Can a Christian be demon possessed?

[Sojourner]

Is it ever possible that someone who is a born again Christian could be demon possessed? 

If not possessed, can a born again Christian be influenced by a demon? 

[JoeMo]

4 hours ago, Sojourner said:

Is it ever possible that someone who is a born again Christian could be demon possessed? 

If not possessed, can a born again Christian be influenced by a demon? 

I absolutely believe "YES" is the answer to both questions.  People who are already demonically possessed or harassed can become Christians.  I have witnessed this when Native American shamans become Christians; or when higher-order wiccans (or others who worship other gods) become Christians.  There are generational and cultural curses that get passed on.  Once one becomes a Christian, they become a target for demonic harassment.  Satan himself is a demon (probably a higher order evil spiritual being); and his temptations are demonic harassment.

No matter what we face - adverse natural circumstance or supernatural harassment - our God is stronger; and He will always give us a way through (not necessarily around) any temptation we face if we will blindly trust Him.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

6 hours ago, Sojourner said:

Is it ever possible that someone who is a born again Christian could be demon possessed? 

Yes, possible....but that would be based on choices one makes.  (I'm not in agreement with the idea of "generational curses" made by Satan.)

 

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If not possessed, can a born again Christian be influenced by a demon? 

Not particularly "influenced" if by that word you mean "led" — but as Joemo stated, definitely, a Christian can be harassed by demons.

[Gary K]

On 2/16/2017 at 2:55 AM, Sojourner said:

Is it ever possible that someone who is a born again Christian could be demon possessed? 

If not possessed, can a born again Christian be influenced by a demon? 

I would say yes, even though that will sound like heresy to a lot of people here.  I will tell you why I think this way.

When we abide in Jesus the Bible tells us that we will not sin.  So, when we sin what does that tell us?  It tells us that we are not abiding in Christ.  If we are not abiding in Christ the devil has power over us.  That is why we sin.  Thus when we are not abiding in Christ we can be, and are, overcome by the devil.  If he can keep us from turning back to Christ through his suggestions that we are now too evil or cannot be forgiven he can take complete control of us. 

Does the devil harrass those who have once been under his control?  Oh, yes.  I have experienced it many times.  The only way to put a stop to it is to just keep turning the situation over to God and asking Him to take care of the harrassment.  He can, and does, put an end to it, but if we take our eyes off Jesus again the devil will come back to harrass and annoy.  Constantly abiding in Jesus is the only sure way to keep the devil from coming back.  Abiding in Christ is how we resist the devil, and Peter says, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  He flees from us because our Elder Brother is around to beat him back, not because we are his equal or his better in power and intelligence.

[B/W Photodude]

On 2/16/2017 at 5:55 AM, Sojourner said:

Is it ever possible that someone who is a born again Christian could be demon possessed? 

If not possessed, can a born again Christian be influenced by a demon? 

I would tend to think not. Of course, there is the real born again and those who believe they are born again. For one truly born again, it follows that Jesus thru the Holy spirit abides in them. Kinda hard to be demon possessed and Christ possessed at the same time. How all that works out is something to be known in heaven.

Unfortunately, we will be subject to temptation and influence from demons for as long as this age should last. Response to that temptation and influence will vary by the person.

[Gary K]

14 minutes ago, B/W Photodude said:

I would tend to think not. Of course, there is the real born again and those who believe they are born again. For one truly born again, it follows that Jesus thru the Holy spirit abides in them. Kinda hard to be demon possessed and Christ possessed at the same time. How all that works out is something to be known in heaven.

Unfortunately, we will be subject to temptation and influence from demons for as long as this age should last. Response to that temptation and influence will vary by the person.

Does it really follow that the Christian is always abiding Christ?  If so, why do we sin?  Whoseover abideth in Him sinneth not.

[JoeMo]

1 hour ago, Gary K said:

we are now too evil or cannot be forgiven he can take complete control of us. 

NEVER!!! As long as we have breath, we are able to be saved.  It is wrong to say that God cannot do whatever He wants.  If He wants to call someone or save them, He can!  God is more powerful than ANY other spiritual being; and He will NEVER give up on us!  The problem is, we give up on God.

[Gary K]

24 minutes ago, JoeMo said:

NEVER!!! As long as we have breath, we are able to be saved.  It is wrong to say that God cannot do whatever He wants.  If He wants to call someone or save them, He can!  God is more powerful than ANY other spiritual being; and He will NEVER give up on us!  The problem is, we give up on God.

Joemo,

I beg to differ.  Were the demoniacs at Gergesa released from their bondage?  What about the man who brought his son to Jesus after the night of transfiguration?  Was the boy released?  Just because the devil can possess someone doesn't mean they can never be saved.  The Bible has a lot of examples of that.  It is those in their so-called right minds who use skepticism to reject God's word and who are completely satisfied with who they are that are in the greatest danger of never being saved.  Why?  Because in their own eyes they are good enough.

[Gregory Matthews]

Gary K, if I understand you, you do not understand Jo Mo.

[Green Cochoa]

38 minutes ago, Gregory Matthews said:

Gary K, if I understand you, you do not understand Jo Mo.

Gary said the devil could take complete control of us.  Joe disagreed, saying such would never happen.  Gary countered by giving Biblical examples of people whom Satan completely controlled but whom Jesus had released from their bondage.

I agree with Gary, and if he misunderstood Joe, then so did I.

[Gary K]

1 hour ago, Green Cochoa said:

Gary said the devil could take complete control of us.  Joe disagreed, saying such would never happen.  Gary countered by giving Biblical examples of people whom Satan completely controlled but whom Jesus had released from their bondage.

I agree with Gary, and if he misunderstood Joe, then so did I.

After Gregory said what he did I do see some ambiguity in Joemo's post.  I guess we will just have to wait until "Joemo speaks".

[Gregory Matthews]

Jo Mo made the following statements:

1)  As long as we have breath, we are able to be saved.  

2)  It is wrong to say that God cannot do whatever He wants.  

3)  If He wants to call someone or save them, He can!  

4)  God is more powerful than ANY other spiritual being;

5)  He will NEVER give up on us!  

6)  The problem is, we give up on God.

 

Gary K responded by disagreeing with Jo Mo, as I understand Gary.  I am not willing to say that Gary disagrees with any of the above 6.  I don't think that God is less powerful than other spiritual beings whom God created. Etc.  So, I said that it looked to me like Gary had misunderstood JoMo.

 

[JoeMo]

Gregory has read me correctly.  I  meant to say that the devil cannot possess anyone who is a true believer in the power and grace of God. In writing to the Church (not the general population) in Corinth, Paul says:

"  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

It seems to me that Paul is saying once we are part of the body of Christ, we cannot be forcefully "possessed" by satan or his ilk.  However, if we willfully turn ourselves over to satan ... see points 5 and 6 above in Gregory's post.

 

[Gary K]

On 2/20/2017 at 7:25 AM, JoeMo said:

Gregory has read me correctly.  I  meant to say that the devil cannot possess anyone who is a true believer in the power and grace of God. In writing to the Church (not the general population) in Corinth, Paul says:

"  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

It seems to me that Paul is saying once we are part of the body of Christ, we cannot be forcefully "possessed" by satan or his ilk.  However, if we willfully turn ourselves over to satan ... see points 5 and 6 above in Gregory's post.

 

We have examples from the Old Testament in which people whom God had forgiven and accepted turned once more to their sins and became worse than before God had forgiven them and accepted them.  We also have the example of Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus cast demons not once or twice, but seven times.  Just because we look to God today for our life and His protection does not mean that tomorrow we are not capable of ceasing to do that and once more make ourselves vulnerable to the devil.