Great debate began taking place during the middle of the last century within Christianity as to whether or not a genuine Born-Again Christian can be demon possessed. When asked “can a Christian have a demon?” I always reply, “Why would they want one?!”
The debate revolved primarily around the translation of the Greek word 'daimonizomai' which is defined by virtually all Bible Dictionaries and Lexicons as “to be demon possessed.” It’s usage throughout the New Testament was understood to mean ‘to be possessed by a demon.’ Possession implies ownership and satan doesn’t own anything. There is no distinction in the usage of the word in the New Testament, nor is there even a single reference or warning about a Christian being under the control of, or “demonized” by, an evil spirit. The word is often used throughout the Bible in the context of evangelism and involves non-Christians.
A Born-Again Christian can be in a situation where demonic forces exert such oppressive attacks that it can “feel” as if there is an actual possession of the body or personality. These attacks may range from mild harassment to extreme subjection of the person involved. The Greek word for “oppressed” is 'katadunasteuo.' It means to exercise dominion, dominance, or control. The enemy tries to dominate and control everything. However, Jesus has control over him! Jesus went about healing “ALL that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38 KJV - emphasis mine). The enemy has to submit to the authority of Jesus!
Many people often use the term "oppressed" without realizing the very thin grounds that exist in the Bible for such a category of demonic activity. Indeed, without the King James Version of the Bible, the word would not even have entered the Christian vocabulary. This belief of demonization subtly changes the focus from God to satan. It can inspire fear in the Born-Again Christian when they should be experiencing security in Christ.
I have seen and experienced many unexplainable things throughout my life. I know of many people that have had things happen to them that defy rational logic. Whether one believes a true Born-Again Christian can have a demon or not the real issue is how to effectively fight against the attacks of the enemy and keep evil spirits away.
The question that needs to be answered ‘is what window of opportunity was opened for evil spirits to attack and how can we close it?’ Just “rebuking and puking” won’t keep them from returning if the root cause is not dealt with. Answering the question requires spiritual maturity.
The Dwelling Place of the Beautiful God
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV).
God doesn’t live in a “Temple” somewhere 'way up high in the sky.' He lives within the body of the one who has emptied themselves through repentance and obedience to His Word so that He can take up residence. There are two words in the New Testament that are translated “Temple.” They are 'naos' and 'hieron.' The word used to describe the body as a “Temple” of the Holy Spirit is the word 'naos.' This word is also used metaphorically to describe the physical body of Jesus: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days"(John 2:19-22 NIV).
The other word translated "Temple" in the New Testament is 'hieron' which signifies the entire building, or outer courts of Solomon's Temple where all people had access. This is the area in the Temple where Jesus taught His lessons.
Every Born-Again Christian has a spirit which is the part that will leave the flesh one day. The spirit dwells in the body and the Holy Spirit dwells in the spirit. The word “soul,” which is often used interchangeably with “spirit” actually means the mind, will, and emotions. The body, every cell, tissue and organ, is the very shrine, the Holy of Holies, where God dwells. Christians are “the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 NIV). The most Holy and beautiful Creator God of the Universe lives IN every Born-Again Christian and He “is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:1-5 NIV).
The Body of Christ
Christians have been “crucified with Christ” and He now lives in them. The life they live in their physical “body” is “by faith in the Son of God” because Jesus loves them and gave Himself for them (Galatians 2:20-21 NIV). Only the high priest, clothed in garments of repentance, surrounded by a cloud of incense, with the blood of sacrifice having been offered, could lawfully enter in the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:7).
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." "But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:15-18 NIV).
Born-Again Christians are a physical as well as a spiritual part of Jesus Himself. That is why the Bible says not to have sexual relations with a non-Believer because the Believer would be uniting the body of Jesus with that of a prostitute (1 Corinthians 6:16). As the physical union causes two people to become "one flesh," the spiritual union with Jesus causes the Born-Again Believer to be one in spirit.
Jesus taught that "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall” (Luke 11:17-18 NIV). The body can not hold both God’s eternal light and the eternal darkness of hell because there is NO darkness in God’s holy temple!
When Jesus was dealing with the religious leaders He said they belonged to their father, “the devil” and did “not belong to God’ (John 8:42-47 NIV). This is the sense in which John wrote "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning" (1 John 3:8).
The Bible says that “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” when you “followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:1-9). Born-Again Believers do not live among those who are disobedient, those IN whom the devil is actively at work. Those found in the Kingdom of the Son are not under the rule or authority of demons because God “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13 NIV).
The Laws of Life and Death
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2 NIV)
A law is defined in Webster’s dictionary as an established principle. Laws can usually be relied upon to work the same way every time.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus includes all of the Father’ blessings, faith, life and righteousness, healing and divine health, prosperity, the peace of God, love and supernatural power.
The law of sin and death is the curse which includes fear, sin, death, sickness, disease, poverty, worry, anxiety, hate, war and so on.
Some suggest that the throne room of Heaven is like a giant court room where the accuser of the brethren, satan, acts as a prosecutor and Jesus acts as the defense attorney while the Father is the Judge. The Bible says that the enemy is the “accuser… who accuses…before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10 NIV). Jesus “lives to intercede” for every Born-Again Christian. He is their “savior and defender, and he will rescue them” (Isaiah 19:20-21 NIV).
The accuser may come before the throne and try to prove he has legal rights to attack a persons body or finances or their family, but his arguments are invalid and have been made null and void by the shed blood of Jesus! He “is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV). Even before the accuser comes the verdict has already been given - NOT GUILTY! Jesus has already paid for the freedom from the penalty and curse of sin. He is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Jesus “provided purification” for sin. When He sighed His last breath and said, “It is finished!”, He rested His case and “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (John 19:30 NIV).
Legal Rights And Authority
The enemy has no legal rights or authority over the Born-Again Christian. Because God is love He desires to be loved and trusted in return. All of His sovereign rule and control over the universe is based upon love (1 John 4:8, Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17). Man was created and fashioned for relationship with God. All authority derives from that relationship.
God originally gave Adam authority and dominion over the earth as a gift of love. This stewardship made Adam accountable to God (Matthew 25:14-30). But Adam blew it and sinned by putting his trust in a source other than God causing him to spiritually die. As a result, all of humanity became spiritually dead, losing their authority. They need LIFE that can only be given through union with Jesus Christ!
Jesus said that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Becoming a Born-Again Christian places a person IN the union of full relationship with Jesus (Colossians 2:9-10) and they now have authority to “go and make disciples of all nations”, to baptize, to teach “everything” Jesus has commanded, to “drive out all demons and to cure diseases” …”preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick”… “to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:1; Luke 9:1-3, 10:19 NIV).
The Ineffectual Curse
Curses can’t come to rest and have effect on a Born-Again Christian who walks in holiness and humility. “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest (Proverbs 26:2 NIV). The curse that was pronounced against the humble Christian will, instead, fall on the one who spoke the curse. Balaam couldn’t curse the people that God had blessed (Deuteronomy 23:5). David wasn’t hurt by Shimei’s curse but was instead blessed by God with good (2 Samuel 16:5-12; Psalm 109:28).
Free from the Curse and Wrath of God
The shed blood of Jesus guarantees the Born-Again Christian all of God’s blessings because He fulfilled the law by paying the price to redeem them from the curse of the law. They have been set “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2 NIV).
The blood of Jesus breaks that evil influence upon conversion. Jesus said in Luke 4:18, applying Isaiah 61:1-3 to Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
Through salvation, the Born-Again Christian is reconciled to God and becomes subject to His great goodness, mercy and grace. They are instantly freed from the wrath of God and immediately set free from every curse and sin, individual or generational, that is inherited through the natural bloodline. Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
Mankind’s sins were laid upon Jesus and His righteousness was laid upon the Born-Again Christian. They can stand boldly by faith, in total and absolute spiritual liberty, through the righteousness of Christ and His shed blood, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we may be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The shedding of Jesus blood satisfied the Father and reconciled the Born-Again Christian to the beautiful God, securing eternal redemption (1 John 1:7). The death of Jesus paid the price to “present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Colossians 1:20-22 NIV).
Trust the Instruments
When pilots are trained to fly they are taught that they must totally trust the instruments of the aircraft. If they rely only on sensory input they could get into a situation they may not be able to get out of. The five senses are reliable only to a certain point. But the ultimate proof is checking the instruments to verify their feelings. A pilot could have a “gut” feeling that something is wrong but they must confirm it by checking the instruments. While flying through clouds they could “feel” as if they are flying straight and level when in actuality they may be in a slow turning spiral or totally inverted, not even realizing it because everything “feels” ok. But if they look at their instruments they will know for certain if they are flying straight and level or upside down. You should never interpret the Bible in the light of your experiences but rather interpret your experiences in the authority of the Bible.
Sifting
Because every child of God belongs to Jesus no demonic spirit has the right to separate you or keep you from experiencing the love of God. You have been given a great promise that has powerful implications; “…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).
There are times when God allows “sifting.” Jesus told Simon that satan had asked to sift the disciples. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31 KJV). The word “sift” is 'siniazo' in the Greek and means to get rid of, or remove something just as you would prepare flour for baking by removing any impurity.
Jesus was warning the disciples in advance of an impending attack because the enemy had asked permission to attack them. He is not free to do so on his own. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus also had warned the disciples to "pray that you will not fall into temptation" (Matthew 26:40-41 NIV). Had they listened to His warning they could have defeated the attacks.
Jesus prayed for the disciples that their faith would not fail. The Holy Spirit will help show you how to pray in times of weakness because “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26-27 NIV).
Jesus “is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5 KJV). Light and darkness can’t dwell in the same place. Only what is “good and perfect comes to us from God,” He is the “Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow” His light is so brilliant that light is His shadow! (James 1:17-18 TLB) No created being has the ability to produce darkness causing you to stumble. "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble" (1 John 2:10 NIV).
God’s Limitations on Temptation
The enemy can’t escape or circumvent the sovereignty of God. In all cases, God remains in control, even when the devil is being allowed to attack. God must monitor every temptation and attack. This is made clear in the story of Job when God said to satan; "you incited me against him (Job) to ruin him without any reason" (Job 2:3). Even though Job was being attacked by satan, God retained sovereignty over the situation. The devil can only tempt you up to a point. The devil does NOT have the authority to circumvent God’s will. He must submit to God’s overall sovereignty. He can’t exceed God’s limitations on temptation;
"And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:15 NIV)
The Mark Of Maturity
The Bible tells us that the distinguishing mark of a mature Christian is that they desire to eat spiritual “Solid food” by training “themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong” and then taking what they have learned and doing “ what is right” (Hebrews 5:14 NLT). A mature Christian can discern the difference between what is right and what is wrong. When you learn what the nature and character is of the enemy you will be able to resist him more effectively.
When you give into the desires of your old sinful nature, you are displaying the true nature of the enemy and are opening yourself up to his attacks and the establishment of demonic strongholds. In order to break the strongholds you must “throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.” There is a battle for the mind of every Christian. Evil spirits can access your mind by injecting thoughts of all kinds. You must be watchful so that the evil one can’t build strongholds. The Holy Spirit will renew your “thoughts and attitude’s” and cause you to display God’s nature which is “righteous, holy, and true” (Ephesians 4:20-32 NLT).
There is real danger in thinking that a demon is behind every problem in life because it obscures the personal responsibility to walk in righteousness and put to death the works of the flesh. Believing that “the devil made me do it” can be even more devastating than actually being inhabited because the focus than shifts from actually dealing with the problem and taking responsibility to blaming it on a unseen enemy which may not even be there. Demons can entice and exaggerate the weaknesses of the flesh but the blame lies in mankind’s fallen nature. If you don’t choose to “walk in the Spirit” you will “produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties,” “stealing” “foul or abusive language”…“ bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior”.. “and other kinds of sin” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:21-32; 12:2, Galatians 5:16, 19-22).
You will keep the strongholds from being established when you use “your hands for honest work”, and “give generously to others in need” by being “kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV).
Defeating the Enemy
Jesus showed that only a superior power can drive or force something out; “In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. (Matt 12:29; Mark 3:27-28 NIV).
Luke’s account emphasizes that the strong man “attacks and overpowers him” (Luke 11:21-22 NIV). There is no mention of tying or ‘binding’ him up. The point of the passage is not about binding, but about the effect of superior power. Jesus had many contacts with demonic spirits but it is never said that He went about binding them because He holds the superior power.
The Bible says that satan will be "bound" and "loosed" in the future AFTER the thousand year reign of Jesus is fulfilled. This future tense is the only proper application of this concept to spiritual warfare.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3 KJV)
The enemy is not omni-present. He can’t be in more than one place at a time. There is only one of him, and he is limited to one place at a time. If one person has "bound" satan then he would be prohibited from doing anything to anyone else ever again.
Forgiveness
One of the hardest struggles of spiritual warfare is to win the battle of forgiveness because it goes on in your mind and in your thoughts. Your warfare must be targeted not at breaking people but spiritual strongholds. Anger, bitterness, hate, and unforgiveness all originate in the mind. You must pray fervently to break these strongholds in your own life as well as in the lives of others. You must never give up; rather, you should be confident that you have been promised the victory already as you walk humbly, yielded to the Lord.
Jesus came for two purposes. The first was to reconcile man to God. You were given the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). When you walk in forgiveness you are doing what pleases the Father and displeases satan.
The second reason was to destroy the "devil’s work" (1 John 3:8). Forgiveness destroys the works of the enemy. The good news is that you have a Savior, the Creator of the universe, living inside you and the power of His forgiveness has already defeated satan!
Humility
Nothing does more to block the advancement of the enemy than the praise and worship of a thankful heart that is walking in humility. The enemy is always trying to distract and ensnare. He wants to lure us away from worshipping God. His primary method is through the pride of unforgiveness.
Humility is the strongest weapon you have to fight against the enemy because it is the exact opposite of him. You overcome the enemy “by the blood of the lamb” through humility and your “testimony” by living a life of repentance and laying down your life for others; “for they did not love their lives but laid them down for him” (Revelation 12:11 TLB. See also Revelation 2:4-7, 14-17).
When you humble yourself before God in prayer, repent of your sin and seek His face, He “will hear from heaven”…“and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NLT).
Remember, when you fight against another, when you don’t live a life of holiness, or you don’t forgive, you give satan a temporary victory. In addition, you also give him a stronghold from which he will be able to attack you again. You are admonished to "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:9).
Sadly, too many believers think that "spiritual warfare" is simply using the words "I bind you” or “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" like a magical mantra. If you want to resist the devil so that he will flee from you, you must first humbly submit yourself to God. "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Then, as you "draw near to God" He will "draw near to you” (James 4:6-10 NKJ).
The word “resist” means to take up full battle armor and stand in an offensive position. When you walk in pride God actively resists and will not show you favor in any situation. When you walk in holiness and humility, submitting yourself to God, He lifts you up so that you will be able to resist the devil, who has to flee from you. By living in the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” you find the “divine power to demolish strongholds” of “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God”. Humility is what is able to help you “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”( 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 NIV).
If you are not submitted and obedient to the Lordship of Jesus in your life, if you are leaning on your own understanding and strength and you attempt to resist and drive out the enemy, the only response you will get is the sound of satan’s laughter echoing through the halls of hell.
The Common Goal
God and the enemy both share one thing in common, they are both trying to kill you. God is your executioner: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15 KJV). God wants to put your old nature to death and the enemy wants you dead - period. The hardest part of Spiritual Warfare is not fighting satan and the hoards of Hell because your victory has already been assured. Rather, it is winning the victory over self.
Through the forgiving of all your sins by shedding His blood, Jesus took away the enemies accusations and “canceled the record that contained the charges” against you. Jesus “disarmed the evil rulers and authorities” and “shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:13-15 NLT).
The Christian walk is an ongoing battle in a war of two worlds; the spirit and the flesh. "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). There is no formula that will lift you above your struggles and lead you to spiritual victory. There is only the moment by moment, step by step, turning away from self by trusting in and leaning upon the beautiful God whose truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).
