Can a Christian have a demon?

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Soverign Grace

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I use to help with youth camp years ago. I have been long aware at mischief coming through church people. I told a brother one day that I was worried about the operations of the devil through church people. Ohh... He says... The devil cannot go against the blood... And his contention was so great that he reported me over it.

Years later, at camp meeting, that brother came to me and personally apologized. I graciously accepted, but deep down, wondered what trials the poor man went through to come to the same conclusion, that yes, the devil can operate through church people and that it is a sad truth.

I was very naive, not having been raised Christian - I automatically trusted those who held the label. And I was hurt - very badly. So your experiences definitively jive with mine.
 

DoveSpirit05

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I've always heard it taught that the holy spirit and a demon cannot inhabit the same person, but I've re-thought that teaching. I recently happened across a youtube video by Derek Prince who said that he has delivered many Christians from demons. I recently read a book "Deliver us from Evil" by Don Basham who said the same thing.

I have encountered some Christians whose behavior was completely the opposite of Christ's. They were critical, faultfinding, and a few did outright evil. So as I listened to Derek Prince's sermon, he said that the worst demons were the "religious" demons. I made me wonder if that was what was operating in churches and on forums.

I'd like to know what others believe.

absolutely!! if dis hasn't been said already, paul said satan has sent a messenger to buffet me, 2 Corinth 12:7 lord depart dis (thorn) from me 2 Corinth 12:8, and he was one of the most righteous men ever, im glad uv picked up on dis topic!! I have a thread on dis subject too!!
 

quietthinker

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absolutely!! if dis hasn't been said already, paul said satan has sent a messenger to buffet me, 2 Corinth 12:7 lord depart dis (thorn) from me 2 Corinth 12:8, and he was one of the most righteous men ever, im glad uv picked up on dis topic!! I have a thread on dis subject too!!
No No No. You have misinterpreted Paul. He had an ailment, possibly poor eyesight that he called a thorn in the flesh or a messenger from Satan.
Those texts have nothing to do with having a demon.

The very purpose of Jesus was to destroy the works of the devil. No person who has a genuine connection to God in their values and aspirations has a demon. We are cleansed by his blood not only from the consequences of sin but also from its power.
Do you know what that means?
 

justbyfaith

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No No No. You have misinterpreted Paul. He had an ailment, possibly poor eyesight that he called a thorn in the flesh or a messenger from Satan.
Those texts have nothing to do with having a demon.

The very purpose of Jesus was to destroy the works of the devil. No person who has a genuine connection to God in their values and aspirations has a demon. We are cleansed by his blood not only from the consequences of sin but also from its power.
Do you know what that means?
It seemed to be the premise of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis that there is a demon assigned to every Christian.
 

quietthinker

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It seemed to be the premise of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis that there is a demon assigned to every Christian.
They tempt us, harass us and attempt to weave a web of confusion but we have a ready helper at our right hand for and in every situation. He will never leave or abandon us unless we choose to deny him as our course in life.
 

Soverign Grace

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They tempt us, harass us and attempt to weave a web of confusion but we have a ready helper at our right hand for and in every situation. He will never leave or abandon us unless we choose to deny him as our course in life.

Have you had spiritual attacks? I've had a few happen at night and I read that it's called "sleep paralysis." It scared me pretty badly. I woke to something trying to control me - I don't know how else to put it. I tried speaking but nothing would come out. I fought and got out the word "Jesus" and it broke it - I then plead the blood of Jesus and it was gone. I wondered if others got that.
 
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DoveSpirit05

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I believe this is true. I saw Derek Prince on video who stated that Christians can have a demon. I think we do Christians a disservice by repeating that Christians can't have a demon - yet some of their problems happen again and again and a deliverance might help someone.

yeah Christians are oppressed by demons but not possessed by them, theres a big difference!! derek prince is very knowlegable on demons!! he suffered from depression same as me dats where the word oppression comes from. Isaiah 61:3 talks about spirit of heaviness and somewhere in proverbs talks about the (mind becomes stooped) I believe dat satan is sending his demons 2 oppress a lot of Christians and also non Christians who are destined 2 become Christians 2 make us ineffective for Christ and even 2 de-rail us so dat we never seek Christ but instead turn 2 medicine and alchahol and even worse suicide.

if u look at a lot of Christians testimonies ull find dat a lot of them have had depression before they came 2 Christ, the devil even tried 2 get jesus to commit suicide, pslams 91:9-12 and luke 4:8-12, people get possessed coz they don't have Gods hedge of protection and just are completely exposed to the elements, us Christians do have Gods hedge of protection but God allows us to be afflicted to build character, to toughen our skin.
if were struggling tho he will work with us so dat we overcome it but those who know the truth and still turn 2 drugs or man instead of him then their fair game 4 the devil.
 

quietthinker

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Have you had spiritual attacks? I've had a few happen at night and I read that it's called "sleep paralysis." It scared me pretty badly. I woke to something trying to control me - I don't know how else to put it. I tried speaking but nothing would come out. I fought and got out the word "Jesus" and it broke it - I then plead the blood of Jesus and it was gone. I wondered if others got that.
yes, I've had situations similar to what you describe and and at present I have dreams where i am harassed sexually. I have learned that calling out to God for protection in the dream dissipates the harassment and restores calm.
 
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DoveSpirit05

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Have you had spiritual attacks? I've had a few happen at night and I read that it's called "sleep paralysis." It scared me pretty badly. I woke to something trying to control me - I don't know how else to put it. I tried speaking but nothing would come out. I fought and got out the word "Jesus" and it broke it - I then plead the blood of Jesus and it was gone. I wondered if others got that.

 

JohnPaul

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I personally know supposed Church people who the Devil works through, who cannily praise the Lords name, and hurt and steal from others in the guise of worshipping our Lord Jesus. And profess it's okay to hurt and steal from others, that God has made this happen in order to help them, because they believe.
 

Soverign Grace

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yeah Christians are oppressed by demons but not possessed by them, theres a big difference!! derek prince is very knowlegable on demons!! he suffered from depression same as me dats where the word oppression comes from. Isaiah 61:3 talks about spirit of heaviness and somewhere in proverbs talks about the (mind becomes stooped) I believe dat satan is sending his demons 2 oppress a lot of Christians and also non Christians who are destined 2 become Christians 2 make us ineffective for Christ and even 2 de-rail us so dat we never seek Christ but instead turn 2 medicine and alchahol and even worse suicide.

if u look at a lot of Christians testimonies ull find dat a lot of them have had depression before they came 2 Christ, the devil even tried 2 get jesus to commit suicide, pslams 91:9-12 and luke 4:8-12, people get possessed coz they don't have Gods hedge of protection and just are completely exposed to the elements, us Christians do have Gods hedge of protection but God allows us to be afflicted to build character, to toughen our skin.
if were struggling tho he will work with us so dat we overcome it but those who know the truth and still turn 2 drugs or man instead of him then their fair game 4 the devil.

I recall living next to a couple who were dealing drugs - they were using drugs with the couple on the other side of us. There were no other homes around - I recall an overwhelming sense of oppression and depression - a type of cloud handing over the area. I did not know a lot back then - I was a Christian but a young Christian and my husband wasn't a believer yet. Somebody in my lineage dropped the ball because I found out my great-grandfather was a preacher - but my mother wasn't a Christian and I was raised Catholic. Anyway - I had a hard time coming to the faith. Then I had several bad attacks - one of them with living near the neighbors involved in drugs. We didn't have the internet back then so I got a book out at the library by Billy Graham and he talked about when he was on a boat to China to preach, that an overwhelming sense of oppression and depression came over him. It was a heavy spiritual attack to try to thwart him. That was when I realized that's exactly what I was experiencing. Satan had full control of those neighbors and it was a very bad spiritual attack.
 

Soverign Grace

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yes, I've had situations similar to what you describe and and at present I have dreams where i am harassed sexually. I have learned that calling out to God for protection in the dream dissipates the harassment and restores calm.

I've read about the sexual harassment. We all get vile thoughts from the pit. I think times we are fooled a lot though is when Satan controls other people and we sometimes apply the wrong remedy before we realize who is behind it. "The spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient."
 

Davy

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I've always heard it taught that the holy spirit and a demon cannot inhabit the same person, but I've re-thought that teaching. I recently happened across a youtube video by Derek Prince who said that he has delivered many Christians from demons. I recently read a book "Deliver us from Evil" by Don Basham who said the same thing.

I have encountered some Christians whose behavior was completely the opposite of Christ's. They were critical, faultfinding, and a few did outright evil. So as I listened to Derek Prince's sermon, he said that the worst demons were the "religious" demons. I made me wonder if that was what was operating in churches and on forums.

I'd like to know what others believe.

Can only happen if a Christian dumps their faith and invites them in. It's what the subject of falling away is about.

Righteous indignation by a believing Christian by The Holy Spirit is NOT... a sign of a demon. Some posters (not of Christ) here are already trying to take advantage of the trap door you have opened up with this subject. They try to present a model for how a Christian should behave according to their own 'liking', and not per Scripture examples.

What causes ire in God's eyes is what causes righteous indignation in the true Christian. One would have to know from God's Word what those things are which God has revealed through His Word.

So are Christians always supposed to be lovey-dovey and sweet talking? No. The devil certainly would love for all Christians to be easy push-overs. In Luke 22 Jesus told His disciples, before He sent them out on the open road to preach The Gospel, to go buy a sword. That shows we don't have to allow the devil and his servants to just run over us. And righteous indignation and rebuke against those who require it is healthy for the sinner, and can cause them to repent and come to Jesus.
 

justbyfaith

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Actually, the only time Jesus told his disciples to get a sword was immediately before His betrayal by Judas.