Imagican said:
Greenhorn,
Interesting post. I see that you too realize and understand the potential of demon possession. I disagree however in the idea that a Christian can't be influenced by demons. Perhaps one that was truly 100 percent devoted would be immune from demon influence but who among us is 100 percent. Too much of the world has filtered into our lives for one to put on the complete armor that would be needed for complete defense. All it would take would be a slight slipping and we would be like unclothed babes in the desert trying to defend ourselves against the rays of the sun. No matter how much we didn't WANT to be burned, or insisted that the sun couldn't burn us we would ultimately suffer it's effects.
please don't put words in my mouth, i did not say that "christians" cannot be "influenced" by demons, what i did say(paraphrased) is that those filled with the Holy Ghost cannot be "posessed" by demons,
posession and influence are two intirely different things, peter was influenced by satan when he rebuked the lord Mat 16:23, but he was not posessed, elsewise it would be recorded that Jesus cast a demon out of peter, and further proof that peter was not posessed is found here:
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
so therefore i'm forced to conclude that anyone can be influenced by demons, but posessed? not so, not if they are filled with the Holy Ghost.
here is how paul said to avoid being influenced by the devil:
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
and as for those claiming to be christians, i reckon some of the most wicked people i've ever met in my life were those claiming to be christians, not all, but some, many times i've even seen them stand behind the pulpit and say "i love everybody here", then turn right around and run someone off from church by making every kind of nasty insinuation about them that they possibly could, so to me, one calling himself christian means absolutely nothing except that he wants to look good in the eyes of the people who hears him, jesus said(paraphrased) we would know them by their fruits, not by what they claim to be,