Demons

[Melonie]

I'm curious to know people's opinions on demons and their existances. For example, do you believe that they appear to people physically sometimes?

I've talked to people about this, and I'm not completely sure about it. I've had experiences where I had seen a spirit, twice. Of course the option of, "maybe it was your imagination" can't be completely excused; however, I'm pretty certain of what I saw.

The first time I was putting my makeup on, looking in the mirror, when I saw the reflection of a little girl standing behind me. I looked back and she was not there. I never said anything about it to my family until months later, when we moved to a different state. After I told my mom, she had a surprised look on her face, and she told me that our neighbor had told my dad that he saw a little girl, on several occasions, that terrified him. I found it rather odd that we both say we saw the same thing, when I never told anyone about it, nor did I know about what he saw.

Not long after that I saw a hooded figure walking outside in the neighbor's yard. Again, maybe it was my imagination, but I was pretty certain of it.

At the time, we had neighbors who, rumor had it, were satanist. If I ever saw their daughters, I would say hello to them, while they would stare me down with blank looks on their face. It was weird...

But yeah, I was curious as to what people think about this. Do you think I saw a demon? Or could that have been the spirit of a little girl that was dead?

I talked to my dad about what he thought about the subject yesterday. He brought up some interesting points as well. He said that as Christians, we have no reason to be afraid of demons, becauset hey can't hurt us; however, we have the ability, through Christ, to rebuke them which in turn cast them away from earth and can send them to the abyss, which he assumes is hell. Dad said that the demons don't want to go there, and they're enjoying themselves on earth. They prefer to inhabit human beings, and more than one can posses a person. Additionally, he stated that there are probably a lot more possessed people than we realize, and we have probably seen many, but we were unaware of the fact because the demons know that the Holy Spirit is within us, and they try to hide themselves from us out of fear. Dad also went into detail about Angels battling demons, and when demons are defeated they are sent to the abyss; although, what happens to the angels if they are defeated in battle? Are they sent to heaven to recover or something? Of course this is probably all speculation, as I'm not sure if the scripture goes into detail with this.

Alright, I'll stop blabbering and listen for input now. Feel free to discuss.

 

[calvary07]

Demons are very real and their purpose is to possess and destroy the soul. Who am I to deny what you and your dad say you witnessed just because it has not happenend to me. The Enemy's army is scattered throughout this world, but there is a much higher power which all demons fear.
Here are a few links that may shed some light. My prayers are with you.

Who Is Able To Cast Out Demons?
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2006/20060303.htm

Demon Possession
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20001003.htm

Why Demons Are Afraid Of You
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/whydemon.htm

 

[Robert Cragg]

I have seen some strange things, but exactually what they were. Demons do deffinetly excist. First of don't be affraid. If you are A Christian you have The Holy Spirit in you, no demon can posess you. Throught the name of Jesus and the power of The Holy Spirit you have power over them, remember it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through you and demons shake at The Name of Jesus. James 4-7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he flee from you. There is alot of information about demons throughout the Bible.
It is best to cleanse your home of things that don't belong, if it is questionable get rid of it.
An example would be alot of different music such as rock and roll and so on. Ask a Pastor or Elders to come over and help you.

 

[MISFIT]

I agree they are very real, I too have seen many strange things over the years. I have only been saved for about 3 years now, before that I was into many different thing a "new ager" I guess you could say, anyway I used to read tarot, and one night after do a reading at my buddy's house he said later that night as he was lying in bed a panel flew of his wall and hit his bed! He told me of other strange happenings after that as well, needless to say he moved.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I agree they are very real, I too have seen many strange things over the years. I have only been saved for about 3 years now, before that I was into many different thing a "new ager" I guess you could say, anyway I used to read tarot, and one night after do a reading at my buddy's house he said later that night as he was lying in bed a panel flew of his wall and hit his bed! He told me of other strange happenings after that as well, needless to say he moved.

Yes I believe they are real and can manifest themselves. The bible says so. They cannot hurt the child of God, but they try their darndest to create problems.

I take a conventional and 'worldly' view on their manifestations, although the world generally does not realize they are dealing with demons.

Some examples of manifestations are ghosts, shadow people, aliens (gray and reptilian), and even creates found in folklore like sprites, elves, or possibly anomalous creatures such as Big Foot or the Jersey Devil and other such outrageous things.

Of course many of these may be imagination or misinterpretation, but when all other natural explanations seem to fail, I would suspect demonic activity.

Remember, God works in the realm of faith (and He gave us His Son and the written Word). Satan likes to work in the realm of the senses with sensationalism.

 

[Vic C.]

Demons come in many "shapes and sizes". Drugs and alcohol for example.

Alcohol is sometimes called "spirits".

The word pharmaceuticals has some roots in the Bible. Rev. 21:8 says,

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The word sorcerers comes from the Greek word 'pharmakos', which is derived from the Greek word 'pharmakon', which means,

a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner.

Revelation 18:23 says,

Rev 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

The word 'sorceries' comes from the Greek word 'pharmakeia'. It means: medication or pharmacy.

 

[handy]

Oh yeah, demons are real and can cause problems. I agree with Tim, they really can't do much to the born-again believer, but they can cause problems. As our own family found out when, during a period of time when my folks were living in a back-slidden state, we messed around with a Ouija Board. That caused some real problems that didn't really get totally resolved until all of us in the family had turned our lives over to God. Then things settled down.

As for the 'little girl" I don't believe for a moment that it was a the spirit of an actual girl. I believe that, according to Hebrews 9:27, as well as the example set by the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, when we die, we go on to judgment. There are no human spirits or ghosts walking around here on earth.

I do believe in the supernatural or para-normal, events that happen outside of our physical world. These manifestations, such as the 'ghost' of the little girl in your mirror, or even the 'ghost' of General Hill that moved a picture during "Ghost Hunters" last week, are most likely demonic activity.

In C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters" he speaks of how demons have a kind of "catch-22" when it comes to terrorizing people: If they never reveal themselves, they cannot wreak the havoc that they are driven to wreak. But, if they reveal themselves to clearly, most people run screaming to God, an effect that is counter-productive to the demons objectives.

So, they disguise themselves, as angels of light, as ghosts of loved ones, as pathetic lost souls, and some recent enterprising ones have taken advantage of the current obession of UFO's and aliens and have managed to demonize folks by convincing them of being abducted by aliens.

However, I also think that there can be some strange things that happen that aren't necessarily demonic in nature as well. I really wouldn't have an explanation for them, other than they don't seem to fit with demonic activity. I'll have to share our family's 'ghost dog' story one of these days. I still can't quite figure out what that was all about.

 

[turnorburn]

Curious about those evil creatures, even though the Lord has given us power over them
don't make it a habit like those people that fondle rattle snakes. In 1972 I cast a demon
from a raving lunatic, he had a butchers knife and was ready to use it. I was but a babe
in Christ but I wasn't afraid knowing Jesus was right there. took the man by the shoulder,
"the demon knew Christ was in me" so we went into a prayer closet. I reached over put my hand on his shoulder and said, In the name of Jesus Christ come out, there was another man sitting outside of that closet and when we came out his eyes were as big as silver dollars, he said whoa!
whatever you did in there something came bursting out and knocked me down. So please its
nothing to be messed with unless the Lord puts you in a situation, O.k.? good*

turnorburn

 

[handy]

I agree. Unless one is being clearly led by the Holy Spirit to engage in the casting out of demons, one should leave it alone.

Here is a cautionary tale:

But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued both of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:13-16

Not saying that Christians don't have the authority to cast out demons, just that we need to be wise as to what we're up against.

 

[John]

i had an encounter with a demon not that long ago, i had just fell asleep when my dog started going crazy, barking and growling, i woke up and saw this black figure hovering in the air, it looked just like a torso with a black cloak, no legs and i could not see the face. i was still half asleep and i thought it was just my sister playing a prank on me, until i remembered i locked my door, so that meant no one could have possibly got in, before i realized what it was i said" hello....what are you... then i realized what it was and jumped up i was going to hit it, (i should have cast it out, but spur of the moment things like that you just don't think sometimes) and it pretty much vanished right away as soon as i got up.

i am mentally stable and my dog saw it as well, i seen a 100% demon in my frigging room.

another story form my Christian friend

about 10 years ago he heard his son crying and went to investigate, he walked into the room and there was this gremlin type thing sitting on his sons shelf just sitting there tormenting the boy, he cast it out and it ran out the "closed" window while screeching wildly.

My dad has a story as well, when he was young he and a bunch of friends went to this old broken down home (some claim it was haunted0 and they dared one of his friends to go in. he did and he came out screaming, he said he saw this huge black figure with red eyes towering above him, he ran out pale and he threw up. he did not sleep for weeks as the story goes.

i find demons are pretty dumb, i mean if they knew i was having faith and doubt in God issues at the time,then they would not show themselves to me, because think about it..if they exist so does God, lol actually its funny that one can thank a demon for clearing up my doubt/faith issues. :

 

[turnorburn]

They are like monkeys, ever been in the same room with a monkey not in a cage? Ha!
I have, those primates are nothing but a pester puss


Do any of you have things in your home that might attract these evil beings? Like a Ouija Board?
Taro Cards, even some music will do it, and don't laugh some of todays rock stars are into witchcraft
Satanism there is a church of Satan where some of Hollywood's finest go. If you do have these things in your homes you might want to discard them.

 

[Rick W]

Interesting point.
Those things could be signs of a receptive heart or attitude. I've never really thought about. No I don't have a Ouija Board. During my secular years I gave one a shot. Three of us. The thing just laid there. The only place it ever really went was into the trash. Even then it needed help.

 

[Archetype]

oh yeah they exist. they rebel against the lord.

on one occasion, i argued rather violently with my father. i uttered all kinds of obscenities and blasphemies, my father picked up a hammer, and i picked up a knife. at that point, we stopped. and i just left.

fortunately i apologized to my father and likewise to the lord. all was forgiven, and since then, a few years, i hadnt done that again. i think it was a multitude of other problems and built up stress that made me go off. coupled with a demon that provoked me.

in that case, say" i cast thee demon in out, in the name of the lord jesus christ." that will drive the demon out. and then keep faith in the lord, pray and discipline yourself.
it is not an easy task

 

[turnorburn]

Sometimes it will be a false positive, your thinking its an evil spirit when its your flesh.
The flesh can invent lots of things anger being one, anyway just a friendly tip from
someone that knows :wink:

 

[Archetype]

Sometimes it will be a false positive, your thinking its an evil spirit when its your flesh.
The flesh can invent lots of things anger being one, anyway just a friendly tip from
someone that knows :wink:

who me?

can you substantiate this with the bible? there are accounts in the bible that do...therefore i believe that.

i will have to strongly disagree. the flesh in and of itself is inert. it cannot make any decisions on its own. it is our soul, through the power of the holy spirit that guides and controls our actions. if we let our guard down, that invites satan and/or his minions to provoke/persuade us.

i believe, and my father said it, that a demon poessesed/influenced me at that moment. it was certainly not of my own power, i knew what i was doing, but when i was carying out the action, it was like something else was controlling my body from the outside and i was just an observer sitting in the bleachers.

at that time, i was swearing at my father and blaspheming the lord. this definitely was the work of the evil one tempting me no doubt about it.

 

[tim-from-pa]

i had an encounter with a demon not that long ago, i had just fell asleep when my dog started going crazy, barking and growling, i woke up and saw this black figure hovering in the air, it looked just like a torso with a black cloak, no legs and i could not see the face. i was still half asleep and i thought it was just my sister playing a prank on me, until i remembered i locked my door, so that meant no one could have possibly got in, before i realized what it was i said" hello....what are you... then i realized what it was and jumped up i was going to hit it, (i should have cast it out, but spur of the moment things like that you just don't think sometimes) and it pretty much vanished right away as soon as i got up.

i am mentally stable and my dog saw it as well, i seen a 100% demon in my frigging room.

another story form my Christian friend

about 10 years ago he heard his son crying and went to investigate, he walked into the room and there was this gremlin type thing sitting on his sons shelf just sitting there tormenting the boy, he cast it out and it ran out the "closed" window while screeching wildly.

My dad has a story as well, when he was young he and a bunch of friends went to this old broken down home (some claim it was haunted0 and they dared one of his friends to go in. he did and he came out screaming, he said he saw this huge black figure with red eyes towering above him, he ran out pale and he threw up. he did not sleep for weeks as the story goes.

i find demons are pretty dumb, i mean if they knew i was having faith and doubt in God issues at the time,then they would not show themselves to me, because think about it..if they exist so does God, lol actually its funny that one can thank a demon for clearing up my doubt/faith issues. :

Your stories are 100% "shadow people" descriptions that I referred to in my earlier post. The hooded figure is very common, and so is the "hat man". Sometimes they have red eyes, but generally are just shadows and very dark. I think the statistics are such that more people see these things than the traditional white "ghost". I don't believe they are really human, and are probably demonic although there are other theories as to what they could be as well.

 

[turnorburn]

They are evil spirits guaranteed 100%

 

[starbyfar]

Hi Melonie,

I definitely believe demons exist and interfere in our lives on a daily basis. Maybe not always physically, but on a mental level with their powerful influence.. Trust, they know you very well and work hard to try and make your walk with christ as difficult as possible. Then again, angels are active in our lives too. "Whatever you do, someone is there watching..If God's angels aren't happily smiling on you, cheering you on.. Satan's angels are malevolently grinning as you carry out your plan"

I don't know if I agree with the statement that they can't harm us. God does allow certain things to happen, just look at the stories of Job or Joseph. Look at the lives of the apostles. When were they not being beaten? Sure it doesn't say it was by demons, but who was influencing those actions? This is alittle off subject, but I heard a snippet on Nero once, the Caesar who was in power during the early church after pentecost and all that. Did you know that he would take believers, burn them with wax, impale them with sticks, set them on fire in a field and say, "there, now you christians are the light of the world." I mean wow.. I hope to never see that kind of persecution. But back to the whole they can't harm born again believers.. i think maybe it would be better stated that they can't do anything to separate us from God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39)?

Anyways, If you really are seeing demons, that stinks. I have no desire to see any spiritual beings.. angel or demon.. just look at how Daniel reacted to an angel.. it was so terrifying it made the man faint (Dan 10:7-11). Though i'm drawing blanks as to why on earth you would be, unless you're involved in things like a previous poster said, witchcraft..ouija boards..tarot cards?

 

[turnorburn]

Be very careful here, its my advice you don't give this train of thought a second look.
There is nothing more dangerous than trading words with the fox, just pay it no mind and go about your daily walk with Christ. He sidetracked me and just like that my life was in ruins for a number of years. Some will follow up this post with "we have power over the enemy" yes we do but don't
use it until Jesus puts you in those circumstances, just my two sense :wink:

Genesis 3
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Hi Melonie,

I definitely believe demons exist and interfere in our lives on a daily basis. Maybe not always physically, but on a mental level with their powerful influence.. Trust, they know you very well and work hard to try and make your walk with christ as difficult as possible. Then again, angels are active in our lives too. "Whatever you do, someone is there watching..If God's angels aren't happily smiling on you, cheering you on.. Satan's angels are malevolently grinning as you carry out your plan"

I don't know if I agree with the statement that they can't harm us. God does allow certain things to happen, just look at the stories of Job or Joseph. Look at the lives of the apostles. When were they not being beaten? Sure it doesn't say it was by demons, but who was influencing those actions? This is alittle off subject, but I heard a snippet on Nero once, the Caesar who was in power during the early church after pentecost and all that. Did you know that he would take believers, burn them with wax, impale them with sticks, set them on fire in a field and say, "there, now you christians are the light of the world." I mean wow.. I hope to never see that kind of persecution. But back to the whole they can't harm born again believers.. i think maybe it would be better stated that they can't do anything to separate us from God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39)?

Anyways, If you really are seeing demons, that stinks. I have no desire to see any spiritual beings.. angel or demon.. just look at how Daniel reacted to an angel.. it was so terrifying it made the man faint (Dan 10:7-11). Though i'm drawing blanks as to why on earth you would be, unless you're involved in things like a previous poster said, witchcraft..ouija boards..tarot cards?

 

[Rick W]

Some will follow up this post with "we have power over the enemy"

"we have power over the enemy"

1Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

It's when we feel or think we are strong that we may very well be the most vulnerable.