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Do you like watching scary movies? I don’t. In my opinion, movies have gone way too far in horror and many other genres. These movies serve a couple of purposes in Satan’s agenda. First, they make evil and sin familiar and acceptable. They also can open a way for real demons to enter a person.
Are demons real? I read my Bible and see that Jesus says they’re real, so that means they’re very real. Humans have dabbled in the occult since Adam and Eve were sent out of Paradise. While living in the Garden of Eden and obeying God’s commands, they had protection. Then, an evil entity entered into the Garden. Just like us, Adam and Eve were protected from evil as long as they obeyed God and walked near to Him. God provided for all of Adam’s and Eve’s needs.
“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).
Mankind is rebellious, but God blessed us with free will, and we can choose how we use it. God gave Adam one rule. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).
Adam was entrusted with that truth before Eve was created. That set the standard for men to be the leaders. After Eve was created, Adam may have been enthralled by her beauty and forgot his role as the leader of his family, but Eve decided to chat with Satan. Eve was deceived because of her choice and lack of faith in God’s truth.
Was it really Satan, or just a snake? Taking the whole truth of Scripture into consideration, yes, this was Satan speaking lies. Eve was deceived by Satan twisting God’s word. Doubt was placed in her mind, and she began adding to God’s word. God said not to eat the fruit, but Eve added to that, saying they weren’t even to touch it. By eating the fruit, God knew that it would become a part of Adam and Eve. Today, when we eat “junk food,” we make that sugar a part of our body, but Satanic deception is more evil and destructive to life than a poor diet. Eve added to God’s word by saying they weren’t even to touch the fruit or else they would die. That’s when Satan knew he could beguile her.
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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” (Genesis 3:4-5).
Satan is a liar, and Eve’s lack of discernment caused her to listen to this demonic evil, and she ate the fruit. It was tasty, and she didn’t drop dead, so she convinced Adam to also eat the fruit. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7).
Attempting to cover sin is always uncomfortable, and fig leaves are very scratchy indeed. The Garden of Eden provided Adam with everything that he needed, and there was no death. Sin changed all of that. Temptation to sin is all around us today. For some reason, sin appeals to all of mankind. God says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
That’s pretty plain, but we put everything ahead of God. Mostly, we put ourselves before God, believing ourselves to be gods. We pamper our own egos, and pride is a downfall to our walk with God. We get angry if we feel someone has dishonored us. Riots happen because one group of people thinks the world owes them everything; pride causes sin. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Solomon had a lot of wisdom and wrote the Proverbs to teach us truth from God. In the New Testament, James tells us, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Those are wise words. If you are admired and praised by fellow humans, you’re being judged by a faulty measuring tool. If you humbly obey God, He will lift you up. It’s much better to seek the Lord’s favor than human favor.
Sin looks appealing, but it only causes pain and suffering. Satan can make even the ugliest sin look enjoyable. Have you ever seen someone who is drunk? Nowhere in Scripture does God forbid drinking alcohol, but getting drunk is the sin. If drinking wine was a sin, God wouldn’t tell the Israelites they could buy alcohol with their tithe money (Deuteronomy 14:22-26). Jesus would not have turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). Jesus would not have drunk wine Himself if it was a sin, even though the religious leaders condemned Him for it (Luke 7:34). Scripture does caution against being drunk on wine. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Like Eve added to God’s words, so do many Christian denominations add to God’s words. Drunkenness is the sin. You might look at people who are drinking alcohol, laughing and seeming to have a lot of fun. The fun is only temporary, but the damage to their body can be devastating. Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying. I’m not telling anyone to drink alcohol. I’m just saying that God doesn’t forbid it.
There are many things that God forbids, but we tend to ignore His warning. “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Today, we don’t sacrifice our sons or daughters by passing them through fire, but we condone abortion, which is an act of evil straight from Satan’s lying lips. Do you read your horoscope? Play with a Ouija board? Do you practice Yoga? All of these things are abominations to God and can open the doors for demon possession. The thing you must do immediately is repent of the sin and ask for God’s forgiveness. Then, don’t continue with the sin.
Why do you think God finds these things to be abominable? Abortion violates one of the Ten Commandments. “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). All sin is prompted by Satan and his minions. God loves you, and Satan hates what God loves.
When you listen to Satan’s lies, you open yourself up to demon possession. Demons are real. Jesus says they are real, and I believe Him. Today, there are many people who are treated for mental illness when, in reality, they have invited a demon into their life through the use of drugs, drunkenness, and dabbling with the occult. Christians have protection against demon possession because we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We can be oppressed by a demon but not possessed.
Demons can be cast out of a person; it doesn’t take a Catholic priest with magic water and fancy words to do it. It takes a Holy Spirit-filled Christian who understands the power of God. The Christian needs to have studied Scripture about demons, or things can go terribly wrong. Read Acts 19:13-16 to see what happened to some would-be exorcists who thought the name of Jesus was a magic word, but they had no faith.
When dealing with demons, it’s important to remember that they always look for embodiment. When one is rebuked in the name of Jesus, the door needs to be shut so they won’t return. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:43-45).
Jesus spoke those words, and we know we can trust what He says. Jesus knew demons are real, and the Gospels are full of accounts of Him casting out demons.
How can we avoid demons? Walk close to Jesus. Don’t participate in activities that invite a demon to come into you. That means don’t use drugs and don’t get drunk. Too many people think Yoga is a nice stretching exercise when it is actually a process used to attract demons. The goal of Yoga is to invite in the kundalini spirit, which is a serpent spirit. Eastern mysticism of all kinds encourages releasing this evil spirit. Don’t participate in any meditation where you clear your mind and meditate on emptiness. That leaves your mind wide open to be filled with an evil spirit.
When you meditate, be sure you meditate upon Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to fill your thoughts. “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways” (Psalm 119:15). When you keep your thoughts and your heart turned to Jesus and the things of His glory, you won’t leave yourself open to demon possession. You will avoid demons.
We live in a time when demons are manifesting more frequently in UFO sightings, sleep paralysis, and more. The only way to avoid them is to keep close to the Lord. Put on His armor for the spiritual battle we are fighting.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Don’t try to fight the battle unarmed. It’s too bad that Eve didn’t have God’s armor on her when Satan came to deceive her.
Many things can open the way for demons to have rights to your life. Books that condone sin, movies that glorify evil, and video games that are filled with violence are just a few. Christians can’t dictate what the world accepts, but we can choose what we accept. When you choose to walk close to God, you will avoid demons corrupting your life.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
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All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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The post Avoiding Demons :: By Nathele Graham appeared first on Rapture Ready.
Anonymous
Does the passage below (Hebrews 6:4-6) mean a Christian can fall away and “lose their salvation”? Let’s assume for a moment that it does. What that also means, then, is that once a Christian loses their salvation, they can’t get it back since this passage says “it is impossible… to the restore them again to repentance”. If this passage means a Christian can lose their salvation, then it also means we get one chance to receive Christ and stay with Him. If this passage means a Christian can lose their salvation, then it also means if we walk away from the faith, we can’t come back home to the Lord as the man did in the parabel of the Prodigal Son did. Again, the passage states it is “impossible” to restore such people to repentance. I know of no one who believes this or teaches this. I have never heard a preacher say to the congregation “If you’re here today and you have fallen away from Christ, too bad. There’s nothing God can do for you anymore. You’re irrevecobly hopelessly doomed.” What this passage more likely refers to are people have been exposed to and participated in the things of the faith, yet whole heartedly rejected them never truly embracing Christ.
“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
(Hebrews 6:4-6, ESV)
Anonymous
Troy Day I believe it does mean you can lose your salvation (permanently), but I believe this is a much more difficult thing to do than most people would believe. God is very long suffering in his Grace.
Anonymous
Troy Day Absolutely not. God is sovereign in salvation. We cannot achieve it, we cannot keep it, we cannot lose it. It is God’s eternal plan to redeem.
This issue comes up over and over because people do NOT understand the doctrines of God, man, sin and salvation; they do not understand biblical exegesis.
Citing passages out of context always leads to confusion. We interpret the difficult passages in light of the clear passages. Loss of salvation defies the biblical doctrine of salvation.
Hebrews 6 has NOTHING to do with the possibility of losing one’s personal salvation. The Hebrew saints, who have not matured as they ought to, are facing persecution and thinking of returning to Judaism until things calm down. Then they will consider being a Christian again.
They are exhorted that they must press on, they cannot go back. The must stand firm in the faith.
Salvation is God’s sovereign work. Pressing on, maturing in the faith, is evidence of God’s life transforming work in us. If we turn back we may not be true believers. Are we producing good fruit, or thorns and thistles?
The writer harshly exhorts and warns the Hebrews but believes that are true saints.
v. 9 – But we are convinced about you, beloved, of things that are better and that belong to salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
Anonymous
it literally says
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance
even in the Greek of Paul this is pretty clear – you should look into exegeting this one with John Mushenhouse
it refers to satan and judas – Duane L Burgess Kyle Williams are yall saying satan and judas cannot resist the GRACE of the Jesus and CAN indeed repent and return to the faith ?
Anonymous
Troy Day no. Thats not at all the position of Irresistible Grace.
Anonymous
Kyle Williams well it still is a very good part of it though
Anonymous
Troy Day no. It isn’t. Irresistible Grace has nothing at all to do with the reprobate….
Anonymous
Kyle Williams so you to believe Judas was created to go to hell?
Anonymous
Troy Day Other than the fact that Judas was born of woman and not created; yes… scripture tells us this in that he is the “son of destruction”
Anonymous
Kyle Williams actually the BIBLE calls him “son of perdition”
Anonymous
Troy Day ἀπωλείας
Anonymous
fare fare enough – what does this mean for Irresistible Grace ?
can ppl who are born ἀπωλείας resist Irresistible Grace ?
Judas most obviously did
Anonymous
Troy Day “irresistible” is an implication for the elect alone. Those whom He did foreknow, He did also predestinate, he also called, and Justified…
Anonymous
Kyle Williams why are you tagging me with this unimportant and mostly untruthful information if you do not wish to be tagged back?
Anonymous
Troy Day untruthful, as if I didn’t nearly verbatim quote the scriptures….
Anonymous
Daniel “Keith” Kiger was saved covenant theology pastor on staff at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in 2008 when he was arrested, charged, and then plead guilty to assaulting a 14 year-old girl on at least 6 occasions. The time police believed there also have been other victims.
Anonymous
He that OVERCOMETH the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5 KJV
Only the ovetcomers name will not be deleted from the Book ..
Anonymous
Oral Roberts was an American Charismatic Christian televangelist, ordained in both the Pentecostal Holiness and United Methodist churches. He is considered one of the forerunners for the charismatic movement and was one of the most recognized preachers in the US at the height of his recognition. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University. Hear more about Oral Robert’s renewal legacy from Dr. Daniel Isgrigg, Assistant Professor and the Director of the Holy Spirit Research Center and Archives at Oral Roberts University
Anonymous
Kyle Williams you quoted almost Scripture completely out of context
Those whom He did foreknow, He did also predestinate, he also called, and Justified…
what is the Greek purpose clause in that verse you almost quoted? According to Arminianism, God’s foreknowledge in Romans 8:29 refers to his foresight of those men and women who throughout time would come to believe in his Son, thus resulting in their election Plain and simple explanation of the Greek verse here
Anonymous
Troy Day ὅτι ὅς προγινώσκω.
It’s says nothing about “foreseen faith”
Nothing……
Anonymous
Kyle Williams says nothing about salvation in the purpose clause either YET you assume Paul talks about ppl predestined to salvation THOUGH salvation is not even mentioned here one little bit – how so? We only benefit from the predestination the moment we enter INTO Christ. As such God foreknew to predestine those who would accept Christ. He did not predestine anyone to accept Christ. Nor did He put His finger on the scale to sway someone to accept Christ.
Anonymous
avoiding demons does not guarantee they will be avoiding you Isara Mo William DeArteaga
Anonymous
CAN ONE LOSE THEIR SALVATION.??
13 Bible Verses about Guarding Yourself..
1 Peter 5:8
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 John 5:21
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Psalm 39:1
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
I said, “I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
2 Timothy 4:15
Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—
James 4:7
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.