Is It Possible: Demon In A Believer?
Ephesians 6
KJV
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.
I’ve been asked on several occasions by many if there can be any in the church who dabble in spiritism? Or possessed? I must confess this is a difficult question to answer, even if answered many will not understand! As a result, I’ve always shied away from answering.
What makes it a difficult question is the fact that a believer has the Holy Spirit living in Him! And the Holy Spirit can not coexist with an Evil spirit.
I admit this to be true. It is the ideal situation ordinarily that should be the case, however, the reality is far from the ideal. It is not every Believer who has fully yielded ( surrendered) his/her life to the control of the Holy Spirit!
We see this by observing the life/activities etc of professing members. I must admit surrendering fully to the Holy Spirit’s control and guidance is a “ battle “!
There is always an ongoing “ civil war “ in every Believer. It is a daily constant battle. Victory in this battle is not absolute as it is progressive, won little by little!
Some have won their battle with the spirit of “ envy, hate, gossip, rumour, lying, anger, greed, etc etc Do take stock of which battles you’ve won, and which you are still battling.
Regarding the question, here is my blunt answer! . My outright answer is yes! A believer can have the spirit of “spiritism” though he/she is in the church.
But what is “ spiritism?” The Word is an “umbrella” word underneath which are every form of spiritual acts/practices/attitudes that are contrary to the recommended acts/practices/attitudes of the Holy Spirit.
This is a simple layman’s definition for discussion purposes. Time and space will not allow me to list these acts but they are found on the pages of scriptures!
“Spiritism” is a negative word! Any anti-godly ( ungodly) behaviour initiated, guided and controlled by Evil Spirits.
To repeat, any spiritual practice/behaviour that is contrary to that initiated, influenced and directed by the Holy Spirit is “ spiritism” and is evil
By this broad-based definition, it follows that any act/practice etc undertaken by a believer which is contrary to scripture is an act/practice initiated, influenced and guided by Satan -spiritism.
So to the question “ can there be a church member who dabbles in spiritism? The answer is yes!
There is this term “ works of the flesh” an umbrella word which covers acts/practices etc, that are contrary to “ works of the spirit”
Paul in Romans and Galatians identified and listed these ! Read them for yourself. Among the list you’ll find these “envy idolatry witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions”
Can we rule out ( deny) that we don’t see or feel the presence of these in our gatherings? We do.
People with evil spirits ( the listed ) do frequent and worship with us!
There is a similar occurrence in a Synagogue during Jesus’ time.
Mark 1:23-26
NIV
[23] Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, [24] “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are---the Holy One of God!”
[25] “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” [26] The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Did you notice where he was? In the Synagogue of all places. So do not underestimate the spiritual war we are fighting, the enemies are “both from within and without”. Of the two, the most subtle and dangerous is the one from within! This is because they have “ free and unlimited access to you” so they can strike you down at any time
Pray for the spirit of enlightenment that your spiritual eyes will be illuminated!
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
These manifest themselves through human agents. Some of whom can be found among us!
My take