Can a Christian Have a Demon?

In MATT 10:1 and MARK 16:17 Jesus gives clear instructions about “unclean spirits”. The 12 disciples were instructed in LUKE 9:1-2 what to do in their ministry. Don W. Basham wrote that “Christians have problems: profound desperate problems which often seem to defy solution. Every sincere Christian struggles faithfully against Satan’s attempt to overpower the believer. Prayer goes unanswered, the old self refuses to stay dead, temper and anger remain, shameful appetites continue, fears and anxieties continue”.

Most believers seemingly learn to live with these situations and never get the real freedom Jesus wants them to have. Somehow evil spirits literally invade the personality of the person and exercise some dominion and control from within the person and feed those fears, which defy the sincere prayers of believers.

Many sincerely believe that if they ignore Satan he will just go away…not true. We are to oppose him and he will flee from us. We are never to take a cavalier attitude towards Satan. 1 PET 5:8-9, JAMES 4:7 and 2 COR 1:9,11 give clear warning to us.

Out of ignorance and instilled fear some don’t believe in demons and the ministry of deliverance, which Jesus commissioned. Remember that fear of any kind comes directly from Satan. Stephen Bell of KEY Ministries states that a person, realizing and admitting that they have personal demonization, is very humbled and under some degree of trauma. Thus it is difficult for someone in a place of authority or reputation to submit to deliverance ministry. Pride and shame enter the scene. Remember that Satan and his demons are deceivers, and by their cunning have convinced most of the Body of Christ that a Christian cannot have a demon or be demonized. The deception continues through sermons, books and personal teachings. The Bible does not teach that a sheep of the house of Israel cannot have a demon.

You cannot crucify a demon or put him to death… scripture says you can only get rid of him by “casting him out in Jesus’ name”.

A true Christian is “owned by Jesus Christ”. Never say that one who is a Christian has a life free of all demonic bondage. A sincere Christian can be tormented or afflicted by demons in some area of his life and yet praise and worship God. A sincere Christian can be tormented by some physical illness coming from spiritual roots. Most of the people from whom Jesus expelled demons led ordinary lives in most ways. They suffered in some specific area of their life with a physical infirmity or had to deal with some uncontrollable or unhealthy appetite. Christians today, who are normal, successful, healthy and faithful to God, are beset by haunting fear or compulsive appetite (lust, greed, etc) being caused by the presence of some evil spirit. When they submit to deliverance the process of freedom begins.

What does the average Christian do with these torments? They turn to drugs, therapies, medical treatments, continual prayers at the altar and other remedies.

Can a Christian have a demon? YES they can and they do, there are no exceptions. Getting rid of demons is a life-changing, life-long walk with Jesus.