A: I,
too, know people who teach that true believers can be possessed by
devils (usually called demon-possession). This includes some men that
I
think a great deal of personally. However, in this I disagree with them.
I have left many of the teachings that I had in my youth. However, I
find
that the early teaching I received on this still holds. The question
was
asked, How can one person be indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God and
be
possessed by a devil at the same time? I have still never heard this
question adequately answered.
I have also seen that most who teach this doctrine tend to rely on
personal experiences. Someone that they knew was saved was also obviously
possessed. However, this assumes two things. One, that they can know
with
assurance who is saved; and two, that they can know with assurance who
is
possessed. Both of these are problematic to me. We do not live in the
apostolic age of signs and miracles. How do we have this certain
knowledge? I have seen too many people who claimed to to have special
information from God and I have sometimes seen that information to be
wrong. Since God does not make mistakes, that proves their knowledge
to
be faulty.
Now, although I know of no particular verse that directly states that
devils cannot possess believers, there are many verses that demonstrate
the impossibility of mixing opposites. Here are a few of these verses:
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate
the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the
cup of
devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table
of
devils.
2Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or
what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel?
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water
and
bitter?
Notice especially 2Corinthians 6:15. There is no concord between Christ
and Belial. There can be no agreement between Christ and the devil. How
can someone be a member of the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:30) and be
possessed by a devil? There is an old proverb that says you cannot mix
oil and water. These verses show that you cannot mix God and devils.
A
person who is "in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new" (2Corinthians 5:17). We
know he
may fall into sin and even rebel against God. However, if he can also
be
possessed by devils, he seemingly has no protection as a Christian. I
just do not believe it is possible. The believer will have spiritual
battles; he may even be (as the Bible teachers used to teach) oppressed
by Satan or by devils. However, to think of him as being possessed by
devils while being possessed by the Holy Ghost is simply a contradiction
in terms. I hope this helps.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan