We are all spirit beings. We have been given a physical body(vessel) and we possess a soul.
The breath of life given to us by God is our spirit;our pure gift, our conscience, whereas our soul consists of our mind, our will and our emotions....
Our spirits are what is born again, not our souls 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Our spirits are made new the moment we accept Christ as our Saviour and the Son of God.
Even though we have died to sin and been raised to a new life through Jesus Christ, our minds(our souls) still need to be transformed and purified by the washing of Gods word Ephesians 5:26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
1Peter 1:22-23 is very clear that even though our spirits are born of corruptible seed, our minds or souls are what needs to be cleansed and purified. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. So even though our souls can not be born again they can be transformed by the renewing and cleansing of our minds. Romans 12:2 says it perfectly "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Our souls carry much sin from our past lifestyles and transforming it does not happen overnight. A common misconception is that many believe a born again believer can not be demon harassed or have a demonic spirit.....THIS IS INCORRECT. Luke 4 states very clearly that even Jesus himself was tempted by the devil. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Demonic spirits can remain in our souls and must be driven out. I am not talking a Catholic Exorcism but we must go back to the word. If all a person had to do was accept Jesus and all unclean spirits instantly left, that what would be the point of casting demons out of people as Jesus did throughout his ministry? This was not a one time miracle as we know Jesus cast demons out of numerous people.
Why so many times in the bible is the casting out of demons mentioned? Because we understand that everything God does has a purpose to be used for good, we must then look at another reason for this to be mentioned as often as it is.
How did demonic spirits possess or control people in the Bible? Demonic spirits controlled people through their minds or souls by mental illness and insanity or through their bodies. Luke 13:11 speaks of a demon who kept a woman in a crippled condition for 18 years. Matthew 17:15,18 is simply one example of demonic control through mental illness spoken of in the Bible. There are many.
MAKE NO MISTAKE....This is still what happens today!
We need to understand is that Casting out of demons did not stop with Jesus. We know this when reading Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; This makes it very clear that all who believe can cast out demons.
There is an exception however to casting out demons that we need to also be very clear on. If you cast demons out of a non believer, you may actually be setting that person up for disaster.
HOW CAN THAT BE?
Again we must go back to scripture. Matthew 12:43-45 says When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then
goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than
himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
God makes it very clear in this scripture that when a demon is cast out of a non believer, it leaves the non believer empty and swept clean; however, without believing in Jesus and asking for his intercession, the man is left open to be demon possessed by not only the demon that was cast out, but also by 7 others with it when it returns! Mary Magdelene had seven unclean spirits removed from her when she accepted Jesus in Luke 8:2 "and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils"
One of the serious faults of casting demons out of non believers is that demons have a right to be there unless a person accepts Jesus. Once a person accepts Jesus the right is removed or nullified. When our sins are forgiven the unclean spirits are stripped of their rights in our lives Colossians 2:13-15
And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Many believers feel because they have the Holy spirit that darkness cannot dwell in them, but darkness can exist as long as we lust, show signs of ungodly anger, or continue in any of our sins. Even Paul was aware of the evil in him Romans 7:17-18 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
and in Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
So going back to the beginning we now know that our souls can carry much sin from our past lifestyles and transforming it does not happen overnight. It is going to take some serious changes and some serious commitment to living the way Jesus intended. The good news is that We all have a lifetime to get it right!
If you are reading your Bible and discerning the signs that God has left us to look for that indicate the times of tribulation it should become quite clear time is running out. No one is guaranteed another day or even another breath so if you haven't already decided to give your life over to Jesus to do what it is HE wants you to do now may be a good time to start searching out the meaning of eternal salvation.
Many will soon realize that all the time that was spent on making money, climbing the ladder of success and buying the next big ticket item really means absolutely nothing in the bigger picture and what should have been being researched instead was how to gain entrance to the eternal kingdom of God through reading his Word . YOU ARE INVITED...why wouldn't you want to go to the Party of ETERNITY?
GOD BLESS
