DEMONIC ACTIVITY REAL?

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hattiebod

Guest
#1
#1
I was thinking about how some Christians believe that the spiritual gifts are no longer available to us now. Then i thought how does that affect our ability to recognise & deal with demonic activity in others? Do those who do not believe we have spiritual gifts, also understand there is no longer demonic activity? Thank you. <><
 
Domenic

Domenic

Banned
#2
Oct 14, 2012
335
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#2
hattiebod said:
I was thinking about how some Christians believe that the spiritual gifts are no longer available to us now. Then i thought how does that affect our ability to recognise & deal with demonic activity in others? Do those who do not believe we have spiritual gifts, also understand there is no longer demonic activity? Thank you. <><
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Why do you think the demons are not active? Who do you think is behind all the wars, drugs, murders, lawlessness, gay life style, and people turning their back too God?
People say, "God talked to me." That is not true. God will not talk to people untill we pass our final test at the end of Jesus 1,000 year rule. Gods not talking to us in these last days is a safe guard. This way we know anything that does is a demon. We have Gods written word...stay close to that word.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#3
#3
1. I doubt you understand the other position because after questioning people who hold the cessationist view, they do not believe ALL spiritual gifts are gone, but certain ones are no longer active because they accomplished their purpose. just as we do not need TWO Jesus to die twice. ONE set of Apostles is to believe to be enough. therefore most do not deny the presence of demonic activity, but rely on God and His angels to battle the spiritual darkness and see it our fight to battle the temporal, corporal world.
 
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Bookreader

Banned
#4
Jan 10, 2013
318
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0
#4
Some of us believe demons is just the talk of the time to describe mental illness.
Diseases were cured by Christ and the Apostles. Diseases of the mind were cured too - the "demons were cast out".
That is because people of that time believed that is what mental illness was.
Just because their knowledge was lacking doesn't mean that we have to follow suit and adhere to the beliefs of Jews and others 2000-3000 years ago.
 
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hattiebod

Guest
#5
#5
hattiebod said:
I was thinking about how some Christians believe that the spiritual gifts are no longer available to us now. Then i thought how does that affect our ability to recognise & deal with demonic activity in others? Do those who do not believe we have spiritual gifts, also understand there is no longer demonic activity? Thank you. <><
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I can see that how I wrote this could be misunderstood, so I apologise :) I meant to ask about the issue around gifts stopping after Acts....and then how they are to start up again? also, that if someone believed that gifts such as prophesy etc had ceased, would that also mean that there was no need for Christians to be doing any casting out of demons etc? Grateful to those of you who respond. Thank you <><
 
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Jordache

Guest
#6
#6
I have a brother who is cessationist. This season in my church (not cessationist) we are learning about exercising them. Last week we went over the strengths as weaknesses of 4 different views of the gifts one of which was cessation. One of the most profound strengths I remember is that often we actually worship scripture rather than the God who inspired it. Scripture is important, but even it is not God.
The reason I bring this up is that often cessationists are so scripture obsessed. They do believe in demonic events. My brother believes that healings are by the devil. That's funny I though a house divided against itself cannot stand. Anyway... I believe they over emphasize the word instead of the WORD.
 
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Professor

Guest
#7
#7
I have just got to speak out, for I have seen far too much of this. WHY do so many people mark the homosexual as if he/she is some special kind of sinner, condemned, if you could put him or her there, to the inner circle of hell? Fornication and adultery are listed far more often in scripture than homoerotic desire. Indeed, I need to confirm this, but if my memory serves me, even bestiality is mentioned more often than homoerotic desire. Homoerotic desire is mentioned only five times in the whole of scripture. Why do you mention the "gay life style," but do not mention the fornicator? Trust me, there are many more fornicators and adulterers than those who engage in the "gay life style." As Christians, we should cut this out. We are called to love. Just saying... (and I don't want to derail this thread).

Domenic said:
Why do you think the demons are not active? Who do you think is behind all the wars, drugs, murders, lawlessness, gay life style, and people turning their back too God?
People say, "God talked to me." That is not true. God will not talk to people untill we pass our final test at the end of Jesus 1,000 year rule. Gods not talking to us in these last days is a safe guard. This way we know anything that does is a demon. We have Gods written word...stay close to that word.
Click to expand...
 
P

Professor

Guest
#8
#8
My experience speaks otherwise. I was a hate-filled atheist and out of the blue had a spiritual battle with a demon. It was tremendously real. God rescued me from the demon and I was saved. I was instantly transformed from a hate-filled atheist to a loving believer in Jesus, incredibly thankful for what he did for me on the cross.

Bookreader said:
Some of us believe demons is just the talk of the time to describe mental illness.
Diseases were cured by Christ and the Apostles. Diseases of the mind were cured too - the "demons were cast out".
That is because people of that time believed that is what mental illness was.
Just because their knowledge was lacking doesn't mean that we have to follow suit and adhere to the beliefs of Jews and others 2000-3000 years ago.
Click to expand...
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#9
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
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#9
I have battled demons in my pre-Christian life. They appeared to me when I was a young teenager, but I rejected them. I believe getting addicted to alcohol was demonic in nature.

BUT, I do not believe mental illness is necessarily demonic. Still there is evil in the world and Satan is at work. And we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to fight for us against evil.

The longer I am a Christian, the less I worry about the devil and the more I understand that God is in control of ALL things, even the actions of the evil one.

I always remember CS Lewis in the Screwtape Letters saying that demons don't like people who are close to "Him." The poor demons cannot see the person nor torment them when they are walking close to Jesus. I like to think that is about the most true modern assessment of demons and the power of God to overcome!
 
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Abiding

Guest
#10
#10
to cast out a demon doesnt mean your a charismatic.
The name of Jesus is all that it takes. If the HolySpirit sets it up.

Thing is churches that teach you how to operate gifts dont understand them.
Crafts are learned gifts are simply given to each believer.

But the manifestations of the HolySpirit are divided severally to men
as the Holyspirit wills. When and who and where is His to decide, whether
you like it or not. They are one time events each time. Not a full time
sixgun you load up and use at will.

All this talk about faith and believing in the gifts is silly. In the first century
things happened with no notice and no practice and noone even knew what
was happening.

Wed do well to focus on other things besides our desire to be "More" spiritual
in an outward appearance. Like on others needs.
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#11
#11
How does a cessationist spot demonic activity?????

Welll....what does the Bible say demonic activity looks like????

James 3

[SUP]14 [/SUP]But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.[SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

How does a cessationist remedy a demonic attack?
I reckon we read the Bible n do what it says...

James 4
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [SUP]8 [/SUP]Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, youdouble-minded.

We submit to God.
We draw near to God.
We cleanse our hands.
We purify our hearts.
We try to get away from any double mindedness.

Now I know this may not be as exciting as clappin loud...and huntin for demons by name and such....
But it's pretty simple, practical...and well..BIBLICAL.
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#12
#12
hattiebod said:
I was thinking about how some Christians believe that the spiritual gifts are no longer available to us now. Then i thought how does that affect our ability to recognise & deal with demonic activity in others? Do those who do not believe we have spiritual gifts, also understand there is no longer demonic activity? Thank you. <><
Click to expand...
I'm not all big into knowing what 'cessationists' believe, even though i guess i am one. But i don't see any correlation between the two. Why would i suddenly believe living beings just stopped existing? I'm not making a connection.
 
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