Demon Possession: Close Encounters of the 'Spirit' Kind

By COGwriter

Some time ago, a man came to my office who was a part-time minister of a Pentecostal sect I was unfamiliar with. He told me the Holy Spirit led him to call me. After his appointment, he told me that the Holy Spirit told him to follow my advice. If that is where it stopped I would have thought nothing of it. I am in a non-medical branch of the health profession, and many have commented that they believe that God led them to see me. But this man was different.

One of the things he mentioned to me was that another minister in his sect once told all their members to throw all their medications into a pile, which was then burned (somewhat reminiscent of Acts 19:19). He told me that the medications let out various howls while they were burning. He also told me that those howls were demons which possessed those medications (he also stated that the medications themselves were named after demons).

As there are no biblical examples of non-living materials being demon possessed, I was not doubting there were demons at the "ceremony" he mentioned, but I did doubt that the medications themselves were possessed. He also said, "The Holy Spirit told me that God is well pleased with you" and "You know more about the Bible than all the televangelists". These two statements concerned me greatly as we had not discussed the Bible in any depth. Also, the only biblical examples of God saying He was well pleased concerned Jesus (Is 42:21;Matthew 3:17).

It should be understood that all the spirits that are against us do not try to fight us as directly as Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12) did.

Acts 8:9-24 has a story about one who was involved with demons who seemed to be supportive of the truth, but really was not. It says,

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."

Notice that Simon believed, but was not converted. As James wrote, "Even the demons believe--and tremble!" (James 2:19).

This man, though, more closely reminded me on an incident Paul encountered,

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour"(Acts 16:16-18).

Notice that the girl Acts speaks of even supported the proclamation of "the way of salvation", yet was demon possessed.

Other Incidents

Now, this is not the first time I believe demons were involved in sending someone to see me. On at least two other occasions I feel it happened before. In those two occasions, the individuals basically told me that some type of psychic (and they were different psychics) told them to see me by name. As I do not believe these psychics actually knew me, I believe they were influenced by demons or were perhaps demon possessed themselves.

The demons probably know who are Christians as Acts 19:13-16 suggests,

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

I have wondered if perhaps demons send some to me so that those they wish to possess may live longer.

The first time I suspected a possible demonic presence, was when in the military I attempted to attend a Church of God (COG) on a military base. I had read some old Worldwide Church of God literature and felt that since this particular COG service was on Saturday, that it was probably just fine. However, after several minutes the pastor, associate pastor, and most of the few attendees started to say, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," etc. Since Jesus taught, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words" (Matthew 6:7), I left during that part of the service. I also decided right then that one should be careful about which "Church of God" one attends--as that one was obviously not truly one.

In today's society, demonic influence appears to be growing. Many believe they should communicate with "their angels" (which are most probably demons)--and I have had many people tell me that their "angel" led or told them to do something. Some even worship angels even though the Bible warns against it:

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels...(Colossians 2:18).

Many movies directed to children seem to encourage demonism.

While "liberals" worry about violence in movies and "conservatives" worry about sex and language (all of which are legitimate concerns), I suspect that the growing spiritism in movies presents another significant danger. Many modern "family" movies encourage children to talk with the dead, to imaginary friends, and to "angels". They are less than subtlety encouraging demonism. With a growing interest in the occult and in "psychic hotlines", it is only likely that this problem will increase until the Kingdom of God is established on this earth.

My several experiences suggest that demons are still around and influencing many.

Can Demons Read Your Mind?

While I doubt that demons can read the minds of those that they do not possess, is it possible that they can pretty much understand you as well as your intents?

This seems possible. Notice what Dr. Scott Winnail wrote on this subject:

Who Can Read YOUR Mind? For years, many in God’s Church have debated whether or not Satan can actually “read” our thoughts—we know God can (Psalm 44:21). We do not know for sure about Satan, but cutting-edge research may give us a clue. Earlier this year, a team of European scientists, using complex brain scans, discovered a way to read a person’s “intention” to act in a certain way. One researcher commented, “…but what you can be absolutely sure of is that these [scientific advances] will continue to roll out and we will have more and more ability to probe people’s intentions, minds, background thoughts, hopes and emotions.” Some scientists suspect that, “More advanced versions [of the brain scans] may be able to read complex thoughts and even pick them up before the person is conscious of them.” Scientists are now debating the “ethics” of using such a device (The Guardian, February 9, 2007). From a prophetic standpoint, how might such a tool be used by leaders, law enforcement agencies, and governments with selfish or wrong motivations? Additionally, if man, with his limited “human” capacity, is now developing the means to “read our thoughts,” how much more might the prince of the power of the air, a master of using spirit, already be able to do so? What else would be possible for man if he is given enough time to discover it? (see Genesis 11:6). (Source: Winnail Scott. World Ahead Weekly UPdate, 12/20/07).

Whether demons can or cannot actually read your mind, notice what the Apostle Paul said to meditate about:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).

While James wrote:

"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:6-8).

Concluding Thoughts

As we get closer to the end, there will be more and more wonders from the demon possessed.

Notice what Paul was inspired to write:

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Paul is teaching that those who do not have the love of the truth, those who rely on traditions of men more than the Bible, will be deceived by those influenced by Satan.

Even though demons may have signs that suggest that they are powerful, the Apostle John wrote,

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out in the world...We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (I John 4:1,6).

We in the true Church need to stay close to God to protect us from these spirits which are afflicting the world. We need to meditate on the things of God and obey Him.

As we get closer to the end, there will be many signs including lying wonders (more on one of them can be found at the link to ICG, CBCG, and the Flaming Pope John Paul II). We are not to be deceived by them, but are to have a love for the truth.

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