selective in what they believe when it comes to the Word of God and they will often not completely trust in the Atonement of The LORD Jesus Christ.. These people are NOT in fact actual Christians and yes these people can indeed be possessed by a demon..
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,112
4,374
113
#33
Can a Christian be possessed?

I have no doubt in my mind. I will be vulnerable here and share a sensitive story. I’ve first hand stared at a Demonic spirit eye to eye through my late mother. I lived in my childhood household at least 4 years under my mother whom was possessed by either Legion or a demonic spirit of equal rank. I didn’t ever catch on to what was actually happening in the moment but Holy Spirit revealed it to me when I came into the faith and surrendered to Christ a little over a year ago. I came to this revelation the first time I saw Mark 5:1-13 being re-inacted And every time since then. When I see it my first reaction is “hey it’s Judith” my hair stands up on end, get goosebumps and a far too familiar mental awareness gives me the ebby Jeebies just typing it . I sincerely believe my mother whom was a devout Christian. She called herself a “Judeo-Christian” A regular Sunday church service attender . She had this split personality thing going on some of it was no doubt mental illness but there was something else beyond the mental illness. Something dark that could only be described as Sinister and pure evil at its core . There was mom we knew and loved one minute happy loved scriptures,loved God and Jesus and generally peaceful, gladly took her mental meds and at the flip of the switch mid conversation sometimes mid sentence her alter personality took over which was dark and evil.you could watch it change in her eyes. Gives me the goosebumps just thinking of it. Judith, her alter personality was a creature who loved to sit in the dark with a coat on and hood over her head. She would fly into fits of rage and accusations. She would hear things that weren’t being said. See things that weren’t there. She would flush her meds. around my teens she abused us emotionally regularly used Bible scriptures to accuse us of things she was clearly hallucinating and imagining in her mentally ill state. She would do these really odd Old Testament olive oil anointing everything in the home soaked with it. Judith would take our clothes at night because she didn’t sleep till she passed out from exhaustion. Judith was know to stay awake for 3 days straight. Pass out and be regular Judy my mom. Judith would sew in oil soaked bible verses she cut from her bible, that she felt were appropriate to condemn and accuse us with. We lived under this really odd dark perversion of Old covenant law where she was judge and jury for years till finally I turned 18 and promptly moved far away.

I really think her mentally ill state allowed the Demonic to allow entry through a weak point.
when I think back I could almost tell you exactly when the demonic took over initially . She landed in the hospital out of nowhere. She was allegedly dying according to the doctors and they could not determine why her vitals were shutting down. And she was on her death bed and made a strange reversal. Medically they could not explain it from then on evil Judith was very prominent and almost the default personality.

people can believe as they wish but there is no doubt in my mind I witnessed a Demonic possession.
not of a christian
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#34
I'd call that possession.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,887
4,539
113
#35
You're employing the non sequitur fallacy; your conclusion does not follow from your assertions.

While yours is a reasonable conclusion, it is not actually supported by Scripture. I wouldn't hold too tightly to any doctrine that cannot be supported by Scripture. It is better to hold tightly to what is stated, and not draw unwarranted conclusions that depend on tangential assumptions.
You believe you can be possessed by a demon or demons?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#37
In order to think clearly about whether a Christian can be possessed it would be better to ask if any people can be possessed if they truly repent of sin, if they desire with all in them to not sin. Demons do all they can go reason people into opposing God in even little ways, you have to agree with a demon to let him within you. This is where the rubber hits the road.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,887
4,539
113
#38
Kindly don't put words in my mouth.
I didn't. There is a question mark at the end of the sentence. The deduction in reasoning was in response to your comment. In my post I said demon possession can not happen to a Christian. Your response was where is that found in scripture. I responded with scripture. Then you said that was wrong. So I asked you a question.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,439
3,218
113
#39
Here is what being denon possessed looked like.


Luke 8:27-29
New International Version


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. 28 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, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure 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.

In the New Testament we never see once a Christian being controlled by demons. We also only have commands on how to resist forces of evil in spiritual warfare and not cast it out. James 4:7


Romans 8:9-11
New International Version


9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.



1 Corinthians 6:19
New International Version


19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Where God resided in the temple was the holy of holies. We are now that temple and through Christ we are made holy.

So due to these facts demon possession is not possible for a Christian a true follower.
I had this discussion with someone in another thread recently. I think you need to make a distinction between demonic possession (indwelling and control) and demonic oppression (external persecution/manipulation).

Both are very real. But the Christian with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by demonic powers. They can certainly be oppressed from the outside, which I think can certainly be the bondage you mention in your opening post.

I should also mention it's a bit dangerous to make arguments based on one's understanding of what makes up a human being. Mind, will, emotions, soul, spirit, etc. People have been putting forth theories of what makes up a human being for millennia, and even the Bible's presentation of things is not entirely clear and leaves a lot of unknowns. "No system can fully describe itself." Using such unsubstantiated and unproven distinctions as the difference between spirit and soul is problematic. Firstly, there will be confusion as these things mean different things to different people. Secondly, any conclusions reached will be highly questionable.
I've studied the soul/spirit distinctions for many years and I'm confident that my understanding is correct. God's word conceals a great deal of truth that can only be revealed by His Holy Spirit. Spiritual things are spiritually understood. There are times when reason and logic are inadequate.

You do not understand the meaning of possession. Demons can and do inhabit the soul of man. If the video does not convince you of that fact, nothing will. I don't just "think" it is possible, I know so. Lord Jesus went around healing the sick and casting out demons. That is the ministry of Luke 4:8 - setting captives free.

Lord Jesus commanded us to do as He did. he also said that when He cast out demons, the Kingdom of God was among the watchers. I'll just restate what I've said elsewhere. Some of this may not apply to you. Feel free to ignore it.

"I'm appalled at the ignorance of so many. If we are holy, why are we instructed to pursue holiness? I'll tell you why, since you plainly don't know. It is the spirit man that is holy. We are complete in Christ. Yet we are also instructed:
1 Peter 2:
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

If we are complete, how come we need to add to our character? Complete means complete. It is because we are complete in spirit, in Christ, but that has to be worked out in the soul.

The soul is able to be controlled by the flesh if that is what we choose. If The Holy Spirit lived in the soul, then we could not indulge the flesh either. Demons do not automatically leave when a person is born again. They must be driven out."
In order to think clearly about whether a Christian can be possessed it would be better to ask if any people can be possessed if they truly repent of sin, if they desire with all in them to not sin. Demons do all they can go reason people into opposing God in even little ways, you have to agree with a demon to let him within you. This is where the rubber hits the road.
It is possible to agree with demons without realising it. The so-called Toronto Blessing was a straight out demonic counterfeit. I observed many Christians go for "prayer" to receive the "blessing", imagining it to be the Holy Spirit. Those people received a spirit alright but it was demonic, not of God.

You think this far fetched? We are warned against such deceptions. Matthew 24:24 states that false signs and wonders will arise that could deceive the elect. You will say, "If possible". I can assure you that it is possible. Anyone who thinks that they cannot be deceived is already deceived. Many Christians are spiritually blind, dull and insensitive. They allow their leaders to be Lord instead of Jesus. If the leaders get deceived, most will blindly follow them into the same pit.

I once shared a house with a former drug addict. He got born again, delivered from drugs and became a school teacher. He was a musician and taught music in his spare time. I moved on from the share house. I met him again several years later.

He went to a meeting where the Toronto Blessing was manifested. He told me that it was just like the drug parties he used to go to. But his pastor said it was ok so he went along with it. He invited me to one of the meetings so I could see for myself. I'd already seen more than enough, but I went for old time's sake. It was a circus. Everything decent and in order? Chaos more like it. And i watched as one poor soul was infested with the counterfeit spirit. Many others were already infected.

The only way to freedom for such people is for them to see that they have a problem. Then the demon can be cast out in the mighty name of Jesus. God will not violate the free will that He gives us. Satan has no such qualms. He will lie, cheat, rob, steal, kill and destroy in any way he can. We do not put on the armour of God for nothing. We must resist the devil. It is not a battle in the flesh, but it is war. We are victorious, but we must stand on the victory won. It is not automatic.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,439
3,218
113
#40
Here is what being denon possessed looked like.


Luke 8:27-29
New International Version


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. 28 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, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure 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.

In the New Testament we never see once a Christian being controlled by demons. We also only have commands on how to resist forces of evil in spiritual warfare and not cast it out. James 4:7


Romans 8:9-11
New International Version


9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.



1 Corinthians 6:19
New International Version


19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Where God resided in the temple was the holy of holies. We are now that temple and through Christ we are made holy.

So due to these facts demon possession is not possible for a Christian a true follower.
I'll repeat myself. Demons do not leave a person the moment they get saved. It would be wonderful if that were true. It's simply not the case.

The holy of holies represents the spirit of man. Satan has no access to the spirit. He does have access to the soul. Given the right conditions, Christians can be bound by evil spirits.