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"POSSESSION" AND "DEMONIZATION" Can "Christians" Be Demonized?"       By way of clarification, the terms "possession" or "being possessed" are used by Charismatic to refer to the deliverance ministry [exorcism] where evil spirits are being casted out from the afflicted persons. Writers and commentators who are "born again" use the terms "demonization" and "being demonized" and they have the same meaning with that of the former terms. During the sojourning time of Jesus Christ the Bible recorded four(4) cases of exorcism:       (1) The Gerasenes exorcism [Matthew 8:28-34;Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39]       (2) The possessed man of Capernacum [Mark 2:23-28; Mark 14:26-31].       (3) The dumb man [Matthew 9:32-34; Luke 11:14-15]. and       (4) The man who was blind and mute [Matthew 12:22-23].       There are sectors among the Christian believers who contend that Christians cannot be "demonized" or be "possessed." Proponents of this view cited relevant Biblical verses that they are no longer vulnerable to "possession" or "demonization" because by "believing Christ, they are already assured salvation"[Ephesians 2: 8-9;4:16],thereby negating any "possession". Also, since the body of man is the "temple of the Holy Spirit"[1 Corinthians 4:16]., possession or demonization of Christians, no longer spiritually possible. Is there truth to these statements? No.       As long as the "dimensional/cosmic barriers"[ie., spirits must take bodily parts to be "effective" or to be visualized in this material world] is not suspended by God, the Creator and Author of such rule, then, possession should not be ruled out because bad spirits must necessarily take material matters to be "operative" tempters/seducers in this world. Bad spirits need tempters and agents of destruction in bodily form on earth and to do so:       (1) They must use living and non-living things in order to carry out the Evil One plan of separating man from God.       (2) They must take or use human beings or animals to make effective their role as seducers/tempters of this world.       (3) They often times avail presently the "media" through immoral shows [pornography] songs and false doctrines.       While "possession" is still observable, nevertheless, it is of rare occurrence nowadays, because the conflict of good and evil is in the exercise of Man's FREE WILL. The common battleground is the brain/ the mind of man: bad thoughts are from the Devil and the good ones from God. Man's good conscience plays vital role in this spiritual warfare. However, it is noted nowadays that a lot of people have already distorted conscience or have been suffering from lack of it. In papal language- "dead conscience" exists in many cases. So ,we do not expect any good ideas, words or actions from men having a "dead conscience." And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things Anything in this world is therefore "ambivalent": good or bad depending upon the users thereof. Devil always for bad usage. God always good. Man uses anything in this world, either for good or bad depending upon the good or bad influences in the free exercise of his FREE WILL .Thus, this passage is of relevance:       "Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. You want thing, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.f And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? Whoever wants to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy. Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says: ' The spirit that god placed in us is filled with fierce desire.' But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble"[.James 4:1-10].       So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up"[.James 4:1-10;Hebrews 9:23-28;]. Man: In the Spiritual Warfare       As previously pointed out that in the spiritual warfare man is the object of such warfare. God saves mankind. The devil destroys. The devil since the beginning of time uses every scheme of temptation, lies and deception to destroy man and separate him from his Creator and in effect denying him ultimately, of eternal life. On the other hand, God uses everything to save mankind even at the price of the sacrificial blood and death of His only Son, which resulted in salvation [removal of the sins of the world] and also through His resurrection, the eternal life is assured to His believer/s.       Of all the creatures of God that may be involved in this spiritual warfare, only man can resist the Evil One. Man resists the Evil One not only by providing himself with the necessary spiritual protection but also assist or extend his helping hands to his fellowmen under diabolic siege. Unfortunately, in this spiritual warfare, he is also capable of not only destroying himself but also collaborating with his Enemies in the destruction of man [i.e., addicts of society making himself available to devil's usage, and purpose- killing, raping, robbing, seducing and molesting etc others].       One way to destroy himself spiritually is to deny the true nature of Jesus. Thus, this warning: "You also know that no lie ever comes from the truth. Who, then , is the liar? It is anyone who says that Jesus is not the Messiah. Such a person is the Enemy of Christ- he rejects both the Father and the Son. For whoever rejects the Son reject also the Father; whoever accepts the Son has the Father also.[1 John 2:22-23].       Jesus Christ is the one who came with the water of baptism and the blood of his death. He came not only with water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth. There are three witnesses: the spirit, the water and the blood ; and all three give the same testimony...."[ John 5:6-7]. The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the son of God does not have life.[I John 5:10-12]. Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [1 John 5:5]. There are evangelizers and spiritual healers who advocated for other Churches separate and distinct from the Catholic Church that started in the Pentecost and founded by Jesus himself. They preach also different Christs. So this clarificatory message of St. John is worth noting: "You were told that the Enemy of Christ would come; and now many enemies of Christ have already appeared, and so we know that the end is near. These people really did not belong to our fellowship, and that is why the left us if they had belonged to our fellowship, they would have stayed with us, But they left so that it might be clear the none of them really belonged to us"[ 1 John 2:18-19].       They assailed and questions Christ instituted sacraments of His Church, which are sources of sanctifying grace needed for man's salvation as "non-biblical." The modern biblical Christians and "born again" startedf teaching their converts to do away with the "sacramentals" feared most by the Evil One and his minions [i.e., the crucifix, scapulars,holy oil, holy water, icons, rosaries, blessed candles, "sign of the cross",etc.] and ordered them thrown away and destroyed under the pretext of being superstitious and "idolatrous" practices of the "Catholics" thereby denying credits to the Catholic Church, as originally founded by Jesus [perpetuated by His papacy ,starting with St.Peter] and as the genuine Teacher and Preserver of the Church Traditions and Bible.       This bring us to this serious issue. Since their teachings are different from the Christ being preached and taught by Christ's Apostles- Peter, Paul, John, etc. of the original Church, to what side then are they working? For God or for the enemy of God? St. Paul in his First Letter to Timothy warned about false teaching and false riches. Thus, "You teach and preach these things. Whoever teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching of our religion is swollen with pride and knows nothing.. He has an unhealthy desire to scourge and quarrel about words, and this brings on jealousy, disputes, insults, evil auspicious, and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich.       Well, religion does make a person very rich, if he is satisfied with what he has. What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing. So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows[1 Timothy ,6:3-10].       St. Paul's instructions about good deeds- "But you, man of God avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses"[1 Timothy, 6:11- 12]. and true richness in good works deserved to be heeded. Thus, "Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain things as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment. Commend them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and read to share with others. In this way they will store up for themselves a treasurer which will be solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life."[1 Timothy, 6:17-19]. Other Material Things       Living and non-living things, other than human beings used in the spiritual warfare or in healing ministry cannot resist of their being used by the Evil One. On the other hand, through the intercessory actions of the saints or those gifted instruments of divine healing, they used things for healing such:as the handkerchief and aprons used by St. Paul in healing. Or the earthly shadow of St. Peter , the "water" in Lourdes[France] the miraculous "icons" [i.e. miraculous medals,etc.]. Usually in the course of intercessory actions of the saints and other good spirits they choose their "look-alike". Just as the devils may choose their own kinds: serpents, ugly animals, etc. An interceding good spirit prefers his own "icon" or statue over that of a cat figurine or a picture of a naked woman in the house.       Expect Devil's choice on something frightening figures, something ugly, immoral, etc. Sacramental's in the house protect the house occupants [i.e. they drive evil and bad spirits away]. In the course of spiritual warfare, immoral and bad pictures or things in the house invite Satanic usage in the cosmic invasion or contamination .       Thanks God for this enlightenment! Back | Home | Next

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