[TruthTalk] Spiritual Realities

[Judy Taylor]

Good Morning Terry and whoever might be interested, Just continuing the brief overview of spiritual realities which touches on the subject of spirit oppression/possession with regard to professing believers......   During his earthly ministry Jesus explained that defilement did not come from the outside (see Mark 7:21-23) "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things COME FROM WITHIN and defile the man"   This is why we so desperately need to be Born Again or born of the Spirit which happens when we agree with God, first recognizing, then taking responsibility for renouncing and repenting (turning from) our own sin.  At this point the Comforter/Holy Spirit comes to indwell us and to lead us into all truth.   Where does the Holy Spirit dwell?  In our spirit because he is Spirit. Are we completely pure and holy when He comes to indwell us? No, because if we were there would be no need for sanctification. Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy "the GOAL of the instruction is love from a PURE heart... So the walk of salvation is a walk of sanctification.   What is a demon?  The word demon is not really scriptural.. the scriptures speak of devils and spirits.  The father of the boy with seizures said a spirit would take him and throw him into the fire. Can a Christian be deceived by lying spirits? Can a Christian be taken ill by spirits of infirmity? Can a Christian be persecuted by evil spirits? Can evil spirits use well meaning people to spread heresy? Can familiar or family spirits hinder spiritual health and growth?   I believe the answer to all of the above is yes they can and this is why the spiritual gifts are so important in the Church and why it is especially important for believers to have their sense exercised to discern between good and evil since thoughts may be generated by the five physical senses, from our own memory, by the spirit of God or the evil spirit.  This is why we must take thoughts captive (and examine them) to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).   As for the evil spirit and the Holy Spirit being in the same place at the same time - they are anyway.  Both spirits are in this world as we speak.  They are together in Job 1:6 when they present themselves before God.  They are also together when the High Priest stands before the Lord and satan is at his right hand to accuse him in Zechariah 3:1. They were both in the same place at the same time when we responded to the gospel the first time.   Can a Christian be demon possessed?  Not so long as we are walking in all the light we have and purposing in our hearts to serve the Lord because the greater one is able to cause us to stand.    "We can give thanks always to God because we are beloved of the Lord and he has from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"   ( 2 Thess 13 - my paraphrase)   Grace and Peace, Judy