What we have to first understand is what you don’t know and don’t believe in CAN hurt you. Now, there are very few people who are totally owned or possessed by demons, but there are lots of people opening doors to evil spirits through sin. In The Bible, there is a lot of translation about people being “possessed” by demons when in reality the Greek word is “daimonizomai” which is better translated “demonized” or to be affected by demons, or to be under the influence of demons or to have demons.Some people say the blood of Jesus renders it impossible for a demon to possess the Christian, but it is clear from the Bible demons are at work in people who disobey consistently.
Ephesians 2:1-2, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Peter declared that Satan had filled the heart of Ananias (Acts 5). What did Ananias do? He pretended that he was giving to God more than he really was.
Paul also says in Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil!” – which implies it is possible for a Christian to give place to the devil.
So, the short answer is YES: Christians can be influenced by evil. You see, salvation is a process that requires continual faith in God and continual knowledge of the truth. Everyday you and I are exposed to things that can make us stray away from that. And when we do, evil spirits (or demons) can gain access to our minds to inject all kinds of thoughts. So young people: We must be watchful so that we do not accept these thoughts.
What Jesus says about this in Matthew 12:43-45 is really helpful:
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
What’s Jesus saying here? He’s saying every unsaved person has the influence of demons and evil spirits, but if those spirits are forced to leave by the fact the person receives Christ, they will do exactly what Jesus said they would do in this passage. They will roam around until they find someone who is not filled with the Word of God or The Spirit of God. A lot people can confess Christ with their mouth, but they deny him with everything else in their lives. They don’t put the Word of God first and they don’t allow the Spirit of God to continually fill their lives. It’s these people demons target.
The good news is demons can’t stay in anyone who consistently submits to God and resists the devil (James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”). So the application here is to continually be filled with God’s Word and Spirit. When you and I do that, we become the temple of God; the place where God dwells, and no demon can be in God’s presence.
[Answered by Pastor Ho-Ming]
