Guest charis Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Here's a question I've been wondering about.... It has to do with Mary and how Jesus cast out the demons possessing her. Why did He have to do it 7 times? Do you think Mary knowingly invited the demons back? Or do you think it was more the case of her being very vulnerable to being possessed, and they came back when Jesus was not around her? Quote
Administrators Gail Posted September 13, 2007 Administrators Posted September 13, 2007 I think that the reason is because the demons don't always come out all at once. I've been reading John317's dad's books about warfare with demons, and in this pastor's experience they usually identify themselves one by one before leaving. Sometimes they put up a big battle before they go. They don't want to leave, willing rather to oppress a soul and "sink" them in guilt and discouragement That could be the reason, or, as you have mentioned, she might have become repossessed over time. The Bible doesn't tell us the "how", does it? Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Gail Posted September 13, 2007 Administrators Posted September 13, 2007 The good thing about Jesus, is that He never left a person with a devil in him/her. Whether they came out all at once or one at a time, the person was healed. :) Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Gail Posted September 13, 2007 Administrators Posted September 13, 2007 Interestingly enough too, Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, never came to Him for healing. He spent those 3 years with Jesus, as one of His inner circle friends, and never submitted to Him or asked Him for His healing. Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted September 14, 2007 Moderators Posted September 14, 2007 Just a thought, which is immediately new to me, and may have holes in it: In the case of a person who has voluntarly entered into a relationship with the powers of darkness, so to speak, that has typically occured over a period of time. It has not likely happened all at once. Rather it has occured over a period of time in which the committment to relate to the powers of darkness has been made repeatedly. God does not force people. Perhaps in cases such as the above, Satan can say: God, this individual committed themself to me repeatedly. I have a right to demand that this person demonstrate by repeated committments to you that they want to leave a relationsip with me. They left you, by repeated committments. So, only rescue them from me by repeated committments to go back to you. Gentlepeople, this is a new thought to me. I have not had time to evaulate it. So, please feel free to do so, as I further consider it. Quote Gregory
Beryl Posted September 14, 2007 Posted September 14, 2007 That is a new thought to me, Gregory. You could be right. My thought though would be more along the lines that Mary was relying too much on her own strength to REMAIN free of the devils! In that case I would think that it took her 7 healings before she finally came to the place of full surrender -- not only relying on the power of Christ to cast out the devils, but relying completely on Him giving her the strength to withstand the devil on a moment by moment basis. That just seems to be a bit more like we humans are! God bless, Beryl Quote "Grace is God doing for us, in us and through us that which He requires of us but which is impossible for us to do in or for ourselves." But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9.
LifeHiscost Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 God does not force people. The story of the legion that were cast out into the swine seems to indicate there is no lack of power in Jesus to cast out many or few at a moments notice. The method for anyone would seem understood best by the unique position of the person whom Jesus chose to deliver. "When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed." Luke 8:34-36 KJV "When a demon is gone out of a man, it goes through dry places to find rest. It finds none. Then it says, 'I will go back into my house from which I came.' When it goes back, it sees that it is empty. But it sees that the house has been cleaned and looks good. Then it goes out and comes back bringing with it seven demons more sinful than itself. They go in and live there. In the end that man is worse than at first. It will be like this with the sinful people of this day." Luke 11:24-26 NLV Which verse seems to indicate that it takes Divine protection constantly to keep us safe from the evil one, not just an attitude of trying real hard to do good. Regards! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Moderators John317 Posted September 15, 2007 Moderators Posted September 15, 2007 Some principles that may help answer your question are found in Luke 11: 23-26: “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.” If we aren't fully Christ's, Satan takes that as an invitation for him to come in to our lives. We will be under one power or the other. There is no such thing as a neutral position. And once people have been possessed or controlled by Satan, they are easier targets for him if he finds them not totally committed and surrendered to God in every area of their lives. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Beryl Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 "Why did He have to do it 7 times?" Just a thought -- I have been looking for the text about this, but does it say that Jesus cast out the spirits seven times, or that He cast out seven spirits? There is a difference. Beryl Quote "Grace is God doing for us, in us and through us that which He requires of us but which is impossible for us to do in or for ourselves." But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9.
Amelia Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 Quote: Mr 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Lu 8:2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out. Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p>
JeriAnne Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 This is an interesting discussion. In the OCCULT demons are invited in BUT they are also given to the young. This is done in a couple of ways one which is most effective is through sexual abuse. This is why you hear so much about sexual abuse of children in these organizations. Through the sexual abuse they not only destroy the childs ability to grow emotionally or spiritually but they also "Share" their demons and the spirituality of darkness. I don't know if what has been rumored bout Mary is true or not but her actions certainly bear the earmarks of one who WAS sexually abused at a young age!! If so it is very possible that she became possessed at such a young age she really didn't KNOW how many of these demons she possessed. As they became "Known" to her she obviously came to the only one she knew could free her from their power! Jesus! And Jesus did what He does best! He welcomed her WITHOUT condemnation or scolding her for wandering from Him BUT in love reached out to her, and honored her faith in His Power and Healed her!!! He still has the power to overcome ALL the insanity of OUR SINS against Him AS WELL as the sins of others against us! Quote
Administrators Gail Posted September 15, 2007 Administrators Posted September 15, 2007 Interesting... what you have said about demons and the young and how they are introduced to the body corresponds with what I have read Also, EGW writes that Mary was sexually abused by her uncle... Praise the Lord that Jesus is Lord over all dark powers! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
LifeHiscost Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 He still has the power to overcome ALL the insanity of OUR SINS against Him AS WELL as the sins of others against us! Praise the Lord for that recognition, for truth always is a gift of God, even when we find it unpalatable. As to others sinning against me: David seems to have recognized an essential element of spiritual growth that has the influence of keeping us from depression as a result of the unwillingness of others to forgive us for our transgressions. "Against You, You only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight,So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. " Psalm 51:4 NASB God alone has the right to judge or condemn, for His Law alone is immutable. "For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." John 3:17 ASV "For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him." John 3:17 AMP Blessings! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Guest charis Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 Quote: This is an interesting discussion. In the OCCULT demons are invited in BUT they are also given to the young. On what is this statement based? Just **cough cough** wondering... Quote
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted September 16, 2007 Administrators Posted September 16, 2007 Actually... I think it useful to take a look at this from a whole new perspective... I recently read that according to a Jewish Midrash scholar the phrase "casting out seven demons" is an old Aramaic idiomatic phrase, a figure of speech meaning spiritual training. Seven was the perfect, holy number with the symbolic meaning of wholeness or completeness. Essentially one could say that to cast out seven demons was essentially a seven step course of spiritual formation that brought the person to holiness or wholeness - classic discipling. Tends to cast her in a whole new light, wouldn't you say! Tom Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Guest charis Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 That is easy! Experience! So you were *given a demon* when you were young? Or did you *give a demon* to a youngster? Quote
Guest charis Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 Actually... I think it useful to take a look at this from a whole new perspective... I recently read that according to a Jewish Midrash scholar the phrase "casting out seven demons" is an old Aramaic idiomatic phrase, a figure of speech meaning spiritual training. Seven was the perfect, holy number with the symbolic meaning of wholeness or completeness. Essentially one could say that to cast out seven demons was essentially a seven step course of spiritual formation that brought the person to holiness or wholeness - classic discipling. Tends to cast her in a whole new light, wouldn't you say! Hmm... now that's an interesting perspective! It makes sense to me... Quote
LifeHiscost Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 Quote: This is an interesting discussion. In the OCCULT demons are invited in BUT they are also given to the young. On what is this statement based? Just **cough cough** wondering... God being sovereign, perhaps He has taken responsibility even for that. "...who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." Exodus 34:7 NASB Blessings! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Amelia Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 Please, lets keep this thread on the topic of Mary and her demons. And not on any one persons experience with demons. If you wish to explore that topic then start another thread. Thank you. Amelia Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p>
LifeHiscost Posted September 16, 2007 Posted September 16, 2007 Interesting... what you have said about demons and the young and how they are introduced to the body corresponds with what I have read Also, EGW writes that Mary was sexually abused by her uncle... Praise the Lord that Jesus is Lord over all dark powers! Who was it who said, "The more things change the more they remain the same."? "That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun."Ecclesiastes 1:8 NASB Blessings! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
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