Photo by Flickr user Georgie Pauwels licensed via Creative Commons
By Yay Padua-Olmedo
Can the devil possess us?
New Life Christian Center’s Pastor Joey Rafael and Shoddy Chase discussed this topic recently–apparently triggered by someone’s fear that he might be possessed by the devil.
I’m sure this fear has crossed your mind as it did mine at times, especially if you’re fond of watching horror movies. (So stop watching them, for your sake!)
Mark 5:1-13 tells of this seemingly crazy man who was in fact demon possessed and tormented day and night by a motley of spirits, collectively named Legion. Jesus’s presence caused them to speak out and beg Jesus not to send them out of that region. So Jesus cast them out from the man to a herd of pigs which rushed to their death in the lake.
So to answer the question. It’s a big “NO!” if Jesus is rules your heart, your choices and your life.
First, Satan is a long defeated enemy. Jesus says in Luke 10 that Satan has fallen like lightning from heaven. He has given believers the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy.
His followers testified, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
We are in the Winning Team if you’ve acknowledged Jesus as your Savior and Lord—because all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus! (Matthew 28:18)
Satan shouldn’t even be such a huge concern. Jesus Himself says in Luke10:20, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
It’s a given: If Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, the same power flows through us. Jesus died and rose again and He’s seated today at the right hand of the Father, “Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every name that is invoked…”
We can do even greater, promised Jesus!
John 14:12—Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
So it’s a matter of who possesses you. Make sure that Jesus does.
