A STUDY IN DEMON POSSESSION, IS THE EXORCISM OF CHRISTIANS OF GOD?
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 1. GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION OF HIS CHILDREN AND CREATION.
1. God's restraint on evil in the world.
2. God's restraint on Satan's activities against Old Testament saints.
3. New Testament sons of God are guarded by God and His legal decrees.
    a. The invincible legal covenant barrier of Christ's atoning blood.
    b. The legal barrier of identification with Christ's death in baptism.
    c. The legal barrier of adoption as sons and the new birth.
4. The Holy Spirit is an abiding eternal protection for the Christian.
5. Christians have legal protection and authority in the Name of Jesus.

CHAPTER 2. THE GREEK WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE DEMON POSSESSION.
1. "IN an unclean spirit."
2. "HAVE an evil spirit."
3. "To be POSSESSED by a demon."
4. "To be VEXED with unclean spirits."
5. "The OPPRESSED of the Devil."
6. The Effects of Demon Possession and Oppression.

CHAPTER 3. THE WORDS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXORCISM OF DEMONS.
1. Demons are "COMMANDED."
2. Demons are "REBUKED."
3. Demons are "CAST OUT."
4. Demons and the Abyss.
5. Our Lord's warning of Israel's repossession by demons because of their apostasy from God.

CHAPTER 4. WHY DO CHRISTIANS PRACTICE AN UNSCRIPTURAL EXORCISM?
1. Because they have a genuine desire to help people with their problems.
2. Because they desire to prove that they have a ministry and power from God.
3. Because they confuse the works of the flesh with demon possession.
4. Because they desire to demonstrate God's power over Satan.
5. Because they do not realise they are opening the door to Satan.
6. Because they confuse sickness with demon possession.

CHAPTER 5. WHY DO CHRISTIANS, WHO ARE NOT POSSESSED, ACT AS IF THEY ARE?
1. Because they submit without question to the suggestions of their leaders.
2. Because they are encouraged to submit to demon influence.
3. Because they use unscriptural phraseology.
4. Because they confuse the works of the flesh with demon possession.
5. Because they confuse soul travail with demon possession.
6. Because they lack the necessary spiritual equipment.

CHAPTER 6. THE DANGEROUS RESULTS OF BELIEF IN CHRISTIAN POSSESSION.
1. It replaces Christian certainties with total uncertainty.
    a. It creates fear when there should be joy at God's protective love.
    b. It makes a Christian surrender their total security in Christ.
    c. It seriously worsens a sense of failure and domination by evil.
2. It breaks God's command that we should not act as mediums for demons.
3. It replaces Scripture truth and the gifts of the Holy Spirit with unscriptural routines.
4. It is a total distortion of spiritual warfare and spiritual realities.
5. It fails to cure the real problems of Christians.
6. It produces severe psychological damage to God's dear children.

CHAPTER 7. SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS, BUT WERE NOT POSSESSED.
1. King Saul.
2. Peter.
3. Ananias and Sapphira.
4. Angry Ephesians. Eph.4v27.
5. Simon Magnus.
6. The Corinthians.
7. The Woman at the Well.

APPENDIX 1. THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ON DEMONS AND EVIL SPIRITS.
1. DEMONS.
2. UNCLEAN SPIRITS.
3. EVIL SPIRITS.
4. PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS.

APPENDIX 2. DO NOT CONFUSE THE WORKS OF THE FLESH WITH POSSESSION.
A. SEXUAL SINS.
B. SINS OF FALSE RELIGION.
C. SINS RELATED TO PERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND CHURCH LIFE.

APPENDIX 3. THE QUESTION OF ETERNAL SECURITY.

Preface to the seventh Edition. I have rewritten and added some more material to this edition, and improved the text and layout. W. Barclays book, "Flesh and Spirit," has been very helpful, and I recommend it to those who would like further study on Paul's discourse, in Gal.5v19-23., on the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Too many Christians are making experience and tradition the guide for their practice of exorcism, instead of the Scriptures. This will result in censure and shame at the judgement seat of Christ. James.3v1. 1Cor.3v10-17. 1Jn.2v28. W. H. Turner. October 4th. 2000.


INTRODUCTION.
In recent years there has been a considerable interest, and a great increase, in the practice of exorcism of demons. Some of this exorcism has been genuine, but sadly, a great deal of it has arisen from an unhealthy desire for the spectacular, and this has led to practices which are positively unscriptural and dangerous. I am deeply concerned that many Christians are being taught, and some are coming to believe, that it is possible for them to be possessed by evil spirits; and as a result of this they submit to exorcism from their leaders, even though there is not one recorded case of a child of God being exorcised in the Scriptures. Some are applying a ministry of exorcism to Christians, when the Scriptures inform us that it only applies to a small fraction of unbelievers. Much of this supposed exorcism has arisen from wrongly diagnosing the works of the flesh, and sickness, as possession by demons. John.15v1-12. 2Pet.1v1-11. 3v18. Gal.5v16-25. When Paul dealt with Christians who had problems, he did not confuse the works of the flesh with demon possession, he told them to put off the old man and put on the new man; not once did he hint, never mind advocate, that Christians should be exorcised. Rom.6v6. 13v12-14. Eph.4v22-24. Col.3v5-14. It seems that some are trying to replace the Scriptural emphasis on holiness and self-discipline, by unscriptural exorcism and deliverance practices. However, nothing can replace the holiness that comes through obeying the Scriptures, abiding in Christ, and walking in the Spirit; this produces the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is the self-control that crucifies the works of the flesh.

Paul and the other apostles never exorcised Christians.
An examination of Paul's writings and experience, proves that he never exorcised, or suggested exorcism, for any Christian, not even the most sinful of the Corinthian Christians. Indeed, Paul states that through faith in Christ, and His wonderful atoning death, we have been transferred out of Satan's kingdom and power, into the kingdom of God. Paul writes in Col.1v12-14., "Giving thanks unto the Father who has qualified and made us fit for a portion of the share of the inheritance of the saints in the realms of light. v13. Who has rescued, delivered and removed us out of the tyrannical control, dominion and authority of darkness: and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. v14. In whom we have redemption and liberation, procured by the payment of a ransom, even the forgiveness of our sins." Our Lord's death, and atoning blood, has rescued us from the kingdom of Satan. 1Pet.1v18,19. Rev.12v10-12. Gal.2v20.

In Col.1v13., "delivered" is "erusato," the first aorist middle indicative of "ruomai," "to rescue;" which shows the rescue is at the point in time when our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus, and we are renewed by the Holy Spirit. Tit.3v5. "Transferred," is "metestesen," the aorist active of "methistemi," which is used in 1Cor.13v2. for the removing of mountains. The new birth removes Christians "OUT OF," "ek," Satan's kingdom of darkness into God's marvellous kingdom of light. 1Pet.2v9. The apostle John rejoices, "The darkness is past, the true light now shines." 1Jn.2v8. Paul states in 2Cor.5v17,18., "THOSE IN CHRIST ARE A NEW CREATION, THE OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE NEW. AND ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD." Christ's leading apostles are unanimous in proclaiming that God has removed us out of the tyrannical control and domination of Satan, into the security of God's kingdom of love and light, and unless apostasy occurs, demon possession is impossible. Woe to those who say otherwise.

In Col.1v12,, "who has qualified and made us fit for," is "hikanosanti," the aorist active participle of "hikanoo," which only occurs here, and 2Cor.3v6., where Paul says, "God has qualified and made us fit as ministers of a new covenant." In 2Cor.3v5., Paul exults, "Our sufficiency and enabling, "hikanotes," is from God." "Hikanotes," only occurs here in the New Testament, however it is sometimes used to translate God's name "Shaddai," in the Greek Old Testament Septuagint version. Our qualifications for salvation and service, and our safety, security and sufficiency, come from God. To question our security in Christ from demon possession is to question God's word and sufficiency.

N.B. 1. Among those who believe in the exorcism of Christians, the amount they practice varies greatly.
Some rarely practice this supposed exorcism of Christians, and are good people with loving hearts and with genuine gifts and blessing from God in other areas of their ministries. However, others are so obsessed with demons, that they practice the routine exorcism of all Christians. However, whether it is practised rarely or regularly, this false exorcism often produces severe spiritual and psychological damage, and has resulted in some people being hospitalised in mental institutions. This heavy over-emphasis upon demons has become even more dangerous than the previous ignorance about the subject.

N.B. 2. Leading ministries of our time have rejected the doctrine that Christians can be demon possessed.
In our time many men of God with outstanding teaching and miracle ministries, have rejected the doctrine that Christians can be demon possessed. The remarkable Congo missionary, W.F.P. Burton, said that none of the many witchdoctors that he had seen converted needed exorcism when they became Christians. The power of Christ's atoning blood, the cleansing bath of regeneration, and the renewings of the Holy Spirit, completely destroyed all Satanic dominion and power over them. Tit.3v5. Heb.2v14. Our primary appeal is to the Scriptures, and the theology of Paul and the other apostles; however, the experience of a person with genuine apostolic ministry like William Burton needs to be noted. In an effort to bring the Corinthians to their senses, Paul challenged the Corinthians to produce the apostolic credentials that he possessed from among their vaunted false teachers. 2Cor.11v1 to 12v16. None of these false teachers had the power and revelation gifts that were manifested in Paul's ministry, or the same dedicated service to Jesus, or had suffered the same hardship for Him.

N.B. 3. Christians are not being exorcised, they are acting as mediums for demons outside of them.
When Christians are asked to speak out and manifest the thoughts of demons, they are actually being encouraged to act as mediums for demons.. God charges His people with the strongest words possible, not to act as mediums, and repeat the thoughts and words of demons, because it defiles a person, and is an abomination to Him. Lev.19v31. 20v6,27. Deut.18v10-22. Ex.22v18. Is.8v18-20. 19v3. 29v4.

In Lev.19v31. "defiled," is "tame," which means "to be foul, polluted and contaminated in a ceremonial and moral sense." The supposed exorcism of Christians does not deliver them from demons, it defiles them with demons. In Deut.18v12., "abomination," is "towebah," which means "something disgusting, abhorrent and abominable;" it is often used to describe idolatry and its filthy practices. When people encourage Christians to speak out the thoughts and words of demons, they go into the realm of the forbidden occult. Saul was executed by God for consorting with familiar spirits. 1Sam.28v3,7-9. with 1Chron.10v13,14. See Manasseh. 2Kings.21v6. 2Chron.33v6.

Demons are delighted when they are invited to manifest their evil thoughts through Christians; they will provide plenty of spectacular happenings to deceive the unwary, who base their faith on experience rather than the sure foundation of Scripture truth. Let us remember the warning in the Scriptures, which is given to those who encourage the activities of evil spirits; "If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Is.8v18-20. To those who say, "We must be right because we have seen these things happen." I would reply that spiritualist meetings have an abundance of supernatural happenings, but none of it is of God. I have seen Christians, who others have described as possessed, get instant relief when a protective wall of God's power has been placed around them in the name of Jesus. What people said was a demon INSIDE a Christian, was manifestly proved to be an attack by a demon from OUTSIDE a Christian.

Paul tells us in Titus.3v10., that it is sometimes necessary to castigate and reject dangerous heretics. However, He also commands us to "earnestly strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace;--UNTIL we all attain unto the unity of the faith." Eph.4v3,13. Much "earnest contending for the faith," Jude.v3,4., has been done in such a hard and loveless spirit, that it has caused serious divisions in the Church of Jesus, and made the Devil very happy. I wanted to avoid this kind of painful, divisive and unhelpful controversy. I certainly do not want this study to result in the kind of political infighting that has bedevilled Church history. However, the grave psychological and spiritual damage that Christians are suffering as a result of the false doctrine of Christian exorcism, has made this study absolutely necessary. I earnestly pray that it will give light on the subject of exorcism and prove a blessing to those who read it. I urge all who read this book not to be unteachable, but to search and examine the Scriptures with open hearts and minds; like the noble Jews at Berea, who did not take up entrenched positions in their former beliefs and traditions, but just wanted the truth; for when they had searched the Scriptures and proved that what Paul said was true, they welcomed and rejoiced in the New Covenant truths. Acts.17v11,12.

I have expressed my thoughts strongly in this book, not because I want to be divisive, or argumentative; but so that God's children can examine their doctrinal foundations about demon possession, in the light of the Scriptures. Imitation of the tradition of our spiritual leaders, can be a dangerous thing, from which we need to be set free. 1Pet.1v18,19. Scripture must be the sole foundation and rule of our faith and practice; not tradition, imitation, or intuition. Those who refuse to check their theology by the Scriptures, are in danger of preaching "another gospel." 1Sam.15v22,23. Gal.1v6-10. God has mercy on the ignorant, or those who have been wrongly taught, but Christian teachers who do not tell the truth are in for heavy judgement. James.3v1. I pray that this study will enlighten Christians, and help to keep, and deliver them, from the great dangers of ignorance and fanaticism.

We will prove that the Scriptures clearly teach that it is impossible for a person who is, "In Christ," and "Immersed in the Holy Spirit," to be immersed in, and possessed by, an evil spirit. We will also prove that the New Testament has not one single case of a Christian who loved and followed the Lord being demon possessed, or of a Christian being exorcised. Judas is the only recorded case of a follower of Jesus being possessed, and he became possessed when he apostatised from the faith and rejected and betrayed his Lord. God has promised that He is not going to allow His dear children to receive a serpent, or scorpion, or stone, He assures us of His "how much more" protection with His presence and power. Luke.11v9-13. Let us walk in the light and follow the practice of Christ and His early Church, and use the name of Jesus and the armoury of God; and Satan and his demons will flee from us. James.4v6,7. Jn.8v12. 9v5. 11v9,10. 12v35,36,46.

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