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IV. What Place Can Satan Have In The Life Of A Believer?

The following is an attempt to evoke thought and inspection of a very controversial subject. A Christian isn’t more or less spiritual because of his views concerning the power of the demons in the life of the believer or whether or not a Christian can be inhabited by a demon. The question is more about biblical accuracy and proper action to deal with demonic situations.

       In Pro 6:27 the question is asked, Pro 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? Is the answer, “Only if he isn’t a Christian”?  In Gal 6:7-8 Paul makes a statement to Christians who were sinning, Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Will a man reap what he sows? Is the answer, “Only if he isn’t a Christian?” Paul warned in Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. If a man gives place to the devil, will the devil take it? Is the answer “Only if he isn’t a Christian?”

       If a Christian jumps off a tall building and violates the law of gravity, is he immune to the consequences? If a Christian participates in sinful or demonic activity is he immune from its power? Does sin still only work death? Does the fruit of sin change when one becomes a Christian? Is sin less sinful in the life of a believer? We are told we are at war with Satan. If we lower our shields and do not use the provided warfare equipment of God what will be the result? 

In vain will one find a portion of scripture that grants immunity to Christians from demonic attack and reaping of sin. This is contrary to numerous scriptures warning the believer against the power of the enemy and self-deception. Christians aren’t protected from the reaping of sin and disobedience just because they are Christians. A Christian can only withstand these things by putting on the whole armor of God, being obedient, and being filled daily with the Holy Spirit. 

Jam 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
 
 
The Scriptural Possibilities Of The Work Of Satan In A Believer
 
The following scriptures are a list of what the bible says the enemy can do to Christians. If what these verses say are true, then when can ask, “Is it really so hard to believe demons can penetrate under the skin of a Christian and inhabit our bodies for a period of time if we give place to him?”
 
  1. He can take a place in a Christian’s life.

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

What if a Christian gives him place, will Satan take it?

 
  1. He can oppose the Christian.

Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

What if a Christian doesn’t resist Satan?

 
  1. He can lead Christians astray.

1Ti 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Can young Christian widows leave their first love and fall into Satan’s trap?

 
  1. He can devour Christians. 
  2. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walk about, seeking whom he may devour
    1. Was this warning about being devoured given to Christians?
 
  1. Jesus said he can kill, steal, and destroy.
    1. Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
    2. 1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
    3. Does this ministry of Satan stop in the lives of Christians?
 
  1. He can tempt the Christian.
  2. 1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
    1. Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
    2. Can Satan put lies into the minds and hearts of married couple who disobey this scripture to the point of divorce, or anger and un-forgiveness? 
    3.  
 
  1. He can put thoughts in the mind of Christians.
    1. Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
    2.  Can’t Satan and demons still put wrong thoughts into people’s minds today. A thought must be within. God held Ananias accountable for entertaining Satan’s thought in his heart. Satan can hinder the work of the ministry.
 
  1. He can attack our bodies
    1. 2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
    2. Job 1,2
 
  1. He can deceive Christians.
    1. 2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
    2. Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
 
  1. He can trick Christians.
    1. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
 
  1. He can take advantage of Christians.
    1. 2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
    2. Satan can get advantage if our wills are not in line will God’s will.
 
  1. He can build a stronghold if a place is given.
 
    1. 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
    2. If we give place to Satan he will take the ground and build a fortaleza.
 
  1. He can speak through believers.
    1. Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
    2. Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? Luk 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
 
  1.  He can hinder Christians.
    1. 1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
    2. Can’t he hinder by discouragement, lies, and other people who may be influenced by him? Even an angel of God was hindered by one of Satan’s angels.
    3.  

The apostle Paul tells us that demons are involved in doctrines and personal lifestyle practice.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

We are told that if we as Christians fornicate we become one with the person with whom we fornicate. Somehow there is a joining that is spiritual in essence. If a Christian fornicated with a demonized person is it possible that the demons in the one were also joined to the Christian? 

1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

 

Paul told the Corinthians not to eat meat offered to idols, for in doing so they were participating with the demons connected to the idols. 

 

1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

Paul was speaking to a real problem that was taking place at Corinth. Christians were eating meat offered to idols. If a Christian was disobedient and participated with the demons by eating the meat, is he immune to any place given to the demons?

In my ministry I have come across demonized people who became Christians later in life. I am one that fell in this category. In my past I had given myself over to mind altering drugs, the supernatural, and eastern religion. Though later I gave my heart to Jesus I was tormented for over twenty years. I was taught in Bible College that a Christian could not have a demon so I never believed demons were the problem therefore I didn’t seek to have them removed. Much unnecessary grief was in my life as a result. Through the ministry of two Alliance missionaries, Jim and Dee Sunda I was set free from their vexation.

In my opinion we make the mistake to think that forgiveness of sins is synonymous to all the demons leaving simultaneously. I am not saying it isn’t possible that deliverance from demons can come the very moment Jesus enters into the heart, but I am saying there is no example of it in the bible. It is clear that all demonized people recorded in the bible had to have the demons cast out. Truly we must believe that demonized people can hear and believe the gospel. If this is true then we must ask the question, “Do all the demons leave the bodies of the believer the moment they believe?” There is no scripture that answers this question.

This section was intended for thought and to consider if it is really strange to think about a demon in a Christian. As we have seen, Satan can do a host of things to us, so why couldn’t demons penetrate our bodies.

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Last modified: April 2, 2008 10:55 AM