Can a Christian have a demon?

[justbyfaith]

Clocks are dead just as we were, and cannot take themselves to a clock shop, much less hand themselves over for repair.

A clock cannot take itself to a clock shop even when it is running properly.

Analogies break down at a certain point.

A clearer analogy has to do with a man caught in a pit; Jesus reaches down His hand to rescue him: and the man reaches up his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand; or, he does not reach up with his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand. In this, if the hand reaches up, the man is delivered from the pit, because there is no doubt that he did not save himself, but Jesus rescued him. However, his response to the rescuing hand is also what saved him. If he had not responded in faith, desiring to be rescued, he would have been left in the pit.

 

[Nancy]

A clock cannot take itself to a clock shop even when it is running properly.

Analogies break down at a certain point.

A clearer analogy has to do with a man caught in a pit; Jesus reaches down His hand to rescue him: and the man reaches up his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand; or, he does not reach up with his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand. In this, if the hand reaches up, the man is delivered from the pit, because there is no doubt that he did not save himself, but Jesus rescued him. However, his response to the rescuing hand is also what saved him. If he had not responded in faith, desiring to be rescued, he would have been left in the pit.

Kind of reminds me of this painting and story:
The Handle is on the Other Side

When I was little, my Dad used to drop me off at a nearby church so I could go to the Sunday School they had there. We weren’t a church-type family so what I saw and heard there was all new to me. And I remember this painting they had of Jesus - now I know it’s one of the most famous ones painted in modern times. You may have seen it. Jesus is in a garden, and He’s knocking on what looks to be a big oak door. The man who painted it was named Holman Hunt. And when he was ready to unveil it for the first time, he called his friends and family together to be the first to see it. Well, it was pretty quiet as each person stood there and drank in the deep feeling that painting conveys. Then people began to comment on what impressed them about it. But one friend said hesitantly,

"Uh, Holman - it’s a beautiful painting. But - well, didn’t you forget something?"

"What did I forget?"

The friend said, "The handle. There’s no handle on the door."

To which the artist simply replied, "Oh! No, I didn’t forget the handle. When Jesus knocks on the door of your heart - the handle’s on the INSIDE."
The Handle is on the Other Side
You can look up Holman Hunt Jesus in Google and find the painting :)

 

[Helen]

Lovely, thanks Nancy ♥︎

 

[Dave L]

A clock cannot take itself to a clock shop even when it is running properly.

Analogies break down at a certain point.

A clearer analogy has to do with a man caught in a pit; Jesus reaches down His hand to rescue him: and the man reaches up his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand; or, he does not reach up with his hand to take hold of the rescuing hand. In this, if the hand reaches up, the man is delivered from the pit, because there is no doubt that he did not save himself, but Jesus rescued him. However, his response to the rescuing hand is also what saved him. If he had not responded in faith, desiring to be rescued, he would have been left in the pit.

The man died in the fall. He cannot respond. The savior reaches down, lifts him up and miraculously brings him back to life. All that the dead man does from then on is in thanks giving and the savior receives all the glory.

 

[justbyfaith]

Therefore Romans 10:13 ought to say,

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord has already been saved.

That is not what it says.

It says,

Rom 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

[Dave L]

Therefore Romans 10:13 ought to say,

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord has already been saved.

That is not what it says.

It says,

Rom 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Calling on the name of the Lord is something saved people do. It is a trait they have just as a dog barks because of its nature. Whatever meows like a cat is probably a cat.

 

[Episkopos]

Calling on the name of the Lord is something saved people do. It is a trait they have just as a dog barks because of its nature. Whatever meows like a cat is probably a cat.

No. People call on the Lord TO BE saved. If a person is drowning and calls out for help....is that because they are NOT in trouble?

 

[Dave L]

No. People call on the Lord TO BE saved. If a person is drowning and calls out for help....is that because they are NOT in trouble?

Dead guys cannot call anyone.

 

[Episkopos]

Dead guys cannot call anyone.

And a dead guy is buried in the ground. But people who are seeking God can cry out to Him...they who seek Him with all their hearts will find Him. THAT is biblical...and the truth.

 

[Dave L]

And a dead guy is buried in the ground. But people who are seeking God can cry out to Him...they who seek Him with all their hearts will find Him. THAT is biblical...and the truth.

“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:11)

 

[Soverign Grace]

I have never seen any evidence of the Lord having a special minister for "deliverance". All 12 disciples/apostles were given that power as they relied on the Spirit of God and the authority His name wields. All of us have that ministry, so I look on anyone claiming to be a "specialist" with a little suspicion. That said, I believe some churches neglect that aspect of ministry to their detriment.

You're right - all Christians apparently can drive out demons. But it seems that some are called into the deliverance ministry. I'm not talking about "specialists" and one does have to be careful in this area to avoid charlatans, but I believe that one who has specific gifts given by the Holy Spirit are probably more able to work in this ministry. But the more I've read about it, it does appear that Christians can be oppressed. It doesn't appear that they can be 'possessed' like an unbeliever, but they can be oppressed to a certain degree.

 

[Soverign Grace]

Just ignore these preachers and stick to the Word of God.

Only God knows who is truly a child of God and who is not. Not preachers trying to make a name for themselves and garner wealth for themselves at the same time.

And children of God have the indwelling God the Holy Spirit, therefore no other spirits can take possession. Indeed the triune Godhead is within each and every child of God. And greater is He (God) that is in you, than he that is in the world (Satan).

DEREK PRINCE FALSE TEACHER WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING!!!
"Derek Prince has the dubious reputation as one of the founders of the unmitigated disaster known as the Shepherding Movement...There is no instance in the New Testament of demons being cast out of believers. This teaching also denies the cross and harms believers by putting them into bondage..."
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: DEREK PRINCE FALSE TEACHER WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING!!!

I know that only God knows who is a true believer. He will separate the sheep from the goats and tell some "depart from me I never knew you." You think Derek Prince is a false teacher? I did read about the Sheparding Movement and that he had denounced it. I can forgive a believer who errs because I was badly misled early on. I think the evil one dogs the steps of the saints trying to trip them up and maybe a snare was laid for Derek Prince especially since he was in the deliverance ministry. I don't know - this is just speculation - but I would think that Satan would attack a believer harder who is in that ministry.

 

[Enoch111]

You think Derek Prince is a false teacher?

If Derek Prince has been teaching that genuine believers can be demon possessed, then he is indeed a false teacher, regardless of anything else.
I have simply quoted from another source which I believe is presenting facts. I don't know much about this preacher.

 

[Episkopos]

If Derek Prince has been teaching that genuine believers can be demon possessed, then he is indeed a false teacher, regardless of anything else.
I have simply quoted from another source which I believe is presenting facts. I don't know much about this preacher.

Your word "genuine" has a meaning that you are giving it. Can genuine Christians sin? What is genuine? Are there genuine sinners? Can someone say..."that was a genuine sin"?

I think you have unrealistic and idealistic notions that stem from your view which is not experiential...but merely theoretical.

Reading the bible is one thing...knowing the Lord and experiencing the power of the Spirit and the deceptive spirits and the lengths that God will go to to train His people...is quite another.

If you have read the "war on the saints"...by Jesse Penn Lewis you would get an appreciation of the perils of spiritual advancement at a time of revival.

God's people perish from lack of knowledge. Are these "genuine" as being God's people who lack knowledge? Of course.

So you are putting too much on your idealism which betrays a lack of experience.....bible reading aside.

 

[Enoch111]

Your word "genuine" has a meaning that you are giving it. Can genuine Christians sin? What is genuine? Are there genuine sinners? Can someone say..."that was a genuine sin"?

One would think that you know what a genuine Christian is. A person who has been born of God, born of the Spirit, born from above, born again. A child of God (John 1:12,13)

If you do not even know this fundamental truth, why are you making extensive posts about Christianity?

 

[justbyfaith]

Is anyone truly born of God as this is defined by 1 John 3:9?

 

[marks]

Is anyone truly born of God as this is defined by 1 John 3:9?

Yes. All who are truly born again sin not. God teaches that "it is no longer I that sin, but sin that lives in me." The New Creature does not sin. The old man does, but his sins are not posted to our account.

Much love!
Mark

 

[marks]

So you are putting too much on your idealism which betrays a lack of experience.....bible reading aside.

Too much idealism in Christianity?

Is this the result of elevating experience over Scripture?

Much love!
Mark

 

[Soverign Grace]

If Derek Prince has been teaching that genuine believers can be demon possessed, then he is indeed a false teacher, regardless of anything else.
I have simply quoted from another source which I believe is presenting facts. I don't know much about this preacher.

I don't know much about him either. I did read "Deliver us from Evil" by Don Basham and he said Christians do have demons. It's funny that our bible study brought this very topic up. I looked it up last night and found that the bible actually gave examples of Christians who had a demon. I don't think Christians can be possessed but it appears in some circumstances that they can have a demon:

Scriptures That Confirm That Christians Can Be Demonized

 

[Soverign Grace]

Your word "genuine" has a meaning that you are giving it. Can genuine Christians sin? What is genuine? Are there genuine sinners? Can someone say..."that was a genuine sin"?

I think you have unrealistic and idealistic notions that stem from your view which is not experiential...but merely theoretical.

Reading the bible is one thing...knowing the Lord and experiencing the power of the Spirit and the deceptive spirits and the lengths that God will go to to train His people...is quite another.

If you have read the "war on the saints"...by Jesse Penn Lewis you would get an appreciation of the perils of spiritual advancement at a time of revival.

God's people perish from lack of knowledge. Are these "genuine" as being God's people who lack knowledge? Of course.

So you are putting too much on your idealism which betrays a lack of experience.....bible reading aside.

I read "War on the Saints" too. I'm surprised that you're the 2nd person on here who read it. I didn't think it was a popular book. I haven't finished it yet - her writing is somewhat hard to follow and I try to understand so it takes me awhile to work through a book. But she stated a truth that has proven true in my walk: As soon as you begin getting closer to God the enemy is right there. I always get attacked when I grow - whether through people, circumstances, or thought.