Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare

[GodPreciousChild]

I know everyone has diffeent opinions on it but I do believe in demon possession I have dealt with it forst hand and have read accounts that I believe. I think it is good to know this and to know that we have auhority in his name.

[Treasure_7]

Maybe as a christian she actually could just be very opressed by the enemy, and that in it's self can be a challenge to any believer.

[AnotherTraveler]

Oppressed, depressed, suppressed, possessed. We have a bad habit in our day and age of letting words take on meanings that they were never intended to take on.

The simple fact that Jesus paid the price to purchase us and free us doesn't always mean we don't have to fight for that which was freely given to us. The enemy will try to convince us we are in chains when we might just have a cold. The enemy will try to convince us we are possessed when in fact we are being oppressed. Our salvation does not make the devil cease to exist, and if we are not diligent and study to show ourselves approved, the enemy will try to convince us to yield some freedom that Jesus has given to us. Reading and searching the bible are so very necessary.

While it is true that God does allow (in the bible) special miracles for some that walk in authority, never was the bible example intended to make super stars or even suggest super spiritual people. We all have the same access to the throne of God, but the bible teaches that those that are stronger should help the weaker.

I also don't see in scripture anywhere that a Christian can be possessed, but if people believe a lie, it does allow the enemy some advantage, I suppose, to deceive.

[Floatingaxe]

Possession, oppression, whatever---both are terrible states to be in. I know Christians who have had major demonic strongholds removed in deliverance.

[Floatingaxe]

Oppressed, depressed, suppressed, possessed. We have a bad habit in our day and age of letting words take on meanings that they were never intended to take on.

The simple fact that Jesus paid the price to purchase us and free us doesn't always mean we don't have to fight for that which was freely given to us. The enemy will try to convince us we are in chains when we might just have a cold. The enemy will try to convince us we are possessed when in fact we are being oppressed. Our salvation does not make the devil cease to exist, and if we are not diligent and study to show ourselves approved, the enemy will try to convince us to yield some freedom that Jesus has given to us. Reading and searching the bible are so very necessary.

While it is true that God does allow (in the bible) special miracles for some that walk in authority, never was the bible example intended to make super stars or even suggest super spiritual people. We all have the same access to the throne of God, but the bible teaches that those that are stronger should help the weaker.

I also don't see in scripture anywhere that a Christian can be possessed, but if people believe a lie, it does allow the enemy some advantage, I suppose, to deceive.

[Guard12n]

I'm under the impression that our life is governed by free will. This being said, I believe that there is good and evil that can grow or shrink within us based on our thoughts and actions. The good seed within us is Christ (selfless love), the evil seed is sometimes referred to as Satan, but Belial (selfish desire) is more appropriate. Just as a plant grows with attention and care, so do these seeds. And if you completely focus on one, the other shrinks and eventually could die.

So how would this lady that felt possessed heal?... The same way that any of us can - Through the Christ within us. Through selfless actions and thoughts. (love)

Now, there is a real possibility of possession, but it involves choosing to take part in actions that could remove your spirit from your soul (even temporarily) and allow another spirit to enter your body. This is not an easy process and usually involves a serious commitment from the person though intentional actions, submissive thoughts, and a very weak Christ within.

If this woman lead a life of selfish action and thought with very little self-less love, then sure, a possession might have occurred. Christ cast out demons (legion for example) and various possessions require various types of commitment, some are as easily released as calling on the name of Christ, but some also require fasting and prayer to heal the person.

I'm under the impression that each day should start with a conscious emptying of your selfish self and asking Christ to fill you with the Holy Spirit and guide you to do God's will.

Then as the day progresses, use this question as your compass as decisions need to be made.

Does this decision lead to a personal gain for my-self?

Yes - feeds your Selfish seed

No - feeds Christ within

Edited December 22, 2008 by Guard12n

[arrowfromgod]

i thought i was demond possesed once so i sked god if i was his answer to me was a harsh one but i needed to hear it ,,, truly ppl can be demond possesed but this to is true you (he was talking to me)are placing blame on a so called demond when the truth is you made the choices so your infliction is self inflicted ,,, like ol flip wilson used to say (the devil made me do it ,,, i was refusing to take accountabilty for my moronic actions doing things i knew were wrong then blaming some frabricated demond as the cause ,,, i thank the lord he was so blunt ,,, it rocked my world ,,, and untill some force not from me tosses me in a fire or somthing,,, i know who the who it is that goofs up ,,, me,,, love in christ arrowfrom god

[Bremerton]

Demons can not possess Christians. They can attack Christians, establish strongholds within the lives of people or the churches they belong to, but they can not in fact possess Christians.

Spiritual warfare is life. We are always engaged in spiritual warfare whether we like it or not.

Several years ago as I turned from decades of sinful backsliding, I was under intense Satanic or Demonic attack. The closer I drew to God, the more intense the attack became. I suppose you could say that they were surrounding me and flipping out that a once powerless Christian, was turning back to God and unraveling decades of work.

In the name of Jesus I confronted them, and as I prayed, literally as I prayed, God delivered a breakthrough in my life. In the course of a single day I was jobless and homeless for refusing to turn away from God, and when I acknowledged that I was under attack because of my faith, God was true to my use of the name of His son, ended the attack and immediately (as I was praying) provided me with an escape. While I was praying my phone rang with a job offer that got me out of the situation I was in, and my housing problem was likewise solved without a hitch. I continued following Him and my life hasn't been the same since.

That's my testimony of spiritual warfare, and although I see it as a powerful testimony to God's glory, I also remember the intense pressure and mess surrounding the ultimate victory. I loved the result, but I have to admit I did not like being under demonic assault and if I had my way, I would never repeat it again.

[Sgtazur]

Does this decision lead to a personal gain for my-self?

Yes - feeds your Selfish seed

No - feeds Christ within

This is true - however, I pray that nobody will slip into pride when thinking about this, because I definitely did...

If you say, "I will go to church and I will read the bible for an hour every day, and I will lead many people to Christ, and pray during my car ride and in the shower" - these are all good things which certainly have spiritual gain to them. However, be careful. If you start thinking "God has made me a great person, I'm doing so much for other people!!" then you start slipping into pride (self-love). Eventually you put blame on other things ("oh I can't stop thinking about sex - it must be a demon tempting me!") when in reality you are the SINNER who needs to ask for God's forgiveness.

I'm telling you all this because I did it myself, and fell into the trap - remember that we can do NOTHING without Christ, and we should never boast about our acts.

Edited January 4, 2009 by Sgtazur

[Blien]

Does this decision lead to a personal gain for my-self?

Yes - feeds your Selfish seed

No - feeds Christ within

This is true - however, I pray that nobody will slip into pride when thinking about this, because I definitely did...

If you say, "I will go to church and I will read the bible for an hour every day, and I will lead many people to Christ, and pray during my car ride and in the shower" - these are all good things which certainly have spiritual gain to them. However, be careful. If you start thinking "God has made me a great person, I'm doing so much for other people!!" then you start slipping into pride (self-love). Eventually you put blame on other things ("oh I can't stop thinking about sex - it must be a demon tempting me!") when in reality you are the SINNER who needs to ask for God's forgiveness.

I'm telling you all this because I did it myself, and fell into the trap - remember that we can do NOTHING without Christ, and we should never boast about our acts.

Thanks for this, your post explains my walk in 2008.. I'm not like that anymore. Wheither it be good or bad, the Lord be Magnified. Thank God.