Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed By Your Name, Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, On Earth, As It Is In Heaven
Can A Man Be Possessed?
“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:13 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.13.NKJ
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Can a man be possessed or demonised?
Who is “us” in the Lord’s Prayer, and who is Jesus referring to by the “evil one”?
Many Christians don’t believe in the existence of evil spirits and demons, but if you believe the Word of God, one must except that the devil and his army of evil spirits and demons are very real and at times need to be bound or cast out.
In fact, it is written, ”For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.“
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
In Jesus’ ministry there is just as much emphasis on casting out demons as healing the sick. But the truth is, deliverance is key to healing.
Some believe that Christians can be demonised, but not possessed, because they see possession as ownership, and the devil owns no one.
But actually, possession does not mean ownership. If someone steals a car, the thief has possession and control, but he doesn’t own it; when caught he has to get out and leave the vehicle. It’s the same when squatters enter a house, the bailiff will come with a court order from the judge and evict the intruder. That is what is needed to cast out an evil spirit-an order from the Judge in the courts of heaven.
Some believe that an unbeliever can be demonised but not Christians because of the in dwelling Holy Spirit. They say “there is no room for the co-existence of a demon”. Those who hold this view often refer to 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
The new believer has been “Born Again” and his once dead spirit through sin is alive in God. But that doesn’t instantly exempt him from the temptations and pressures of life or physical sickness. If it did, everyone would climb out of the baptism water instantly healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ (ISAIAH 53:3-5).
My beloved, their would be no need to lay hands on anyone for healing or deliverance.
However, although some are delivered at baptism, many are not; believers still battle anxiety/ depression, suicidal thoughts, and remain bound in addiction.
Since these problems continue to persist, it’s not difficult to come to the conclusion they need deliverance. Furthermore, James gave us the process; he said, ”Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.“
James 4:7 NKJV
Submit to God, repent, turn from sin; rebuke the devil, verbally command him out, and he shall flee from you.
Furthermore, people who fall back into sin are like the lost sheep of Israel, they because of their continued sin have fallen away from God and therefore they are not only loosing their protection, but they open the door to allow the devil in.
It is clear from the gospels and Acts that many people, both Jews and Gentiles were in need of deliverance.
In one account, Jesus set a woman free from a spirit of infirmity who the devil had kept bound for eighteen years (LUKE 13:10-16). Jesus called her a daughter of Abraham (LUKE 13:16); very clearly this woman, a daughter of Abraham, was a child of God in the synagogue. She wasn’t exempt from being demonised because she was a child of God.
In another gospel story, Jesus was approached by a woman of Canaan who cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed MATHEW 15:22). “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That is today God’s Spirit filled believers. “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”” (The unbelievers).
Matthew 15:23-26 NKJV
This suggest that deliverance is only for “us”-God’s very own children Jesus speaks of in the Lord’s Prayer. And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Matthew 15:27-28 NKJV
God is faithful to all who believe; she through faith, became a child of God, then Jesus said, “Your faith is great”, and her daughter received her healing that very hour.
We humans are made up of three parts, spirit, soul (mind, will and emotions), and flesh.
When one is saved, the holy Spirit joins with our spirit and is brought to spiritual perfection.
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.“
Romans 8:12-17 NKJV
Our flesh is not perfected and craves to continue in sin and will eventually return to the dust it came from (ECCLESIASTES 12:7).
Therefore, Jesus came to save our souls (LUKE 19:10).
When one commits sin, the Holy Spirit must separate from the flesh and thus, opens the door to the demonic.
But however, they cannot touch our spirit that is joined to the Holy Spirit and made perfect.
But now we believers are becoming aware that we can, through sin, become demonised, what can we do to stay free?
The Bible gives us good instruction: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
I Peter 5:8-9 NKJV
These devils are never far away; they are opportunists looking for a way in.
We believers are in a spiritual battle and need to use all the weapons of our warfare. Therefore, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Ephesians 6:11-18 NKJV
Furthermore, ““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV
Some bible versions say “foothold”. The Greek word for foothold is “topaz”, which means a place. It is used several times in the gospels and Acts to mean a region or location. It can also mean a room; that is to say a room or location within your flesh, from where the demons can influence your mind, will, and emotions, your very soul.
When a believer falls into sin, he opens a door that allows the devil’s into that locality of our character because he has come into agreement with the devil. Furthermore, they enter through the sin of our ancestors and bring generational curses.
Although some demons leave quietly, most don’t.
It is rather foolish to think they automatically leave at baptism without any kind of drama, since when Jesus cast out demons, He commanded they leave and then they came out screaming (MARK 9:26).
Like squatters, they are not likely to give up their home without a fight. Furthermore, ”“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”“
Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV
Therefore, having cast them out, one must fill the space with God’s furnishings, His Word, prayers and worship, and keep the door firmly shut by sinning no more.
In today’s Church their is much sin, sexual immorality, lies, and deceit. The truth is, we cannot remain righteous in our own strength and need the help of the Holy Spirit (see JOHN 14:15-18).
We all have a choice, to walk in the Spirit or in the flesh.
Our flesh naturally commits sin, in deed, is a part of our character inherited from Adam and Eve (ROMANS 5:12). We cannot be right with God in our own strength and need the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit to put to death the lust of the flesh.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:16-21 NKJV
Clearly if we continue in sin we shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, therefore lose our protection and hand ourselves to the devil.
My beloved, sin opens the doors to the devil and his slippery slope that drags down into the darkness and death.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
My brethren, we all have moments when we don’t have words to pray. But the Lord’s prayer is perfect; it covers every situation.
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever. Amen.
