Q: Can a Christian be Demon possessed? And Biblically, how much power does Satan possess?
Q: Dr. Mike, you may have previously answered this particular question; but, for us Millennials, and other newcomers to Christianity, can you reiterate your answer as to: Can a Christian be Demon possessed? And Biblically, how much power does Satan possess?
Emphatically NO! For a true believer to be demon possessed, it means an evil spirit has completely taken over the individual – spirit, soul, and body. The main reason this is virtually impossible is because, when a person is truly born again, the Spirit of the living God takes up residence in the spirit of mankind; and for the devil to possess a child of God, he would have to cross the ‘blood’ line, and that would make him a sanctified devil and that’s virtually impossible.
Jesus stated in Mark 3:26-27, ” … if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man: and then he will spoil his house.” The point Jesus was making is this: one must be stronger than Satan in order to enter Satan’s house, bind him (or refrain his action), and free people (his goods) from Satan’s control. The answer – only Jesus has such power over Satan as outlined in Romans 16:20 and Hebrews 2:14-15.
However, a Christian that is not walking in the authority of a believer (for whatever the reason might be) can be vexed or oppressed of the devil through their mind, emotions, and body in terms of sickness and diseases.
There are a few Bible passages that uncover Satan’s attempt to take a child of God
captive:
• Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
• Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.
• Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
How much Power does Satan have?
The thing to remember is that ONLY GOD is “OMNI” (ALL in ALL). As one Christian stated, “The basic Christian theology centers around the proposition that there is “one Almighty” omnipotent; omniscient, omnipresent, omni-benevolent “God” (embodied in Jesus), and one less-powerful, less-knowing, less-present, all-evil devil-god named “Satan.” A host of “angels,” “demons,” “spirits,” and other supposedly immaterial entities of varying superhuman but less-than-supreme power accompany, assist, and obey either “God” (good) or “Satan” (evil).
When I say God is “OMNI” (All in All), what does it really mean? God is omnipotent simply means that God is all-powerful; nothing is beyond His capability. God is omniscient simply means that God is all knowing; nothing is beyond His knowledge. God is omnipresent simply means that God is everywhere in the universe at all times at the same time. Nothing is beyond His reach. God is omni-benevolent simply means God is ALWAYS good, incapable of doing evil because of His AGAPE (love).
Satan is not omnipresent – he cannot be in more than one place at anyone time. His domain is in the second heavens and demons do his work for him and report back and forth (from the second heaven to earth). The Bible does not teach us that Satan is indeed very powerful, because he persuaded a third of the heavenly host to follow him into rebellion, according to Revelation 12:4. The Bible calls him the “ruler of the kingdom of the air.”