spiritual warfare

[Yankee Candle]

Hello again, everyone.

I would like to know what the consensus of opinion is on this board concerning spiritual warfare. How many of you believe that (1) devils are real (2) they possess/oppress people (3) and whether evil spirits can be and are cast out in our time just as they were in the gospels and Acts.

[kevinmiller]

I would give an affirmative to all three. Yes, devils are real(because the Bible says they are), they oppress/possess people(because the Bible says they do), and they can be cast out by Christians(because the Bible says that we have authority over them through Christ).

[Yankee Candle]

I would give an affirmative to all three. Yes' date=' devils are real(because the Bible says they are), they oppress/possess people(because the Bible says they do), and they can be cast out by Christians(because the Bible says that we have authority over them through Christ).[/quote']

Thank you for your reply. I agree.

I am curious though. Have you ever seen it personally?

[1Timothy115]

Yes to all three. Just as Christ taught and Paul tells us in Eph. 6.

[1Timothy115]

Yes, I saw it with cigarette smoking. The unclean spirit was cast out but, years later returned worse than before. Do you believe cigarette smoking is a valid example of unclean spirits?

[Yankee Candle]

Yes, any sin will open things up for demonic intrusion. It happens.

God bless you and thanks for your reply.

[kevinmiller]

Cigarette smoking is an addiction, not a demon. Just like any addiction, it is easy for it to return if you're not careful. As to your question, no, I've never seen a demon cast out, personally. I've never seen anyone possessed to begin with. At least, not that I know of.

[John81]

Yes to all three, as Kevin says, the Bible is clear on this.

I've seen demonic opression and possibly possession before but I've never personally witnessed a demon being cast out.

[Yankee Candle]

Yes to all three, as Kevin says, the Bible is clear on this.

I've seen demonic opression and possibly possession before but I've never personally witnessed a demon being cast out.

Thanks, John.

I have seen quite a bit of it but I wonder if there are others that have experienced similar things. I don't trust the charismatics about this subject and the Hollywood movies embellish almost everything so I wanted to ask those who are closer to my beliefs of their experiences.

God richly bless you.

Yankee Candle

[John81]

In my own experiences, what I've encountered has been nothing like the Hollywood versions and not like what most Charismatics describe either.

For the most part, unless one is born again and walking in the Spirit, I would say the demon aspect would likely go unnoticed. Folks would tend to look at the person being oppressed or possessed by the demon as having a mental problem, lack of control in some areas, being irrational, etc.

Whether they are actually oppressed or not, I do believe many folks open themselves up to demonic influences and therefore some or even much of their wrongful actions are a result of this.

[Yankee Candle]

In my own experiences, what I've encountered has been nothing like the Hollywood versions and not like what most Charismatics describe either.

For the most part, unless one is born again and walking in the Spirit, I would say the demon aspect would likely go unnoticed. Folks would tend to look at the person being oppressed or possessed by the demon as having a mental problem, lack of control in some areas, being irrational, etc.

Whether they are actually oppressed or not, I do believe many folks open themselves up to demonic influences and therefore some or even much of their wrongful actions are a result of this.

Quite. In fact, I couldn't agree more.

Thanks again.

[lilyamongthorns]

yes to all three, for the same reasons as everyone else. I've never seen it personally, but one of my dear friends did when she was going through a very hard time in her life (she went through a goth period before she was saved). She said it was one of the scariest things she's ever seen or had happen.

[bzmomo7]

I would say yes to all 3 as well. I've never seen demon possession, but my husband's uncle said he had when he was over in Haiti.....the guy he was referring to was a "witch doctor" and very scary at that.....and all the local people were afraid of him too because he actually seemed to have "power" that was undeniable.....except against the Christians.

[trc123]

I would say yes to all 3 as well. I've never seen demon possession' date=' but my husband's uncle said he had when he was over in Haiti.....the guy he was referring to was a "witch doctor" and very scary at that.....and all the local people were afraid of him too because he actually seemed to have "power" that was undeniable.....except against the Christians.[/quote']

To have power over a demon, one must:

___ A. Speak audibly and command the demon to leave

___ B. Think in your thoughts (no audible voice necessary) and command the demon to leave

___ C. Don't need to do anything as you have the Holy Spirit and the demon can do nothing to you or those in your presence

[bzmomo7]

Maybe I should clarify what I meant. I didn't mean the Christians had power over him, but that his witch doctor voo doo curses and such did NOT have power over the Christians like they seemed to others.........the Holy Spirit protected them from demonic activity.