Spiritual WareFare: Can a demon touch a person?

[evangelist6589]

I called Hank Hanegraaf a few days ago and asked a question. According to him a demon cannot touch, make noises in our realm, cause physical harm, or do anything to a believer or unbeliever. I ordered his book on Spiritual Warfare The Covering and await its arrival. In my library I have a Erwin Lutzer book on this topic, a David jeremiah book on Angels, and a Warren Wiersbe book. I am gonna search them tonight for this answer. But if anyone has one please let me know.

I heard of a man being thrown against the wall when he went in the room of a young girl whom was from a satanist family. I talked with him afterward and he did have wounds. I also have heard other stories that have led me to believe that Hank Hanegraaf may be wrong on this issue, but I am not sure.


Thanks..


John

 

[freeatlast]

They not only can touch men but they can live in men. I am surprised at Hank. Hank needs to read his bible closer as it happened in the bible prior to the cross and after the cross. So yes absolutely a demon can touch, live in and control a person. I do not believe they can live in a believer, but they can influence them and even physically harm them if God permits.

 

[Tom Butler]

I have been taught that for a believer, Satan can oppress but not possess.

Several years ago, I was leading the music in a revival led by my former pastor at his new church. As I sat during the offering, I felt this heavy weight on me that I couldn't explain. It almost immobilized me. I was supposed to sing a solo after the offering and I struggled to my feet and called on a deacon to pray specifically for me.
Immediately the weight lifted.

After the service I mentioned it to the pastor. He said it had happened to him before.

Interesting thing. His message that night was on demons.

 

[convicted1]

I have been taught that for a believer, Satan can oppress but not possess.

Several years ago, I was leading the music in a revival led by my former pastor at his new church. As I sat during the offering, I felt this heavy weight on me that I couldn't explain. It almost immobilized me. I was supposed to sing a solo after the offering and I struggled to my feet and called on a deacon to pray specifically for me.
Immediately the weight lifted.

After the service I mentioned it to the pastor. He said it had happened to him before.

Interesting thing. His message that night was on demons.

The first line is spot on. James 4:7 says to resist the devil and he will flee from you...

 

[evangelist6589]

They not only can touch men but they can live in men. I am surprised at Hank. Hank needs to read his bible closer as it happened in the bible prior to the cross and after the cross. So yes absolutely a demon can touch, live in and control a person. I do not believe they can live in a believer, but they can influence them and even physically harm them if God permits.

I did some research and found a account in Acts 19 that suggests that the demons can speak, and harm people. I looked at 5 study Bibles which did not say much, so then consulted 2 single volume commentaries, but the most helpful was the book commentary on Acts from IVP which told far more. Unfortunately I only own the IVP NT Commentary series and nothing else. But regardless I am thankful for that. In time I'd like to get expositors and others.

Anyways after I looked at those I checked out David Jeremiah's book and Erwin Lutzers book. Erwin Lutzer was more helpful and in his book does he suggest that demons can harm others, torment people, and do far more than what Hank thinks.

 

[evangelist6589]

I have been taught that for a believer, Satan can oppress but not possess.

Several years ago, I was leading the music in a revival led by my former pastor at his new church. As I sat during the offering, I felt this heavy weight on me that I couldn't explain. It almost immobilized me. I was supposed to sing a solo after the offering and I struggled to my feet and called on a deacon to pray specifically for me.
Immediately the weight lifted.

After the service I mentioned it to the pastor. He said it had happened to him before.

Interesting thing. His message that night was on demons.

Erwin Lutzer argues in his most excellent book The Serpent of Paradise that demons & satan can do these kind of things to people. I will be reading Hank's book when I get it, but he may be wrong on this one.

 

[freeatlast]

I did some research and found a account in Acts 19 that suggests that the demons can speak, and harm people. I looked at 5 study Bibles which did not say much, so then consulted 2 single volume commentaries, but the most helpful was the book commentary on Acts from IVP which told far more. Unfortunately I only own the IVP NT Commentary series and nothing else. But regardless I am thankful for that. In time I'd like to get expositors and others.

Anyways after I looked at those I checked out David Jeremiah's book and Erwin Lutzers book. Erwin Lutzer was more helpful and in his book does he suggest that demons can harm others, torment people, and do far more than what Hank thinks.

Very good! It is good that you are digging into it. They are very powerful and not to be taken lightly and may I add they are not stupid. Some think they can just cast them out at will, bind them, or outsmart them. Keep in mind;
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

[righteousdude2]

Good Point!

I have been taught that for a believer, Satan can oppress but not possess.

Several years ago, I was leading the music in a revival led by my former pastor at his new church. As I sat during the offering, I felt this heavy weight on me that I couldn't explain. It almost immobilized me. I was supposed to sing a solo after the offering and I struggled to my feet and called on a deacon to pray specifically for me.
Immediately the weight lifted.

After the service I mentioned it to the pastor. He said it had happened to him before.

Interesting thing. His message that night was on demons.

I agree with your comments and the story of your attempt to sing in church.

I would also add that demons may not be able to possess a believer, but would like to add that this is only as long as that believer does "not invite" the demon in.

Interesting that you shared that story, because there have been times when I intended to preach a message on demons and Satan, and had similar experiences. I completed my task, but, there were moments of great struggle.

Since then, I've learned to prayerfully send the Holy spirit before me, asking His presence to not only fill the place (where I was to preach) with His presence, but to protect and watch over me in order to allow me to be free in His Spirit to preach the words to help teach the truth about the darkness of the devil and his minions.

 

[preacher4truth]

We've had a demonic experience in the past. Not something I nor we wish to experience again.

 

[righteousdude2]

Once In A While....

Very good! It is good that you are digging into it. They are very powerful and not to be taken lightly and may I add they are not stupid. Some think they can just cast them out at will, bind them, or outsmart them. Keep in mind;
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

....FAL and I agree! :applause::

The fact that Paul warns us to put on the "armor of God" would suggest that we could be ripe for demonic warfare and even taken prisoner (of war, so-to-speak), if we are not cognizant of his cunning, sly, and extremely wicked and smart. The devil and his minions have been on earth since they were banished here, and that gives them thousands of years of experience to our one mere lifetime of maybe 80 to 90 years.

The devil and his minions are not to be taken lightly, as their number target is the believer, which makes sense since the unbeliever is not a threat to him, as they are already his property, either knowingly, or unknowingly.

 

[freeatlast]

I will admit that there is no scripture that says a demon cannot enter a believer, there is scripture that seems to suggest it cannot happen.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

While I realize it is taking that verse to an extreme to say absolutely a demon cannot enter a believer I think it can point in that area. Also I find it difficult to believe that the Holy Spirit who resides in us is going to allow a demon to reside along side of Him and the Holy Spirit is not leaving to let him in. So I am persuaded a demon cannot enter a child of God. Lastly there is no mention of such ever happening in scripture.

Lastly while we may use the name satan interchangeably for demons at times there is no reason to believe that satan himself messes with the average person. I only know few times satan has directly dealt with human beings. One was in the garden through the serpent, another with Job, and then the Lord himself.
Even in the book of Daniel when the demons hindered God's angels there is no mention of satan himself doing the hindering. My guess is he has bigger fish to fry then to mess with the average Joe or even the not so average.

 

[freeatlast]

We've had a demonic experience in the past. Not something I nor we wish to experience again.

Yes so have I, twice, and it is not nice. This was many years ago. I was a power lifter and was laying down on my bed alone and I knew when this spirit entered the room. It was like I could hear him or sinse him, not with my regular senses, I cannot explain it very well, but at the time it was clear he was tougher then me, very powerful.. Before I could do anything it was on me and paralyzed me. My whole body was like it sudenly weighed tons. Nothing would move. All I could do was barely speak, call on the name of the Lord. All I could cry out was the name, Jesus, and that not very clearly and it left immediately. By the way I had sinned a rather serious sin sometime prior to that and most likely that opened the door. It also got my attention.

 

[evangelist6589]

Very good! It is good that you are digging into it. They are very powerful and not to be taken lightly and may I add they are not stupid. Some think they can just cast them out at will, bind them, or outsmart them. Keep in mind;
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Well said, well said. Charles Stanley says we can bind Satan, but I am not sure how he came to that conclusion or if he still holds to that view.

 

[evangelist6589]

I agree with your comments and the story of your attempt to sing in church.

I would also add that demons may not be able to possess a believer, but would like to add that this is only as long as that believer does "not invite" the demon in.

Interesting that you shared that story, because there have been times when I intended to preach a message on demons and Satan, and had similar experiences. I completed my task, but, there were moments of great struggle.

Since then, I've learned to prayerfully send the Holy spirit before me, asking His presence to not only fill the place (where I was to preach) with His presence, but to protect and watch over me in order to allow me to be free in His Spirit to preach the words to help teach the truth about the darkness of the devil and his minions.

A pastor in my church preached on spiritual warfare earlier this year and reported a similar thing. Yet David Jeremiah has preached on this topic as well as Erwin Lutzer and they have been fine. God is probably protecting them with more angels as both men reach millions of people.

 

[evangelist6589]

I will admit that there is no scripture that says a demon cannot enter a believer, there is scripture that seems to suggest it cannot happen.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

While I realize it is taking that verse to an extreme to say absolutely a demon cannot enter a believer I think it can point in that area. Also I find it difficult to believe that the Holy Spirit who resides in us is going to allow a demon to reside along side of Him and the Holy Spirit is not leaving to let him in. So I am persuaded a demon cannot enter a child of God. Lastly there is no mention of such ever happening in scripture.

Lastly while we may use the name satan interchangeably for demons at times there is no reason to believe that satan himself messes with the average person. I only know few times satan has directly dealt with human beings. One was in the garden through the serpent, another with Job, and then the Lord himself.
Even in the book of Daniel when the demons hindered God's angels there is no mention of satan himself doing the hindering. My guess is he has bigger fish to fry then to mess with the average Joe or even the not so average.

Also Neopaginism, the occult, and satanism are probably not the works of Satan directly. Satan is an angel of light and probably is investing more of his efforts into the ministries of Joel Osteen, Robert Schuler, and other factions of the Third wave movement, the postmodernism movement, humanism, and other deceptions in the church.

 

[freeatlast]

Well said, well said. Charles Stanley says we can bind Satan, but I am not sure how he came to that conclusion or if he still holds to that view.

I would have to ask brother Stanley if that is so then why he has not done it? :smilewinkgrin: Sometimes we just think we have more power then we do. My guess is that satan thinks such a claim as hilarious and uses his error on the matter to promote more error.

 

[beameup]

The realm of the spiritual is best illustrated by the study of Quantum Physics/Mechanics during this present age of Grace.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:2

Non-Locality of Quantum Physics is defined as phenomenon that occurrences on one side of the Universe can instantly effect 'matter' on the other side of the Universe. Non-locality has profound implications for the prevailing world view of reality in that it clearly demonstrates the inter-connectedness between all matter in the Physical Universe and the illusory nature of Space and Time.

The spiritual realm is where we are influenced, not in the physical realm of space/time during this present age of Grace.

 

[evangelist6589]

I would have to ask brother Stanley if that is so then why he has not done it? :smilewinkgrin: Sometimes we just think we have more power then we do. My guess is that satan thinks such a claim as hilarious and uses his error on the matter to promote more error.

Dr. Stanley has written many books and preached many sermons. He is not perfect and I'm sure his views change in time as he grows. The book is called Handle with Prayer and its dated 2011. However I looked online and the original was written in 1992 or something, so what I have is a updated edition.

 

[evangelist6589]

Our Sufficiency in Christ

Well guys before I retire tonight I am gonna finish reading the chapter on Spiritual WareFare in Our Sufficiency in Christ by John MacArthur. I may also skim over the chapter on Spiritual Warfare in David Jeremiah's latest book (which is a outstanding book bye the way). Goodnight

 

[freeatlast]

The realm of the spiritual is best illustrated by the study of Quantum Physics/Mechanics during this present age of Grace.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:2



The spiritual realm is where we are influenced, not in the physical realm of space/time during this present age of Grace.

You think so?