dear walter, there are many ways to explain ones beliefs witout havin to throw insults to other denominations and or beliefs...
as in your words here
Coincidentally it is the very same Gibberish spoken by cults and other groups who deny Jesus as being the Christ.
Please stop using this kind of language which disrespects others.
These are simple guidelines we are asking you and all of our members to respect: don't name-call, don't be insulting to others, don't liken the very foundations of others to that of a cult.
You have made some very valid points, stimulating comments and have been an insightful contributor to the CDFF forums. We thank you for that. You seem very fair minded and knowledgeable. You are also correct in stating this is in fact a biblical discussion forum that may yield debate on the subject.
However, please let us have civil discussion here and know that you are broadcasting your opinion. Your "factual" basis may not be shared by others.
Thank you for your understanding and for encouraging thought provoking dialogue on Christianity.
We must ask that you heed this warning and refrain from future incidents of insensitivity.
I studied on this subject a couple of years ago with much prayer and found out that demons are on the prowl in search of their prey, to capture the souls of the UNSAVED.
They have a variety of traits they impose in the mind and body of the victims they possess, inflicting mental and physical ailments that cause different maladies such as suicide, epilepsy, phsycological disorders to name a few.
In Him you trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the time of redemption, to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:13-14).
No demons can ever possess our body, soul or mind. We are bought and paid for through Jesus Christ "OUR SAVIOR" He lives in us through the Holy Spirit.
Demons can play with our minds through falsehoods of the world----which is controlled by satan, the prince of the power
The word "sealed" does not mean something permanent as we interpret that today. The word sealed must viewed within the context of what it meant back then. When someone received a document and a wax seal was placed upon it, it was considered to be an authentic document when it was presented to be "redeemed". If the seal had been tampered with then the document was considered invalid. When one carefully examines the scripture in it's proper context we can see that it is not a promise of being sealed but a warning not to grieve the Holy Spirit because of the consequences of doing so.
Eph 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.
The day of Redemption is the day we present ourselves to Christ and that is when we are finally redeemed, providing we have not tampered with our "seal".
But of course this discussion is for another thread.
I will say that you make this interesting. I will have to check you out on that, I have never heard that before, I will let you know what I turn up in my studies.
Walter thank you for those scriptures and insight about the seal. Say that a person receives the Lord (saved) and the Holy Spirit but chooses to go against God's word and continue in his corrupt ways which I see a lot of, but the fact is the Spirit abides in him forever and it doesn't change that No Demon can ever enter him and rightfully so until the time of redemption.
I see your point and its good. If we continue to live a sinful life rebelling against God I believe when God judges us that seal may be broken and the Spirit taken away. Stamped with the seal of condemnation........
The spiritual realm is not like the natural realm.
Except consider this illustration. Picture a empty quart canning jar. Then picture it filled with water. IT IS FULL. Then put it in the microwave and heat it. NOW it is filled with something else too, HEAT.
Then pull it out of the microwave, and shine a red light through it, a laser if you please. NOW the jar is full of water, heat AND light.
So, the idea that a physical space cannot be occupied by two physical objects is not a firm reason to preclude the possibility of a spiritual vessel containing GOOD AND EVIL.
In fact Paul warns the CHRISTIANS of Ephesus NOT to give place (room or space as in Luke 2 "no room in the Inn") to the Devil. IF Christians are honestly warned not to give place, then it seems to me that it would be POSSIBLE biblically, or else there would not be the warning (Eph. 4:27).
Christians can be influenced by evil spirits. A veteren preacher who I knew could SEE evil spirits (and angels) and he tells of cases where he SAW spirits attached to believers. Now while that is not INSIDE of the believer, it is still a case of an evil spirit possessing, or controlling some aspect of a believer's life.
Paul the apostle also declares that at times he himself was affected by the influence of evil spirits.
Now whether you are willing to accept that they are actually IN a believer, it is clear from Scripture that they can be in a believer's life.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR that all Christians have authority over ever rank of evil spirit and that because of the victory of the Cross we are over them all as we are in Christ.
