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 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TOPIC ONE

Can Christians have demonic problems?

ANSWER:

I know that there are a lot of Christians that believe this is impossible. They believe if this were possible it would undermine the the work of Christ at the cross. Another argument is also posed. "How can the light dwell with darkness?"

First of all, if God is permitting the Christian to experience demonic problems, there is a reason; there is probably sin that needs to be addressed. God often used Israel's enemies to chastise them. Paul was speaking to Christians in Eph. 4:26-27 when he said,

"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." (NIV)

The Greek word for foothold means a place of influence in one's life. Sin provides the enemy with an opportunity, even with Christians, if they persist in sin.

The argument of the light not being able to dwell with darkness is based on logic, not God's Word. God is present everywhere and cannot be limited by the darkness of this world. If that were the case, the Holy Spirit would not be able to dwell and work in a world full of sin and evil forces.

On the other hand, the apostle Paul indicates that Christians can open themselves up to evil spirits if they do not adhere to God's word and obey it. He said to believers in 2 Corinthians 11:3-5,

"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." (NIV)

What Paul is saying here is that believers can receive into their lives another spirit in the same way they received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit entered when they believed the truth about Jesus Christ. An evil spirit can enter when you believe the lies of the enemy in the form of another gospel. In fact, when any sin is practiced by a believer, there is the potential that God may permit an evil spirit to enter in as an agent of chastisement.

And Christians put up with the oppression because they are blinded by their sin and lack discernment. Paul could not have made it much clearer for us.

TOPIC TWO

I believe it is possible for Christians to be harassed by demons, but how is it possible for demons to invade a believer's body?

ANSWER:

This is somewhat related to the first question. I think the best way to understand what is happening is to look at Romans 8:22-23.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (NIV)

The reason we can be physically vulnerable to demonic activity is because our physical bodies still await redemption. That is why disease can enter our bodies and even bring death to us. If we understand that the sovereign God can do whatever He pleases, even to using the enemy's activities for His purposes, then we will not have such difficulty with this issue.

And remember that God has given a couple of great promises to stand on.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Cor. 10:13 (NIV)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)





TOPIC THREE

What is generational bondage?

Answer:

Generational bondage is spiritual bondage that is passed on from parents to children to grandchildren. Such bondage is possible because God has said that it is possible.

Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV) - "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. ' "

There are many similar verses to be found in the scriptures. No one who rebells against God's word and deliberately continues in sin is exempt from the possibility of the curse of generational bondage. Like the curse of original sin, God has provided a way of escape through true repentance by the individual. God uses generational bondage to draw people away from their lives of self-indulgence to the sanctified life that He desires for them.

Generational bondage is often discerned by the sin patterns that repeat from generation to generation. It is not uncommon to observe generations of abuse, addiction, hatred, superstition and fear, pride, control and manipulation, rejection, sexual sins and perversions, aberrant religious beliefs, witchcraft, and rebellion etc.

Generational bondage can be broken by personally repenting of and confessing the sins of past generations.

TOPIC FOUR

Is Spiritual Warfare a valid Biblical concept?

Answer:

The apostle Paul believed that our struggle is against spiritual forces of wickedness. He wrote to the Ephesians (Eph 6:12 NRSV)

"For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

"For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us." (1 Thess 2:18)

Paul's perspective concerning this spiritual battle was remarkable.

• He knew where the real battle had to be fought. On the spiritual level.

• But he never became paranoid about our spiritual enemy whose very nature keeps us from seeing him directly.

• Paul recognized the enemy's presence through spiritual discernment given to him by the Holy Spirit. He was able to detect the enemy's activity in the circumstances he encountered.

• Paul was also able to draw upon his source of strength and protection from a close relationship and walk with his Lord. No circumstance or enemy intimidated him.

Was Paul the only one who recognized Satan as a threat to the believer? No! There were others who believed that Satan posed a serious threat to believers.

• Jesus believed it! - (Mt 6:13) - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (John 17:15) - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect the from the evil one.

• James believed it! - (James 4:7) - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

• Peter believed it! - (Acts 5:3) - Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?"

• (1 Peter 5:8,9) - Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

• John believed it! -(Rev. 13:7) - He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

  If the Word of God is true, then we must take this spiritual warfare seriously.

   

TOPIC FIVE

Why are some children oppressed?

Answer:

First, let us look at two examples in God's Word where children had evil spirits:

Luke 9:38-40 - "A man in the crowd called out, `Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.' " (Also recorded in Mt 17:14-18 and Mk 9:17-29)

Mt 15:22 - "A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, `Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.' " (Also recorded in Mk 7:24-30)

Our first reaction might be to ask, "How can this be? What could the child have possibly done to allow a demonic spirit such power in his/her life?"

My initial response comes from many years of experience dealing with many children's cases and always seeking to evaluate what I was witnessing according to the Word of God.

1. Abuse - can be a way that Satan's hosts can make a claim upon a child. Often in the practice of witchcraft, Satanism and idolatrous practices, children are involved in rituals by their parents, families or acquaintences.

Even when the child is an unwilling victim, the spirits in the abuser make their claims on the basis of the ritual, especially if bargains and oaths have been made over the child to obtain some desired results.

For those who see the terrible injustice in this, I can only say that it grieves God greatly as well. Although God is sovereign in power, He does not continually intervene in every atrocity committed by man, but allows free will to be exercised. Where God works powerfully is when people turn to Him for deliverance and healing. He can reclaim what the locust have eaten!

2. Generational Bondage - is caused by sins in the family lines in past generations. (For more detailed information, check topic three on this page.)

When generational bondage is strong in a family, children can have a bondage upon them right from the womb. They are born with claims already upon them. Many a child has grown into adulthood and has struggled year after year. But when the sins of the family lines have been confessed and spiritual authority is then directed against the generational bondages, the curses are broken and the person experiences great freedom.

What is interesting is that generational bondage often stays in place even when a person receives Christ. That is because it is a corporate bondage, not a personal one. When I say "corporate" I mean a bondage put in place by the sins of a number of people. After the believer deals with the corporate bondage, then there is often freedom to live as a child of God should be able to live.

All material is copyright by Spiritual Warfare Ministries, Inc.

This page was last updated - July 29, 2009