Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Derek Prince said Yes! And I agree because I had evil spirits cast out of me! Out of my flesh to be more specific.

The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of our souls, not the organ of our bodies, so it is possible for a Spirit filled believer to have an evil spirit in the flesh at the same time the Holy Spirit is indwelling the soul! Which is who we really are!

Paul's thorn IN the flesh is a great example of this biblical truth.

Watch Derek's message until the end and be enlightened by his spiritual insight into this matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8j33e8viE

No. The two cannot abide together. A spirit-filled believer may be oppressed, but they cannot be possessed by an evil spirit.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

I agree. A believer can be demon influenced though, or as you pointed out oppressed.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

What if a Christian gives themselves over to a demon?

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

That's demon influence. Lots of Christians do that.

But to be possessed by a demon, having a demon indwelling alongside the Holy Ghost isn't possible, IMO.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

The Holy Ghost would leave. The demon would be happy to stay. IMO

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

I don't agree with POSESSION either, but if you watch Derek's message he goes into detail and explains the difference between, 'posession', and 'having a demon in the flesh', or being 'demonized'.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

A Holy Spirit filled person does not do that

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

No Christian can be indwelt by a demon. If a person is saved they belong to God spirit soul and body. God is not going to cohabitate with a demon.

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Exactly your BODY is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Exactly your BODY is the temple of the Holy Ghost. However if one GIVES PLACE to the devil he will move in as God moves out.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

I guess it depends if the "believer" is truly saved to begin with.

Not even the most liberal baptist would suggest that a person is saved because they believe their head knowledge.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

The scriptures tell us clearly that Paul had a thorn IN his flesh a messenger of Satan, (a demon) that buffeted or afflicted him, causing him pain, which is why he pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from him.

2nd Corinthians 12:7-9

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Yes the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, but the body still needs to be sanctified or made holy, AFTER the Spirit of God comes to indwell us, and the soul needs to be washed, this is called the process of sanctification.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

So my friend and Brother,

Do you believe Paul actually had a demon in his flesh? Are you sure that was not meant as a figure of speech? Was Paul himself so unsanctified he allowed a demon into his life? Is that what you are saying?

You're misinterpreting the Scripture. There was not a literal demon attached to Paul's flesh or in his flesh.

Ever hear the saying, "thorn in my side?" It's a figure of speech, not meant to be taken literally.

Was Paul attacked (buffeted) by demonic spirits, sure. Was his flesh invaded by demons, no.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Right. It's an idiom. He did not mean he had a demon in his skin

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

It was a skin demon...when I was a teen we called then zits. If you squeezed them the demon came out...

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Notice how he refers to the messenger of Satan as personal weaknesses or persecutions by others??

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (2 Co 12:10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Brother Mike, I'm not saying anything! I quoted the scriptures that says it all! Paul said it plainly himself, 'there was given me a thorn IN the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me'.

I do believe what the scriptures say and I do believe that Paul knew what he received in his flesh because he asked the Lord THREE TIMES to take it away from him!

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

I'd say that a "Spirit led" person doesn't do that. But a believer who is experiencing doubt, confusion, or who has allowed themselves to be jaded might. However, I do believe that if the believer is part of God's chosen elect... even this will serve to bring them to the realization of who they are and bring them to a place of ultimately surrendering their will to the LORD.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

The Word says bitter and sweet can not come out of the same fountain .

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Some believe that he had a physical health issue. No way did he have a demon. They would have run for cover, just as the one that followed him around found out, and then they wanted his head for taking away their income the woman had provided.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

So you don't believe the testimony of Paul recorded in 2nd Corinthians 12:7?

I agree. I've read a few commentaries which speak of Paul having an infirmity and this verse was referring to that.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Possibly he was talking about persecution. As well as resistance to his message and ministry both in and out of the church.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

The thorn in the flesh, was first, an idiomatic expression.

However, the thorn, as I see it, relates back to "the buffeting", and not to the agent of the the buffeting (i.e. the messenger of Satan).

Also note that this infirmity was ordained by the Lord in order to keep Paul humble. If Paul was as literally demonized as has been suggested, we then have a case of Christ intentionally using the devil to afflict one of His own.

But we are taught differently. We are taught that the Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the devil.

Furthermore, Paul's calling by Christ, was in part, to turn people away from Satan unto the Living God. Paul was shown how many things he must suffer for the Lord's sake. But that suffering was the Lord's will on account of the calling: i.e. an apostle, who God has ordained to be last (e.g. offscouring of the world, and etc.).

So, if we want an example of someone physically afflicted by a demon to the point of fleshly malaise, we would do better to look at the woman, the "daughter of Abraham", bound by Satan for 18 years, who was healed by the Lord in the Gospel of Luke.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Where does the scripture say that 'the thorn in Paul's flesh was an idiomatic expression'?

I'm sure you know the story of Job right? Didn't God allow Satan to afflict a righteous man?

And didn't God send a 'lying spirit' into the mouths of the false prophets of Ahab? 1st Kings 22:20-23

How about King Saul?

And have you read the scriptures where Paul gave over some brothers to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and to be taught not to blaspheme?

1st Timothy 1:19-20

"having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."

1st Corinthians 5:3-5

"For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

The Lord said truly "My people perish for lack of knowledge".

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

you might disinherit the notion of demon possession a la The Exorcist, possibly, for a better definition of "possession."

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Some have said it was relating to a physical health issue, yet the Bible never uses the thorn in the flesh as relating to sickness.

Note Number 33:55 - Moses speaking - "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell."

The Canaanites were going to be the "thorns" in Israel's sides if they didn't drive them out.

Note Joshua 23:13 - "Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you."

Again, the troubling Canaanites are the "scourge" and the "thorns" to Israel.

Note 2 Samuel 23:6 - "6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:"

All of these references are relating to personalities and not sickness.

So, Paul is in effect saying that the "thorn" is an angel of Satan. He also explains what the angel came to do - "buffet" him.

Ananias was told by God in reference to Paul - "I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." It wasn't by sickness, but by persecution. He had been persecuted from place to place - that was the "thorn". Who wouldn't want some relief from that?

"Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

I Cor 4:11 "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place."

If healing was part of his ministry, why would he remain sick? And who would have confidence that he could heal?

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

I agree that as a christian we can be attacked by the devil or a demon but not that we can be possessed by a demon or devil. Possession implies control and we cannot be controled by the devil and by God at the same time.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

There is a difference between being 'Posessed', and 'Demonized', please go back and read the original post and watch the message of Derek Prince if you would like to be enlightened on this biblical truth.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Is the term demonized even in the Bible?

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

One other question how does that teaching work with this verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can a person have a demon in them and be sanctified (holy) wholly (entirerly)?

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Check this out.

"In the New Testament, the Greek word 'daimonizomai' is used to express the presence of demonic spirits within a person. What this word means is: 'to be demonized; to be under the power or influence of a demon in certain areas; to have a demon.' The word 'possessed," however (in the KJV, for example), is a misleading translation for this Greek word. To English speaking people the term 'possessed' implies total ownership of something. This concept, as pertaining to the relationship between a demonic entity and a person, has no support in the scripture or in the original intent of the Greek word. There is no suggestion in the scripture that a demon has totally taken over a person as the word 'possessed' implies. (Can A Christian Have A Demon", Chris Simpson, 1995)"

Quote taken from this website:

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/demon1.html

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Thayer's dictionary defines this word: To be under the power of a demon.

Strong's dictionary defines this word: to be under the power of demon.

Vine's expository dictionary defines this word: "to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon."

Nowhere does it mean to be under the power of a demon incertain areas. The addittion of the phrase in certain areas seems to imply that God shares individuals with the devil this is false and not found in scripture.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

How would you explain the young man in Mark 9:17-27? The word "taketh" here is saying it means "to seize, to possess", from a root word being "oversee". An overseer is a ruler. I would think if the spirit was ruling the boy, he has totally taken possession.

Jesus didn't speak to the boy about whether or not he believed. He spoke to his father. What estate was this boy in that speaking to him wasn't an option. Jesus spoke to the spirit within him.

The passage also describes the boy's state as "pining". That means withering away.

Pretty intense situation.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

By the fact that Paul didn't have a literal thorn stuck into his side, makes the expression an idiom by default.

Job wasn't immersed by the Holy Spirit the same way Paul was. Additionally, being afflicted and suffering righteously, even under the hand of the devil, is not the same as being demonized.

The false prophets were liars and idolaters. No wonder they were so susceptible to evil spirits. But they weren't believers, which is the thrust of your question and comments.

See above. Saul was backslidden and tormented by an evil spirit because he was fallen from grace. This situation, like the one above, doesn't apply to your original question.

Yes, of course. But these people, being blasphemers, should not be considered believers. So see above.

Nice dig. But presumptuous, too. And presumption is usually based in the sin of pride, something God abhors.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Tyrone, it seems to me, and I could be wrong, that the real issue is not trying to rightly divide the Word so we can get at God's TRUTH, but so that you can use the Word to prove something you say you personally experienced, i.e. that you had a demon in your flesh but not your soul, and that you were delivered from it.

Since I wasn't there, I won't comment more except to say that, anytime we attempt to justify an experience by making the Word fit it, instead of using the Word to judge the validity of the experience, and, if necessary discredit said experience, we end up in some serious danger.

Please be mindful. You may, even unintentionally, be doing this.

Re: Can A Spirit-Filled Believer Have A Demon?
 

Great statement of truth.