I once met a girl. She was a nice girl, she often attended church services, she was active with the youth at a church, she even took part in some Bible studies, she claimed to know Christ.
Then something strange started happening, she began to preach and quote Scripture as if she had studied the Bible at seminary, but she hadn’t. Soon her “preaching” turned into strange visions, and later those visions began to torment her. When I first met her one thing was obvious, she was experiencing very real and violent signs of demon possession.
In this episode of “Now Is the Time” I share with you a little more of this girl’s story and I talk in detail about the dangers of demon possession in the Christian.
(This podcast is a follow-up to my earlier post “How to Cast Out Demons Like Jesus”)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:55 — 29.2MB) | Embed
Book Giveaway
I just finished reading a great book on spiritual warfare from author Joel Beeke called “Fighting Satan, Knowing His Weaknesses, Strategy and Defeat”
Beeke shows how too much of modern-day “spiritual warfare” resorts to shamanism. He draws our attention to Jesus’ saving power and the importance of core aspects of the Christian life, like prayer, God’s Word, and good fellowship as some the most vital things a Christian can do to avoid the schemes of the Devil.
I have 2 copies of this book that I’d like to give away absolutely free!
Listen to the podcast for details of how you can participate!
I will announce the winners next week!
Dangers of Demonic Exorcisms
Trying to exorcise demons from believers is a spiritually dangerous and unbiblical practice, below are a few ways that it can be dangerous. Listen to the podcast for more details on each point.
- It makes the Christian fearful.
- It makes the Christian seek help outside of Scripture and God.
- It excuses sin.
- It traps a Christian in a spiral of repeating problems.
- It can open unbelievers to real demonic spirits.
- It belittles Jesus saving power.
What the Bible says about possession of believers
- There are absolutely no cases of believers possessed by demons in New Testament.
- The believer is the temple of God and light and darkness can’t dwell together. (2 Cor 6:16)
- Believers have been rescued from the power of darkness. (Col 1:15)
- The Holy Spirit resides in the believer. (1 Cor 6:19)
- The devil can not harm the Christian. (1 Joh 5:18)
False believer or false demons?
When you see an exorcism of a Christian you must interpret it through the lens of Scripture. Scripture is clear that demons cannot possess believers, thus there are really only two options, either it’s a false believer or a false demon!
The problem with ministries who try to convince believers that they need a second form of “deliverance” from demons after they have been saved is that they are making Jesus saving power incomplete. In effect they are saying
“You’re saved, but you still need deliverance!”
Jesus saves us not only from sin and the power of death but also from the Devil’s ability to control and destroy us!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:55 — 29.2MB) | Embed
Mary M
July 23, 2016This is excellent much needed advice. I was given a book called bondage breaker by a leader in a previous church I was at when I was struggling with fear and pstd. I needed counsel but the book terrified me! I ended up seeing a Christian counseler and changing churches praise be to God. Leaving a vulnerable post partum mama with that book wasn’t very helpful! Thankfully I had been taught otherwise and threw out the book. The best cure I have found for pstd and ppd has been intense daily focused time with Jesus in the word and in prayer and praying with others.
I would love to see you address the headcovering issue more fully in a podcast as I’m still confused about it.
God bless!
Mary Mead
Caleb
July 24, 2016Mary, I’m so glad that you were pointed in the right direction. The whole “bondage breaking” approach can be very harmful to the Christian. Ultimately, the Christians bonds have already been broken and praise God for that!
Mary M
July 24, 2016Amen!
TCAvey
July 27, 2016You brought up excellent points! Light and darkness do not mix. John 1:5 so clearly states that Light is stronger! But I had never really considered Christians being demon possessed before and how that is an oxymoron. Thank you for educating me.
I would love to have a copy of this book if it’s not too late If it is, I will add it to my “Reading Wish List”.
I shared this on Twitter and G+1
Caleb
July 27, 2016TC, thanks for sharing! I’m glad you found the podcast helpful. I will let you know about the book giveaway at the end of the week! Blessings to you!