Bible in General

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Subject: Do demons exist today?

Bible Note: Beja
Okay a starting place.
I think we all agree that Christians should not intentionally sin, more over sin of any kind gives Satan and the consequences of that sin an opportunity to destroy us.

The question was posed can a Christian be demon possessed. My initial reaction and perhaps I should have stayed there, was no a Christian can not be demon possessed, only demon oppressed.

However I think it was you that made the statement that you were not sure a Christian can not be demon possessed and that got me researching.

The first scripture I came to was Leviticus 19:31 (NKJV)
31 'Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

The word defiled jumped out at me. Admittedly this is not speaking to Christians but rather to faithful followers of God. It says don’t open yourself to mediums or familiar(demonic) spirits lest you become defiled by them. Implication here is this opens a door to demonic possession.

To me Leviticus 20:6 (NKJV)
6 'And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
Reinforces my take away of Lev 19:4.

The second verse then referenced was 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NASB)
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

Admittedly I gave the wrong reference in my last post to you, sorry!
In the verse depending on translation say different or another. Which implies the audience already has received a spirit. Since this verse is talking to Christians and says you can receive a different or another spirit other from a different or profane gospel.

Implication here is that a Christian can receive ungodly or false spirits (demons?).

As to drugs, alcohol and other sin we see in
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

We are to be sober and vigilant. I think we all can agree we are not totally sober nor can we be vigilant we are involved in drugs, alcohol, or other forms of addiction and sin. It further warns us that Satan is walking about seeking. While it does not specifically say in so many words I interpret this as giving an opening to Satan to come in and destroy our lives. Here again I think we can all agree that demon possession would probably ruin our lives.

I believe we have portals to our spirit mind. Our ears, our ears, our physical minds, these I believe must be guarded as Paul admonished us in Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Interestingly the verse before this Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Suggests that the peace of God guards our heart and minds through Christ Jesus.

Again if your heart and minds are not on Christ Jesus the implication to me is we have opened ourselves for an attack from Satan.

To clarify something that may have been misunderstood, I never meant to suggest that only certain sins opened us to demonic attack but that there were some listed specifically that to me implies they become gateways for demons. Like messing with the occult, familiar spirits, mediums, drugs, alcohol, addictions of any kind.

I hope that explains or clarifies my position. I am still not totally convinced that a Christian can be demon possessed but I am not so positive that it can’t happen that I would not consider the possibility. That is something that in the past I would have never considered.

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