CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE A DEMON?

Can A Christian Have A Demon?

(Part 3)

 

           Invisible enemies.

           That’s what demonic entities are.

          As we’ve talked about in the previous two posts, they infiltrate our soul like parasites and attach themselves to our mind, will, and emotions.  They significantly influence our thinking and behavior,  even cause a variety of illnesses, both minor and severe, and foment turmoil and trouble. 

Most of the time we are unaware they exist.

          Why?

          Because many Christian erroneously believe that once they accept Jesus and come to salvation, they no longer have to deal with demonic entities internally.  We are often taught that the spiritual warfare we engage in is external only, and so the enemy is unwittingly given freedom to operate.  The Ministry of Deliverance is not on the top-ten list of conferences Christians cannot wait to sign up for and, unfortunately, few pastors believe in this ministry, because it doesn’t line up with their religious views, or what they were taught in seminary.  Sadly, as a result,  just as the prophet Hosea writes, “[God’s] people perish (are destroyed) for lack of knowledge. (Hos. 4:6)

           The ministry of Jesus is not simply about salvation.  It is multilayered.  Not only did Jesus teach in the synagogue and among the people, feed the hungry, and heal the sick, He also expelled demons on a regular basis (Mk. 1:39) and taught that those who believe He is the Messiah and use His name, can expel demons as well. (Mk. 16:17)  There are numerous scriptures supporting these two truths, far too many to list in this short blog.  The point is, if we are a legitimate follower of Jesus, then He is alive in us through Holy Spirit, and we have both the authority and the power, using His name and His blood, to command demonic entities to leave, whether they have attached themselves to our soul, or someone else’s soul.

          Just because we have accepted Christ as our Savior, endeavor to follow His commandments, attend church regularly and use all the right religious language, pray, and live respectable lives, it is no guarantee the we are free from demonic infestation.  The moral and ethical code of Jews in the time of Jesus was based upon The Ten Commandments and The Law of Moses. Most Jews, especially observant ones,  lived better lives than many today in contemporary society, even some professing Christians. Jesus made it clear that His practical ministry  of healing the sick and casting out demons was not temporary, but would continue unchanged until the end. “Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today, and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” (Lk. 13:32)  The phrase “today, tomorrow, and the third day” in colloquial Hebrew can literally mean “from now on until the job is finished.”  

          So how do we use the authority in Christ we’ve been given to rid ourselves of these demonic parasites?

          First, we ask God to forgive everyone in our generational bloodline wherever they have intentionally or unintentionally aligned themselves with demonic behavior by calling out the specific demonic spirits we are aware of.  Things like anger, bitterness, shame, hopelessness, low self-esteem, lust, pornography, alcoholism, drug addition, lying, gluttony, ungodly soul ties, witchcraft of any kind, religious spirits, control spirits, unbelief, fear, anxiety, trauma, etc..  Next, we ask Him to forgive us wherever we have come into agreement with any of these, or other, spirits.  Then, we forgive everyone in our generational bloodline for coming under the influence of the demonic spirits and forgive ourselves as well.  Finally, we put it all under His Blood and ask the Lord to count it as of none effect. (Lev. 17:11; Ps. 103:12; Rom. 3:35; Eph. 1:7; 1Pet. 1:18,19: 1Jn.1:7)

          By asking God to forgive us along with everyone in our generational bloodline wherever they have been under the influence of demonic parasites, especially where it has impacted us, and by forgiving ourselves and those who have influenced us by their sinful behavior, whether intentionally or not, we place ourselves on holy ground for the express purpose of casting out any and all demonic parasites. (Ps. 24: 3-10; Ps. 91; Matt. 6:14,15,; 1Jn.1:9; Acts 3:19)  By forgiving anyone, known or unknown, including ourselves, who has influenced us or hurt us to the degree that a door was opened giving demonic parasites spiritually legal access to our mind, will, and emotions, we proactively remove any argument they may throw at us to condemn us, confuse us, or cause us shame  and thereby distract us from casting them out. (Rom. 8:1)

         Once we’ve done this, we have scripturally positioned ourselves to command the demonic spirits to leave us.

         We do so by putting them on verbal notice (Prov.18:21) that the legal contract they operate under to torment and influence us is hereby nullified and broken.  We confess we will no longer feed their insatiable hunger for chaos in our life. We tell them they are no longer welcome in the temple of the Living God (that’s us!) ( 1Cor.3:16). We speak their name and command them to leave in the Name of Jesus and by His Blood. There is not a demonic spirit in Hell, or on Earth, that can stand against the Name of Jesus and His Blood. 

        Simple.  Yes.

        Easy.  That depends.

        On what?

        You.

        Assumptive in this process is the fact that as a follower of Christ you believe and acknowledge that demons exist, that they are active today in the lives of men, women, and children, both saved and unsaved, including your own life, and that because of your covenant relationship with the God of Glory whose promises are “Yes and Amen!” and the God who keeps covenant to a thousand generations you have the legal standing, the authority and power to rid yourself of any and all demonic influences in your life. (2Cor. 1:20; Deut. 7:9; Ps. 105:8)

       Deliverance is the easy part.

       Surprised?

       However, what happens next is essential if you want to stay cleansed. (Matt. 12:43-45) It’s also more challenging, because it is an ongoing process.

        It is well-established that it takes twenty-one days to break or create a habit.  In Part 2 we talked about strongholds that are erected in our soul as a result of demonic infestation.  When the strongholds are brought down,  like Jericho, it is essential that we replace sinful habit patterns with new, righteous ones immediately.  Think of deliverance and the ongoing follow up like this.  Our soul is like a DVD.  Over time, and for a variety of possible reasons, scratches appear on the surface, causing the DVD to “skip.”  The remedy?  Use a special, clean cloth and apply a specific kind of cleaner to eliminate the scratches. 

        Isn’t it interesting that DVD’s work using light?  When the light is “distorted” by scratches the DVD malfunctions. What an amazing analogy!

       A final word.

       Deliverance is similar to salvation in that it is a process and not an event.  If you stumble,  or fall, know that the Lord will never leave your or forsake you and that He is merely a breath away for help.  Call upon Him in the day of trouble, and He will deliver you. (Deut. 31:8; Josh. 1:9; Ps.50:15; Mat. 28:20)