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Message |
Patriar
Registered user
Username: Patriar
Post Number: 159
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 9:09 pm: |     |
Hi everybody:
Thank you so much for your advice and input.
I asked because my husband felt he encountered a demon possessed girl in his office yesterday. She didn't have a deep voice, but she openly and unabashedly cursed God while making eye contact with my husband who happens to be her superior officer. (That's MAJOR in the military). Those things coupled with body language such as a "certain" look and the inexplicable "feeling" he got while it was happening.
The most amazing thing was through it all, he said the Holy Spirit was so profoundly working through him and his words. He told this girl that she has value to him and that he has hope for her even if she doesn't for herself. He told her that the answer to her depression and hopelessness is Jesus. He told her that NOTHING else will make it right. She was openly hostile at moments...I don't know...There's no doubt she has mental issues.
I give it a lot of credence because my husband is not fanatical in ANY sense of the word. He's very conservative in his thinking and he has never had an experience like this before.
I am sure the most important thing is that the Holy Spirit was able to use my husband to plant seeds of hope and Righteousness. I am so grateful for our God! I have been asking him to give my husband profound experiences about who He (God) is. He's a very logical, left brained thinker. (I think left brained is logical). Very little creativity, very little imagination...LOTS and LOTS of intelligence. I always tell him I'm his common sense and he's my smarts.  LOL
My point is that I'm excited that God is answering my prayer so tangibly. These types of experiences require logic to be thrown out the window.
Well, thanks again! I sure do appreciate being able to 'talk' about it with you all.
Patria |
Lydell
Registered user
Username: Lydell
Post Number: 713
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 8:46 am: | |
Violet, keep in mind that when God does something to punish wickedness, it is clearly out of the ordinary oviously coming from him. And it is confined to a spot. Okay, for instance, fire falling out of the sky to destroy Sodom and Gommorah.
Yeah, there was a heck of alot of nasty stuff in New Orleans. But is it any worse than San Francisco's huge homosexual population? Or for that matter we could list many cities/countries in our world today. How about some universities? How about strip joints? There's plenty of nasty stuff everywhere.
Look, we happen to be smack in hurricane season now. A category 4 storm isn't something that we don't expect can happen. And New Orleans was built below sea level and between the sea and a lake. It was only a matter of time until tragedy struck.
Interesting experience there Patria. How awesome that the Lord was leading your husband in what to do. I think the demons are just more astute at fitting in with our culture. Scads of missionaries can relate stories of the very open ways that demons are seen to manifest in foreign cultures.
I've had the experience of starting to greet a visitor at our church and suddenly having a cold chill of realization that something was just desperately evil in the person I was looking at. Saw nothing visible about them to trigger it, they hadn't even spoken a word yet. Just a creepy feeling. Both times that was born out later with things that happened. (That a demon would show up at church should surprise no one....they seemed to be around where Jesus and the disciples went, after all.)
Have also heard that demons can manifest with the sudden change of voice and strength. Also heard someone mention that there was something like a rippling of the victims skin. That must have been way creepy to see.
I will state very definitely that we as Christians can be harrassed by demons. I would imagine it happens if we have opened a door of opportunity, as with those playing around with the occult. The door can also be opened through a traumatic experience. And that comes from personal experience. The Christian can't be possessed, but we sure can be harrassed.
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Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 482
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 8:57 am: | |
I had an experience with a demon possessed person. It was my former boss. |
Riverfonz
Registered user
Username: Riverfonz
Post Number: 766
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 10:16 am: | |
I would like to second what Lydell said above. We talked about this in detail on another thread. I mentioned a famous pastor who got a rousing round of applause when he mentioned the fact that a gay parade was flooded out by this storm. I was shocked that professing Christians would clap for a hurricane. Where does this type of bad theology come from? These ideas simply aren't Biblical. Jesus is very clear in Luke 13:1-5 about how we are to regard natural disasters, as it affects the just and unjust both. Fundamentalism is such a destructive force in evangelical Christianity. Much discredit is brought on the name of Christ, when preachers like Falwell, Robertson, and sadly even the pastor of the church Marti and I attend try to blame gays (and why is that always the sin that is singled out?). This hurricane was a category 5 storm for which the levys were only built for a cat.3 storm. This storm affected a wide region also invoving Miss., Ala, Georgia. These places don't all promote voodoo, mardi gras, and gay parades. It is wonderful to see all the great humanitarian efforts to relieve the suffering of these poor victims, most of whom are innocent of those sins mentioned above. God is still sovereign, and he is doing a mighty work even amidst this awful disaster.
Stan |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 2515
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 11:02 am: | |
I agree. Melissa, I second your musings on the ways God may ultimately glorify Himself through this.
Patria, I just praise God that He is answering your prayers for your husband in ways that he will recognize. God so knows how to reach us in the areas where we struggle most!
Colleen |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 52
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 12:06 pm: | |
Hey everyone...
In response to the primary question of this particular board...YES!! Demon possession is VERY real. I have encountered 'attacks' that were totally inexplainable and I have also been speaking with someone while they were under attack. I heard strange things and the person's personality was altered beyond BELIEF!!! A once mild mannered even tempered person was at that time evil, vile mean, fould mouthed, rude and blasphemous! I learned much about their background, (father's involvement in the occult) and experienced speaking with the 'demons' within the person. After the Lord revealed to me that the person was in fact possessed, I took on a 10 day fast, with MUCH prayer. During the whole episode, (about 2 months) the Lord really protected me, because I got VERY bold and said "I DO NOT converse with demons, so when _______ is availble, have them call me, I am going to bed!" At that moment, my friend began to speak...very long story short, the Lord was lifted, the person gave their heart to Jesus and has been set free ever since.
I have had some very strange things happen to me. Particularly when I was in consecration last year, (prior to finding out the truth about Ellen). I was sleeping in my bed and began to feel cold on my right side. I was dozy...ya know sleep, but trying to open your eyes? well, when I did open my eyes, (not fully...I was pretty groggy) I was looking at the seam in the wall where the wall and the ceiling meet! That would be about 7 feet above my bed! The only part of my body that was still on the bed was the top of my left foot! I slammed my eyes shut and began to pray. My heart was pounding and I began to cry...All I could think to say was "Jesus! Jesus!"
I was slowly lowered onto the bed after that. I could tell you guys ALL sorts of stories...but I will not...I just want to give glory to the Lord for deliverance!!!
God is awesome!!!! I LOVE YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shontay |
Lindylou
Registered user
Username: Lindylou
Post Number: 75
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 8:07 pm: | |
FYI: There's a book you might find interesting that pertains to this question. It is called "People of the Lie" by M. Scott Peck.
(I am sure you will remember the first book he wrote - "The road less traveled") Dr. Peck has become a Christian since his first book - and this is his clinical experience with evil and two cases of demon possession. It is interesting to hear the perspective of psychiatrist - who acknowledges God - regarding this topic. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 2517
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 12:36 am: | |
Lindylou, I also heartily recommend "People of the Lie". It's not only about demon possession--in fact, it's not primarily about demon possession--but it is about what he calls "human evil". He gives case studies from his practice showing that people can, by persistently refusing to face truth and their own weakness or duplicity, sell themselves out to evil.
This book gave me a great deal of insight and understanding shortly after a period of time when I worked for someone I came to understand was truly evil. I actually was greatly relieved as I read this book to discover I wasn't crazy.
I highly recommend this book.
Shontay, praise God He has brought you to Himself and rescued you from danger.
Colleen |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 1910
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:01 pm: | |
I have an accquance who was raised strict SDA, went from first through 12 grades in SDA schools. She is a practicing witch now, does seancuces (spelling?) and the whole gamet of witch stuff. she also has numerous EGW books on her bookshelf right alongside her witch books. I asked her one time what was the turning point for her to leave Adventism and embrase witchism. she told me when she was a teenager she read where EGW wrote that she had encounters with her dead husband and that she still believes if one is to practice the Biblethey should be SDA so if EGW was so close to God that she could communicate with her dead husband then she didn't see why she can't do it, too. So, she's a SDA turned witch who still really likes reading EGW writings. Yeah, some people are really far-out. And, yes, I do believe in evil spirit possession. I have a theory about methanphedine, crank. I think that is the devils drug. It is a corrosive agent and it actually eats away the brain matter. I don't know where God puts consciouses but consciouses are destroyed from meth usage. Same holds true for crack. I have actually seen people on those drugs come under evil. When not on the drugs these very same people will be more-or-less decent folks. I have also known numerous heroin addicts and this is not true of heroin addicts. The heroin addicts retain their honor. I don't know if I'm making sense but if you've been around meth, crack or heroin addicts then I think you will know what I mean. Meth and crack somehow open up the soul for demon possession. I am fully convinced of that. |
Pheeki
Registered user
Username: Pheeki
Post Number: 641
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 11:12 am: | |
I have been around many crank addicts...my nephew is sitting in prison right now and they are trying to save his teeth from falling out from the crank.
Before he went in, he identity thefted me, my husband, my brother and mother. He totally lost his mind...I think he was manufacturing it.
It is a terrible drug...I have tried it, in another life...it empties all the joy from your life...sortof like the Dementors in the Harry Potter stories. Plus, people stay awake for days on it and start hallucinating and it opens them up to all kinds of influences and perversions. It's truly terrible and incompatible with being a Christian. |
Becky
Registered user
Username: Becky
Post Number: 36
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 11:26 am: | |
Shontay,
I feel compelled to respond to you. I never mentioned my same experience like you had to another soul, because I was sure they'd lock me up. I have had several dream (but I know I wasn't asleep) similar to yours. There was a real sense of evil around me, and it was trying to pull me to its side. I also was elevated several inches or so off the bed. I also was terrified, and told Satan, "My God is stronger than you." I prayed to be released from that and like you, I was.
What the heck is that about? My faith is strong. Like I said, I was sure everyone would think me nuts so I never mentioned it. I wonder how common this kind of experience is. I can tell you I never want it again.
Becky |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 2558
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 10:57 pm: | |
You know, Becky, I can't explain these events, either--but I do believe that Satan does try to frighten believers and cause them to doubt God's power over the phenomena of evil when they experience it--or try to throw them off-balance with self-doubt.
Praise God that He IS stronger than evil, and we can trust Him without fear!
Colleen |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 64
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 2:53 pm: | |
Hi Becky,
I apologize for getting back to you so late...
I have just decided that what happened to me was a scare tactic of the enemy. He was angry that the Lord was leading me closer to Him and though I am no more than any other person, I am a strong believer. In the sense of, I know Whom I love and Whom I serve and am willing to die rather than turn from Him.
I believe the enemy wanted to scare us both,but for you and I it apparently, it did not work. I know we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, so I do not chalk it up to bad Chinese food (laugh) or a nightmare. I know that God is real, and so is the enemy.
I praise God that you called out to the Father in EXPECTANCY!!!!!!! You KNEW He would deliver you, and He did.
My Daddy God is the AWESOMEST!!!
Thank you for responding to me Becky...I was beginning to think only I had had such an experience. Good to know that I am not alone as I thought I was on that frightful night!!!
He is HOLY and GOOD!!
Shontay
(Message edited by Taybie on September 20, 2005) |
Javagirl
Registered user
Username: Javagirl
Post Number: 67
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 5:46 pm: | |
Shontay,
I love your enthusiasm for Christ. Your posts have been a blessing to me.
Has anyone heard of a book called the Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson? I borrowed it from a colleague, and have had mixed reactions to it, I'm not thru with it yet. |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 1938
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 8:59 pm: | |
Pheeki, It's called meth mouth. I have actually been in the presence of great evil, when with crack and meth addicts as well as when not with them. I have had that experience only a few times. It is a hard thing to try explaining but for sure I know it is real when I am in the presence of it. However, on the opposite side of the coin I have been in the presence of great goodness. I truly believe I have been in the presence of God's holy angels several times, have been sheilded by their presence. Now friends, I will share a true story with you. It is 100% true and is an awsome story. A few months over a year ago my son was laying on the sofa dying. I truly believe he was on the brink of death. He had slammed a mixture of heroin and meth. For you folks out there who are not well versed on illegial drugs, that's an intense downer and an intense upper mixed into one suringe. The body cannot take this mixture too well and often the result is death due to heart failure. My son is probably around 5'10 1/2" and had withered away to looking like a walking skelton. I held his hand, stroked his hair and cried. I told my other family members I had to call 9-1-1. My loved ones let me know that when 9-1-1 is called cops come and we have a no cop policy in my family. I was in much distress and knew I needed to call for help. I called our ministers emergency number. He has a special number only for emergencies in the congreation. I told him the situtation. Within 30 minutes the minister was at my house. He annointed my son and prayed over him. Several hours later my son got up. The next day he went out walking in the neighborhood. He soon was rearrested and recently was released from over a year in prison. He has been off those horrible drugs for over a year now. My other family members and me were recently telling him about the ordeal. He has no memory or recolection of that evert at all. I truly believe the minister brought God's healing power and grace into my home that day. Now more than ever we have a no cop policy at my house. The concensus in my family is if emergency strikes we call the minister ASAP. Please, keep this particular son in your prayers. He is such a wonderful man and a wonderful son. So, yes, Richard, I do understand your agony with your Anne.
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Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 979
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 10:23 pm: | |
Javagirl,
The name sounded familiar to me--I searched and found the following Position Statement from the Christian Research Institute, which might be helpful in pointing out some of the problems with Neil Anderson's ministry.
http://www.equip.org/free/DA080.htm
It looks like one of the main problematic teachings of his is that Christians can be demon possessed. That concept is not Biblical at all. We are God's possession and we are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and we cannot be possessed or indwelt by demons!
Jeremy
(Message edited by Jeremy on September 23, 2005) |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 291
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 8:34 am: | |
Susan thanks for your post and the hope you extend. Annie has not decided to come home yet and she took the car that we were allowing her to use. I'll probably go and pick it up when I find out where it is.
She is exhibiting all the signs she did a few months ago when she went into recovery.
I'm sure i don't know ALL but i do know she has been using pot and meth. It is amazing the personality changes that take place. Right now I'm just keeping her in my prayers and staying willing to help in the process of recovery but not support the addictive behavior.
Thanks to all who have expressed their concern and prayers.
In Christ,
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
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Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 1939
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 11:26 am: | |
Richard, In my opinion beyond the actual physical effects of meth the next worst thing and this is the thing that usually gets the user in trouble with the law is the illegial activities the user gets to being involved with in order to get the money to support their habbit. I don't know your families finincial situtation but meth addiction seems to require more and more money to keep the habit at the level the user wants to be at. This in a lot of cases involves stealing and writing bad checks, getting ahold of someone elses credit cards for the purpose of buying stuff and then selling in at a reduced price (another type of sttealing), letting the actual theives store their styolen stuff in your house, all manner of trying to get money in a less than honorable. There are other ways people use to get money for theiur habits and very few rely of real jobs. It seems to me that the power of the meth is very strong and it really does cause the user to do things that when not addicted that person would never do.My advice is to be very observant of your daughter and then maybe when she hits a real low time in her moods offer all the help you can offer. And, pray. |
Belvalew
Registered user
Username: Belvalew
Post Number: 676
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 2:58 pm: | |
Richard, a couple of years ago my daughter, too, got involved with meth use and it was a hellish period in our lives. She was 19 at the time, so according to the government we were not allowed to do anything to interfere. We did. We literally kidnapped her when she came by the house one day. For the next week to 10 days she was under the watchful eyes of someone at all times. I even slept with her to be sure she couldn't slip out at night. She still managed to slip past her father when I went grocery shopping because she was being so sweet and cooperative. She managed to secret some clothes, food, and other supplies outside and then seemed to simply evaporate. It was two weeks before I heard from her again.
Thankfully her meth friends were not so enamoured of her when she didn't have her credit cards. They stole her stuff and asked her what she was doing on the streets when she had a home she could go home to. By the grace of God she saw the light and gave me a call. It was tough for a while, but she was determined to kick the stuff herself and she has become a productive member of society.
A little while back she asked me if I stayed awake nights praying for her during that time. I told that it was all I had left at the time, so of course that was what I had done. She then told me, "I knew it, Mom, because I could feel it, it was like you were all around me and I could feel your prayers."
Colleen has often said that when you are reduced to prayer, you still have a lot because prayer is a powerful thing. It is a difficult time, and one never knows how long the evil one will be able to get away with ruining the lives of those we love, but I truly believe the strongest force we have is prayer. There are several prayer warriors on this site who are joined to you on Annie's behalf--you can count me as one of them, too. He who is with us is stronger than he who is against us.
Linked with you through the love of Jesus Christ who never fails!
Belva |
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