Many different christians have many different opinions as to what role demons (or evil spirits) play in our lives. Many people, imho, tend to overdue it a bit by blaming most decisions and things that happen to us as some kind of demonic influence or activity, while others don't address it at all. I am somewhere in the middle. I know that they are real, and I know that we have an enemy that "seeks to devour", but I also know that many times in my life, I go through things as a result of a poor choice I have made. As I have said, I am somewhere in the middle, and I wanted to discuss with others what they think about evil spirits, and the role that they play in our lives. I'm not sure where this thread will go (or if it will even take off at all), so feel free to make your comments and expand on what I have just said.

La Rubia:
Many different christians have many different opinions as to what role demons (or evil spirits) play in our lives. Many people, imho, tend to overdue it a bit by blaming most decisions and things that happen to us as some kind of demonic influence or activity, while others don't address it at all. I am somewhere in the middle. I know that they are real, and I know that we have an enemy that "seeks to devour", but I also know that many times in my life, I go through things as a result of a poor choice I have made. As I have said, I am somewhere in the middle, and I wanted to discuss with others what they think about evil spirits, and the role that they play in our lives. I'm not sure where this thread will go (or if it will even take off at all), so feel free to make your comments and expand on what I have just said.

We need to moderate our postions. The Bible speaks of the flesh, the world, and demonic as being our enemies. To discount any of them would be a disservice to us and God's Word. We need to be aware of these wicked spirits for they are real and they do influence people. No wonder Paul tells in Ephesians 4 to not let the devil a "foothold"!

I think you are right, freak. But how are spirits affecting people other than an outright demon- possesion? In what ways are they causing problems for believers? The reason that I ask is that many people seem to think that everything that is happening to them is caused by the devil, when it is actually something that THEY in fact caused for themselves, then there are others who seem to act like the demons died out when the apostles did, too. How do we make a distinction and discern whether or not there is definitely spiritual activity regarding a problem we are facing? (I guess I could answer my own question by asking God for the gift of discernment- I didn't think of it until now).

Ephesians 6
12For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

To discount demonic warfare is unscriptural. But so is the opposite extreme of seeing a demon behind every tree, and blaming all our problems on it. I agree with what I take Freak and La Rubia to be saying, that we have to have a balence and even-headedness in these matters, and discernment.

C. S. Lewis is wise in Screwtape to warn against outright naturalism AND an "excessive and unhealthy interest" the demonic.

Just food for thought.

How do we make a distinction and discern whether or not there is definitely spiritual activity regarding a problem we are facing?

La Rubia:

I am not sure. That is one of the questions I have been trying to articulate to Freak. When do you know that a person is demonized, or just troubled by natural causes.

One thing to remember that a lot of times we don't need to be certain before about it. We can just pray for wisdom and keep doing the right thing, and trusting God to help us, because he knows.

:)

Gavin:
La Rubia:

I am not sure. That is one of the questions I have been trying to articulate to Freak. When do you know that a person is demonized, or just troubled by natural causes.

One thing to remember that a lot of times we don't need to be certain before about it. We can just pray for wisdom and keep doing the right thing, and trusting God to help us, because he knows.

:)

La Rubia--

There are various degrees of demonic affliction or demonization (control). Since evil spirits vary in power and wickedness, their degree of depravity differs from case to case. In detecting demonic activity one may look for the following characteristics: an extreme resistance to spiritual things, unfounded fear, alteration of the voice, spells of unconsciousness, aversion to prayer and God’s Word, supernatural strength, changes in facial demeanor, epileptic-like convulsions, anesthesia to pain, catatonic symptoms (i.e. falling down), clairvoyance abilities, and the ability to speak in languages not known to the individual experiencing the demonic affliction. These elements are not from the "world" or the "flesh" but rather from the world of the demonic.

Prov 3:4-7
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
KJV


Over the years i have seen a thread of (spiritism) if a group of people are worshiping in the "GIFTS" living in the "GIFTS" working in the "GIFTS" then the same group of people seem to see, worry, think on demonic forces also.


Mark 9:41
41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
KJV

No evil is stronger then the power of GOD one cannot be long ot CHRIST and be "possesed" by demonic spirits

To discount demonic warfare is unscriptural. But so is the opposite extreme of seeing a demon behind every tree, and blaming all our problems on it. I agree with what I take Freak and La Rubia to be saying, that we have to have a balence and even-headedness in these matters, and discernment.

well said Gavin

Freak mentioned characteristics. Reasonable for sure. But has anyone here ever experienced whatever the manifestation of "discerning of spirits" is? I was taught that that was revelation from God of the presense or absence of a spirit and whether or not you are allowed to cast it out. Freak, what about you? Have you ever been given some personal indication from the Lord regarding any situation?

after I posted, I saw the "casting out devil spirits" thread. I'll have to read that.

You think evil spirits are bad? How about ZOMBIE THREADS?????

For me, I go back to what the BIble says on the subject. In the OT the words "evil spriits" are used only a few times, once in Jdg 9:23 and six times in 1 Sam 16 - 19. In each case, the Ruakh Raa (evil spirit) is said to have come from God. Through out the OT, the source of evil is God. Deuteronomy
30:15 says "See, I have set before thee this day life (ha-khayim) and good (ha-tob), and death (ha-mevet) and evil (ha-ra)" . In Judges 9:23 God sends an evil spirit (rukh raah) between Sechem and Abimelek as punishment for the crimes of Jerub-Baals sons. Four times in 1 Samuel 16
Saul is afflicted by an "evil sprit from God" (rukh-Elohim raah). In Neh 13:18 it says "? and did not our God bring all this evil (ha-raah) upon us ?". Job asks his wife rhetorically?"What? shall we receive good at the hand of
God, and shall we not [also] receive evil (ha-raa)" ! Isa 45:7 has Yahweh say "I form the light , and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil : I the LORD do all these [things]".

Evil and good are both tools in God's hand. He rewards good with good and evil with evil. Any evil spirit is serving God. At least that is what the Bible says.

Originally posted by darth rubia

Many different christians have many different opinions as to what role demons (or evil spirits) play in our lives. Many people, imho, tend to overdue it a bit by blaming most decisions and things that happen to us as some kind of demonic influence or activity, while others don't address it at all. I am somewhere in the middle. I know that they are real, and I know that we have an enemy that "seeks to devour", but I also know that many times in my life, I go through things as a result of a poor choice I have made. As I have said, I am somewhere in the middle, and I wanted to discuss with others what they think about evil spirits, and the role that they play in our lives. I'm not sure where this thread will go (or if it will even take off at all), so feel free to make your comments and expand on what I have just said.

Originally posted by Carl Smuda

Freak mentioned characteristics. Reasonable for sure. But has anyone here ever experienced whatever the manifestation of "discerning of spirits" is? I was taught that that was revelation from God of the presense or absence of a spirit and whether or not you are allowed to cast it out. Freak, what about you? Have you ever been given some personal indication from the Lord regarding any situation?

after I posted, I saw the "casting out devil spirits" thread. I'll have to read that.

I have had first hand experiences with evil spirits. The first memory I have of having a relization of "good" and "evil" was from when I was about 4-5 years old. I beleive we were living in a house that belonged to the church that my father was preaching at, in North Dakota, on an Indian resevation. I remember meeting these three indian boys, I think we called them our "foster brothers" or maybe our "Indian brothers"? I am not real sure. But I remember that I had a fear of them that would make me sick inside. But at such a young age, it didn't make sense to me, and I'm still trying to sort out memories. But there was a spiritual presence about them, and I beleive that my spirit knew that, which is why I would become so sick inside.

Oh they were great fun, I remember we would all play together, and there were times that the fear was not so strong, but there were other times when I could not stand to be alone with them. But there were other times that I just can;t even explain......but there is one instance....the 3 brothers were in their room, which was in the basement. The basement was a scary place for a 4-5 year old, where my father would hang the deer, it was dark and it was cold....but I remember sitting at the top of the stairs, listtening, wanting desparatly to peek around the corner to see what was going on. And in a flash, my father had stepped over me, Bible in hand, as he paused long enough to tell me, "do not come down here, no matter what you hear!"

From the boys room in the basement, I heard 'bangs' and 'thumps' and earth shattering noises that I had never heard before! and then my father was gone, deep in the middle of flying furniture, and the boys being tossed around the basement like rag dolls! I peeked....and to this day, I wish I hadn't.

The screaming and the wailing and surrounding noises grew louder, as if what ever it was that was trapped in the basement was trying to free itself and invade teh entire house. The next thing I heard was my father, yelling at teh boys with the typical, "what's going on here?" And then he began to pray, and all I heard was, "In the name of Jesus, leave this house!" And he began repeating that over and over.....I caught my father's rythem and said with him, "in the name of Jesus, leave this house!" and all fell silent, except for the whimpers from the 3 indian boys now huddled together on the floor.

My father flew up the steps and left the house and went next door to the church. Not another word was said to me about that day. I don't even know if my mother knows about it, I think I mentioned it a time or two, but even still, I feel almost foolish for having a memory like that. This incident was not the first, or the last incident/memory I have of these boys, but it's the one that rings out in my memory as if it just happened. And shortly after that, one of the brothers had a bad snowmobile accident and they were taken to live with another family. I still have the wind-up teddy bear the oldest boy gave to me when they left our home.

As I got older, I had similar incidents. There was even a girl I went to high school with, and we (a group of christian teens) ended up praying over this girl, but I'll save that for another day. The majority of my memory of these events consist of my repeating a simple phrase, "in the name of Jesus, demons you must leave!"

I almost dont want to share this memory, becasue I haven't told anyone yet, but for the sake of this topic, I will share....after my husband and I were married and we moved into our first home (in Okinawa) I remember that the first night I didn't sleep well, and the second night I awoke to the overpowering feeling that I was being held down. My arms and legs would not move, my mouth felt as if it was being held shut, and all I could do was listen to the hissing sounds I heard moving through the room and shift my eyes from side to side. At first I tried to reason that we were living in Japanese houses, there were bugs, they made noise, go back to sleep....but I couldn't sleep. So I began to pray, at first I couldn't form the words, as if whatever force was holding me down was also holding my tounge to prevent me from speaking, but as I continued to pray I began to repeat "I claim this house in Jesus name, Satan leave!" And one those words rolled off my mouth, the pressure that had been holding me still was gone.

I sometimes think these last few paragraphs are reasons I don't stick with writing in a journal. In a world so filled with people being "labeled" with pysc disorders, I am a little worried my own family may have me committed. (wow, I can't beleive I just said that.)

Originally posted by Theonomy

You think evil spirits are bad? How about ZOMBIE THREADS?????

With or without pesto?

The thing we need to remember about evil spirits is that we have a guardian angel, and if we choose to send off the evil one, that guardian will keep him off... But if we open the door a little, we will get into a whole lot of trouble, for that little crack that we open up voluntarily, even with just so little an entertaining of the idea of the attraction of that sin, ties the hands of our guardian, and then we have a big time fight on our hands...

So that out intellect is the guard dog of our soul - It stands watch, and immediately, without hesitation, attacks and drives out ANY demonic uprising or image or thought... Demons hate an aroused intellect that hates them... "Be angry, and do not sin..." is the instruction... One cannot be mentally adrift and fight resist sin... The intellect is to be disciplined to its vigilant role...

Arsenios

Originally posted by Reba

one cannot be long ot CHRIST and be "possesed" by demonic spirits

This is simply not true.

I have an acquaintance who is apart of a revival in a South American country, and out of all of the demons that 'manifest' during these meetings (of thousands of people) 90% of these people are Christian. A Christian can be demonically oppressed, influenced, and possessed.

Jesus said that whoever sins is a slave of sin. The question isn't can Christians be bound by demonic influence, the question is, in what area are they.

I am very very skeptical of people with "evil spirit" and "gifts" testimonies, because only people who belong to groups that already believe in such things experience them. Mostly, at least. I don't deny the possibiity of it all together, but I think if it happens, its very rare, and not something worth the concern alot of churches place on it. our sin is our sin. No demons makin' us do it.

Originally posted by semmie'ssister

I have had first hand experiences with evil spirits. The first memory I have of having a relization of "good" and "evil" was from when I was about 4-5 years old. I beleive we were living in a house that belonged to the church that my father was preaching at, in North Dakota, on an Indian resevation. I remember meeting these three indian boys, I think we called them our "foster brothers" or maybe our "Indian brothers"? I am not real sure. But I remember that I had a fear of them that would make me sick inside. But at such a young age, it didn't make sense to me, and I'm still trying to sort out memories. But there was a spiritual presence about them, and I beleive that my spirit knew that, which is why I would become so sick inside.

Oh they were great fun, I remember we would all play together, and there were times that the fear was not so strong, but there were other times when I could not stand to be alone with them. But there were other times that I just can;t even explain......but there is one instance....the 3 brothers were in their room, which was in the basement. The basement was a scary place for a 4-5 year old, where my father would hang the deer, it was dark and it was cold....but I remember sitting at the top of the stairs, listtening, wanting desparatly to peek around the corner to see what was going on. And in a flash, my father had stepped over me, Bible in hand, as he paused long enough to tell me, "do not come down here, no matter what you hear!"

From the boys room in the basement, I heard 'bangs' and 'thumps' and earth shattering noises that I had never heard before! and then my father was gone, deep in the middle of flying furniture, and the boys being tossed around the basement like rag dolls! I peeked....and to this day, I wish I hadn't.

The screaming and the wailing and surrounding noises grew louder, as if what ever it was that was trapped in the basement was trying to free itself and invade teh entire house. The next thing I heard was my father, yelling at teh boys with the typical, "what's going on here?" And then he began to pray, and all I heard was, "In the name of Jesus, leave this house!" And he began repeating that over and over.....I caught my father's rythem and said with him, "in the name of Jesus, leave this house!" and all fell silent, except for the whimpers from the 3 indian boys now huddled together on the floor.

My father flew up the steps and left the house and went next door to the church. Not another word was said to me about that day. I don't even know if my mother knows about it, I think I mentioned it a time or two, but even still, I feel almost foolish for having a memory like that. This incident was not the first, or the last incident/memory I have of these boys, but it's the one that rings out in my memory as if it just happened. And shortly after that, one of the brothers had a bad snowmobile accident and they were taken to live with another family. I still have the wind-up teddy bear the oldest boy gave to me when they left our home.

As I got older, I had similar incidents. There was even a girl I went to high school with, and we (a group of christian teens) ended up praying over this girl, but I'll save that for another day. The majority of my memory of these events consist of my repeating a simple phrase, "in the name of Jesus, demons you must leave!"

I almost dont want to share this memory, becasue I haven't told anyone yet, but for the sake of this topic, I will share....after my husband and I were married and we moved into our first home (in Okinawa) I remember that the first night I didn't sleep well, and the second night I awoke to the overpowering feeling that I was being held down. My arms and legs would not move, my mouth felt as if it was being held shut, and all I could do was listen to the hissing sounds I heard moving through the room and shift my eyes from side to side. At first I tried to reason that we were living in Japanese houses, there were bugs, they made noise, go back to sleep....but I couldn't sleep. So I began to pray, at first I couldn't form the words, as if whatever force was holding me down was also holding my tounge to prevent me from speaking, but as I continued to pray I began to repeat "I claim this house in Jesus name, Satan leave!" And one those words rolled off my mouth, the pressure that had been holding me still was gone.

I sometimes think these last few paragraphs are reasons I don't stick with writing in a journal. In a world so filled with people being "labeled" with pysc disorders, I am a little worried my own family may have me committed. (wow, I can't beleive I just said that.)

Whoa...

Originally posted by Theonomy

You think evil spirits are bad? How about ZOMBIE THREADS?????

Bad Theonomy! Resurrecting a dead thread!