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I just read a devotion that can be like a good smack upside the head:

It stated that religion is dangerous and would rather debate an issue than do something about it.  They said we shouldn't get you sidetracked into a religious debate or get all hung up on theological questions.  That the difference between religion and the love of God is that religion argues while love acts.

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Thanks, Mary. I'm still have a "disconnect" though in understanding this. Are we safe from being physically attacked by someone who has a demon if we are born again? Will the Spirit always restrain the evil and keep us from being harmed like the seven sons were harmed?

Love you, too.

To the question can a demonic possessed person physically attack a child of God ... the answer is yes and has happened on the mission field, among other places, many times. Spiritually we are secure. Paul was physically attacked by humans and God did not stop it. God could and at times does, but not always. The same principle can be applied to the demonic as well.

The demonically possessed are not to be trifled with. They are dangerous. They can be overcome and can be cast out, but that does not mean that they are not dangerous.

In Galatians 6:17 Paul mentions bearing the marks of Jesus. Maybe he means physical scars. 

I'm fairly confident about my ability in running. Regarding that part, no one needs to tell me to "just do it."

Mary,

A person can have all the right credentials and pedigree, but their heart can be far from God

Well said

I thought so as well Mary

It makes sense because I'm also having a "disconnect" between the protection of the spiritual armor we are to have and use and how, if we aren't fully suited, so to speak, will it give spiritual enemies "place" to hurt us? It's been mentioned in the discussion that when one is weak and is overpowered and bound, then Satan has a foothold and can get in, and Scripture mentions weak christians and strong christians.

Eric,

To add to what you are saying. Spiritually we are safe when we are in Him and He in us, but physically there are dangers when engaging the demonically possessed individual(s).

I think as an opinion that most of the dangers come from ignorance and/or arrogance when dealing with the spirit realm.

I've found Matthew 4:24 to be interesting.

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Since those possessed and those lunatic (or with mental illness) are mentioned as two different things then not every physical or mental illness is demonic. There's apparently both.

Dr. Amen with Amen Clinics was on Rick Warren one day. He showed how brain imaging showed damaged brains in those with alzheimers, OCD, bipolar, etc., which can often be reversed or reduced through diet and certain supplements. Is it satan or is it what we've done to the air, food and water? Kinda makes you wonder why we don't live to be 500 anymore.

Yet Amanda brings up the point of where it mentions lunatic, that Jesus was talking about a demon.  Also with the woman bowed over, He calls it a "spirit" of infirmity.  After Christ, Paul says if any are sick among you to bring them to the elders.  He's speaking to the church, the born again. 

Yet there's also "In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

This, like the passage on lunatic, is listing casting out demons and laying hands on the sick as two separate items. 

So with all this, it's pretty apparent that it is not cut and dry, something that is plain and cannot be questioned at all. 

With that said, can we say one who believes in casting demons out of the saved is teaching a false gospel or simply that they believe that could be a possibility based on scripture linking sickness and demons?  Or perhaps even their idea of such, in their minds, doesn't differ from what we consider oppression? 

Mat 4:24 NASB  The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

Matthew 4:24 even if understood as stated in the KJV is not dealing with children of God who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, regenerated and are indwelt by Holy Spirit. Thus, Matthew 4 sheds no light on the subject of demon possession and the child of God.

Mark 16 speaks of what the church will do in His name, but does not identify that the casting out will be the casting out of demons from a child of God.

You can question all you want and should until your mind is settled on the matter, but the question remains ... give one example from the Word of God of a child of God being demon possessed and requiring someone to cast the demon out of them.

Regarding your last paragraph only a fool would attempt to cast out a demon and not be sure that it is a demon they are seeking to cast out. There is a great difference from saying that demons can cause sickness, have caused sickness or is causing the sickness. You do not cast out oppression, you pray against it.

Lastly, do yo realize in the second article the moment he states that he asked the Lord and the Lord told him "such and such" he is presenting this no longer as his opinion, but rather as God's word that must be accepted as true ... yet it does not align with the Word of God and therefore cannot be true.

Lord Bless,

LT

Frankly I have not stated I believe in possession of Christians or not until just this past week to someone in private based on what I felt God had revealed to me. And I doubt you'd be right if you were to guess my opinion on it. ;-)

So I cannot understand this, excuse the pun, obsession with possession. OK I had to get that one out of my system. LOL

But let me ask a question...

I can't point to exact quotes or even context but I can pretty assuredly say I know you've spoken of people mishearing God then getting discouraged when something doesn't happen the way they thought God told them.

Lastly, do yo realize in the second article the moment he states that he asked the Lord and the Lord told him "such and such" he is presenting this no longer as his opinion, but rather as God's word that must be accepted as true ... yet it does not align with the Word of God and therefore cannot be true.

So he couldn't have misheard? And I still don't see where it does or doesn't line up with something that is not In the Word. Absence of a clear reference isn't the same as saying scripture says something. In other words, because it doesn't specifically say born again cannot be possessed, that doesn't mean absence of such a statement that they can be proves the opposite.

Seek,


I can't point to exact quotes or even context but I can pretty assuredly say I know you've spoken of people mishearing God then getting discouraged when something doesn't happen the way they thought God told them.

There is a difference between your question and what was stated in article 2. I will come back to that below. When one believes they have heard from God they need to go to the Word of God to first see if what they think they have heard aligns with Him. If it does not it cannot have been God. We also have precedence in Scripture that we are to take time and be sure before we act, but once sure … then act. We live in a time where it is vogue to claim to have had a personal word from God … in fact unless you do in some circles you are looked down on. Thus, because of the pressure to hear God in order to be “normal” many are opening themselves up to the deception of the enemy who masquerades as an angel of light. Lastly, if it did not happen like they thought God told them then the reality is God did not tell them. There is quite a bit more that could be said on this, but I will stop here.

 

Lastly, do yo realize in the second article the moment he states that he asked the Lord and the Lord told him “such and such” he is presenting this no longer as his opinion, but rather as God’s word that must be accepted as true … yet it does not align with the Word of God and therefore cannot be true. (LT’s comment)


So he couldn't have misheard?

No. He states he had a conversation with the Lord. I am not aware of one example in Scripture where God spoke a clear statement (and not prophecy) that the hearer later found out that they misunderstood and operated on a false premise. He does not say I believe this is what the Lord told me … He says the Lord told ne such and such and now he teaches it as fact.

 

And I still don't see where it does or doesn't line up with something that is not In the Word. Absence of a clear reference isn't the same as saying scripture says something. In other words, because it doesn't specifically say born again cannot be possessed, that doesn't mean absence of such a statement that they can be proves the opposite.

You do not build a doctrine on that which is missing. Doctrine is determined from that which is stated. There are many texts that give us reason why this cannot be, but there are no texts that give credence to this belief that a child of God can be demonically possessed.

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