the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 9:1-2
When we think of demons affecting people, maybe the first thing that comes to mind is being possessed. While that could happen, it’s extremely rare.
The thing that happens most often is what we might call being oppressed, or infected might be a better term. Christians can suffer from this ordinary condition as much as anyone. We know this when there seems to be an area in our life that we feel compelled to cave into. Here are some basic ways that evil spirits can impact us.
Temptation. We don’t need demonic help in this area. There are plenty of temptations as we deal with the world, pride and many other things we go through in life. The evil spirits can amplify our weaknesses.
Physical obstruction. This may seem a little unusual. But here’s something to think about. Have you ever experienced being in a rush to attend the ministry event, when suddenly your car breaks down for no reason causing you to be late? There may be no need to involve a poltergeist throwing objects around the room, but it could be as simple annoyance to obstruct you from a larger mission.
Emotional oppression.
This can take on the feeling of heaviness or depression. Was it some really bad news, or something we ate, or do we have to contend with an evil spirit oppressing us?
Demonization, or infestation. In many cases as mentioned previously, when encountering Christ, effects of evil spirits flee. When the problem is more severe things may be different. In those cases, the person may flee, or act erratically when the presence of the Holy Spirit becomes stronger in.
In the worst cases in the evil spirit may speak or try to act in the person’s body.
Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?
Clearly if your filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no room for evil spirits to move in, right?
To some extent most of us have not fully surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. There’s always some dark corner that were holding out on giving up control over.
Paul put it this way:
Romans 7:19-20
19 For the good that I want, I do not do,
but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want,
I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
How do we know whether it’s a common sin problem, or being troubled by an evil spirit?
just as diagnosis is the beginning of all medical treatment, prayerful discernment is the starting point for understanding the situation.
A person affected by a spirit will tell you. A person bothered by evil spirits will know it, and tell you. Granted, they may be faking it. Someone truly affected may be embarrassed and not want to talk about it.
They experience evil in all sorts of ways.
Some hear voices, which may push them toward suicide
some feel hate, especially hatred of themselves:
“Drive your car off the road into that tree! Now!” ”
You’re no good. You are condemned to hell forever.” “You belong to me and you will never escape.”
Having realistic nightmares. Seeing visions or having nightmares that seem more real and convey more terror than ordinary nightmares.
A natural thought. Still others feel impelled to do things they would never ordinarily think of doing.
What kind of spirits may be involved?
The occult. The most dangerous, and coming from some direct contact with an occult practice.
Sin. Evil spirits can inhabit a person if they have lifelong unrepented sins of a variety of natures.
Trauma. This comes from weak or wounded emotions that never are allowed to heal.
Ancestral. This fits the category of people who claim their visited by a deceased relative. While this is extremely not likely, evil spirits are good impersonators.
How else might evil spirits get a foothold?
Curses. Sometimes it’s not that a Christian has done anything wrong. A curse is nothing more than wishing evil on someone.
While the gospel is the power of God for salvation, and once we are in his hands nothing can remove us, we should always seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Staying rooted in Scripture and seeking to make Christ the Lord of our lives is our best defense.
Certainly, curses can come from places in Third World countries were voodoo and other witchcraft is practiced. A curse can even affect a Christian, pastor or missionary especially in times of weakness.
In a more modern or civilized nation, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t evil forces that would like to put curses on Christians.
The result might show up in an unexplained illness, unexplained broken relationships, family turmoil and drama, or anything that would be upsetting to a Christian life.
Luke 9:1-2
1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
John 15:12-13
12th “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
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