Daily Devotional for Tuesday July 15, 2014
Is Demon Possession Real
(Mark 5:1-20)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, are demons real? Do they possess people and houses?
ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY!!! Satan's minions are very real and DO possess people and places. With the better percentage of the last two generations having never gone to church, they have more hosts, people and places, to occupy than ever. Never forget, someone who is truly saved, born again, can NEVER be possessed only opressed, since a demon can never occupy the same space as the Holy Spirit. Too many people dismiss the reality of demons, and underestimate their presence in any "place" you can name...incljuding a church!!! (see today's Daily Devotional)
Is demon possession real? ABSOLUTELY! Satan and his demons are a very real force in this world during this season of human history, and will be until the final days when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. One of satan's greatest deceptions is to get people believing he isn't real. Remember this fact. A person who is saved, has put their faith in Jesus Christ and is born again, can NOT be demon possessed. Demon OPPRESSED, yes, but never demon possessed.
In 2011 was the movie "The Rite," starring Anthony Hopkins. I don't normally recommend movies, but do encourage everyone to go see this one. The movie deals with demon possession and theologically is right on the money about this issue. It is an issue few want to discuss, but we must since as we go through each generation, less people go to church, less people put their faith in Jesus Christ, meaning there are more people than ever who are currently demon possessed!
The question I get all the time is how does a person become demon possessed. Demons are lazy and take the path of least resistance. They will find people and places where they are welcome. There is no such thing as a haunted house since there is no such thing as ghosts. However, there are homes which are infested with demons, and people incorrectly think they are haunted.
Again, demons go where they are welcomed. They go where people literally invite them in, without even realizing it. Let me just say this, if you are not saved and involved in sinful activity of any kind, you are rolling out the red carpet for demons to enter you.
Sadly, people of all ages underestimate satan's goals even though Jesus clearly told us what they are in John 10:10. He is out to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan's desire is to steal your hope, steal your joy, steal your peace, steal the abundance that this life can be. Satan wants to kill you. He wants you dead in your sin so that you will be forever separated from God, your Creator, and destined to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire that will be his eternal home. Satan wants to destroy you. If you are already a Christian, he wants to destroy your testimony, to destroy your ability to serve God, to destroy the plan and purpose God has for your life. My friend, satan is NOT playing games, he is deadly serious!!!
That is why I am so passionate each day in what I share with you in regard to sin. Each day, I receive over 40,000 prayer requests from all over the world. Literally 7 days a week I am dealing with the very real lives, of very real people, that due to sin have had their lives turned upside down. I get to see daily the destruction sin does in people's lives. Satan is an equal opportunity destroyer. He doesn't care if you are young or old, if you are male or female, if you are white or black. Satan doesn't care if you are rich or poor, where you live, how intelligent you may or may not be. SIN IS A UNIVERSAL ISSUE THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN DEAL WITH EVERY DAY!
I realize that I can't force you to follow God, or to obey Him. I understand that you have to make your own choices. What God has called me to do is simply share the TRUTH of His Word with you each day. It really boils down to this. When you obey God, you will be blessed. When you rebel against God, you will face the consequences. Obeying God brings blessings, disobeying God brings consequences. This is true whether you are 10 or 100, and every age in between.
I love you and care about you so much. Satan and demons are very real. Satan is NOT some cartoon character created by Walt Disney, but a very REAL force in the world for this short season. He is not to be feared, but understood. We must never forget that for this brief season, he is very much on the loose, with the clearly defined goal to steal, kill, and destroy the lives of real people. However, there is no reason to fear satan because 2000 years ago Jesus Christ rose out of His tomb and sealed the enemy's eternal fate. He is a defeated foe! The Bible proclaims that, "greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world."
I will be praying for you today. I pray that you will not take sin lightly, or the potential consequences of sin in your life. Satan is a LIAR. John 8:44 tells us that he is the "father of lies!" God gives us a great promise in 1 John 1:9 that if we will confess our sins, He will forgive us, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. It does NOT say that we will escape the consequences of our sins, but that God will forgive us and give us the grace and strength to deal with whatever they may be.
You don't negotiate with satan or demons, you don't debate them, you COMMAND THEM! You speak to them with the authority you have as a blood bought son or daughter of Jesus Christ. You speak to them in the name of Jesus. Don't forget, there are too many places and people where demons are welcome. They will flee when commanded to leave in the name of Jesus.
SATAN IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, HE IS NOT YOUR BUDDY, HE IS YOUR ENEMY. Treat him like your enemy! He is out to destroy YOU! Any chance you get, KICK HIM AS HARD AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller