On Demons?

Staff note for ATP. The thread that you sarcastically mentioned, was removed from the open forum while it is being evaluated for content and Rules violations. It is a 29 page thread and this procedure will take some time. It has taken a troubling direction regarding arguments concerning 'soul sleep' - a banned topic at CFS, and until the entire thread is examined in detail, it will remain out of sight. If the entire staff feels that there is some merit in that thread, any posts contributing to Rules violations will be removed and the thread will be locked, but restored for reading only.
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I've been on forums long enough to understand. My question to those forums who ban certain topics is this. How does one go in depth and really learn the hard topics if you ban us from learning them. Wouldn't it be healthier for christians to debate than to walk in the dark their whole life about what to decide and believe? How else will you learn if you don't talk about it. - ATP
 
Thanks Jim. The product has been finished, proof read and printed. We are binding it this week and begin the study the 1st of Jan.
Thanks for asking and also for your prayers. I think it will probably be the last thing I am going to take on of that magnitude.
Major Hi,
I apologise for taking so long to respond to this but I have been simply staying far away from this thread. Alot of pushy talk and a lot of added beliefs and making far to many things demon related. Yikes.....Thought about starting a thread about what a strong hold really is but then I can already hear some of the sharp replies so I just keep me self far far away. lol

I am proud of you brother for the hard work that you put forth in this project and for seeing it through. I pray that there will be a harvest of much fruit through the study for all time to come.
I pray Major that you and your family will have a very Mery Christmas full of the Blessing of the Lord and may His Love and Peace and Joy over flow in and through out all of you and that this new year of our Lord 2016 will be the Best Blessed Year yet to come.
God Bless
Your friend and brother
James W
 
Quite frankly, I don't believe in "studying" devil or demons. The only thing we need to study is Word of God. Bible calls us to resist devil. And fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, Author, Finisher and Perfecter of our faith. Studying devil or demon only can have negative influence. Without realizing, we try to understand the ways of devil. Which should not be done! I think devil would only enjoy believers trying to study him. Through that he brings fear in hear of people. He thrives in fear. He who is in us is greater than he who is in this world. Through the fear, the devil tries to make himself look bigger! Why give credit which he absolutely does not deserve! Remember, battle belongs to the Lord! Not us

God bless you brother for your dedication to the Word of God! God's Word has many places (Mark 4) for one....where Jesus takes the time to reveal the ways that the devil operates. He also desires that we know how to fight the good fight of faith, what our weapons are (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5) with His armour (Eph. 6). If Jesus didn't want for us to know how to resist the enemy (James 4:7) (and how can you resist the enemy if you don't know how he attacks) then those things would have not been included in the Word of God by the Holy Spirit

God bless you and your family abundantly!
 
Major Hi,
I apologise for taking so long to respond to this but I have been simply staying far away from this thread. Alot of pushy talk and a lot of added beliefs and making far to many things demon related. Yikes.....Thought about starting a thread about what a strong hold really is but then I can already hear some of the sharp replies so I just keep me self far far away. lol

I am proud of you brother for the hard work that you put forth in this project and for seeing it through. I pray that there will be a harvest of much fruit through the study for all time to come.
I pray Major that you and your family will have a very Mery Christmas full of the Blessing of the Lord and may His Love and Peace and Joy over flow in and through out all of you and that this new year of our Lord 2016 will be the Best Blessed Year yet to come.
God Bless
Your friend and brother
James W

You are very nice Jim and may I say that you are way to good to me. I wish you and your family and loved ones a wonderful Christmas and many years together.
 
That is not true.

Holy Spirit dwells in the spirit of the man...in his worship center, so to speak, but it takes a lifetime for most believers to renew their minds with the knowledge and wisdom of God from there, and also to have it move on to the body in its consecration. So, the Christian can easily harbour a demon in the mind (or soul). I have witnessed to the truth of that.

The unrenewed mind of an immature Christian can seem as though possessed by a demon, but that's not the same thing. I would agree with others that the person in whom the Holy Spirit abides cannot also harbor a demon.

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there." -- Matthew 12

From this passage, clearly demons have no problem "sharing space" with other demons. So of what must the "house" be vacant, if not the Holy Spirit?

For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God. -- 1 Corinthians 6

A demon cannot be a "room mate" of the Holy Spirit.

But it would be a mistake to underestimate the power a demon still has to inflict misery externally upon a Christian. We don't know what Paul's thorn was, but we know a demon was able to inflict it.

Demons can direct the actions of others around us, as Satan did to direct the actions of those who crucified Jesus.

Demons can place us into situations where they know we are weak...and they do know with precision where each of us is weak. Demons have billions of hours of experience with human psychology. They knew our parents, they knew our grandparents, and our great grandparents. They know which of our buttons to push because they watched our buttons being "installed. They can make happen "the thing we most greatly fear."

They can't possess someone in whom the Holy Spirit abides, but they can touch his body, cause diseases, inflict pain. That's within the realm of the power they are permitted in this world.
 
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The unrenewed mind of an immature Christian can seem as though possessed by a demon, but that's not the same thing. I would agree with others that the person in whom the Holy Spirit abides cannot also harbor a demon.

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there." -- Matthew 12

From this passage, clearly demons have no problem "sharing space" with other demons. So of what must the "house" be vacant, if not the Holy Spirit?

For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God. -- 1 Corinthians 6

A demon cannot be a "room mate" of the Holy Spirit.

But it would be a mistake to underestimate the power a demon still has to inflict misery externally upon a Christian. We don't know what Paul's thorn was, but we know a demon was able to inflict it.

Demons can direct the actions of others around us, as Satan did to direct the actions of those who crucified Jesus.

Demons can place us into situations where they know we are weak...and they do know with precision where each of us is weak. Demons have billions of hours of experience with human psychology. They knew our parents, they knew our grandparents, and our great grandparents. They know which of our buttons to push because they watched our buttons being "installed. They can make happen "the thing we most greatly fear."

They can't possess someone in whom the Holy Spirit abides, but they can touch his body, cause diseases, inflict pain. That's within the realm of the power they are permitted in this world.

My experience personally is counter to your ideas. Holy Spirit abides in the spirit of the man. It takes time and maturity for Him to permeate to the soul of man...and often it is the soul where Satanic strongholds reside.

Most Christians have certain "rooms" closed off the the Spirit's light. It is certainly true that the enemy can possess a stronghold within any believer. The churches are full of Christians with strongholds.

Strongholds are built up on a fear in a person and each fear is based on a lie of the devil that one is believing.


.
 
My experience personally is counter to your ideas. Holy Spirit abides in the spirit of the man. It takes time and maturity for Him to permeate to the soul of man...and often it is the soul where Satanic strongholds reside.

Most Christians have certain "rooms" closed off the the Spirit's light. It is certainly true that the enemy can possess a stronghold within any believer. The churches are full of Christians with strongholds.

Strongholds are built up on a fear in a person and each fear is based on a lie of the devil that one is believing.


.
A strong hold can be as simple as how one thinks or reacts or understands things. Many people feel they are always right and any time some one says anything different then what they think - well they react as in such a way as being attacked or told they are dumbe etc.

Strong holds simply block any other way. People bring strong holds into their adult life from the things the parents told them. Strong holds are not going to be these wild demon hollywood movie junk.
God Bless
James
 
I would like to know where Jesus talked about compartmentalized people.
I understand that He (the Creator), dealt with us as a unity of being and expects us to do the same.
He was often engaged in explaining that though He is the Son of God, He and the Father are one.( and sometimes the Holy Spirit as being in unity as well)
After all said and done, we are created in the image of a triune God, not three Gods wrapped up in the one package.

Luk 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
Luk 11:35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
Luk 11:36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light."
No compartmentalization being taught here that I can see.
 
The unrenewed mind of an immature Christian can seem as though possessed by a demon, but that's not the same thing. I would agree with others that the person in whom the Holy Spirit abides cannot also harbor a demon.

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there." -- Matthew 12

From this passage, clearly demons have no problem "sharing space" with other demons. So of what must the "house" be vacant, if not the Holy Spirit?

For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God. -- 1 Corinthians 6

A demon cannot be a "room mate" of the Holy Spirit.

But it would be a mistake to underestimate the power a demon still has to inflict misery externally upon a Christian. We don't know what Paul's thorn was, but we know a demon was able to inflict it.

Demons can direct the actions of others around us, as Satan did to direct the actions of those who crucified Jesus.

Demons can place us into situations where they know we are weak...and they do know with precision where each of us is weak. Demons have billions of hours of experience with human psychology. They knew our parents, they knew our grandparents, and our great grandparents. They know which of our buttons to push because they watched our buttons being "installed. They can make happen "the thing we most greatly fear."

They can't possess someone in whom the Holy Spirit abides, but they can touch his body, cause diseases, inflict pain. That's within the realm of the power they are permitted in this world.
Hello and welcome to CFS and I simply wanted to say - Very Well Said
God bless
James
 
My experience personally is counter to your ideas. Holy Spirit abides in the spirit of the man. It takes time and maturity for Him to permeate to the soul of man...and often it is the soul where Satanic strongholds reside.

Most Christians have certain "rooms" closed off the the Spirit's light. It is certainly true that the enemy can possess a stronghold within any believer. The churches are full of Christians with strongholds.

Strongholds are built up on a fear in a person and each fear is based on a lie of the devil that one is believing.


.

I can't say what your experience is, but my experience is that I had been oppressed by a particular demon for a good part of my life, from about 10 years old to 33. I was certainly not "possessed," not with the Holy Spirit already within me and in fact at that same time doing wondrous works--Biblical-level works--in me and through me. But it still took actually a Spirit-led intellectual understanding to realize at that time I was not dealing with something within me, but something outside of me...something that had no right to the power it was presuming over my life. I had to develop an indignant anger about that when I realized I was dealing with a demon and that demon had no right. My wife the tone of my voice from another room when I commanded it by Jesus' authority it to leave me alone and she wondered who I was angry with. "I am a child of God, and you have no right! In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!"

At that moment, it was as though a glass rod broke. It was as though I had been bent over for years and could suddenly stand upright. This was not a change of my heart or my spirit--this was a sudden gain of insight of what the spiritual situation around me had been.

But a few weeks later, I was sleeping soundly in bed with my wife. The dream I was having seemed to collapse in my mind, and I heard a voice like my basic training drill sergeant: "Wake up! Now!"

I opened my eyes and in the darkened room I saw a figure leaning over me. I sat up on my elbows and the figure took a step back. I didn't feel alarm, but I was wondering who that could be. I looked closely at it. It appeared to be the figure of a woman with long blonde hair in a single thick braid down the right side of her chest. She was wearing all black, like leather. Her face initially looked lovely, but when I stared more closely, it seemed to turn translucent like a mask and I could see another face beneath it--one that was hideous.

I realized this was that same demon, returned. I said again, "In the name of Jesus, get out!" And without a sound, it took another step back and vanished.

I was still sitting up and wondering what a crazy dream that was when my wife touched my arm and said, "Did you hear that too?"

I hadn't heard any sound at all, so I asked her what she'd heard. She said she had been awakened by a sound like a swarm of metallic bees right above my head. She was about to call on the name of the Lord, but then saw me sit up and do that myself. Then she said the sound vanished.
 
I can't say what your experience is, but my experience is that I had been oppressed by a particular demon for a good part of my life, from about 10 years old to 33. I was certainly not "possessed," not with the Holy Spirit already within me and in fact at that same time doing wondrous works--Biblical-level works--in me and through me. But it still took actually a Spirit-led intellectual understanding to realize at that time I was not dealing with something within me, but something outside of me...something that had no right to the power it was presuming over my life. I had to develop an indignant anger about that when I realized I was dealing with a demon and that demon had no right. My wife the tone of my voice from another room when I commanded it by Jesus' authority it to leave me alone and she wondered who I was angry with. "I am a child of God, and you have no right! In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!"

At that moment, it was as though a glass rod broke. It was as though I had been bent over for years and could suddenly stand upright. This was not a change of my heart or my spirit--this was a sudden gain of insight of what the spiritual situation around me had been.

But a few weeks later, I was sleeping soundly in bed with my wife. The dream I was having seemed to collapse in my mind, and I heard a voice like my basic training drill sergeant: "Wake up! Now!"

I opened my eyes and in the darkened room I saw a figure leaning over me. I sat up on my elbows and the figure took a step back. I didn't feel alarm, but I was wondering who that could be. I looked closely at it. It appeared to be the figure of a woman with long blonde hair in a single thick braid down the right side of her chest. She was wearing all black, like leather. Her face initially looked lovely, but when I stared more closely, it seemed to turn translucent like a mask and I could see another face beneath it--one that was hideous.

I realized this was that same demon, returned. I said again, "In the name of Jesus, get out!" And without a sound, it took another step back and vanished.

I was still sitting up and wondering what a crazy dream that was when my wife touched my arm and said, "Did you hear that too?"

I hadn't heard any sound at all, so I asked her what she'd heard. She said she had been awakened by a sound like a swarm of metallic bees right above my head. She was about to call on the name of the Lord, but then saw me sit up and do that myself. Then she said the sound vanished.
Yes Sir that is the difference between oppression and possession and I thank you for bringing this example to the table. Some doubt the difference and that could be a costly mistake that brings about no change in a situation. Glory to God !!!
Blessings
James
 
I would like to know where Jesus talked about compartmentalized people.
I understand that He (the Creator), dealt with us as a unity of being and expects us to do the same.
He was often engaged in explaining that though He is the Son of God, He and the Father are one.( and sometimes the Holy Spirit as being in unity as well)
After all said and done, we are created in the image of a triune God, not three Gods wrapped up in the one package.

Luk 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
Luk 11:35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
Luk 11:36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light."
No compartmentalization being taught here that I can see.

When you are right, you are right!
 
A strong hold can be as simple as how one thinks or reacts or understands things. Many people feel they are always right and any time some one says anything different then what they think - well they react as in such a way as being attacked or told they are dumbe etc.

Strong holds simply block any other way. People bring strong holds into their adult life from the things the parents told them. Strong holds are not going to be these wild demon hollywood movie junk.
God Bless
James

I agree Jim. We see it every day right here on this forum.

Can I share with you something psychological that I learned from a great Bible teacher more years ago than I can remember?
OK.....I am going to tell you anyway!

When I asked this man why there always seemed to be so much contention among Christians over Bible truth, he said this startling truth............
"People like what they know and fell comfortable with it, even if it is wrong".

That did not mean a lot to me at that time, but now about 50 years later it means everything to me. That comment is the basis contention over all things.....
"We like what we know and we are comfortable with it and as we grow older, we do not want to try and learn new things".

WHY???? Because it involves CHANGE and we do not like change!!! CHANGE means we are loosening some control over something. Change is meant to bring something different, but how different? We are creatures of habit. Routines become automatic, but change jolts us into consciousness, sometimes in uncomfortable ways and as humans we would rather dig in and make a stand than admit that we may be wrong.

Jim, begin today and start to notice the interaction from people on just not this forum but on all of them,and the back and forth that takes place.

I think you will come to agree with me that that most everyone believes that what they genuinely believe (often on an unconscious level) that when you've been thinking something a particular way for some time, it must be a good way to think and believe.
And here then is the key............ the longer you've been doing it that way, the better it is, even if it is wrong.

It is all about change! So consider this thought about change ........"change" isn't simply about embracing something unknown -- it's about giving up something old (and therefore good) for something new (and therefore not good).

I believe this is the root of understanding WHY there is contention and arguments over so many Bible truths.

Just a thought. Laugh about it or throw it away, it is your free gift this Christmas season (Better late than never).
 
I'd like to add an opinion. I believe Christians need to focus on God and not delve into things of darkness. When you seek to understand those things "not of God" it serves as a distraction from the truth. I've done this myself, because I've wondered about phenomenon and things unexplained, and started down the path of "Why?" Finally it occurred to me the deceiver is clever. Eve listened to Satan and sought knowledge outside of God, and we all know how that ended. I think we are better off leaving these kind of things to God. Focus on Light. Focus on Truth.
 
I almost wish I never did. Far from being interesting, the whole exorcism business sounds deeply horrible and depressing. Even where the afflicted person is "delivered' they and the person casting the demon out sometimes are deeply harmed and affected by the whole experinece.

related to the quoted quote in red...

Have no experience seeing one, exorcism, thanks be to God : )

On a related note, when i was still in school (secular), a theology teacher opinion that those healed by Jesus will go to heaven: the lepers, those possessed, the woman who touched Jesus cloth, the man born blind, the woman that was healed on a Sabbath, etc….

the rationale: God’s doing is perfect: end to end, a start and a finish in good terms : )

I happen to agree…. and I would like to add: in the same manner that the Apostles, Paul, Peter did…..
it has to be complete Freedom = Joy, after....

IMO : )
 
A strong hold can be as simple as how one thinks or reacts or understands things. Many people feel they are always right and any time some one says anything different then what they think - well they react as in such a way as being attacked or told they are dumbe etc.

Strong holds simply block any other way. People bring strong holds into their adult life from the things the parents told them. Strong holds are not going to be these wild demon hollywood movie junk.
God Bless
James

Strongholds consist of attitudes, phobias, behaviour problems, continual commission of certain sins, and personality problems, and they are started by the belief in a lie, and are built on a fear of some sort. Anyone can have a stronghold. Many strongholds can have a demonic root, and so deliverance is a good thing.
 
Strongholds consist of attitudes, phobias, behaviour problems, continual commission of certain sins, and personality problems, and they are started by the belief in a lie, and are built on a fear of some sort. Anyone can have a stronghold. Many strongholds can have a demonic root, and so deliverance is a good thing.
I would not claim fear as a must in a strong hold.
Deliverance as binding the strong hold and getting their thinking in line ?
 
I agree Jim. We see it every day right here on this forum.

Can I share with you something psychological that I learned from a great Bible teacher more years ago than I can remember?
OK.....I am going to tell you anyway!

When I asked this man why there always seemed to be so much contention among Christians over Bible truth, he said this startling truth............
"People like what they know and fell comfortable with it, even if it is wrong".

That did not mean a lot to me at that time, but now about 50 years later it means everything to me. That comment is the basis contention over all things.....
"We like what we know and we are comfortable with it and as we grow older, we do not want to try and learn new things".

WHY???? Because it involves CHANGE and we do not like change!!! CHANGE means we are loosening some control over something. Change is meant to bring something different, but how different? We are creatures of habit. Routines become automatic, but change jolts us into consciousness, sometimes in uncomfortable ways and as humans we would rather dig in and make a stand than admit that we may be wrong.

Jim, begin today and start to notice the interaction from people on just not this forum but on all of them,and the back and forth that takes place.

I think you will come to agree with me that that most everyone believes that what they genuinely believe (often on an unconscious level) that when you've been thinking something a particular way for some time, it must be a good way to think and believe.
And here then is the key............ the longer you've been doing it that way, the better it is, even if it is wrong.

It is all about change! So consider this thought about change ........"change" isn't simply about embracing something unknown -- it's about giving up something old (and therefore good) for something new (and therefore not good).

I believe this is the root of understanding WHY there is contention and arguments over so many Bible truths.

Just a thought. Laugh about it or throw it away, it is your free gift this Christmas season (Better late than never).
Major Hello,
Oh yes sir where do I begin with this that you just said to me ? I have just gone through a "spell" if you will or a season of inner turmoil over this very thing. It started with the lack of integrity for Gods most Holy Written Word. I could not shake this pain deep inside of me and it nawed at me day and night. I mean an anger arose inside of me that simply was eating at me from the inside out. It was like or the same as the hurt and nawing eating at you pain that a cheating spouse causes in a person. Believe me for those who dont know this feeling - well I pray you never do!! End of that !!

However I am not sure exactly what all God is doing with in this but I do know I am coming out on the other side a little freer in this area and I can not truly explain how or why but I do know it is a weight lifted. I have yet to shake the feeling that there is way too much of this sort of illiterate word speaking in the body of Christ and way too much human understanding mixed with an evil if you will ( lack of better word at the moment) being spoke as claimed to be of God.

Now then Sir about Change - that there my friend is the priceless event we must all embrace from the get go. We all should be seeking His change every breath we take. However as you said ....folks reject change and are scared of change and wont accept change to save their lives.

Many church splits come from members not wanting to change (grow) in their understanding or in the "New " direction God is wanting to take them. Far too many stick to the traditions and religous thinking and beleifs passed down generation after generation and all the while staying way side to any "Change" God is handing them.

It boggles the mind watching people insist on their ways over and over and over and can not ever be wrong and their understanding of Gods word is the most authoritive around. ;)
I am learning to carry over from my Fishing this attitude. If I can not learn at least 1 new thing today then I did not give it my best or all. I beleive this should be a daily attitude with in my walk with Christ and it will !!

Ok, Ok so I am enjoying my new key board ! Thanks for the reply Major and have a very Peaceful day and watch out for rope laying close to tree's. ;)
God Bless
James
 
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