Can a Christian have a demon?
Do demons automatically leave when someone becomes a Christian?
Do I have a demon or am I just being attacked by them?
There must have been some reason why, in Matthew 10:5-8 Jesus said “Go not into the way (region) of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans… but go rather to the lost sheep of Israel” (professed followers of God). He gave them instruction not only to preach and heal the sick, but He gave them power to cast out devils.
Why would He say this if Christians (believers) cannot be possessed or demonized? In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke there is overwhelming evidence that demons were active in the lives of people who, if they were living among us today, would be called Christians.
• Mark 1:21-28 and Luke 4:31,32. We read of the demon- possessed man in the synagogue (church).
• Luke 8:2. The women in this account were some of those who accompanied Jesus’ group, and supported them. Yet He had cast demons out of them.
• Luke 13:10-21. Here was a woman who, for 18 years, had a physical problem caused by a demon.
This text says “…this daughter of Abraham… Satan hath bound for eighteen long years.” Today she would be considered a Christian, or follower of Jesus.
- In the Bible no distinction is made between believers and unbelievers having demons. The reason: both alike can have demons..
- Deliverance is called “the children’s bread” (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). which means it is for God’s own sons and daughters; purchased by the blood of Jesus. Therefore, a distinction IS made as to who is qualified for deliverance. It is for God’s children — believers.
- When demons are cast out of a person, the “house” must be filled. (Matt. 12:43-45) How could an unbeliever fill his house? He is void of spiritual resources.
- If is were impossible for a Christian to have a demon, then neither could he become sick, for both healing and deliverance are benefits of the cross. (Matt. 8:16, 17)
Satan and sin are attached to each other, they are inseparable, and Christians are not immune to sin. Whenever Christians willingly and willfully sin they put themselves on Satan’s ground. Under these conditions he can, and in many cases does, control them to some degree.
The word “control” seems to better characterize demonic possession or oppression. Many debate for hours in an effort to explain the difference between “possession” and “oppression.” In the Biblical account of those who were “vexed,” “troubled,” “possessed,” or “oppressed,” there was always a degree of control.
Whatever the case, when it came to demonic activity, it was always handled the same– the devil and his demons were rebuked and commanded to leave.
The bottom line is this—If a Christian is out of control in one or more areas of his life, another power is in control, and, according to Biblical instruction, it must be rebuked and the power of Satan broken.
It matters not whether it is possession, oppression, troubled, or vexed. Jesus has given us (the believer in Jesus) the absolute authority, in His name, over Satan and all the hosts of hell.
Another myth or lie which some Christian pastors and writers around the country are constantly mouthing is: The devil and the Holy Spirit cannot be in the same place at the same time? Christians seem to like this concept because it gives them a false sense of security. Satan and his angels revel in this concept because then they can convince the “controlled” person of his utter hopelessness.