Demons

The above is simple, but a good wrap-up of the necessary items to fight demonism. That was a good post and I commend you for it. Unless you just want to discuss the occult further in another thread, I think that it is sufficient for one to FIRST: Be saved and SECOND: Ask God for Help because in the name of Jesus the demons can be commanded. Actually, that is the bottom line and all that is necessary. Thank you, this is good advice and will suffice.

 

Phillip:

Uh, 'scuse me, but let me ask you a quick question MalkyEL; In your profile you list yourself as "Berean".

Is this a Baptist splinter group I have never heard of? Surely it is not the assemblies of god group? Could you elaborate?

S&T:

Have you not heard of the Berean Baptist Phillip? Are you sure that you are a Baptist?

 

Phillip wrote:
. . . Be saved and SECOND: Ask God for Help because in the name of Jesus the demons can be commanded. Actually, that is the bottom line and all that is necessary. Thank you, this is good advice and will suffice.

MalkyEL: It won't "suffice" - the whole point of the Word of God and doing anything in Jesus Name is to understand [knowledge] and to be armed. Too many people expect a "quick fix" for problems, including demonic infestation and influence, that they are faced with. This is why the sons of Sceva were chased by demons when they tried to use Jesus' Name to cast out those demons. [they were not believers - Acts 19].

For example, if you spend 20 years overeating and become overweight the pounds just don't fall away because we say Jesus' Name. You need to change your lifestyle, change your eating habits and trust in Him to enable you. It takes time and hard work.

The demons that have been attacking mlg have been doing this for a very long time. Fear and a continual barrage of attacks on her have become a wall around her making the Word of God of no account because it is continually stolen. The second one tries to move towards God, the enemy moves in with more intensity. My point of sharing was to show her and others that in order to stand effectively, one needs to submit fully to God, be armed and equipped with the Word of God, and have a foundational faith and trust that God can and will be a shield against those attacks. [Psalms 3:2 Many are saying of my soul, There is no deliverance for him in God. Selah.
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, the One who lifts up my head.]

[Mark 4:14 The sower sows the Word.
15 And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.]

With an attitude of "just say Jesus' Name" - you are promoting the faith movement preoccupation of running around like little gods evoking and rebuking demons at will. This is not Scriptural or effective. The reason demons do not stay at bay is because there is no foundation in God's Word and *His* ability to destroy.

When Jesus was on earth, His Divine nature was more than enough for healing and casting out demons. His disciples were also given, at one point, the ability to do the same as they were commissioned and anointed to do so.

Their work in this area continued because of God's grace and continued anointing/empowerment on and in them - AND because they were grounded in faith and in the Word of God [Jesus is the Word made flesh - John 1].

Paul teaches that we must be grounded, must be disciplined, must be armed with that Word in order for it to be affective. [Eph 6]

Our faith and trust in God must be a prerequiste for an effective stand against the enemy. This teaching is woven all through the NT. The gift of faith is increased as we continue in His Word and in His presence - it is His enabling power that faith remains as a strong foundation in who God is - that His power, His grace will overcome all evil. [Heb 12:6][1 Peter 5 - see below for text].

Yes, God does do miracles and the enemy will flee at the Name of Jesus and have immediate miraculous results. That is the ministry and calling of the Holy Spirit that is given by God for His purpose, as He wills, when He wills, and by whom He choses to endow with this ability.[1 Corinthians 12] An example of this is when S&T walked around the cemetery and the demonic attacks against his/her friend ceased.

However, in general, the Gospel message [the process of salvation] must be foundational in order for us to stand against the enemy. This is the armour spoken of in Eph 6 [see below for full text]. Unless you spend time in the Word, in God's Presence - that renewing and transforming cannot be done and the Word will be of no account. It takes committment and study, running the race, casting off hinderances, with our eyes set on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. [Hebrews 12]

As mlg shared with us her attacks by the enemy, I knew that she would need a grounded committed life in God and in His Word. As faith and trust increase, the armour becomes standard equipment enabling one to stand against the enemy's ploys and wiles. In the spiritual realm, when one is armed fully, that is recognized and respected, but hated.

The enemy will continue to find ways to "get to us". We live in the flesh - it is an ongoing battle for all of this life. The armour must stay in place continually - for satan [his army]goes about roaring as a lion seeking whom he may devour. These words were spoken to believers.

1 Peter 5
5 . . . Put on humility. For God resists proud ones, but He gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you.
8 ¶ Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;
9 whom firmly resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions in the world are being completed in your brotherhood.
10 ¶ But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you .
11 To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 6
10 ¶ Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places .
13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

 

Just wanted to add a postscript to everything that was said. It seems the thread is at the end, but felt I should make a statement concerning physical and mental issues because it seemed to be a point of contention.

I was zeroing in on the spiritual aspects of the conversation because I believe that mlg's concerns were of a spiritual nature. I understand that many times mental and emotional issues also affect the spiritual and vice versa. We are, in fact, made up of both and exceedingly complex human beings.

My "problem" with counselors and psychologists is that they do not give any credibility to the spiritual, so therefore do not factor that in - rather presumming that mlg's problem would be only mental, emotional or physical. That would be a dangerous position for her to be thrown into.

On the other hand if a condition is a physical one, not a spiritual one, then by all means, medical care should be a priority.

I do not go around looking for a demon under every bush, but I have seen the spiritual affect on the physical realm and when the medical system fails in its efforts to solve the issue, the spiritual is given zero credibility. In that case a search for a Christian counselor who is knowledgeable about and understands the spiritual would be the way to go.

So yes, I am advocating that someone be checked out medically to rule out a physcial problem. It has to be a combined effort and done prayerfully.

I hope that clears things up a bit.

 

I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church, was saved while attending a Southern Baptist Church, was Baptised in a Southern Baptist Church and here I am still in a Southern Baptist Church and I have never heard of Berean.

 

Coulda' fooled me, ref: your posts above.

 

Coulda' fooled me, ref: your posts above. </font>[/QUOTE]MalkyEL: I believe the subject of the thread was "demons" so we discussed demons.

 

Phillip:

I have never heard of Berean

S&T:

Here is one just north of you in Tulsa:

BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH
2111 S DARLINGTON AVE TULSA, OK

 

mlg,

The nice thing about these kinds of forums is that you can post on any thread. Your credibility has not been damaged in any way. What is expressed on these threads is how you believe or feel about the topic. Personally, I would to hear what you have to say on other issues . So please, join in!

you go, girl!!!!

 

90 miles north and I worked in Tulsa and never saw it, nor do I know where Darlington Avenue is. It is definitely not a main street in Tulsa.

 

You are most welcome to post in other forums. I would like to invite you to the Baptist Women's Forum, a fellowship forum (not a debate forum) to discuss topics of interest to Women. I hope to see you there.

 

You are most welcome to post in other forums. I would like to invite you to the Baptist Women's Forum, a fellowship forum (not a debate forum) to discuss topics of interest to Women. I hope to see you there. </font>[/QUOTE]mlg1019, I agree with Thankful, do not go away. That is what we do here, debate. Some people have a problem with it if they are not used to it because although we may sound harsh in our disagreements, it is easier to argue with someone on a post than it is to their face. I do appreciate your posts and I have rattled you some on purpose, but I can tell you that I feel you are a good Christian and you have credibility. We just disagree on some points that do not have an effect on whether or not we are going to heaven as long as we have both turned to Jesus Christ and accepted him as our Lord, which I have and I assume you have. I am sorry if I have hurt you feelings.

 

Greetings, Terry:

I trust that all is well in your world.

I have heard that each book becomes increasingly darker in its imagery. Any truth in that?

Also, as you are an educator, are you seeing any rise in fascination with paganism, wicca, or the occult in your students?? I am not referring to any rituals in the classroom or on the playground, of course ( ) but are you seeing any indications of interest?

 

NO witches don't ride around on broomsticks. They may use scotch broom herb in potions. They may use drugs that make them feel like they are flying. I hear that jimson weed can do this. And Paxil mixed with Jagermeister.

No witches don't ride brooms. They ride church steeples.

They invade the youth groups and sundayschools.

They fly through the minds of kids who, and this was told to me by one of my former Jr. Hi students, lie in bed after reading an HP book...

...desperately wishing they could fly and cast spells and do magic wonders.

Lying in bed imagining it.

Rather than getting up and doing some miracles and wonders in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ.

Remove power from the church, become cessationist, say the Holy Spirit's wonder powers stopped mysteriously in AD 39 or so...

...and black magick steps right in saying "Take thee Booke of spells and incantations, light the candle, let's go boys and girlies..."

 

Vaspers,

You are making sense again. Please refrain from this behavior. Rowling went from welfare to being a billionaire..that right ...a billionaire..... now, if GOD could bless Mel with a successful movie, who is to say that He can't do it for her...right???

 

Sorry...I spelled GOD incorrectly...should have been....god......forgot to add....of this world.

 

Fraudian slip?

 

Some day I'll tell you why witches and warlocks and sorcerers love to go to church.

Why they can listen to sermons on salvation, and not care or fume or fuss.

why they are active in youth groups and how they create little groups.

how they subtly breed certain attitudes in churches by their influence.

they only have to spend a few hours a week to wreak havoc in a church.

they like doing it, and are told to do it.

 

Vaspers, I can't tell you the number of times I layed in my bed as a child and wished(desperately wished) that I could wiggle my nose like Samantha on Bewitched and make things appear magically.

Samantha wasn't any more a witch than Harry is. They are both fictional characters who happen to catch the imagination of the generation in whose time they appeared.

As the RIF coordinator for the local elementary school that my children attend, I can say that no, there is no more interest in occult things because of the Potter books than there was before they were published. Here it is mostly rock music(the head banging kind) and rap that produces that kind of interest.

My kids know the difference between realty and fiction.