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| Why are so many americans mentally ill? by David Kupelian |
| Can a Believer have a Demon? by Pastor John Crable In the Book of Luke, Chapter 4:18 we find the following: "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," I notice today that many churches leave out the preaching of deliverance, however I believe to have a sound well rounded ministry we need to meet every area of ministry and address each area respectively! The reason for this is because we are in a battle and there are captives as explained in the above passage! Let’s take a look at the word "captives" and its meaning , properly a "prisoner of war", that is, (generally) a captive: from the Strong's concordance we find the Greek word aheekh-mal-o-tos' (captive)! The late Walter Martin of the Christian Research Institute, expert in comparative religion and Greek and Hebrew languages , explains that when you try to interpret something biblical you always want to take the most literal possible meaning available first, for any intended interpretation. If I say you are a “captive” or more assertively a “prisoner of war” their has to be a battle going on somewhere, affording the use of this term. In the bible we find the word “war” included in over two hundred and twenty separate scriptures. We find the word "war" or a similar word "warfare" used in only seven lead verses (meanings sets of verses) between the Old Testament and Revelation. They are first in “Luke 14:31” in which this verse discusses the case of a King weighing all the odds of engaging in battle before he goes out to make war! Secondly in “ Luke 23:11” in which case we have King Herod mocking Jesus before he sends before Pontius Pilate! Then we come to these verses in 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not “war “after the flesh: (lead verse) (For the weapons of our “warfare” [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Now we get a look at the enemy in this war that the Apostle Paul is referring to as first in 2nd Corinthians 10:3 He mentions this enemy is not flesh, but what is flesh? Strong’s concordance gives us this information: the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, So this enemy is not "external" or openly visual meaning flesh and bone! but we do know in 2nd Corinthians 10: 5 our enemy exalts itself against the knowledge of God!” We also know that in 2nd Corinthians 10:5 that we have to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ! These three verses now explain an enemy who is ...... 1. is not of flesh 2. is exalting itself against God! 3. is driving an incorrect thought process in which we are to hold captive the thoughts this enemy advances towards us! The last three verses we find the word “war” are in 1st Timothy and then twice in the Book of James, Chapter 4 :1-2 . In the first Book of Timothy ,Timothy is exhorted by Paul, told he was expected to fight a mighty warfare! In the Book of James we find a battle that seems sensual as the Apostle is telling us of a war going on against the members (parts) of the body through lust! Can we be anymore direct or does the Bible say anything else more direct on this battle! It certainly does: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians Chapter 6:11-13 Now we see we have an enemy who is named (the Devil) and we know he is not flesh or openly visual, this enemy exalts himself against God and last he uses thoughts in his battle according to second Corinthians! Now with this picture we need to examine this enemy and see just who it is he targets ,the way in which he targets ,and the ability he has to infiltrate a believer? Let’s start with the reasons behind this battle, specifically the who? In 1st Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; “Some here means “men” or “whom” in the Greek!” So the obvious facts are that the Devil is against men now remember in Revelation he seeks to wear out the saints! (Believers) These next points of scripture I give you are referring to a case in which the Pharisees told Jesus he was a Devil, Jesus gives a lengthy discourse on exactly who they are that accuse him of this: (Jesus now speaking to them) “I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.” (John 8:37) They (the Pharisees) claim to be Abraham’s children, but to their astonishment Jesus replies this is not so! They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (John 8:39) Jesus then tells them this: Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) It is clear from these passages that being the “children of Abraham” and the “seed of Abraham” are two completely different things according to Christ! 1. Because my word hath no place in you (Abraham's seed) 2. Ye would do the works of Abraham (implying Abraham's children do his works!) Now this next passage is the most important passage we will study in the question of who the Devil and his minions seek to afflict bodily! Jesus replies to the Pharisees again about healing this next lady: And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham,(emphasis on) whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:11) The key words here are “daughter of Abraham“, which tells us a lot about her since she is afflicted( the word we know is in her, she does the works of Abraham her father) but that being said ,Satan, has bound her up with a crippling disability, this is according to Jesus and he says she is doing the things Abraham did which means she is a (Believer!) He never referred to her as “seed of Abraham” but rather a “child of Abraham” And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself]. And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (Luke 13:10-13) The importance of the place Jesus chose to heal her is significant because he was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath. She was attending worship, seeking the things of God. He said “woman come here,” then Jesus said “thou art loosed” and laid hands on her, she was healed and then began to praise and glorify God. (She knew apparently how to praise and glorify God!) She just didn't reply thanks! Notice two key things that Jesus never did here that he did continually throughout the bible with unbelievers, like the lady at the well ,the Samaritan. he explained to her she was in need of belief and needed to drink from the living well Jesus offered her! Jesus never told this crippled lady she needed to believe in him, and secondly he reminded another lady, the Syrophenician lady that she was a gentile, she however asked for her daughter who was possessed of a devil to be healed ,yet she (the daughter) was also a Gentile..., Jesus was not going to perform this miracle until the mother said “even dogs eat the crumbs that fall underneath the table” (Mark 7:28) Jesus then said because she answered in this manner of faith ,her daughter was healed! Jesus was not short to remind each individual of their position of faith if it was lacking! Jesus in fact made it a point always to make their faith his key point! In these instances we see an example of both a believer and a non believer who were “captive” in this battle! So now that we have answered just who it is that the Devil attacks let’s examine the place in which the Devil operates or what I call the way in which Satan targets a person, In Judas Iscariot Satan (can attack the mind,)" Giving Judas an idea to sell out Jesus to the Pharisees. In the Book of Mark, Chapter 5:5 ,we see the man in the tombs crying ,and running about cutting himself with stones, the villagers had recently tried to bound him with iron chains and fetters, he proceeded to break those chains and fetters ,and run through the tombs until Jesus came and freed him! So we see the Devil (can attack physically,)" here causing the man to attack himself! In the Book of Mark 5:12 the demons who are described as legion wish to be cast out into the swine or pigs if they must leave this man so they beg Jesus to send them into the swine! ( Satan, can attack animals! ) The woman in the synagogue in the Book of Luke 13:11,had ,had the spirit of infirmity attack the lady over a period of time and afflicted her physically with an abnormal health condition! (Satan, can attack a person's health!) In the Book of Matthew 17:18 the Demons bound a child, and the child being described as a lunatic was set free after Jesus rebuked the Demon and it was cast out! (Satan, can attack children!) Next let us look at the when the Devil attacks! “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth [it] swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26 Here we see the casting out of Demons and what exactly they do when they leave or are cast out of an individual! In the Book of John let’s look at the account of entry of Judas: And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. John 13:27 Here we see that Judas was infiltrated at the Last Supper! In ten verses Matthew 10:1,Mark 1:27,Mark 3:11,Mark5:13,Mark 6:7, Luke 4:36,Luke 6:18,Act 5:16,Act 8:7,and Revelation 16:13 The contending issues are disciples given authority to cast out Demons! Multitudes who have palsies and infirmities are brought to the disciples for Deliverance! From the above scriptures we see that affliction or assualt of a demonic entity happens at various stages in life and expulsion or death may be the only things according to these verses that drive out demons. Last but certainly not least the demons through deliverance are cast out except in the Book of Revelation when they decide to exit themselves out of the dragon! We can also look to more evidence on detailing infiltration of a believer or non-believer, some call this possession (implies ownership) yet oppression ( meaning to assault ) may be a more correct term! When we were created to be a tri part being! Soul, spirit and flesh created in God's image: 1. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 (The verse is evidence of a soul) Some regard the soul as the immortal essence of a human - the seat or locus of human will, understanding, and personality - and that after death, God either rewards or punishes the soul. 2. Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (Jude 1:8) (This scripture is evidence of a body of flesh ,aside from all else!) Flesh is the soft part of the body of a person or animal which is between the skin and the bones. In ordinary speech, it typically contrasts with bone, as in the merism flesh and bone. It mainly refers to skeletal muscle fat, though it includes all other internal soft tissue 3. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1st Corinthians 2:11) (This is scriptural evidence that man has a spirit of a man!) The English word "spirit" comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning "breath" (compare spiritus asper), Spirit in this sense denotes that which separates a living body from a corpse and usually implies intelligence, consciousness and sentience. The reason I discuss this is because at the end of this article I cover the word possession , when one is demonically possessed we find that it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to reside in the same place as an unclean spirit as we see is often the case for argument, but let’s take a closer look at what is really going on:  In the Diagram above we have the actual makeup of a person’s core being! Soul, Spirit and Flesh being the three parts as described biblically that we know exist! Now if this diagram is correct ,and we are assuming believers can be possessed. Then the following would need to be true so let's examine some ideas. The temple of the Holy Spirit is your body, but remember people could enter the outer courts of the temple, yet only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies or the inner court. So if we consider this fact ,that just as Jesus cast the merchants out of the outer courts, he must have still believed the inner court was intact, because otherwise he would have made no effort to remove the merchants. Jesus felt it necessary to rebuke the filth that was taking place in the outer courts, however the inner sanctum was still a place of purity! The inner court : The Spirit, is the area of the person in which the Holy Spirit resides and seals until redemption (undefiled and set apart),and the inner court is the Holy of Holies! The outer courts: Soul and Flesh ,while both these parts of the person are important to make the whole, these parts are most often the ones that are either exposed to sin or more openly tied to environment such as culture and lifestyle, so a demonically possessed person's demons would have to reside in these two areas! Typically they invade through sin by activating a thought and turning it into an action! The place where infiltration begins as an idea is the mind (soul) through use of thoughts, and impressions! The physical body is assailed by infirmities of the (flesh) in which the physical body often times is contorted visually during deliverance in some manner , including belching or loud screams as witnessed by the Apostle's in the bible! Demons typically use the vocal chords of an individual, and often times oppress the body with a physical infirmity! (example cutting or lunacy!) In my view both the Christian and the Non believer can be possessed and I will tell you why! 1. Christians have a need to be free from Demons ,it is required if they are to receive peace ,to live out God’s plan for their lives unhindered! They believe in the existence of the Devil ,and obviously see him as a threat! If there were simply no need to cast Demons out of Christians, then why would we approach a Non Believer who rejects the idea of exorcism altogether to cast demons out of him, which still leaves us with this verse (Luke 4:18) ,we are supposed to set the captives free! 2. If Christians didn’t need deliverance then why would we go around casting Demons out of unbelievers, when we find the demons return with seven worse each time they are expelled! (Matthew 12:45 and Luke 11:26) You therefore would be putting a stumbling block in the path of every sinner you tried to deliver, and if he was living a sinful life the demons would just come and go as they please ,like a revolving door you cast them out daily, and he commits sin, and invites them back in, and now your work is fruitless! 3. In most instances in the bible we find that people have an underlying illness when it comes to demonic possession! Everything from cutting, to palsies, to complete lunacy! If someone will not receive the word of God as ascribed in the Gospels we must understand that the disciples were told to dust off their feet as they left that house or city( Matthew 10:14), would it then be good advice to say that they should cast out a few demons before they leave unaccepted! 4. I would also point out that if we truly believe the bible to be the inspired word of God which means we believe and rely on it (2ndTimothy 3:16) and believer 's can't be captives "prisoners of war" in a battle as described Luke (4:18) and the unbeliever cannot engage in deliverance because his plight becomes far worse biblically (Luke 11:26) then someone is incorrect in their assumption,a lie is being perpetrated! Who is it that benefits from a lie of this type? The answer is the Devil? if we are not sure who demons can infiltrate we aren't going to approach believers to free them and we shouldn't be approaching non believers according to scripture! (Luke 11:26) So nobody receives deliverance and now I ask you is this biblical? 5. "In the day that you eat of that tree ,and it’s fruit you will surely die” God was telling Adam that if he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge he would die, but after Adam did eat it, he was still physically alive ,so God must have meant his concern for Adam was not a physical death but rather a spiritual one. This means that God’s concern for us when dealing with the lies of the Devil are spiritual in nature, as emphasized in the passage that says “The Devil roams about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour!” Satan never actually physically devours a person ,at least not enough to give it a physical connotation, However spiritually he afflicts people greatly causing them to be deluded about a relationship with Christ! In an unbelievers case what does the devil do to them, because according to the bible they are dead in their sins already ,if they don’t accept Jesus as savoir ,so do we go around casting demons out of white washed sepulchers, such as the Pharisees ,who were described as dead men walking ,with no word in them! It just doesn’t seem to fit the captive part we discussed in the earlier part of this article! Dead men don’t need freedom ,but believers do! I am not speaking about salvation but rather living a close personal relationship with God knowing in whom through Jesus, we have authority! 6. If the body was entirely the temple of the Holy Spirit another wards completely undefiled then not even unclean thoughts would be permissible in the realm of the soul which is your mind! You would not be able to retain thoughts that opposed God. If you abused your body in any way you would be immediately in action and opposition to God continually, but God says what defiles us comes out of our mouths! Why say this unless the courts could be impure ,because it is from the abundance of a man's heart that his mouth speaks. Showing us that even believers can defile themselves through the complete action, thought ,and spoken word which all come to bear in formulating an idea and then bringing it to pass! Literally making it an action in your outer courts (the mind which is soul, and the flesh which is body!) |
7. Unbelievers at times in the bible received deliverance, but that deliverance came directly through God in those instances, God understood their plight and their condition ,and their faith. The argument for deliverance for the unbeliever should be conditional on their willingness to accept Christ! If they are in a bondage situation and need freedom and desire to worship the Lord then setting them free to receive openly would be a reason to undergo an exorcism but what you'll find is that they can believe in Jesus even before they are set free openly asking them to receive Christ while a demon yet remains entrenched has been witnessed by many missionaries and pastors! So what is the point of faith and belief in Jesus and if they really accept him and ask him into their hearts well this is God's work in their lives and the exact instant of salvation is not understood fully by us! To the unbeliever there remains a dilemma If I tell you that we breath air and you know it, and you deny it because you don't believe in air what can I do to prove to you it's actually air because your understanding is lacking! If you know you are infiltrated with something evil possibly a demon ,yet you don't believe in God where did this thing come from! How would you even have enough information to form a conclusion. MPD multi personality disorder is what specialists call it they have no explanation for it other than it is symptomatic it occurs and people have it! They treat merely the symptoms never the cause! they don't have the ability to understand that they are looking to man for an answer rather than God and the answer is found in God's word not in a science book! They are deceived! In conclusion let us take a brief look at what defiles a man and maybe how through freewill we can operate to keep ourselves on track. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (Mark 7:18-19) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (Mark 7:20-21) Jesus is telling us the gates of defilement rest upon the tongue and what we speak and do, He also is telling us we have an ability to operate our free wills therefore the question "Are you so without understanding? meaning if you knew you would also do! (Freewill) Yet because we take things to ourselves that are unclean and impure in our hearts and minds the mouth then speaks out of this abundance! Choose you this day whom you will serve! It is a choice and when we look at just what we face in this battle we can see just where it is we are standing! May the Lord richly bless you, and sharpen your knowledge and understanding of His word, may the Lord also bring salvation to you and your family and this is done through preaching of the Good News (Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke ,John and Acts,) I pray it would be preached to all who read this and to all who need salvation in these households! May the Lord bring the things of God to you in your true hour of need, this is my prayer for you in Jesus name I pray....Amen CLJC. Online Ministries All images and content are copyrighted and belong to their respective owners, Copyright 2008 RETURN TO CLJC.ONLINE HOMEPAGE |
| Why are so many americans mentally ill? by David Kupelian |
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