Demonic Possession/Exorcisms

[eaglesway]

I believe and know that the old Dragon, the Serpent, the Devil, the Adversary is very real.
But I personally have found no evidence that the enemy is a " person," as what the definition of a person is. A spirit being yes.

I am the one who referred to Satan as a person.
But I never said Satan was a real person - period. 
What I said was, "I tend to believe he is a real person (not human, but for lack of a better term, a person).
Meaning a real being, as opposed to a metaphor.
Just for clarification. :winkgrin: Wouldn't want to get caught up in a battle over wording. :laughing7:

Okay. I do understand the difficulty, I am right there as well. When I try to put the adversary into a
word of description, I always settle for "it." I myself, at least not yet, find it ridiculous to personify the Devil. :dsunny:

Yet, wouldnt you say that the scriptures personify him?

[micah7:9]

EW, I have to answer that, with a yes, and in the same breath, also ask, since the scriptures do, why have I not been led to see the devil/adversary as a person? Some translations use "it" most use "him he" and they vary in some verses. Perhaps, my understanding of identifing a person and a spirit being differs in my walk. In my walk the enemy does not accuse and attack me as or in the form of what the definition of a person is. :HeartThrob: :dsunny:

[eaglesway]

Yes, I understand that, but since the scriptures, at least to some signifigant extent DO characterize hom as a person.....isnt it a little strong to characterize the concept as "ridiculous" :o)

[micah7:9]

Yes, I understand that, but since the scriptures, at least to some signifigant extent DO characterize hom as a person.....isnt it a little strong to characterize the concept as "ridiculous" :o)

"Okay. I do understand the difficulty, I am right there as well. When I try to put the adversary into a
word of description, I always settle for "it." I myself, at least for now find in un perceiveable to personify the Devil. :dsunny: :)

[jbertonbounds]

Yes, I understand that, but since the scriptures, at least to some signifigant extent DO characterize hom as a person.....isnt it a little strong to characterize the concept as "ridiculous" :o)

LIKE

[micah7:9]

This is me being an idiot, has any one seen him, the person? I ask because should the Devil be a person can anyone that has seen "him" describe him to me? I've seen pictures of what the imagination of man exploits "him," as, but I have not found a biblical description. :dontknow:

[eaglesway]

I dont think anybody as at any point suggested that the adversary is jus some person like a guy walkin down the street somewhere.... the issue is whether 1)he is a sentient being with a personal ego/id or 2) just an essence/spirit or principle of our own fallen nature without personality, without a thinking mind and sense of self/being.

[micah7:9]

I'm sorry and I am serious, I don't understand what you said. Sentient being? Essence/spirit?

Whether "just some person"? Like a guy walking down the street? Then what is a person? :dontknow:

[Warhawk17]

This is me being an idiot, has any one seen him, the person? I ask because should the Devil be a person can anyone that has seen "him" describe him to me? I've seen pictures of what the imagination of man exploits "him," as, but I have not found a biblical description. :dontknow:

I think the Devil is just an evil spirit that manifests itself in people, and the demons are to Satan as to what the angels are to God. I think environments where there is a lot of fighting can attract those spirits or situations of sexual immorality where married couples watch porn. I think we all would agree that pornography destroys intimate relationships.

[jbertonbounds]

Porn is bad for your mental health!

Oops. Off topic.

[micah7:9]

"I think the Devil is just an evil spirit that manifests itself in people...."

Does that make that manifestation a "person"?

Porn is bad for your mental health? I can agree, but where did that come from?

[jbertonbounds]

Porn is bad for your mental health? I can agree, but where did that come from?

Here.

I think the Devil is just an evil spirit that manifests itself in people, and the demons are to Satan as to what the angels are to God. I think environments where there is a lot of fighting can attract those spirits or situations of sexual immorality where married couples watch porn. I think we all would agree that pornography destroys intimate relationships.

[Warhawk17]

"I think the Devil is just an evil spirit that manifests itself in people...."

Does that make that manifestation a "person"?

Porn is bad for your mental health? I can agree, but where did that come from?

I was just giving an example of a good target for these demonic spirits. I read something about the porn industry today, and it reinforced my beliefs that no one should support that organization. I will not elaborate on that though to avoid going off topic.

[micah7:9]

Well don't read articles about the porn industry and you will probably be a little better.  :2c:

[Warhawk17]

I don't know. I feel like we should educate ourselves on topics like that so we can reach out to people who are hurting and hurting others from abuse of things like that. Now to connect back to the topic a bit, I have struggled with porn before, and I always felt really guilty about it. I thought demons were possessing me, and I would have nightmares about hideous creatures doing unspeakable things to me. When I found out this wonderful truth, my burden was lifted, and I was freed from a lot of the struggles I was having.

Now this is just my personal experience so don't take it to the bank as scriptural truth, but I think the demons I had were manifesting themselves in guilt as in God was mad at me for sinning and fear for the punishment I thought I would receive. I guess those thoughts made me rebel a bit more in my thoughts and actions against God and bring me farther away from God. I will tell you, there is no moment you feel farther away from God than when you believe He is just ready to strike you down for your sins at any moment.

[micah7:9]

Well, my only advice is don't try to hack into the "Medicine" thread! :LH:

[lomarah]

Awesome Warhawk, the Truth sets free.  :cloud9:  :friendstu:

[Warhawk17]

It sure does! :dsunny: My life has been so much more peaceful ever since I have known the truth.

[lomarah]

Amen, mine too. And not for lack of wind and waves all about me, that's for sure lol!  :smile: God is good.  :HeartThrob:

[musicman]

I remember reading an article about "demons"  if I can remember correctly, it mentioned that when the fallen angels came and had sex with the females on earth and created the "nephlim" or giants as in the old testiment who ended up being canibals etc....  then after the flood that wiped them all away (some believe the flood didn't wipe away the whole world, but thats a seperate discussion...)  then these nephlim spirits still excisted after the flood but without bodies.  so this artlice went on about these demonic spirits being from those times.  spirits of lust, depression, self hate, fear, worry, addiction, the list goes on... basically all that isn't "godly"  its really interesting isn't it.  you could just look at it all as "ego"  if that way helps you change your ways then great.  i guess instead of casting out evil spirits through prayers in jesus' name etc... I guess you could "starve" these spirits by recognizing the unrighteous acts in yourself and changing your ways and resisting the temptation of these demonic spirits, or "ego"  and sure enough you would think the spirit would pack up and leave and find a weaker willed body to inhabit.  ?? who knows.  I still like to remember when jesus said (forget what verse) that the laws are written on our hearts.    I really love that verse.  It shows us the answers are in our heart.  how do we know we are listening to our hearts and not "satin" or an "demonic spirit" ???  discernment.  but how do we know we are using discernment?  aahhh!  the deception can be so strong!  thats what I deal with these days,  we are living in the days of great deception.  how do we know we are really listening to our hearts?  are we being decieved?  help me   :laugh:

[marie glen]

I do not believe an evil spirit may enter a person that has the holy spirit of God residing in them. :Peace2:

:thumbsup:  Aggravate, but not infiltrate.

Amen!

I know I am way behind in this discussion, lol!

But I would agree with this:

Well, the manifestations that "devils" (strongs shuwd-malignancy) have are many, as in the scriptures. The madman of the Gadarenes was a good example. As to how you would kno there is a devil involved in a situation...... there is a gift of the spirit called "discernment of spirits"- that is one way. Another is just by the manifestation itself. I have seen spirits(had my eyes opened to see spirits)- I think this is one operation of the gift of discerning of spirits. I once was in a room where a girl who had become demon possessed was being prayed for. The demons in her were speaking to people in the room that she did not kno personally, with knowledge of details of their lives, combined with many insults and "glory to Satan" praises etc.  One of the men in the room( a minister in this street ministry in Detroit Mich.) stood up to strike the girl. At this I grabbed him to stop him and the girl got up to leave.

The Lord spoke to me, "Tell her to sit down and shut up in the name of Jesus". So I looked over at her and said, (I was a relatively new beliver at the time but I am good at following instructions), "Sit down and shut up in the name of Jesus" and it was like an invisible hand slapped her down on her back and she stayed there, unable to get up for several hours until some brothers from another inner city ministry that had more experience with deliverance came and picked her up. She became a  isciple of Chrsit and I saw her around the fellowship a few times after that.

I have had a few other experiences of supernatural healing and deliverance along the way in my walk with God.

I ask no one to take my word on these things, if they run contrary to your doctrinal beliefs write me off as a madman ;o) I really dont care :o)

...never seen it that clearly or been that close to it.. but have 'seen' somewhat like it.. and it rings true to me.

I believe there are many demons and many angels (twice as many). I personally believe they are around causing more troubles, or at the root of more troubles than we know.. i also think they operate as an army with commanders and the like, campaigns or orders and ways of doing things, with many going forth with the same orders, which is why some things seem to multiply.. suicide(s) for instance, and I shudder to even write the word, but it seems to be 'catching' they say.. I don't suppose I would say all troubles come from the dark angels/entities, but a whole bunch, yes, and each one, or trouble, is based on a lie, the foundation being untruth, but the sWord of truth delivers and sets right.. imo :))

I also believe dark spirit/entities/fallen-angels work at being obstacles and impediments to truth, to the gospel, to UR, to the tearing down of that blasphemy 'hell'.. etc.. etc.. Also think they are the real "conspiracy" (as to conspiracy theories) - with the 'god of the air' being literal - 'god of the air'waves.. influencing the minds.. whole societal trends.. etc.

Nothing to fear though! heavens no! We've read the back of the Book!! :)) God wins ALL!! it's all serving a (divine) purpose :))

[marie glen]

..been reading through so many GOOD replies, but can't keep quoting them all :rolllol: (and still only on the 1st page)

..there's a phrase which comes to my mind when someone is very angry or extremely frustrated or in a very bad mood.. I know I read somewhere in a novel.. the phrase is "in the grip of a foul spirit"

I'm thinking the writer meant it as a nice turn of words meaning to be in a foul mood, but I read it differently, tho I didn't when I first read it!

It's sort of like when I read "Robinson Crusoe" at like age 12 and kept reading "Providence" did this, "Providence did that" - I didn't realize this as more than a fancy turn on words!! til much later that is :))

[eaglesway]

Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him 1 Samuel 16:14


A spirit came forth and stood before the Lord and said, "I will persuade him" . And the Lord said, "How will you do it?" The spirit replied, "I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouth of His prophets". The Lord said, "You will persuade Him, go on and do it."


A couple of verses for people who think they know it all. :o)

[micah7:9]

Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him 1 Samuel 16:14


A spirit came forth and stood before the Lord and said, "I will persuade him" . And the Lord said, "How will you do it?" The spirit replied, "I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouth of His prophets". The Lord said, "You will persuade Him, go on and do it."


A couple of verses for people who think they know it all. :o)

Well, sir and friend I am not one of them folk who think they know it all, but I agree.

[eaglesway]

I love those two narratives (the fall of Saul and the fall of Ahab). Behold both the kindness and the severity of the Lord. Our God is full of mystery and i am glad it is so :o)