Read Matthew 4:23–24 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
In the list of things that Jesus healed he healed the demon possessed. Now when you hear the word demon-possessed you likely think those people are possessed by devils and your thought is likely there's no way this can happen to me. When we think of possession we think of control or of ownership and it just doesn't seem like this is something that could happen to believers because the Holy Spirit owns the house. There are some who declare this using 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 as scriptural backing and say since the Holy Spirit owns our bodies, since they were bought at a price Christians cannot demon possessed. This is what God's word says and it is true. A Christian cannot be owned cannot be possessed by a demon but I want you to show you something that's been hidden for so long in translation. The word translated to demon-possessed is daimonizomai. Daimon means demon and izomai is a passive verb ending related to having something and thus a better translation is “demonized” or “those who have a demon” rather than “demon-possessed”. If you are demonized then you have it not the other way around. It can torment you and tempt you and cause you all sorts of troubles but you own it, you possess it, it does not own you. If it was not true that Christians can be demonized then Paul who wrote 2 Corinthians would not have told the Christians in Ephesians 4:27 …do not give the devil a foothold. But it is true. Christians can have a demon. They can if they come into agreement with it and give it a foothold, key word here is give. The person has to give permission and it is usually unintentional but it can and does happens. The demon has a foothold but it doesn’t possess them. It will be present if permission has been given for it to be there but it will not possess them.
The translation of this word to demon-possessed has confused this issue of demonization for millions of people. A true Christian cannot be possessed by the devil or a demon. A true Christian is possessed by Jesus. However, in many Christians there are some areas of their life where they have given permission to a demon to be there, they have given a foothold from which they are afflicted by demons. All people can, believers or not, and unfortunately many do have areas in their lives and character where they have given the devil a foothold.
In summary you can be saved and yet be tormented by a demon, an evil spirit. But there is hope and healing and deliverance in Jesus' name. There is a spiritual battle going on but believers can fight from a position of victory if we know the authority that Jesus has given to us. If you believe in Jesus Christ then you have the authority to pray for people and to set them free in Jesus name. Deliverance is part of the gospel, of what Jesus did and there is hope, healing, and freedom for everyone who looks for it. If you want to know more about deliverance or want to receive prayer ask for more information about this and Pastor Eli would love to share more about it with you.
