CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMON POSSESSED?

                                                             SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMON POSSESSED?

For a long time now there has been discussion of whether a Christian can be demon possessed or not.  Perhaps it is generated by fear or by observing something they saw in others or even an experience they had themselves.  As in everything else we need to go directly to the scriptures and never base anything on experience or feeling.  Here are some verses to contemplate:

·         (Col 1:13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. 

·         (2 Cor 6:14-16) … For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them… 

·         (1 John 4:4) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The scriptures clearly state that believers are the temple of God and that God dwells in them.  God has no time-share with the devil!  But we know that if a Christian cannot be possessed then at times he can be oppressed by the devil.  Demons cannot live in Christian hearts, but they surely can perch on Christian shoulders and whisper in their ears.  

Someone might bring up Judas but we have to remember he never really was the Lord’s.  He was a false professor of faith.  (John 13:27) Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.  And what about Saul?  Here’s what it says about him: (1 Sam 16:14) But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.  So there is the difference between Judas and Saul.  One was possessed because he was not saved and the other was oppressed because he knew the Lord but had was settled in willful disobedience.  

Good Christians may at times experience oppression from the devil.  (Psa 42:9) …Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”  But we know the Lord delivers us from attacks from Satan if we call on the name of the Lord!  (Psa 18:3) I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.  When the devil knocks remember to ask Jesus to answer the door!  (James 4:7)…Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

But someone might say they knew a Christian who was demon possessed.  Maybe they were never saved?  Psychological problems that appear as such?  Let us use wisdom and discernment as Christians and always test our experience against the solid truth of the Word of God.  

Louie