I do a lot of searching and reading on the internet. One of the Bible groups that I participate in did a discussion on Angels. With that came a paper a colleague wrote about the origin of angels and demons, because if we have angels, we also have demons, which prompted a search on my part to understand a little deeper. As I was searching and reading, I came across a webpage that said “Can a Christian be demon possessed?” So I proceeded to read. The author in summary, believes that in saying demons cannot possess a Christian is false security.
“I believe that this doctrine is a dangerous over simplification. It works on the behalf of demons. It makes no Biblical sense and it leaves the believer vulnerable and a demonic target. If they are right, and I am wrong, than no harm was done. But if I am correct, they have left themselves and thousands of believers defenseless and open to demonic attacks.”
He goes on to say that Satan went before the throne of God with Joshua and the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) in the Temple of God in Heaven.
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is it not a brand plucked from the fire? Zecharia 3:1."
He further states:
“It is said that the new believer becomes the temple of the Living God. That the Holy Spirit dwells in him or her. This is true, but if Satan can roam freely before the very Throne of God in heaven why is it that we falsely assume that he can not venture into the temple of man? On the contrary, we know that demons are defiant of authority and blasphemers. They love to tread their filth on holy ground. Satan goes boldly before the Throne.
What really needs to be analyzed here is the difference between being fully possessed by demons and partial demon possession and activities. In other words, a Christian can not be FULLY demon possessed as long as they remain a Christian, but may have many different kinds of demonic activities or demonic intrusions. A Christian may be visited in their outer court (flesh) or inner court (mind) but their sanctuary (spirit) is protected as long as they do not commit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and reject Christ.”
I highlighted a little bit in the above paragraphs (and changed the font so you would know these are not my words) because the first is the sentence that struck me. The second, I tee totally dispute because once saved, always saved, period, end of discussion.
If Satan can roam around the throne of God freely, then why can he not roam around in Christian people? I thought about this and thought about this. On my way home from work, I was thinking and all of a sudden, I heard a voice. That voice said, “He can’t.” Simply put, Satan cannot roam around the Throne of God freely UNLESS God allows him. “Duh,” I thought, and then my soul rejoiced. Satan is under the supreme law just as everyone and everything else is. He does not have any authority except that which is given to him. He has to come to the throne of God and ask permission and he comes before the Throne of God to accuse. Satan was created by God; it is not the other way around.
In the Book of Job, did Satan not have to come to the Throne of God and ask permission to do all the things to Job? My best recollection is, he did. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, I believe it was his job (mandated by God Himself) to tempt our Savior so our Savior could experience what we as sinners go through.
Satan has been given a job to do and in his job he tempts, deceives, persecutes and accuses. As a Christian, we have our own job to do and we must fulfill it.
In summary, Satan is not able to do anything that God does not allow him to do. He cannot posses a Christian. He can and does put “stumbling blocks” and temptations in your path and lead Christians astray, but he cannot sit on the Throne of God in your heart. Because he cannot possess a person does not mean he is no less dangerous. He is a formidable foe and is not to be underestimated, but in comparison to my God and my Savior he is nothing.
The following Sunday I went to church and we sang the following song and then I thought, “wow, look how quickly God answered this question for me, and He even gave me a song to boot to support the Answer.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPzTSpbYmk
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