There is a real existence of good and evil in heavenly places, a spiritual realm that is not visable to the human eye, but through the power of the Holy Spirit God enables us to see what He wants us to see to reveal truth, whether it is seeing angels or demons.
This is why Paul tells us the importance of putting on the whole armor of God, to be fully equiped enabling us to withstand in the evil day.
For we do not wrestle agaiinst flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers. against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places Eph 6:12).
Paul describes God's awesome armor in a suit of armor a Roman Soldier wore. He labels each piece with a godly virtue that we ought to obtain to help us to be equipped against all evil powers of the world. We are to put on the belt of truth, breastplate of righteosness, boots (gospel of peace), shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit which is the word of God written in the Holy Bible. (Eph 6 :10-20)
I want to stay obedient to God and be fully equiped in His protection for the evil day. The unsaved does not have God's grace and protection and are wide open to all spiritual wickedness and the rulers of darkness of this age. Spread the gospel. Seek and Save. Have the mind of Jesus Christ. WWJD GLORY TO GOD! God Bless
Another good post. I agree, the armor is our protection. Without it we are helpless. Without Christ we stand no chance against such things.
FLOODNUT, if I offended you, I apologize, but why are you attacking me?We have been told over and over again the last few days not to make this personal.
I said he was judging people because his actions and words prove it. It is not that that made you write, was it?
If you want to debate, ask in a civil tone and I would be happy to.
You said: 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......."
WALTER: Actually the Holy Spirit will only abide in an individual as long as that person "Continues" to be a believer. I that person should go back to a state of "Unbelief" then that person has committed Apostasy and there is no return after that. They have permanently forfeited their salvation.That is why the scriptures worn us lover and over agin not to fall back into a sinful lifestyle as over time that can cause our hearts to become so hardened that we will no longer believe in Christ.
Heb 3:12-14
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of UNBELIEF,...... in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you..... be hardened..... through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (KJV)
Wow! Thanks Walter for further enlightment through scriptures. So your saying once saved and then turn to a state of unbelief your condemned and no way to turn back?
I need scripture to hold that true.
Paul tells us that those who are unsaved who follow Satan and his power of lying wonders and have not received love and truth through Jesus will perish but he also says he will send delusion that they should believe the lie. (read Thes2:9-12)
that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (Thes 2:12)
This scripture makes me sad for my parents who once believed in God but were never saved and I believe He has sent them delusions so they should believe the lie.
I still have faith in the Lord and pray for His grace for their salvation.
Hi everyone! This is a very interesting topic! I find it interesting that so many Christians in the US have so many opinions about demonic possession but very few of them have ever experienced facing a person that is truly possessed. Some people believe that sinful behavior can be blamed on demons but the Bible is clear that we are carried away by our own desires. Sin cannot be cast out by the use of deliverance techniques. Further, a person that is possessed displays clear indications that they are possessed. People with mental illness are people with mental illness and they need healing not deliverance. Demons will identify themselves and will show themselves by their behavior. I think this is clear in the experiences that Jesus and the Apostles had with them.
In my own experience demons cause people to behave in a way they have absolutely no control over. It is a different behavior than people with mental problems show. I have been around people who are schizophrenic or very psychotic and they do not behave like possessed people. For one thing they either always know who they are or they have an identity that is definable in human terms. They are also always on the same psychological condition. Demon possessed people are not. Their behavior changes dramatically from being a sane person to becoming a completely different person and back.
I found that the presence of something as simple as a Bible or the mention of Jesus or God when brought up by a believer would cause a possessed person to become very strange and the demon would become very vocal. Their voice was different and their movements were unnatural. They could easily do things that were hurtful to the person or cause them to become extremely violent. It didn't take trying to cast them out in Jesus Name to calm them down or make them leave. Demons know where they are and in whose presence they are and they are obedient to believers whose faith is strong enough to deal with them.
Reminding them they are defeated or saying the words, "I rebuke you in Jesus name" are not necessary. The word rebuke means to expose something or to take the lid off a box to reveal what is inside of it. Using the word rebuke is like using the word run. It's a verb or a noun but it is not used like one when you are doing it. You would not say I run you or I hope you. You would just do it. Telling them to leave usually works. Even if they resist and argue they will leave.
Remember, Jesus said we would do greater things than he did John 14:12; In most solemn truth I tell you that he who trusts in me--the things which I do he shall do also; and greater things than these he shall do, because I am going to the Father. He also told us not to rejoice that demons obey us but to rejoice that our names are written in the Book of Life. Luke 10 Also note that in Luke 10:17 that there were more than the 12 who were casting out demons " And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your Name."
I would also like to note that my experiences with possessed people took place in the San Francisco area where I cast demons out of 7 people. All of these people were not Christians but they became Believers and were discipled after they were freed. I have also counseled Christians that were suffering from demonic oppression through a variation of a twelve step program I developed for that purpose.
Thank you ThunderofGod there is nothing like hands on experience. Your faith is strong in God to be able to endure confronting the demons. :applause: Glory to God.
I've read when people are possessed they can cause suicide and kill others. Whats your expertise oppinion on that?
As far as mental illness and other maladies can't demons and wicked hosts cause these through air (spiritual realms)?
Yes demons do cause suicide. I read a book several years ago about this. I don't remember the title but it was about demonic activity in Eastern Europe. One of the stories that I remember was about a young man that jumped up from the dinner table one night, ran outside and dove down the well and drown. There were many other stories like this.
I believe demons cause mental illness but I think there is a distinction in the way people behave. For one thing, demons have been known to keep people alive for many years beyond what is normal. I recall a story told by missionary friends of mine that took place in South America. A witch in the tribe died immediately after several demons were cast out of her. There were four generations of people in the tribe that remembered her as always being a very old woman. I tell you this because I think a demon can overcome mental and physical conditions and even medication and if a person that is mentally ill because of a demon is medicated it will have no effect on the demon.
There are also examples of supernatural strength in demon possessed people. A man came into our church in San Francisco and ran up the center aisle and attacked the lectern, or pulpit, and the pastor. The pastor escaped him but he tore the lectern apart with his bare hands. It was very large and a normal person would have needed a sledge hammer to do that kind of damage.
I think the story in the Bible of the boy that was thrown into the fire is a good example of attempted suicides caused by demons. The boy certainly did not want to go into the fire but the demon was out to destroy him or at least abuse his body for some reason.
dear folks, leon i looked back at floods post and it didnt seem to be attacking you persay but more just him makin a statement to one of your statements..the one about judging..
then again i dont recon it does any of us any good to open up old wounds..
flood welcome to the forums..
and folks i agree with walter that we can become so sin ridden that our hearts could possibly harden so much that we could loose our salvation because we may loose our unbelief in CHRIST .. to me thats dangerous grounds...
and thunder welcome to the forums and that was some testimony you have there.. thanks for sharing..
