Can a Born Again Person be "Demon Possessed"?

Hi, Tam -- Yes, I have heard exactly what you say here except that the empty space needs to be filled with Christ. There were Jewish exorcists who apparently claimed to cast out demons and this seems to be saying this does not good -- the demons come back because they have not believed on the name of Christ.

Also, one pastor said that this is a parable of Israel, that Israel was trying to clean house but was not believing on Jesus as the Messiah, so it did them no good to "clean house." If you look at the context of the passage, this makes sense. Jesus has just been interrogated by the scribes and Pharisees who were trying to trick him, as usual. So Jesus stating this in light of their rejection of him makes a lot of sense.

I think it's possible this passage refers to both cases -- Israel and a person who has not believed in Jesus as the Messiah.

Exorcism is practiced in many religions -- even in modern witchraft, but it does no good if the person does not trust Christ. Also, I do not think that Jesus practiced exorcism - he cast out demons by his authority as the Son of God (something he passed on to the apostles). Exorcism is a man-made ritual and is not based on the Bible.

 

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]I agree. And if the prodigal son had died with the pigs, he would have gone to Hell.

 

Not logical reasoning here. The Father is always the Father, whether I'm in heaven or hell.

 

Actually, I think that is PART of what the parable was all about. He was a son, but decided to 'leave home', i.e. leave the relationship he had with his F/father. Had he died in the pigpen, that relationship would not have mended, would not have been healed. He would have died in that brokenness. He was restored when he headed home. Another part of the parable is about the attitude of the 'saved' 'righteous' son whose attitude toward his repentant brother is itself a sin. Another part is the F/father himself...the attitude of his heart, his willingness to forgive and restore. And of course, the last part, is the admonition to be LIKE the father. But I digress...again I say it is not possible for a Christian to be demon-possessed. Oppression IS possible.

 

When I hear the those two words....possessed and oppressed I think of it this way. Possessed is "in" that person, oppressed sounds to me more like a heavyness "on" a person. Sometimes we get sad or emotional it don't mean were possessed, but could we be oppressed? I don't know if that makes since? And maybe I lack for a better word than "oppressed" if someone thought it to be the same as oppressed?

Music4Him

BTW, Jude~ Loved the veiws you have on the prodigal son.

 

Posessed to me means totally taken over by something. Now if that "something" is the Holy Spirit, then nothing else can be in you.

However, if you are kinda luke warm in your walk, the I think you can have a demon in you, but still not be posessed(or totally taken over by it) by it. (JMOHO)

So oppressed is outside a person. A Christian can have a demon.

However, CHRISTIANS CANNOT BE DEMON POSESSED.

Working for Jesus,

Tam,