IS THE EXORCISM OF CHRISTIANS OF GOD?
CONTENTS AND INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER 1. GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION OF HIS CHILDREN AND HIS CREATION.
1. God's restraint on evil in the world.
2. God's restraint on Satan's activities against Old Testament saints.
3. New Testament sons of God are guarded by God and His legal decrees.
a. The invincible legal covenant barrier of Christ's atoning blood.
b. The legal barrier of identification with Christ's death in baptism.
c. The legal barrier of adoption as sons and the new birth.
4. The Holy Spirit is an abiding eternal protection for the Christian.
5. Christians have legal protection and authority in the Name of Jesus.
CHAPTER 2. WHY DO CHRISTIANS PRACTICE AN EXORCISM WHICH IS NOT SCRIPTURAL?
1. Because Christians have a genuine desire to help people with their
problems.
2. Because Christians desire to prove that they have a ministry and
power from God.
3. Because Christians desire a spectacular manifestation of God's power.
4. Because Christians desire to demonstrate God's power over Satan.
5. Because Christians do not realise they are being led astray by pride.
6. Because Christians do not realise that they are opening the door
to Satan.
7. Because Christians confuse sickness with demon possession.
8. Because Christians confuse the works of the flesh with demon possession.
CHAPTER 3. WHY DO CHRISTIANS ACT AS IF THEY ARE POSSESSED
WHEN THEY ARE NOT?
1. Because of the power of suggestion and submission to leadership.
2. Because Christians are encouraged to submit to demon influence.
3. Because Christians use unscriptural phraseology.
4. Because Christians confuse the works of the flesh with possession.
5. Because Christians confuse soul travail with demon possession.
6. Because Christians lack the necessary spiritual equipment.
CHAPTER 4. THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF BELIEF IN CHRISTIAN POSSESSION.
1. It replaces Christian certainties with total uncertainty.
a. It creates fear when there should be joy at God's protective love.
b. It makes a Christian surrender their total security in Christ.
c. It seriously worsens a sense of failure and domination by evil.
2. It breaks God's command that God's children should not be mediums.
3. It replaces the gifts of the Holy Spirit with unscriptural routines.
4. It is a total distortion of spiritual warfare and spiritual realities.
5. It fails to cure the real problems of Christians.
6. It produces severe psychological damage to God's dear children.
CHAPTER 5. SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS, BUT WERE NOT POSSESSED.
1. Peter. 2. Ananias and Sapphira. 3. Simon Magnus. 4. The Corinthians.
5. The Woman at the Well.
APPENDIX 1. THE GREEK WORDS TO DESCRIBE DEMON POSSESSION.
1. "IN an unclean spirit." 2. "HAVE an evil spirit."
3. "To be POSSESSED by a demon." 4. "To be VEXED with
unclean spirits."
5. "The OPPRESSED of the Devil." 6. The Effects of Demon
Possession and Oppression.
APPENDIX 2. THE WORDS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXORCISM
OF DEMONS.
1. Demons are "COMMANDED." 2. Demons are "REBUKED."
3. Demons are "CAST OUT." 4. Demons and the Abyss.
5. Our Lord's warning of Israel's repossession by demons because of
their apostasy from God.
APPENDIX 3. THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ON DEMONS AND UNCLEAN SPIRITS.
1. DEMONS. 2. UNCLEAN SPIRITS. 3. EVIL SPIRITS. 4. PRINCIPALITIES AND
POWERS.
PREFACE.
I have condensed my larger book on the doctrine of demon possession,
in order to help those who would like a shorter study on the subject.
I show that the Scriptures prove that the doctrine that Christians can
be possessed by demons and need exorcism is false, and not of God. I
pray that this booklet will enable Christians to realise their total
security in Christ, and their complete protection by God's power from
possession by demons. 1Pet.1v4,5. Edited and reformatted on January
30th. 2001.
A STUDY IN DEMON POSSESSION, IS THE EXORCISM OF CHRISTIANS
OF GOD?
INTRODUCTION.
We cannot find one case in the New Testament of a Christian being possessed
by demons, or being exorcised of demons. When we examine the New Testament
we find that no apostle of Christ ever exorcised, or suggested exorcism,
for any Christians, even the most sinful Corinthian Christians. Christ's
apostles are unanimous in proclaiming that we have been transferred out
of Satan's kingdom and power, into the kingdom of God, through faith in
Christ and His wonderful atoning death. Col.1v12-14. 1Pet.1v18,19. Rev.12v10-12.
Gal.2v20. Tit.3v5. 1Jn.2v8. Paul states in 2Cor.5v17,18.,
"Those in
Christ are a new creation, the old things have passed away; behold, all
things are new, and all things are of God." God has promised
that He is not going to allow His dear children to get a serpent, or scorpion,
or stone, He assures us of His "how much more" protection with the Holy
Spirit's presence and power. Luke.11v9-13.
Among those who believe in the exorcism of Christians, the amount they
practice varies greatly. Some rarely practice this supposed exorcism
of Christians and are good people with loving hearts and with genuine
gifts and blessing from God in other areas of their ministries. However,
others are so obsessed with demons, that they practice the routine exorcism
of almost all Christians. This practice produces severe spiritual and
psychological damage; and in some quarters the heavy over-emphasis upon
demons has become even more dangerous than the previous ignorance about
the subject. The tragic truth is that the doctrine and practice of exorcism
of Christians actually results in defilement by demons, not deliverance
from demons. This is the Satanic purpose behind this doctrine of demons.
1Tim.4v1.
The continuous and considerable restraint of God on Satan and his angels
is a fact of Scripture. 2Thes.2v7. Christians have an hedge of protection
like Job. Job.1v10,12. Those who teach that Christians can be possessed
by demons deny this restraint of God and a Christian's security in God.
By suggesting that Christians can be possessed by demons, Satan has
found a way of partially negating the promise of God's providential
protection of His children. I say partially negating, because even though
Christians who submit to this supposed exorcism act like mediums for
the thoughts and blasphemies of demons from outside of them, God will
still not allow those demons to enter and possess Christians. Peter
tells us that Christians are always guarded by God even when they fail
to accept it, or appreciate it. 1Pet.1v5. Peter marvelled that God the
Father and the Lord Jesus loved and guarded him even when he backslid
and denied his Lord. Peter's denial was emphatic, for Peter swore with
sacred oaths that he did not know Jesus and he invoked the most terrible
curses upon himself if he was lying and did know Jesus. Lk.22v31-34,61,62.
24v34. Mk.16v7. Peter was attacked by Satan and failed badly, but, unlike
the apostate Judas, was never possessed by Satan. Peter's backsliding
was cured by divine love and mercy, and Peter's repentance.
CHAPTER 1. GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION OF HIS CHILDREN AND HIS CREATION.
God protects His children, and Creation, with His providential love
and power.
1. God's restraint on evil in the World.
God restrains the activities of the powers of darkness in the world,
and His merciful goodness protects even the unbeliever from their malice.
God delivered the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir.
Amos.9v7. The Lord gave victory to Syria through Naaman. 2Kings.6v1.
God sends His rain on the just and the unjust, and is kind, good and
merciful, even to the evil, unjust and ungrateful. Luke.6v35,36. Mt.5v45.
Paul told the idol worshippers at Lystra how kind and good God had been
to them. Acts.14v16,17. Acts.17v30.
God protects mankind from Satan's plan to destroy the whole of mankind.
2Thes.2v7. Rev.12v12. Dan.8v24. 12v1-7. Mt.24v21,22. The explosion of
evil and destruction in The Great Tribulation is allowed in order to
show what evil and Satan and his angels, are like; and also show the
justice and necessity of their eternal judgement and confinement in
everlasting chains of darkness, after the destruction of their bodies
in the lake of fire. 2Pet.2v4,17. Jude.v13. Mt.25v41,46. Rev.19v20.
20v10. Every mouth will be stopped by the awesome justice of God. Rom.3v19.
2. God's restraint on Satan's activities against Old Testament saints
There has always been special protection for the children of God. God's
Old Testament saints rejoiced again and again over the loving wisdom,
and the gracious protecting power and love of God. Deut.33v27. Ps.3v3.
Ps.32v1. Ps.119v14. Ps.91v1. These are but a few of many such exceeding
great and precious promises that are yea and Amen in Christ. 2Pet.1v4.
2Cor.1v18-22. Satan complained to God about the hedge of divine love
and power that protected Job and "ALL THAT HE HATH." Job.1v10.
Jacob found out that like little children he had many angels sent and
devoted to his care. Mt.18v10. At Bethel the reality of God's total
and dedicated caring love and protection was revealed to Jacob, he saw
a continual stream of angels coming to minister to him and care for
him. Gen.28v11-19. 2Kings.6v15-18. New Testament sons of God can expect
at least the same protection, for "The Lord of Hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge." Ps.46v7,11. Heb.1v14. We can allow
the powers of darkness to harass us, when they should be trembling in
fear at what we and our Father will do to them. Put on God's armour
and resist the powers of darkness and they will flee from you. Jam.2v19.
4v7. Eph.6v10-20. God has called us to triumph not defeat. 2Cor.2v14.
The powers of darkness know their defeat is sure, and their cause is
hopeless, and that Hell awaits them. Mt.8v29. Lk.8v31. Rev.12v12.
3. New Testament sons of God are guarded by God and
His Legal Decrees.
The decrees of God, as Judge, Creator and Redeemer have been made and
heralded to all; and evil spirits tremble at His decrees; for God backs
up his legal decrees with power. Evil spirits who try to oppose God's
decrees go into chains of everlasting darkness. Dan.4v17-23. 2Pet.2v4.
Jude.v6,13. These irresistible and unbreakable divine decrees are as
follows.
a. The invincible legal covenant decree, barrier and defence of Christ's
atoning blood.
Satan has no hold, or claim, on those who are redeemed through the
blood of Christ, for His covenant blood includes protection as well
as forgiveness; the blood of the Passover lamb preserved Israel, how
much more does the blood of Christ protect the New Covenant children
of God. Rev.12v11. 1Pet.1v4,5,18,19.
b. The legal barrier of identification with Christ's
death in baptism.
Repentance and baptism in water is God's way of accepting God's covenant,
it cuts us off from previous evil occult connections. Our old life is
buried with Christ in baptism, and we rise to walk in newness of life,
not in fear of demons, or of being possessed by demons. Rom.6v3,4.
c. The legal barrier of adoption as sons and the new
birth.
Christians have a God-protected sonship. We are loved like Jesus by
the Father, and He wants the world to know it; and Jesus loves us as
the Father loves Him. Jn.17v23. 15v9. Christ said His enemies committed
blasphemy when they said that He was possessed by demons. Mk.3v28-30.
Is it not blasphemy to say that God will allow His beloved sons, who
are loved just like Jesus, to be possessed by demons?
Peter assures us of God's protection in 1Pet.1v4,5..
Believers in Jesus, "are always kept, protected and guarded by the power
of God through faith." The word for, "are always kept" is a military term,
meaning, "to guard or garrison." Acts.9v24. Vincent says, "The present
participle indicates something in progress,
a continuous process of
protection." Peter assures us that Christians are protected and enveloped
"IN the power of God." 1Pet.1v5. Phil.4v7. Jesus has always been the sentinel
and guard of His Church, He ever lives to protect us and intercede for
us. Jn.17v11,12. Heb.7v25. God assures us that the heirs of the heavenly
kingdom are as securely guarded by Him as their heavenly inheritance.
Mt.6v19-21. Col.1v5. Lk.10v19. Indeed, God cares more for the heirs of
His kingdom, than He does for the fabric of that kingdom: heaven and earth
may pass away, but His love for us will never pass away.
John assures us that Satan cannot grasp a born-again
child of God.
John writes in 1John.5v18., "We know that whoever is born of God
does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the
Evil One toucheth him not." "Toucheth him not," is "ouch
haptetai autou;" "haptetai" is the present indicative
of "hapto," which means to lay hold of or to grasp, not a
momentary touch. The only other place where John uses "hapto"
is in John.20v17., where Jesus tells Mary that she cannot keep holding
and clinging to Him, because He has to ascend to the Father. See Mt.28v9.
where the women took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. With John
we can say "we know" with absolute certainty, that the Evil
One cannot grasp, or lay hold of us, or possess us, this is God's sure
promise to us. In 1Jn.5v18. and 3v6,9., when John tells us that born-again
Christians do not live a life of sin, he is not speaking of an act of
sin, which would be indicated by the aorist tense; but the continuous
life of sin which is indicated by the present tense. Victory over sin
is through the new birth and the law of the spirit of life in Christ;
frees us from the law of sin and death. Rom.8v1-4.
God's children are the apple of His eye.
In Zech.2v8. the prophet says, "He that touches you, touches the
apple of His eye." See. Deut.32v9,10. Demons believe in God and
tremble, none of them would think of trying to hit God in the eye.
4. The Holy Spirit is an abiding eternal protection for the Christian.
The Holy Spirit has come "to abide with us for ever," and
as, "He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world;"
we can't be possessed by demons as long as we continue to follow Jesus,
and don't fall away. Jn.14v16. 1Jn.4v4. Lk.8v13. Mt.24v12,13. 2Thes.2v1-3.
Heb.6v1-8. 10v26,27. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Eph.1v13,14. (Eph.4v30. and 2Cor.1v22.) In Paul's time a seal was used
as both a sign of ownership and a guarantee. The Ephesian Christians
received the seal of the Holy Spirit some time after their baptism in
water when Paul laid his hands upon them. Acts.19v1-6. The presence
of the Holy Spirit makes Christians quite immune to demon possession,
even if they have not been baptised in the Holy Spirit, for His protection
is there, whether He is "with us," or "in us." John.
14v17.
Jesus assures us in Lk.11v9-13., that we have a good Heavenly Father
who only gives the Holy Spirit and good gifts to His children, and guarantees
that we cannot get serpents, scorpions or stones. The eternally abiding
protecting presence of God our Father springs from His "much more"
love for us. Lk.11v13. Jn.14v16. Our heavenly Father would no more allow
a demon to enter His dearly beloved children, than He would allow a
demon to enter His dearly beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. Jn.17v23.
In James.4v7., "submit," "hupotasso," is a military
term meaning, "to place or range under;" as we array ourselves
under God and resist the Devil; God is with us, and His awesome might
causes Satan to flee. In James.4v6., we read that God resists the proud;
"resists" is "antitasso," a military term meaning,
"to array against, to range in battle against," God arrays
Himself with us against the arrogant pride of the powers of darkness,
and as we take a stand with God against Satan, Satan flees from us.
5. Christians have legal protection and authority in the Name of Jesus.
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth
into it and are safe." Prov.18v10. Every knee must bow to the name
of Jesus and recognise its authority; Phil.2v9-11. Rom.14v11,12., both
from Is.45v23. When we call on His name it brings our Lord's power and
protection over us. Jude.v21. Jam.1v27. Heb.4v12-16. 7v25. Ps.121v3,4.
We have authority and dominion over demons in the name of Jesus.
Our Lord said to the 70 disciples in Luke.10v19., "Behold, I give
unto you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over
ALL the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
These disciples returned with joy because demons were subject to them
in the name of Jesus. They were not mature Christians, for in v19-21.,
our Lord rejoices that the revelation of this power and authority had
been hidden from the wise and prudent and given to babes, because it
was good in the eyes of our heavenly Father. God's beloved little children
were given complete authority over ALL the power of the enemy, and the
powers of darkness were terrified at their coming.
Our Lord definitely states, "nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Lk.10v19. A very strong triple negative. Jesus assures us that when we
meet up with evil spirits, God will protect us from them, and they will
not be able to injure or harm us. These Christian babes caused demons
to flee in the Name of Jesus. James.2v19.4v5-7. In Mt.10v1. we see that
God's amazing love gave full delegated authority, "exousia;" and power,
"dunamis;" to the apostles; Jesus also calls them babes, but said they
had authority over ALL the power of the Devil in the name of Jesus. Mt.11v25,26.
"He that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world." 1Jn.4v4..
Compare Acts.19v13-16.
CHAPTER 2. WHY DO CHRISTIANS PRACTICE AN EXORCISM WHICH IS NOT SCRIPTURAL?
1. Some Christians have a genuine desire to help people with their problems.
They desire to help Christians into victory and blessing, and mistakenly
think that this will help them.
2. Some Christians desire to prove that they have a ministry and power
from God.
Some Christians are over eager to show that they have authority and
power from God, and feel that casting out demons proves that they have
real authority from God. It can take a great deal of self-discipline
to wait, as our Lord did, for a genuine ministry from God and the right
time to manifest it. Is.49v1-3. 50v3-7. Satan tried to get Jesus to
prematurely manifest His Father's power in His ministry. Mt.4v1-12.
3. Some Christians desire a spectacular manifestation of God's power.
A good desire to manifest God's delivering power can degenerate into
a base desire for the spectacular, if we do not carefully watch our
motives. Satan suggested to Jesus that a spectacular demonstration at
the Temple was the way to start and prove His ministry. Let us wait
until God opens His ways for us. Ps.37v4-9,23,24. 62v1-12. 81v13-17.
103v7. Is.48v18. 45v1-13.
4. Some Christians desire to demonstrate God's power over Satan.
Some want to demonstrate Christ's victory over demons and problems
in the Christian's life. This is a good desire, but we must remember
that it is absolutely essential to fight with methods that are clearly
seen to be the practice of Christ and His early Church. If we pretend
that a person is possessed by a demon when they are not, and try to
expel an imaginary demon, we are creating a spiritual fantasy. Christ's
apostles, Daniel, Paul, and even the angel Gabriel, found that real
conflict with the powers of darkness can be very painful and really
test our spiritual resources. Mt.17v14-21. Dan.10v1-21. 2Cor.12v7-9.
Eph.6v10-20.
5. Because Christians do not realise they are being
led astray by pride.
Christians are lifted up in pride that they have a real and powerful
ministry like the Christians in the early Church. It is, however, a
fact that the exorcism of Christians never occurred in the early Church.
6. Because Christians do not realise that they are opening the door to
Satan.
This false exorcism opens the door to Satan, and encourages the manifestation
of demons within the Church; if we desire this Satan will oblige us,
just as he does in spiritualist meetings. This false exorcism brings
one into the forbidden occult, and is very dangerous, and brings defilement
to Christians rather than deliverance. This excessive emphasis upon
demons is spiritually unhealthy, Christians should desire the presence
and activities of God in their meetings, not the activities of demons.
7. Because Christians confuse sickness with demon possession.
Though evil spirits can cause sickness, infirmity, deafness, blindness,
dumbness, madness and epilepsy, the Scriptures reveal that sickness
caused by demon possession is rare. Mt.8v28-34. 9v32-34. 12v22-24. 15v21-28.
17v14-21. with Mk.9v25. Lk.4v31-36. In the ministry of Jesus ordinary
sickness is clearly distinguished from Demon possession. Mt.4v23,24.
Most sickness is caused by natural causes and not by demons. It is an
abomination to God to say that a person has a demon when they don't
have one. It is often true that some people who are praying for the
sick say that a person has a demon, just to cover up their ignorance
of the true cause, because they lack the necessary Divine spiritual
equipment and Divine commission.
8. Because Christians confuse the works of the flesh with possession.
Some Christians confuse besetting sins and evil things that are in
Christian's lives and demon possession, however, what they call demons,
Paul calls "works of the flesh," in Gal.5v19-21.. See Chapter
3. section D.
CHAPTER 3. WHY DO CHRISTIANS ACT AS IF THEY ARE POSSESSED WHEN THEY ARE
NOT?
1. Because of the power of suggestion and submission to leadership.
Christians often submit to those who they recognise and esteem as a
spiritual leaders, and because they look upon their authority and discernment
as derived from God, they obey and co-operate with them without question.
They sacrifice their discernment with the words, "He is a man of
God, he must be right." Paul warns us never to submit our judgement
without question; he instructs us, "to scrutinise and test all
things until you can approve them, retaining only what is good."
1Thes.5v21.
2. Because Christians are encouraged to submit to demon influence.
Christians are encouraged, by those who they look upon as spiritual
leaders, to speak out the thoughts that demons put into their minds,
and when they do so, it is looked upon as a proof of demon possession.
Evil spirits must rejoice in the havoc they cause when Christians give
them authority to act in this way. God warns us that the powers of darkness
will attack us in our thoughts, but this is certainly not a proof of
demon possession. Jesus had His mind continuously filled with evil thoughts
for 40 days, when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, but He
did not submit to them for a moment. Jesus fought Satan with God's Word,
and we should follow His example. We should not allow demons to program
us with their words; for if we speak out the words and thoughts of demons,
then we are defiled by those demons. Jesus would not repeat the lies
that Satan put into His mind, and neither should we. Christians are
told to reject Satan's lies and bring them captive to Christ. 2Cor.10v4,5.
James instructs us to resist the Devil, not repeat his lies and blasphemy.
James.4v7. Our Lord charged demons to keep silent and be muzzled, and
so should we. Mk.1v34. Lk.4v41.
3. Because Christians use unscriptural phraseology.
Phrases such as, "infiltration by demons," or, "partial
possession by demons," never occur anywhere in the Scriptures,
and so such experiences and terms are false and should be rejected.
If they do not speak according to God's Word, THEN THERE IS NO LIGHT
IN THEM. Is.8v18-20. We need to be delivered from unscriptural tradition.
1Pet.1v18,19.
4. Because Christians confuse the works of the flesh with possession.
Some books which state that Christians can be possessed by demons,
give long lists of various kinds of demons, such as, demons of lust,
pride, anger, and so on, which they say Christians can be possessed
by. However, what they call demons, Paul, in Gal.5v19-21., calls "works
of the flesh.," Demons which are outside Christians can exacerbate
temptations from the flesh, but this must not be confused with demon
possession. Peter fell very badly but Jesus never suggested that Peter
should be exorcised, He said Peter needed to repent and turn back to
Him. Lk.22v31-34. Jn.14v30. Mt.16v21-23. Acts.10v28,34,35. Col.3v1-14.
It is a striking fact that though the heathen world was given over to
gross immorality and occult practices, and the other evil works of the
flesh, only a very small fraction of them became demon possessed, because
of the protecting mercy and goodness of God, and His restraint on the
powers of darkness. 2Thes.2v7.
5. Because Christians confuse soul travail with demon possession.
Some Christians fail to distinguish between soul travail for victory
and demon possession. This work and ministry of the Holy Spirit must
not be confused with demon possession. Our Lord Jesus experienced great
travail of soul throughout all His life, the pain in His soul was truly
terrible. Ps,19v20,21. Is.53v11. Our Lord experienced this travail in
the garden of Gethsemane; His great anguish of soul and "strong
crying and tears" on our behalf, fill us with thankfulness, love,
and worship. Mk.14v32-42. Lk.22v39-46. Heb.5v7. Acts.2v22-31. Paul also
experienced travail and conflict in prayer for Christians, his earnest
prayers changed the characters of the people that he prayed for, and
produced love and unity in the body of Christ. Col.2v1-5. 4v12. Phil.2v25.
Paul tells us in Rom.8v26,27., that we can all pray effectively "with
groanings which cannot be uttered," for the saints. Travail of
soul is a means for personal blessing and a means of deliverance for
others, it is a tragedy if people try to exorcise as a demon, a divine
means of intercession that God has put into the soul and ministry of
a Christian. 2Pet.1v5-9. Every revival has resulted in Christians agonising
and crying out in pain of soul until they have won the victory in their
lives over problems and sin. Gal.5v19-22. 2Cor.7v1.
6. Because Christians lack the necessary spiritual equipment. 2Cor.10v3-5.
Eph.2v1-3. 6v10-22.
The failure to perceive what is really happening in the spiritual realm
has caused some Christians to form wrong conclusions, and confuse the
external attacks of demons with demon possession.
a. The confusion of demonic energy lines with demon possession.
To confuse the energy lines that demons direct against Christians,
with possession, is disastrous and very harmful. I have seen Christians
get instant relief from such attacks by placing a wall of God's power
around them. These demonic energisings can cause real distress and can
produce symptoms and physical reactions, which without the right spiritual
equipment can sometimes be mistaken for possession.
b. The confusion of Satan's fiery darts with demon possession. Eph.6v16.
Demonic blasts of evil energy accompany the attack on the thoughts
and emotions of Christians, their aim is to attack and destroy faith
and bring depression. Those who lack the spiritual equipment can confuse
these attacks with the symptoms of demon possession.
c. The confusion of attacks on the thought life of Christians with demon
possession.
Accusing negative evil thoughts are put into the mind; thoughts such
as, "You are no good." "You are a failure." "You
don't know your Bible." Every accusing "You," has to
be firmly rejected and resisted with the Word of God. James.4v6,7. Rev.12v9-12.
The revelation and power gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential if we
are to help people who are under attack from evil spirits, as the ministries
of the prophets and the Lord Jesus demonstrate many times. 2King.6v8-23.
N.B. v12. Mt.16v21-23. Mk.2v8. Jn.1v47-51. 4v16-19. Acts.5v1-11. When
Christians lack the Holy Spirit's gifts, they often fail to distinguish
the real problems.
CHAPTER 4. THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF BELIEF IN CHRISTIAN POSSESSION.
1. It replaces the Christian certainties with total uncertainty.
a. It creates fear where there should be joy at God's perfect protecting
love.
When Christians are accused of having demons and submit to supposed
exorcism, it gives them an awful feeling of fear and insecurity; and
destroys their faith in the value and effectiveness of the vital covenant
protections and relationships in Christ. This false exorcism has a devastating
effect on sensitive and feebleminded souls, who need comfort, not exorcism.
1Thes.5v14. Lk.11v9-13.
b. It makes a Christian surrender their security in Christ.
We must never submit to any teaching that denies our total security and
authority in God. We should never give evil spirits authority, where the
blood of Christ has raised an impregnable barrier against them. We have
total safety and security in His Name, for "The Name of the Lord is a
strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and are safe." Prov.18v10.
Num.6v22-27.
Demons must be filled with malignant joy, when they see
Christians surrender their defences to them through this wrong teaching.
How must God feel when He sees Christians being taught to co-operate with,
and submit to, the influence and activities of evil spirits that are outside
of them, and repeat their blasphemies. In the Name of Jesus you can tread
the powers of darkness under your feet; do not let them trample under,
or walk over, the holy ground of your soul. Lk.10v17-24.
c. It seriously worsens a sense of failure and domination by evil.
This is particularly true of people with nervous and emotional problems,
or besetting sins, for they feel polluted by evil. This often makes
their problems worse, and as a result some Christians have needed to
go to psychiatrists and doctors for medical help.
2. It breaks God's command that God's children should not be mediums.
God charges His people with the gravest prohibition, not to be mediums,
or repeat the thoughts and word of demons, because it
DEFILES a
person, and says that
it is an abomination to Him. Lev.19v31. 20v6,27.
Deut.18v10-22. Ex.22v18. Is.8v18-20. 19v3. 29v4. When people encourage
Christians to manifest demons they go into the realm of the forbidden
occult. 1Sam.28v3,7-9. 2Kings.21v6. 2Chron.33v6.
3. It replaces the gifts of the Holy Spirit by unscriptural routines.
The practice of exorcism routines, which are not in the Scriptures
can never be of God. Is.8v20. This can result in a ministry that is
an empty and hurtful parody of true deliverance. Unscriptural routines
are the "strange fire" of carnal expedient; and come under
divine judgement. Lev.10v11. Num.3v4. 26v21. The wisdom which is from
God, tells us to resist the Devil, not repeat thoughts that are earthly,
sensual, and inspired of the Devil. James.3v15-17. 4v7,8. Paul tells
us to cast down every thought that raises itself against the knowledge
of God; and to desire and use God's spiritual weapons to tear down and
destroy Satan's strongholds. 1Cor.12v31. 14v1. 2Cor.10v3-5. We must
follow the pattern of exorcism in the early Church, or we go into a
dangerous self-deluding fantasy.
4. It is a total distortion of spiritual warfare and spiritual realities.
a. The failure to discern Satanic energisings, and fiery darts.
Paul writes, in Eph.2v1-3., of the powers of darkness energising the
children of disobedience. These strong energisings of evil spiritual
power are indicated in the "fiery darts" Paul speaks of in
Eph.6v16.. Satan energises the thoughts that he puts into our minds
with evil power, and we have to quench them with the shield of faith.
These fiery darts are aimed with craft, and a military like strategy.
In Eph.6v11., "the wiles of the Devil," speak of methodical
scheming, deceit, and craftiness.
b. The failure to tell Christians how to put on their armour against Satan.
We need the full Christian armour to defeat the evil principalities
and powers in heavenly places. In Eph.6v10-20., the word "pros"
is used five times in the sense of "against," it speaks of
a face to face conflict and fight to the finish. Jesus said that Satan
is a fully armed strong man, and must be bound before his goods can
be spoiled. Mt.12v28,29. Lk.11v20,21. We sometimes need patience as
well as faith, if we are to defeat Satan and inherit the promises. Heb.6v12.
There is, sadly, still a great deal of ignorance and false teaching
about the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in prayer and spiritual
warfare; this hinders our Lord Jesus from operating in His Church as
He intended. 1Cor.12v1. Heb.5v10-14. The doctrine of Christian possession
stands truth on its head, for the truth is that we have mighty spiritual
weapons from God that fill demons with fear and terror. James.4v6,7.
The exorcism of Christians is a false modern tradition with no basis
in Scripture, and it hinders true spiritual warfare and genuine Bible
based revival.
c. The Christians armour shows Satan is on the outside, not the inside.
Paul tells us that God has provided us with total protection through
His armour, and he exhorts us to put in on. Paul assures us in Eph.6v10-20.
and 2Cor.10v4,5., that God's love, and His armour and weapons are a
complete protection for the Christian. Paul clearly states in all his
writings, and all his comments on spiritual warfare, that evil spirits
can only attack Christians from outside their body and personality.
Paul does not give the slightest suggestion that demons can possess
a Christian, he states that the conflict is with Satan's fiery darts
from outside, not from possession within. These, and many other Scriptures,
totally destroy the credibility of the doctrine that Christians can
be possessed by demons.
5. It fails to cure the real problems of Christians.
Those who confuse the sins of the flesh with demons, and try to exorcise
them, fail to give the correct Scriptural medicine to cure the carnal
appetites. 1Cor.9v24-27. Gal.5v19-26. When "exorcism" of the
sins of the flesh fails, as it surely must, for you cannot cast out
the flesh, people lose hope and become worse.
6. It produces severe psychological damage to God's dear children.
It is a tragic fact that many Christians, who have submitted to this parody
of genuine New Testament exorcism, have had such serious psychological
problems as a result of it, that they have had to receive medical help
from doctors and psychiatrists to repair the damage.
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