H e a v e n s C a l l i n g

And Satan stood up...and provoked David... And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing...... I Chronicles 21:1, 8

Conducting a census of Israel is a sin of David’s that is seldom discussed.  Numbering people against God’s will just doesn’t measure up to the drama and suspense of the Bathsheba story  Of all the great things David did just mention his name in a gathering of people and 9 times out of 10 the first thing mentioned will be his sin with Bathsheba.

I believe this question mailed in regarding living with devils is actually pertaining to being depressed, controlled, or oppressed without being actually “possessed.”  Most of us have little experience with possession and conjure up images we have seen in movies.  There was approximately 1,115,000 people last year who would tell you they divorced a devil.

That is inserting a bit of humor; but I am illustrating that we have to define exactly what is meant by living with devils.

First, lets consider David in our reference above.  Satan will often show up to provoke us, tempt us, or throw obstacles in our pathway to hinder or prevent us from accomplishing a spiritual goal.

However, I do not believe Satan has any concern in whether I drive a Chevrolet or a Cadillac.  Yet, he may be interested in destroying my ability to be a positive influence for others to live a God centered life.

David was a great leader who loved God with all his heart.  No matter how thirsty or desirable the water may be, all it takes is one fly to turn one away.  That little fly in David's life has come back to effect his image over and over.

That was all Satan had to do to make David less effective; and that is all he has to do to spoil your, or my, testimony that might have turned a soul form hell and toward heaven.

I also believe Satan plays the role of the older sibling who knows all too well the laws and penalties of the household.  Often they find fun in daring or steering the younger more gullible into a violation just to see the parents discipline them.

If your sin is going to bring on God’s wrath, it is very acceptable that he will gleefully tempt you as much as he can.  David was a man after God's own heart, he was certainly not planning on inviting Satan in to his palace. He simply yielded to a prideful temptation.  After all what could conducting a census really hurt?  The Bible teaches/warns use it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.

When we are confronted by what appears to be something to be desired and will (in our opinion) benefit us, we need to stop and make sure we know the source that is motivating us forward.  In order to get what we want - may I correct that to - what we perceive we want?  To often we don’t want what we think we want; but it is our perception that we need it.  At that point we are ready to ignore the very stone-carved-tablets screaming “thou shalt not!”  It is much easier rationalizing with that small quiet voice we call a conscience.

Many a good fighter has fallen in the ring because they dropped their guard for just one second. Peter warns in his letter to be sober, be vigilant 1Peter 5:8. David did drop his guard and Satan did not get in a "lucky punch," he knocked him out of the ball park.

You cannot, CANNOT co-exist with sin. If you sleep with a Serpent sooner or later you will be bitten.

One Example on inviting the enemy into our homes is TV. Proverbs teaches us, “As a man thinks, so is he.”  Most of us have a extremely hard time complying with that basic concept.  It is far too easy to go with the flow.  It is EXTREMELY hard to be the Salmon fighting up stream for life.  The fight against the lures and temptations of Satan is no less difficult - but YOU MUST IF YOU WANT ETERNAL LIFE!!. 

There are so many "innocent," "fun" traps for "Christians."  It is argued, we are mature enough to handle Playboy magazine, Lucky Charms, and Crystals, Astrology, horoscopes, palm readings, even fortune cookies, and crystal balls.  They are all just fun.  It may be argued they are meaningless.  HOWEVER, THEY ARE ALL DEVICES TO WEAKEN OUR FAITH AND DEPENDENCE ON GOD! 

One must ask if they profess to be a Christian, with the option of looking at the stars or to Jesus, why look to the stars?  If you become hungry - why choose a "ding dong" over meat or vegetables?  Will the "ding dong" kill you?  No, not at that moment; but it will start weakening you until you will die.

If one is weak physically they may have to change their diet, start taking supplements, even be put on an IV.  Why do we think we can live on Spiritual Junk Food and NOT die spiritually?  AND unfortunately Paul warns it is our battle.  "YOU resist the devil and he will flee from you."  What you allow your mind to feed on - you will become.

God gave everyone a brain.  Its main function is to analyze sort and accept that which is good and throw out the bad. This is an over simplification of Psychology 101, but stay with this train of thought a bit longer. 

The first thing I want to do with anyone is to determine, "is it body over mind" (usually a nerve or mussel issue) or mind over body, usually what we want unless the mind is damaging the body.  In which case it is immediately noted there is a mental problem or to those called of God, that is most likely an individual who is most likely possessed.

Second we must determine if the "mental disease" is a  result of faulting wiring.

If the wiring is bad or there are chemical levels out of balance, there is going to be an attempt to ‘fix’ the problem clinically.  We cannot discount this in this day with so many issues passed on through parents life styles.  The Bible once again refers to this as the "sin of the father" being passed down for four generations.

If there is nothing missing or broken, then we start probing the plumbing flow of emotions to determine if the unacceptable behavior is a contrived or learned response.

Finally we conduct the spiritual test.  If one can pray calling upon the name of God in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of this behavior.  They would NOT be ‘demon possessed.’

Satan knows your weaknesses very well.  When ever you see alcohol do you have to have a drink?  If yes, is it due to years of habit and not denying yourself, or demon possession?  Jesus asked a young man to give up that which was dear to his heart; and he would not  He was not demon possessed; he would just not surrender what gave him pleasure and accept eternal life.

Whether sex, alcohol, gambling, lying or stealing one develops habits that are unbreakable with time.  In the case of drugs we see it more instantaneously. 

The individual will go through agonizing grief and pain call ‘cold turkey,’ just trying to break that habit.

We have compulsive liars, cheaters, sex-aholics, and so forth that are just as bound and chained to that addiction as a drug addict.  They are not demon possessed necessarily but their fight to be free is no less painful in many ways as the drug addict.  It can actually be even harder to cure without spiritual intervention.

After many attempts to forgive and help a friend we began to wonder if the person is being controlled or at least oppressed or pushed by spiritual powers.
Satan really could care less about humankind except that we are a creation of God.  He wants to make God as sorry as possible and will do all in his power to destroy His works, especially what He loves.  So you and I do become and are targets.

There is so much more to go into regarding “Actual Possession” and I don’t feel it is appropriate here so please email or call to schedule a “free” counseling session and we will be happy to help you on a one-on-one basis.

SO, Can one live with devils and not be possessed?  Yes,

It is not just the bars and parties filled with drugs, sex, and sin.  We no longer stand for righteousness and ethics in the everyday work place.  We are overpowered by the loud mouth bullies, who spue the most foul obscenities in front of ladies, children, and all can hear. We shrugged and just walk away.

Well, surprise, you don’t just walk away. You lose. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the World. When you walk away, you become a little less salty, You become a little less bright. Some of us so called Christians cannot be separated from the sinners right now! Does salt really loose it saltiness?  No. Then what?

It becomes so mixed with tiny pieces of debris and foreign particles that it is compromised and is no longer able to be used.  It must be thrown out.  Do you see how this parable compares with the wheat and tares teaching from Jesus?
We cannot mix good and bad, we cannot compromise. We will loose.  The world is the devil's.  If you really believe the Bible then you must believe that.  (Satan offered to give it to Jesus remember, if He would but bow down and worship him?)   If the world is Satan’s and you and I are not willing to ‘Come out - and be separate’ we are living with devils.  We will be influenced by the father of devils.

Lot’s wife was so influenced by her world (her personal devils) she just had to take one more look before she left it; she died the moment she looked back.

Jesus said, “he who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not worthy to enter heaven.”  Do we really believe what Jesus said is true?  Really?  Then we have got to break that influence, now!

One of the best motivators for breaking the compulsive habits of liars, cheaters, thieves, etc., etc., is for them to learn to fear God.  Read Galatians Chapter Five’s list and in Revelation of who will not enter heaven.  If you start rationalizing, you may not make it.

Contact us for more in-depth discussion.