Can Christians Have Demonic Problems

CAN CHRISTIANS HAVE DEMONIC PROBLEMS?

(Thirty plus years ago God put Don Rogers in my life.  He trained and mentored me in spiritual ministry.  When he was no longer able to minister, I had the privilege of taking over his “Spiritual Warfare Ministries”.  He had written many articles about spiritual warfare.  I have edited and added to his work for this blog.)

  1. Can Christians have demonic problems?

ANSWER:

I know that there are a lot of Christians that believe this is impossible. They believe if this were possible it would undermine the work of Christ at the cross. Another argument is also posed. “How can the light dwell with darkness?”

First of all, if God is permitting the Christian to experience demonic problems, there is a reason: there is probably sin that needs to be addressed. God often used Israel’s enemies to chastise them. Paul was speaking to Christians in Eph. 4:26-27 when he said,  “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (NIV)

The Greek word for foothold means a place of influence in one’s life. Sin provides the enemy with an opportunity, even with Christians, if they persist in sin.

The argument of the light not being able to dwell with darkness is based on logic, not God’s Word. God is present everywhere and cannot be limited by the darkness of this world. If that were the case, the Hold Spirit would not be able to dwell and work in a world full of sin and evil forces.

On the other hand, the apostle Paul indicates that Christians can open themselves up to evil spirits if they do not adhere to God’s word and obey it. He said to believers in 2 Corinthians 11:3-5:  “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”

What Paul is saying here is that believers can receive into their lives another spirit in the same way they received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit entered when they believed the truth about Jesus Christ. An evil spirit can enter when you believe the lies of the enemy in the form of another gospel. In fact, when any sin is practiced by a believer, there is a potential that God may permit an evil spirit to enter in as an agent of chastisement.

And Christians put up with the oppressions because they are blinded by the sin and lack discernment. Paul could not have made it much clearer for us.

  1. I believe it is possible for Christians to be harassed by demons, but how is it possible for demons to invade a believer’s body?

ANSWER:

This is somewhat related to the first question. I think the best way to understand what is happening is to look at Romans 8:22-23.  “We know that the whole creations has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, gran inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

The reason we can be physically vulnerable to demonic activity is because our physical bodies will await redemption. That is why disease can enter our bodies and even bring death to us. If we understand that the sovereign God can do whatever He pleases, even to using the enemy’s activities for his purposes, then we will not have such difficulty with this issue.

And remember that God has given a couple of great promises to stand on.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor. 10:13

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

© Copyright 1994 Spiritual Warfare Ministries, Inc., © 2013 Christian Training Organization.  https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/

C t O Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
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