Can a Born Again Person be "Demon Possessed"?

Possessed? Probably not. Coerced or influenced? Probably.

 

Demon possession is the inward affliction by a demon so that the individual loses control over his life. I don't believe a Christian can be possessed by the Holy Spirit and a demon at the same time.

I do believe that a Christian can be attacked by demons, which would be demonic oppression, these people are afflicted by demons, but not controlled by them. Demons can tempt and exert influence, but the oppressed is ultimately the one who makes his or her own decision. Examples of demon oppression in the Bible include Matthew 16:23, Acts 5:1-10, and 2 Cor. 12:1-10.

 

I wouldn't say possessed, but could some be oppressed? A true Christian who studies the word of God and prays? No.

 

Here's a tangent.... Can a Christian who's prodigal or backsliding become demon-possessed? I think we've probably all been guilty of backsliding or prodigalism at least once in our lives...

 

Is that prodigal no longer possessed by the Holy Spirit? I would say possession no, demonic oppression yes, even more so for one who is backsliding.

 

Hmmm, I think I'd have to agree with you there, NP.

 

Possessed,NO!!

Oppressed, bothered, influenced, bewildered, YES!!!

Working for Jesus,

Tam

 

What demon would even dare to reside in a body where the Most High Himself dwells?
Even Satan, in all his shameless arrogance, would not even dare entertain the very idea.
"Even the demons believe...and TREMBLE"

 

Let's conduct this discussion with the knowledge that there is no distinction in the Greek between possessed and oppressed. The word usually translated "demon-possessed" literally means "demonized." I see it as a sliding scale, from being attacked or accused by the enemy's forces (which we all are) on one end of the scale, all the way over to "Legion" on the other end. Somewhere in there is a place where believers won't be found. Where that is, I don't know.

 

Is that prodigal no longer possessed by the Holy Spirit? I would say possession no, demonic oppression yes, even more so for one who is backsliding. </font>[/QUOTE]The "Prodigal" had abandoned his faith by 'leaving home'. He was NOT in a state of grace, and had he stayed in the 'pigpen', he would have died in his sins. He did not 'have the Holy Spirit', and therefore, a "Prodigal" can indeed by Demon possessed. Can a Christian be "possessed"? I think that's not possible. How can one whose 'temple' is filled with the Spirit have any room for a demon? Yet, oppression is possible, in fact, probably likely for anyone who takes faith seriously.

 

Is that prodigal no longer possessed by the Holy Spirit? I would say possession no, demonic oppression yes, even more so for one who is backsliding. </font>[/QUOTE]The "Prodigal" had abandoned his faith by 'leaving home'. He was NOT in a state of grace, and had he stayed in the 'pigpen', he would have died in his sins. He did not 'have the Holy Spirit', and therefore, a "Prodigal" can indeed by Demon possessed. Can a Christian be "possessed"? I think that's not possible. How can one whose 'temple' is filled with the Spirit have any room for a demon? Yet, oppression is possible, in fact, probably likely for anyone who takes faith seriously. </font>[/QUOTE]We will just have to disagree on the issue of the prodigal. I don't think his father stoped being his father when he left, and I don't think it is possible for a Christian who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him/her to loose their salvation or for the Holy Spirit to leave them. We will all die sinners, some of us will be sinners who have accepted God's grace and forgiveness and others will be sinners who have never accepted that grace and forgiveness.

 

I think the idea of whether ot not the Prodigal son was still in a state of grace or not is up in the air. We really don't know, since that's not what the parable was about. Plus, that open the whole "OSAS or not" can of worms. However, getting back to point one here, I think we're in agreement that if a person is not in a state of grace, then being demon possesed is in the very least possible.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5 (Paul speaking about Christians who are not living according to the word)

"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

Paul seems to be convinced that a believer who persists in sin can be turned over to Satanic powers for physical destruction in order to save the soul. Enternal security remains true.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Could this be somewhat simular as to what happend to Saul? Because he was anoited by Samuel (1Sam.10)but then Saul became disobediant (1Sam.13 & ch.15) then David recived the anoiting (1Sam.16:1-13)? Then in that same chapter verse 14 it says the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

 

Music4Him:

Views about Saul differ, but I am inclined that we are to differentiate between the crown of Israel and eternal salvation. Yes, I believe what Paul is saying applies to Saul. God abandoned Saul regarding his kingship and left him to his own destruction physically. This passage certainly fits, doesn't it, and yet maintains the integrity of theological thought.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I'm not sure & not dogmatic. Much about demon possession is unclear. In the gospels, demon possession is associated more closely to circumstantial evil (sickness, disease) than it is to moral evil. The demoniac of Gadarrah (excuse my spelling) acted crazy (cut himself and exhibited unusual strength), but is not accused of a crime. Since disease can certainly inhabit the body of a believer, it may be that demons can as well. I was made aware of this view when I read Power Encounters by David Powlinson. It's a thought-provoking book by a thoughtful and conservative writer. His explanation is worth a look.

 

I just found this thread. I deal with this issue all the time in my ministry, and have had to research all views on it. Someone said:

This idea of no distinciton between demon-possessed and oppressed comes from recent spiritual warfare teachings and not the Bible. If we want to know what the Greek "demonize" means, then we look at Scripture and what we see are people who are possessed, because in every case, the demon/s are "cast out." This means the demons were in the person/possessing the person since the demons had to be cast out. So the Greek word "Demonize" means demon possession.

I do not believe a Christian can be possessed by demons since there is no case in Scripture that shows this. Saul had abandoned God and God removed his Spirit, but in the OT, believers did not have the indwelling of the HS the way believers do today. Also, giving one over to Satan did not mean the person would be possessed, but that they were being given over to the world, which is ruled by Satan (because it has given itself over to Satan). In other words, they were kicked out of the church just as would happen today if a believer persisting in sin and not repenting was told they had to leave that church. This would perhaps lead to physical destruction, but I do not think that means possession.

Here are 2 good articles on the topic:
CAN A BELIEVER BE DEMON POSSESSED?

CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMONIZED?

 

There is a scripture that is puzzeling. That is Matt-12-43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

I was taught a long time ago that the house swept and clean referred to demons being expelled, but the person did not fill the empty space with God, so that demons could come back 7 times worse than before.

Does anyone have any comments on this?

Tam,