Let’s continue from where we left off; shall we? For a short recap, let’s remind ourselves about the modules satan uses in his evil schemes against humans. In our last episode, we noted that satan and demons don’t have to be inside a person they’re attacking. In majority of cases attacks are launched from without. We listed the modules as follows: –
- OBSESSION (External)
- OPPRESSION (External)
- POSSESSION (Internal)
The Human Trinity
A human being is a ‘created trinity’ which means man is spirit, soul and body. Or for a better definition, man is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a physical body. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are ‘born again’ as explained in John 3, II Cor 5, and many other passages. So, what gets born again in a person? The body? No, of course not; you have the same body you had before you were born again. Is it the soul then? No; the soul of man consists of intellect, will and emotions. But that isn’t what gets born again at salvation.
What gets saved and born again is our spirit—our real selves, who we are at our core! In many biblical references, the spirit of man is often referred as the ‘heart’. The soul, also referred to as the ‘mind’, needs to be changed too. But this is a GRADUAL process that requires the individual believer to RETRAIN his/her mind so it’s aligned to God’s Word. Says Scripture, “…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom 12:2). To renew is to makeover, as we do to our old houses or antique furniture to restore them to the freshness and strength they once had.
When we receive salvation, Jesus comes to live inside our spirits. We become His sanctuary in the same way the Holy of Holies housed the Presence of God in Old Testament.
- Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them… and ye shall be my people and I will be your God. (Ezek 36:26-28)
God’s Residence
As you can see, upon accepting Christ’s salvation, man’s spirit becomes God’s residence. Therefore, man’s spirit cannot be doubly cohabited by the Holy Presence of God and devils. A person who has genuinely accepted Jesus Christ as his/her Savior CANNOT be demon possessed. That is not possible. However, even with the good news of that elevated position, there’s a whole lot that demons can do to make your life miserable if you do not learn how to operate as a child of God!
Demonic Modules
The word ‘module’ –correctly pronounced ‘mä-jül’–is used here in a technical sense. Some years back, I trained in automotive technology and earned a college degree. The modern vehicle, unlike ancient automobiles, is modulated electronically using sensors and actuating processors (modules). Every module is designed to respond to specific sensors and to actuate specific responses. Some modules work in concert with others to facilitate an overall driving experience that’s flawless and efficacious to the human driver.
The same is true of demonic modules. Whether they work singularly or in concert, their overall goal is to defeat the purpose of God for human beings. In our earlier post, we pointed out that Christians are the prime target of satanic machinations. Obviously, Christians who live in defeat cannot exemplify virtues that attract sinners to Christian faith. So, satan works feverishly to depict Christians as duped fanatics whose narrow beliefs keep them from advancing in life. To overcome such diabolical schemes, a Christian must exercise his/her God given authority. That takes learning, growing and maturing. You don’t simply get saved and stagnate in a limbo of presumption and ignorance. To learn and grow and mature, we feed on God’s Word. We study to discover who we are in Christ. And if we are IN CHRIST, we educate ourselves on how to operate in the His Spirit.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph 6:10-13 ~KJV) A day when satan’s hordes deploy their modules at you is a pretty evil day. So let’s discuss some of them.
OBSESSION
The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines obsession as ‘a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling’. We sometimes use the word obsession lightly to imply motivation, but in this lesson, we are talking about the “unreasonable persistent disturbing preoccupation!” A technical word for it is paranoia. Folks get so fixated in delusional thoughts that they are oblivious to reality. They could walk right into a brick wall or into a pool of water with their eyes wide open while their minds are totally distracted from the danger.
Years ago, I knew a brother in such a case. You’d be talking with him and he’d disengage momentarily. Then he’d snap back with a start as though emerging from a nightmare. At times he’d say something out of the blues as though he was trying to simultaneously grasp communication from different sources. The distraction became so dangerous for his driving, and one day he crashed his truck and died. This is an examples of satanic attacks known as obsession, where demonic forces operating from outside assail someone’s mind leading to dangerous outcomes. There are many other examples. You probably know some cases.
Of course, not every case of absentmindedness qualifies as obsession. Neither is this article a psychic barometer for probing demonic infiltration. In any case, our calling as children of God is to be one another’s keeper, and to protect each other from enemy attacks. We are never to go around witch-hunting or placing nasty labels on our afflicted brethren.
OPPRESSION
This is second level of demonic modules, more severe than obsession, is also launched from without. Our reference dictionary defines oppression as ‘unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power… something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power.’ Please understand that satan is a usurper of authority. To usurp is to seize, or grab by force or trickery. The authority satan exercises was fraudulently seized from Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Oppression often manifests as severe emotional heaviness. I’ve had several attacks in this area. In a certain city where I lived with another gospel minister, we had quite a few brushes with oppression. We had our different missions and came home at different times. One Monday morning, at around 8 or 9am, I was resting in bed in my room listening to the radio when I heard the rear door open. Nobody beside me and the other minister had keys to the house, so I was sure it was him coming home. Next, I heard the kitchen door swing on its hinges, then footsteps in the corridor. I prepared a smile for my fellow minister, but instead of my bedroom door opening, I suddenly felt energy drain out of my body.
I couldn’t lift a finger, let alone a hand or a foot. Realizing I was under satanic oppression, I attempted to call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To my utter horror, my mouth would not open, and no sound came out of me. I looked at the door and it seemed like I’d been transported to a distance far away. The radio was just a faint whisper. With urgent determination, I kept declaring the blood of Jesus in my mind without being able to verbalize it. I did that until a sudden release came and I jumped out of bed.
On another evening, the other minister was in the house alone. I was out teaching a class of Bible study in a different section of town. Suddenly, the lights went out. A white bat appeared flying around and saying, “angel of death, angel of death!” At first, my minister companion was paralyzed with dread, and started calling out for me. But after a while, he got very furious, jumped up, pointed at the bat and declared, “Get out of here this instant, satan, there is no death here; this house is protected by the blood of Jesus Christ!”
Demonic Dwelling Places
Do demons live in specific places? I can’t give a definite answer to that question, only an observation. The demoniac in Mark 5:1-18: dwelt among the tombs. The house in which my fellow minister and I suffered oppressive afflictions was next to the city cemetery. I think devils linger around graveyards. I once heard of a Christian car detailer who was hired to retrieve and clean a rental car which a man had driven to a remote location and committed suicide. As the detailer vacuumed the floor mats, suddenly, an overwhelming foul smell filled the car. The doors slammed shut and a hideous voice yelled, “I am going to kill you!”
Would you think that demon spirits stick around used cars whose previous owners rode for evil missions! Would you think devils linger around houses and cause unexplainable quarrels among spouses! Would you think innocent artifacts bought at thrift stores or yard sales were fetishes that linked new owners to demonic operations? Maybe not; but when you walk uprightly, the Lord will quicken you to these dangers. As a good Christian habit, learn to sanctify your environments by prayer and scriptural confessions.