Faith Filled Family Magazine October 2016 | Page 8

made directly with individuals and / or indirectly through their lineage . The sin agreement allows demon spirits access because sin is peddled by the kingdom of darkness , and choosing to accept and act upon sinful suggestions causes binding agreements with them . The Bible questions , “ Can two walk together , unless they are agreed ?” ( Amos 3:3 ). Once an individual becomes saved all agreements with the kingdom of darkness are severed including all rights demons may have to possess an individual , unless the individual continues in lawlessness . This is the reason daily repentance is necessary .
Due to the vagueness of the subject in the Bible , the Church is divisive concerning the state of individuals who are controlled by demons — whether Christians may be among the afflicted . The popular belief is that Christians can be oppressed by demons , but they cannot be possessed by them . The rationale for this belief stems from the biblical truth that the Holy Spirit abides in Christians and sanctifies them as His temple . According to this reasoning , if the Holy Spirit abides in Christians , demons cannot also abide in them because they are made holy by the presence of the Holy Spirit . The Bible does not explicitly provide support for this theory .
If this reasoning was infallible , how do we explain all the maladies and ungodly behaviors that seem to be plaguing and crippling the Christian community — dimming our light and seemingly mocking God ’ s grace . There should be a marked difference between the children of God and the children of darkness in regard to behaviors and in the susceptibility to the plagues of this world . God always makes a distinction between His people and the peoples of the world . This distinction becomes the beacon of light drawing the unsaved to Him . If the world cannot observe any marked differences in the lives of Christians , why would they aspire to turn to God ?
Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil . However , that distinction is not easily observable today as Christians continue in lawlessness , and they are also being afflicted and consumed by the plagues of this world . We can discern who is of God and who is not . The fruit of righteousness or lawlessness are the telltale signs that distinguishes what power is working in individuals . Unclean spirits empower the various maladies and deviant behaviors that work within mankind , while the Spirit of God works to influence individuals toward righteous behaviors . A spirit is basically a power source that enlivens and energizes individuals and activities . Demons are bad ( unclean ) spirits or power sources that work to fuel all kinds of evil .
In extra biblical texts found among the Dead Sea scrolls , reference is made about unclean spirits being responsible for tormenting people , inflicting sicknesses and diseases , causing pains , and great sufferings leading to spiritual and physical death . These texts also reveal how God provided a provisional remedy for healing mankind of these ailments . According to these texts , God sent one of His chief angels to teach Noah medicinal remedies to counteract the works of these unclean spirits . ( Lumpkin 2011 ) Afflictions are works of evil spirits manifesting in various ways , spiritually , emotionally , and physically . The Bible vaguely corroborates these accounts and identifies various unclean spirits influencing mankind . Some of them include : spirit of infirmity , heaviness , distress , jealousy , divination , lying , death , and many others .
No one — especially a Christian- -wants to believe they have been compromised by demons or admit it to anyone else . Due to the stigma associated with demonic possession , Christians tend to overlook or dismiss the manifestations . They live in bondage , suffering in silence , and never seeking help . The Church ’ s theories on the subject are eagerly accepted ; because , they serve to pacify and sedate us about our susceptibility for demonic possession . But , are they all truth ? It is important to know the truth about this matter , so that the Christian community can live their lives in freedom as God intended .
Before we can understand the truth about the matter , we need to clear up some misconceptions about the in-filling of the Holy Spirit . The filling of the Holy Spirit is conditional , not all Christians at all times meet the requirements to be filled , nor is the filling permanent . The Bible commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit . The fact that there is a command to be filled suggests that the filling and the level the Holy Spirit fills an individual is dependent upon the individual .