Demons

Jesus breathed on them after he rose from the dead (John 20:22), and after Judas had hung himself.

I am not suggesting that they are the same temple, but if demons can co-exist with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost in the literal temple, then why would we think that they cannot co-exist in the figurative temple or in Christian's bodies? I mean, the former temple had Christ's blood brought into it in order to purchase our redemption (Heb. 9:12) or our figurative temples were purchased by that same blood, so I believe that there is a comparison to be made.

Anyhow, the only concession that I am seeking at this point in our conversation is that demons and the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit can co-exist in the same place at the same time, and this truth is evidenced by what we read earlier.

Hey, Blain.

This is a very good question, and all that I ask is for everybody to consider what I am about to say.

I think that we would all probably agree (not that anybody ever seems to agree on anything in the BDF) that one of the arguments against a Christian possibly having a demon inside of them goes something like this.

A Christian's body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost and a demon cannot co-exist in the same temple.

I mean, I have heard that argument many times over the years, and I trust that at least some of you have heard it as well, but I believe that scripture refutes this argument, and I will give you one example of that now.

1Ki 22:13
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
1Ki 22:14
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
1Ki 22:15
So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
1Ki 22:16
And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?
1Ki 22:17
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1Ki 22:18
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
1Ki 22:19
And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1Ki 22:20
And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22
And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1Ki 22:23
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

In context, the King of Israel, Ahab, wanted the King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to join him in battle at Ramothgilead. All of Ahab's false prophets prophesied of victory, but Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from a true prophet of God, and Micaiah was summoned. Pay close attention to what this true prophet of the LORD saw.

In verse 19, he saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left hand. This throne, I believe we would all agree (if we are honest), was inside of the temple in heaven. All the host of heaven included different spirits (vss. 20-22) who stood before the LORD, in this temple in heaven, and who offered to go and persuade Ahab that he might go and fall in battle at Ramothgilead (vs. 20). Finally, in verse 22, a spirit was chosen, and it was sent to be a lying spirit in the mouths of all of Ahab's false prophets (vs. 23).

Was this lying spirit a demon or the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth?

Obviously, it was a demon, and it was seen in heaven, in the temple, where God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost all reside.

1Jo 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Seeing how a demon can co-exist with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost in the literal temple in heaven, why should we believe that they cannot co-exist in the figurative temple (a Christian's body) here on earth?

Do you understand the question?

If you or others do, then I would be curious to hear any of your answers.

Thank you.

1 Cor ~~16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Cor 6:19~~
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

This is speaking of the inner sanctum. The Holy place. Not the temple complex. Nothing defiled will enter the inner sanctum.

At this moment, the "nothing defiled will enter the inner sanctum" part is just your opinion. In other words, you have not provided scriptural proof to back this assertion.

If what you are suggesting is true, then why did this same Paul say this to these same Corinthians?

2Co 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

What is this "filthiness of the...spirit" that these Christians were admonished to cleanse themselves from? An unclean spirit? Something else?

Lev 21~~No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God. 22 He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, 23 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’” 24 So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel.

Here is the context.

Lev 21:16
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 21:17
Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
Lev 21:18
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
Lev 21:19
Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
Lev 21:20
Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

This has nothing to do with whether or not a Christian can have a demon inside of them. Instead, it is talking about priests with physical defects.

I say No.. A Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them and i do not believe the Holy Spirit shares it's temple with demons..

The issue is finding scripture on the subject plenty speak of the holy spirit and us being a temple for him but few if any about a demon I had thought judas would be a good example but he didn't have the holy spirit in him

however if say one does believe a demon can coexist with the holy spirit we would need to have some kind of reference to it I always say if you want to test your beliefs try to prove them wrong so I am trying to find any reference of a demon being able to do this but if I cannot then I have to believe they simply can't

I say No.. A Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them and i do not believe the Holy Spirit shares it's temple with demons..

Can a Christian have a demon dwelling inside of them?

Yes or no?

Whatever your position is, please support it with scripture which can then be scrutinized by everybody here in order to determine whether or not those scriptures truly say what anybody here might claim they say in context.

I trust that we all believe that Christians can be oppressed or harassed outwardly by demons, but that is not my question.

Again, can a Christian have a demon dwelling inside of them?

Yes or no?

Btw, I am not starting this thread in order to set off another all-too-common ruckus here in the BDF. Instead, as we all should already know, if we are honest with ourselves, there are a lot of Christians in this world who are struggling tremendously with things like depression, all sorts of illnesses or diseases, and lust (especially in a sexual sense), and I am seeking to address and determine whether or not things like this could sometimes be directly related to demons dwelling inside of them. In other words, my goal is to potentially help people to be delivered from various torments, and not to set off some sort of free-for-all here, so please present your cases civilly, respectfully, and with scriptural backing.

Thank you.

Well i believe the Holy Spirit came down to indwell the first Christian on the day of penticost after the reasurection of the LORD Jesus.. Yes Judas having already comitted suicide at this time did not recieve the indwelling of the Holy Spirit..

Now i think it is possible for demons to harass Christians from the outside.. For instance a house can be haunted by an evil spirit.. For instance a Christian might live in a house and there may have been a seance taken place in that house or there may have been a few people using an Ouija board providing a portal for a demonic spirit to come into the house..

But yeah i have never read any scripture where a Christian who has recieved the Holy Spirit has ever had to have a demon exercised from them..

Yes. If you understand the difference between soul and spirit, you will understand why it is possible.

There are three degrees of demonic bondage. They are oppression, obsession and possession. Oppression is most common. It is where a believer is influenced subtly by an evil spirit. For example, thoughts that they did not choose to think, wandering mind or a blank mind where the believer is unable to think.

Obsession is a greater degree of obsession. The mind is under constant attack, very often the individual suffers insomnia and is unable to concentrate at all. This is often diagnosed as a mental disorder. That may be so, but if medication does not help, then a spiritual cause is most likely.

Possession is relatively rare. The individual has virtually no control over thought or behaviour. Some people (not Christians) seek possession as a way of gaining demonic powers. Hindu gurus, those involved in witchcraft, tribal medicine men etc seek to be possessed. A Christian usually retains some control over his being. Some are deceived, thinking that an evil spirit is the Holy Spirit. That deception can lead to possession. Symptoms include religious mania, total rejection of any correction, great pride and borderline insanity.

The believer's spirit is inviolate. No matter how deep the bondage, the believer's spirit cannot be taken over. It can, however, be subdued by the soul and the demon.

Freedom comes from recognition. The idea of being indwelt by a demon fills us with revulsion. We will no doubt wonder why we allowed ourselves to be entrapped. And the devil will flood us with guilt and shame. At this time we must be objective. We should seek to know the cause so that we can shut the door on those things that had us bound. Then we need to be filled with the Spirit, especially in the area vacated by the demon. We need to resist, especially when the demon tries to tell us that we are too weak to overcome or the demon never actually left.

We get deliverance by commanding the evil spirit or demon to leave. Some stronger ones may take some persistence to be rid of. We need to find someone who knows their authority in Christ and who will not allow the demon to argue. Those who minister deliverance must have the cooperation of the person who is bound.

I've been delivered myself from a number of evil spirits and I've ministered deliverance to others who are bound. It is not at all spooky or scary. Satan seeks to put us off through fear of what others will think, shame and condemnation. I'd much prefer a little embarrassment to being bound by a demon.

Christians have demonic attacks. Agree that the Holy Spirit dwells in a Christian. Can a Christian succumb to a demonic attack? If so, does a demon dwell in him then. Until the demon is cast out?

what exactly is the difference between soul and spirit and why is that a factor as to why both demon and the holy ghost coexist?

The spirit is the part of us that is the image of God. God is Spirit. The soul is the organ of expression, primarily mind, emotion and will. The spirit is the part of man that died when Adam disobeyed God.

How do we know this? Adam could still think, feel and choose after he died spiritually. When we are born again, we retain the ability to think, feel and choose. But we are also made alive to God once more. And that is the spirit of man where the Holy Spirit is able to dwell.

Holy Spirit and demons of course coexist. Tell me a place where God is not? Jesus came to Israel where demonic bondage was rife. The demons did not just leave because Jesus was there. Look up the incident where Jesus ministered to the man possessed by a legion of demons. A legion is around 6,000. Jesus cast them out, they did not leave just because He was there. Neither will they leave automatically when a person gets born again.

I was in effect given over to the devil from birth. I was saved in spite of this. it was a few years before the occult spirit was discerned and I was delivered. I had other demonic problems also.

The lack of deliverance ministry is a real problem in the church nowadays. People are being counseled wrongly because the wrong issue is being addressed. It's like telling someone with a broken leg that they should walk more to get stronger. Heal the leg and then the individual is free to exercise.