There has been much debate about the topic of Christians being possessed. However, I have found that much of this debate is a result of confusion revolving around the misunderstanding of the word “possessed” and what that means practically during Bible times as well as what it means today. 

What does it mean to be Possessed?

In order to understand the meaning of the word, we first need to have a clear understanding of the thirteen uses of the word possessed in conjunction with demonic activity in the New Testament. There are two specific Greek words that get translated as “possessed.” In eleven of the thirteen uses, the Greek word translated is “Daimonizomai” (Matt 4:24, 8:16,28,33, 9:32, 12:22; Mar 1:32, 5:15,16,18; Luke 8:36). The noun form of this word, “daimonion” is usually translated as “devil” but is where we get the transliterated word, “demon.” In other places, “possessed” gets translated as “vexed with a devil” (Matt 15:22) and “hath a devil” (John 10:21). Similarly, the other greek word “echo” translates as “possessed” in two places (Acts 8:7, 16:16) but is more often translated as “hath a devil” or “hath an unclean spirit” (Matt 11:18; Mark 3:30, 7:25; Luke 7:33, 8:27; John 7:20, 8:48-49,52, 10:20). Similarly, “echo” is translated as “have, hath, or has” in several hundred other places in the New Testament. Immediately, we have discovered there is confusion about who has whom. 

There has been some obvious drift in the English language since the translators chose the word “possessed” for this purpose. In our modern vernacular, the word possessed gives an indication of control or total ownership that is not consistent with every usage. Further, the dramatization by Hollywood in movies and television have significantly altered our cultures’ interpretation of what it means to be possessed. Let’s put away our culture’s uneducated perspective of demons and return to a Biblical understanding of what it means to have a devil. Consider the Maniac of Gadara who upon seeing Jesus had full capacity to throw himself as Jesus’ feet in worship (Mark 5:6). No demon would choose to worship Jesus and this expression of worship was his decision for salvation, and it was only after his decision that Jesus commanded the demons to leave. Because of the confusing meaning, it is my assertion that our terminology should shift away from using the word “possessed”  and should instead employ the phrase “has a demon” or “is demonized” (which is simply a transliteration of “daimonizomai”).

A Christian is owned by God and could never be owned by demons (1 Peter 1:18-19). The Holy Spirit indwells our spirit when we get saved and makes our body and spirit come alive through His influence (Romans 8:9-11). Furthermore, once a man becomes saved, his body and spirit belong to his Creator (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). However, we are triune beings having a body, spirit, and soul. Our soul is made up of the mind, will, and emotions. The freedom of will that God gives to every human gives us license to follow Him: to do right and live in holiness, or to live in sin and give place to the devil. 

A great Old Testament example of demonization is that of Saul. 1 Samuel 19:9-10 tells us that Saul had an evil spirit “upon” him, it was under that spirit’s influence that Saul tried to kill David with a javelin. To be clear, this spirit did not “possess” him: that is to say, take control of his body and act separately from Saul’s wishes in order to try to kill David — but rather pushed and influenced Saul to act in a way that was evil. Saul was still responsible for his actions, for it was he who ultimately chose to give into the demonic impulse to attempt to murder David.

Some Christians hold to the belief that demons cannot have any negative effect on a Christian because of the power of Jesus. If this is true, why does Paul say so much about spiritual warfare? Ephesians 6 instructs us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” If your position is that a Christian cannot “have a demon,” what are the wiles of the devil that you must defend against? The Bible explains the wiles of the devil by telling us that the devil’s tactic is to create strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

What is a Stronghold?

Strongholds are fortifications behind enemy lines. David called God his “high tower” (Psalm 18:2). I love this imagery because it’s so congruent with Paul’s language of warfare. Your life is a battlefield. When you get saved, God becomes the central command station at the center of your life. However, the devil and his minions are on the outskirts seeking to claim territory that belongs to God. They work to cede areas of your life one by one and create strongholds where you are kept in bondage. Many Christians have given satan strongholds in their life; their sexuality, emotions, peace, and joy are tied up in spiritual warfare. Others are gripped by depression, anxiety, and doubt: all bound to perceive the world around them through a demonic slant that isn’t godly (2 Timothy 1:7).

In Ephesians 4:27, Paul writes “Neither give place to the devil.” Why did Paul tell Christians not to give place to the devil if a Christian can’t have a demon? Jesus illustrated this perfectly when he cleansed the temple (John 2:14-16) The temple is often used as symbolism for a body (John 2:19) and Jesus cleansed the temple the same way he desires to cleanse your body. Your body became the temple of the Holy Spirit the moment that you accepted Christ as your savior, but the work of cleansing that Jesus desires is a work that He has given us authority to do (Luke 10:19).

Are there any provable examples of demonization for a Christian?

1. Matthew 18:23-35 is a parable of how demonization is tied to bitterness. The first servant was forgiven a great debt (salvation) and then chose not to forgive his fellow servant. The Lord’s response was to “deliver him to the tormentors.” Verse 35 records an ominous message to all believers, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” This does not mean you can lose your salvation, but is rather a picture of what happens in the life of a Christian who chooses not to forgive: God lifts His hedge of spiritual protection and allows demons to have full access to that Christian’s life, tying them up in bondage. READ MORE HERE

2. Ephesians 5:29 says, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:” This verse stands juxtaposed to the millions of people and hundreds of thousands of Christians who struggle with body dysmorphia, cutting, suicidal thoughts, transgenderism and a host of other demonic mindsets. According to Ephesians 5, if someone hates their own body, that hatred has to come from a demonic source. Through our work in counseling, we have helped dozens find freedom from these and many other demonic impulses. Please reach out today if you are struggling under this burden!

Some general notes on demonization:

Spirits are subject to the laws of the universe just like we are. Some laws in the physical realm are laws in the spiritual realm too. Here’s one such example: Spirits have functional names and they sow in people after their kind. Read Proverbs 8 for a clear message about how the Spirit of Wisdom operates; evil spirits, however, seek to sow into you bad things in order to gain access to you through strongholds. Some examples of common spirits we deal with are, lust, fear, bitterness, envy, insecurity, doubt, hatred and a host of others. 

Under the influence of an evil spirit or not, sin is still a choice and we still have free will. Every demonized person is still responsible for their actions just like the non-demonized. What I have found is that the amount and severity of sin and degradation in a demonized person is far greater than that in one who is not. It is my position that the greatest atrocities committed are generally always provoked by demons which are flexing their influence to gain as much ground as possible. This gradual giving-in of the will leads both Christian and nonchristian alike into a life marked by demonic oppression (Ephesians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 10:5).

Jesus never brought freedom without salvation first. Mark 7:25-30 tells about the demonization of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter. The woman had to first show faith in Christ and an understanding of her adoption into God’s family before her daughter’s freedom was granted. Because I command spirits to leave in the power of Jesus, a person must first be saved before they can be free. If they’re not saved, I lead them to the Lord before dealing with spirits at all.

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In Summary

I believe the oppression/possession debate about whether a demon can be inside of you or outside of you is at best semantics, and at worse is a tactic of the enemy to keep some distracted from the power that an evil spirit has over them. I’ve heard plenty of sermons that seek to prove a Christian can’t be “possessed,” but then watched those same men fall into sin, adultery, and worse. It doesn’t matter how many mice are in your house: if you ignore the signs and refuse to acknowledge their presence, they’ll run rampant in your life, corrupt your spiritual food, and pollute your home (body and soul) (Matthew 12:43-45). Reading the Bible, praying, and going to church are great things, but they won’t solve a problem that needs to be commanded to leave. Jesus gave us authority for this very purpose. The presence of the Holy Spirit never drove out demons, it always made them manifest. God gave the authority and the command to us as Christians to command these trespassing spirits to leave. Faith and hope alone will never do what Jesus told us to do with our mouth. 

I have presented the facts of scripture as plainly as I can in order to give you the best information with which you can form your own belief. Now, I want to give you hope. Matthew 17 and Luke 17 tell parallel stories of Jesus talking to his disciples and telling them that their faith can move mountains. These mountains are not physical ones, but spiritual ones: God promises freedom from overwhelming and insurmountable obstacles. If you’re struggling against your own mountain of anxiety, depression, lust, or addictions there is power in Jesus’ promise of freedom for God’s children. Reach out today for help with overcoming and uprooting these obstacles for Jesus promises that with just a little faith, you can be free. 

Questions for those who are unconvinced:

• As a Christian, what are the wiles of the devil that you must defend against?
• How do Christians war a good warfare if they can’t be touched by evil spirits?
• How was Paul given a messenger of Satan? Isn’t this demonization? The spirit was present and caused problems for Paul. Could a messenger of Satan be present in your life?
• What are your objections to substituting the words “has a devil” or “demonized” for all of the passages in the first paragraph where “possessed” was used? Do you think “possessed” is the best word? Why? Explain the passages where it’s translated as “vexed with” or “has a devil.”
• If a Christian can be under the influence of a physical substance that keeps him from being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), could he similarly yield to a different spiritual influence that causes the same outcome? 

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We’re so excited to announce that God has moved us to start a nonprofit called Freedom In Jesus Initiative! Through this 501(c)3, we intend to continue the work of spiritual warfare ministry that God has called us to do. Read more at www.freedominjesusinitiative.org