Transcript THE CHRISTIAN AND DEMONIZATION

THE CHRISTIAN
AND
DEMONIZATION
Official Statement by Assemblies of
God – USA – Classical Pentecostals
Purpose of document – to counteract
some false doctrines and excessive
practices
 Emphasizes the importance of not taking
demons lightly
 Work of Satan is recognized throughout
world
 Part of Jesus’ work was healing those
oppressed by the devil
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Can a born-again believer be demonpossessed? NO!
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Some Christians believe they have been
delivered from demons of fear, haughtiness, jealousy, etc. – but it is better to
think of these as sins of the disposition or
lusts of the flesh
Great conflict within is not between HS
and demons, but between HS & flesh
 NT does not ascribe all sickness to
demons or evil spirit – never indicates that
demons were cause of sickness in people
who were in right relation to God
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For a Christian to have a demon would
bring a division that Jesus refused to
admit
 Matt
12:24 – Jesus did not cast out demons
by Beelzebub
 Luke 11:21-22 – Jesus has bound Satan’s
ability to enslave a believer
 Luke 11:24-26 – Only when a demon returns
and finds the house empty is he able to get
back in
The possibility of a true believer’s being
demonized erodes the biblical concept of
salvation and peace – would produce great fear
 Scripture is full of assurance for believer
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1 Jn 4:4 – “Greater is HE…”
Ananias & Sapphira – exceptions?
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Perhaps only professing Christians
Apostatized before Satan filled their hearts
OR joined themselves to the church rather than being added
to it by the Spirit
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Satan and his demons are external foes
 Job
 Paul’s
thorn
 We are in warfare – must be vigilant
 Jesus defeated Satan with Word
 We must resist with faith
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Only if we are cut off from vine can Satan
claim us
*Two equally invalid positions:
 Ignoring
Satan
 Saying that believers can be inhabited by
demons
Bible clearly recognizes activity of demons and
their great number
Question: What is a Christian?

Three General Classifications
 Classified
Christians – distinguished from nonChristians, such as Hindus, Buddhists,
Muslims
 Nominal Christians – based on engaging in
rituals/activities that ascribe status of
Christian
 Born-Again Christians – truly “born again” as
defined in Scripture
Too many writers have no standard for
“Christian.”
 They describe people who have volitionally
lived in sin for many years.
 Conclusion: Many of those used as proof
that Christians have demons are Christian
in name only.
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Morris Williams’ summary
A born-again believer is owned and “occupied”
by Christ
 A disobedient believer jeopardizes his salvation if
he continues in wilful sin
 A born-again believer can become afflicted with
God’s permission (Job)
 A back-slidden believer can be demonized
Williams interprets Matt. 12:43-45 as a
demon cast out of an unbeliever, but no
conversion to Christ—resulting in more demons
occupying the vacant house
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Key Issue:
Believers
can become
“unbelievers”
Many who look and act like
believers truly are not
Important to keep in focus
Be willing to risk confronting/helping
people who may not realize they have
never been born again
 OR They may have given demons opening
through habitual sin or deliberate choice
 OR They may be living in backslidden
condition while appearing that everything
is all right
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The more seeker-sensitive
we are, the less we can
discern who are true
believers!
3 reasons why some say Christians
can be demonized:
Such a low standard for “Christian” that
many in churches are not born again
 Some who have been born again have
died spiritually by continuing to sin and
walk in the flesh
 Some call works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21)
“demons”
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Dangers in teaching demonization of
Christians
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Putting unjustified fear in Christians who are of
sensitive nature and very suggestible
Easier to blame a demon for sin than to repent
and crucify the flesh
Basing doctrine on experience opens door to all
kinds of existential theology
Grossly blurs distinction between Christian and
non-Christian
Diverts from main mission—to evangelize the
world
Many “3rd-Wavers” believe Christians
can be demonized
Craft: “Demons are like rats and go for
spiritual and emotional garbage that
allows demons to enter.”
 Unresolved issues from past—trauma,
negative life patterns & thinking, etc.
 Non-Christian or animistic artifacts can
cause trouble.
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Terminology – Cause of Confusion
“Demonized” is any unhealthy relationship
between human and demons
 Scripture does not differentiate clearly
between “spirit” and “soul”
 Better to use “demonized” or “influenced
by demonic spirit” rather than “possessed”
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Edgar Lee’s Continuum of Demonic
Influence – less to more severe
Temptation – all persons are tempted by
demonic forces and carnal desires
 Oppression – all persons can experience
attacks—economic problems, family tragedy,
personal illness, etc.
 Obsession – strong influence over thought &
actions, often from past occult activities
 Possession – indwelt by one or more demons
that seize direct control of thought, speech,
action
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Danger: Dealing with symptoms
Counseling is not enough
 Must deal with spiritual/demonic situation
 Jesus did not give counseling course, but
power & authority over demons
 Demons will depart when confronted by
power and presence of Christ—but they
will test us before leaving
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We can be so afraid of
becoming
too demon-conscious
that we become
demon-unconscious!
Never Forget: Christ is victorious
over all the powers of the devil!
We must be aware of the enemy’s
schemes.
 We must be aware of the authority we
have in Christ.
 “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you”
(James 4:7).
 AMEN!
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