Spiritual Warfare
Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?
Let us not become prideful to think we are exempt from Satan’s influence
in our lives, after all he is a good liar and very deceptive
So, stand on your guard
It is not an issue of whether a Christian can or cannot be demon-possessed
This is an issue of, is the devil’s influence in any area of our lives
If such great followers of Jesus were influenced
If Jesus Himself was tempted
Then we should be on our guard
Who knows if the devil gets his foot in the door, how far he can enter
All of us should heed Jesus’ words
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41
Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?
In the 1970s and 80s there was a lot of teaching
on Spiritual Warfare.
These teachings were circulated on cassette tapes…
And published in newly formed magazines.
The Charismatic Movement was entering
every denomination…
As Christians became more aware
of the power of God
and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Believers began to believe in the Great Commission
as Mark describes it.
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Mark 16:15-18
Just like the altar call for the unbeliever
to come and repent of their sin…
There became deliverance services.
On small scales of one-on-one ministry
to larger services…
Believers embraced the authority
over demons in Jesus’ name.
Like in Jesus’ time…
People were healed and delivered
from the works of the devil.
Out of the growth of spiritual warfare came debate…
“Can a Christian be demon- possessed?”
Today I find this question to be unfruitful.
Many have argued this question with a sense of pride,
as if a Christian is exempt of demonic control.
Much of the debate lays between
oppressed and possessed.
I have taken a simple approach…
Can the devil and demons influence us?
Whether it is a little or a lot…
The devil’s influence should be rebuked.
The best place to see if the devil can influence believers
is with Jesus’ disciples.
At the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry,
the very night before His crucifixion…
We see an alarming event in
one of Jesus’ closest followers,
a disciple of Jesus, student of the Lord.
22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. Luke 22:1-5
I find this hard to imagine that
Jesus and Judas were so close in their relationship
and Judas betrayed Him.
Yet, I have seen close friends
in ministry betray each other.
Could it be...
That Satan can enter a person who has
a close relationship with God or other believers.
Peter, a leader among those 12 disciples
who sat under Jesus’s training
got a strong rebuke…
Jesus turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the things of God,
but the things of men."
Matthew 16:23
Remember Jesus’ warning to Peter…
"Simon, Simon,
Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you,
Simon, that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32
No one is exempt from the devil’s temptation…
Not even Jesus.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1-2
Most of us do not want to talk about the devil
when we have such great things to talk about in Christ.
But the reality is…
We have an enemy who is looking to
influence each one of us.
We cannot ignore or be unaware
of Satan’s schemes.
I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
11 in order that Satan might not outwit us.
For we are not unaware of his schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
We should all be alert and on guard
as the devil is very good at influencing us.
…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then,
if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Let us not become prideful to think…
We are exempt from Satan’s influence in our lives.
After all…
He is a good liar and very deceptive.
So, stand on your guard.
It is not an issue of whether
a Christian can or cannot be demon-possessed…
It is an issue of,
is the devil’s influence in any area of our lives.
If such great followers of Jesus were influenced…
If Jesus Himself was tempted…
Then we should be on our guard.
Who knows if the devil gets
his foot in the door,
how far he can enter.
All of us should heed Jesus’ words…
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Matthew 26:41
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:40-41 NIV
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Luke 22:1-6 NIV
22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
Matthew 16:23 NIV
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Luke 22:31-32 NIV
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
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