Counterfeit Holy Spirit - The Peace of Mind of Sin

[Jason76]

Sin can provide a peace of mind comparable to God - and I don't mean - just from intoxication or something. Well, not being disrespectful or joking - but demons literally can put someone in a ease of mind or even an enlightened state of mind. It's not something like - on The Exorcist or something.

Well, this works for Satan - because he needs "stable minded and happy people" for his kingdom. Nonetheless, Jesus' Abundant Life is still way better. How so? Can someone give some examples?

Anyway, the Bible is normally portraying demons as these things spinning people's heads around - but my guess is they work mostly by providing stability, not insanity! However, one downside to them - is they tend to make people hateful as well as display other Anti-Fruits of the Spirit. However, though, some of the negative things display - sometimes, but they don't always.

 

[Lamb]

Demons have a goal to turn people away from God and toward their sin so they make people comfortable by enticing them toward the sins they love and letting them think it's all good.

 

[Jason76]

Demons have a goal to turn people away from God and toward their sin so they make people comfortable by enticing them toward the sins they love and letting them think it's all good.

I think a lot of people might "see the light", despite demons - when they realize they've been cheated of something better. I mean, a life of drugs, internet porn, or whatever else "floats your boat" is rather shallow.

 

[MennoSota]

Let's not blame demons for the rebellious nature of humanity that relentlessly seeks out hedonistic pleasure for itself.
When humans replace God as being Sovereign and put themselves on that throne, it automatically makes their world shallow. Feeding one's pleasures consumes the limited time one has. This is true for all humanity, not just non-Christians.
Men, left to their own rebellious nature, don't need demons turning them away from God. They are already haters of the light who love darkness, not seeking God. (John 3:19, Romans 3)
We should remember that demons cannot act freely upon humanity. If they could, we would all be enslaved. No, God is Sovereign and therefore only God can allow them access to mess with humans.
Why would God allow such a thing? First, Humans are in outright rebellion against God. God is not obligated to protect us from demons. He is just if and when He utterly destroys us for our rebellion.
Second, though we cannot conceive or understand, God uses evil to accomplish good. (Read the book of Habakkuk to grasp this truth.)
So...rather than spend time speculating on demons and what they do or don't do, why not focus on what the Sovereign King does? Remember that demons are subservient under His rule. While they rebel against God, they cannot go against the will of God and defeat it.

 

[Jason76]

Let's not blame demons for the rebellious nature of humanity that relentlessly seeks out hedonistic pleasure for itself.
When humans replace God as being Sovereign and put themselves on that throne, it automatically makes their world shallow. Feeding one's pleasures consumes the limited time one has. This is true for all humanity, not just non-Christians.
Men, left to their own rebellious nature, don't need demons turning them away from God. They are already haters of the light who love darkness, not seeking God. (John 3:19, Romans 3)
We should remember that demons cannot act freely upon humanity. If they could, we would all be enslaved. No, God is Sovereign and therefore only God can allow them access to mess with humans.
Why would God allow such a thing? First, Humans are in outright rebellion against God. God is not obligated to protect us from demons. He is just if and when He utterly destroys us for our rebellion.
Second, though we cannot conceive or understand, God uses evil to accomplish good. (Read the book of Habakkuk to grasp this truth.)
So...rather than spend time speculating on demons and what they do or don't do, why not focus on what the Sovereign King does? Remember that demons are subservient under His rule. While they rebel against God, they cannot go against the will of God and defeat it.

Well, demons aren't to blame - but they do infest humans like bacteria. I mean, we have bacteria all thru us - like it or not! However, the Holy Spirit can apparently either mostly or totally wash the demons out - something that cannot be done with bacteria.

 

[MennoSota]

Well, demons aren't to blame - but they do infest humans like bacteria. I mean, we have bacteria all thru us - like it or not! However, the Holy Spirit can apparently either mostly or totally wash the demons out - something that cannot be done with bacteria.

No they don't.
Sin infects us like bacteria or a virus or more like a cancer. Demons may manipulate humans, but they only possess those whom God has allowed them to possess.
Humans do a fine job all on their own running in rebellion against God.

 

[Jason76]

No they don't.
Sin infects us like bacteria or a virus or more like a cancer. Demons may manipulate humans, but they only possess those whom God has allowed them to possess.
Humans do a fine job all on their own running in rebellion against God.

Well, humans pretty much are in rebellion against God - if they aren't with the holy spirit - and that's a lot of people! I mean, look at the sales figures for porn in the US! Pretty much, you can't enjoy porn without possession.

 

[MennoSota]

Well, humans pretty much are in rebellion against God - if they aren't with the holy spirit - and that's a lot of people! I mean, look at the sales figures for porn in the US! Pretty much, you can't enjoy porn without possession.

Humans aren't possessed if they look at pornography. They are hedonistic and abusive of the pleasures of sex, which God designed for intimacy between a husband and wife. This means that finding pleasure in pornography is a sinful act of rebellion against God's commands, but it does not mean a person is demon possessed. If that were the case then 99% of men would be possessed.

 

[Jason76]

Humans aren't possessed if they look at pornography. They are hedonistic and abusive of the pleasures of sex, which God designed for intimacy between a husband and wife. This means that finding pleasure in pornography is a sinful act of rebellion against God's commands, but it does not mean a person is demon possessed. If that were the case then 99% of men would be possessed.

99 percent might be. Truly, I don't think you can enjoy masturbation without possession. But then again, possession isn't The Exorcist - it's often undetectable to the fleshly on-looker.

 

[MennoSota]

99 percent might be. Truly, I don't think you can enjoy masturbation without possession. But then again, possession isn't The Exorcist - it's often undetectable to the fleshly on-looker.

We seem to have different concepts of what is possession.

 

[Jason76]

We seem to have different concepts of what is possession.

If someone doesn't have the Holy Spirit, then something has to be in them. In fact, the Bible speaks of an empty house (a spirit of a backslider) simply bringing in occupants - quickly - and often, they could be more viscous, then the last demons who had visited!

 

[MennoSota]

If someone doesn't have the Holy Spirit, then something has to be in them. In fact, the Bible speaks of an empty house (a spirit of a backslider) simply bringing in occupants - quickly - and often, they could be more viscous, then the last demons who had visited!

How about just their own rebellious spirit?
If we held your opinion, every Christian would be bouncing in and out of Holy Spirit possession and demon possession depending on if they obeyed or disobeyed God. We would be torn apart as different puppet-masters controlled us and wrestled for power. Moreso, if you were correct, demons and the Holy Spirit would be of equal power.
Finally, you misuse and misunderstand the passage you attempt to quote.

 

[Michael]

If someone doesn't have the Holy Spirit, then something has to be in them. In fact, the Bible speaks of an empty house (a spirit of a backslider) simply bringing in occupants - quickly - and often, they could be more viscous, then the last demons who had visited!

Yes, Jason, I believe you are referring to Jesus' teaching in the Gospels.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” - Luke 11:24-26

As Jesus heals us and drives out the "unclean spirits" that we have allowed to dwell in us as we embrace the works of our carnal nature, such as Paul mentions - "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21) Sadly, many of these behaviors exist in church-goers today and is one reason the Light is dim at best in most congregations across this nation.

When Jesus sets us free from these things, we are to "put them off", and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Rom 13:14) otherwise, yes, they will return and bring other "unclean spirits" with them, usually spirits that convince us that we are still OK in God's eyes even though we still embrace our sin. Again, even while many disagree with this Truth, there is no provision in the New Testament for continued sin in the True believer.
Our job is to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and take the place of that which "has gone out of us." 'Nature abhors a vacuum' stated by a Greek philosopher has Truth as well in the spiritual realm. No man can maintain independence apart from the spirits. Either the Holy Spirit of God, or an unclean spirit will occupy an area of our personality. Those who have been set free from a sin, but don't replace that which has gone out with the Holy Spirit, perhaps just happy to feel 'forgiven' with a weight of guilt lifted... but then do not "walk according to the Spirit" and "by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh" (many mentioned by Paul above) - again mistakenly believing that God can't see our continued sin somehow - a way is made for even more "unclean spirits" to find a home in the professing, yet unrepentant 'believer.'

There is much more to study on this topic from the Scripture and much to be gleaned from the teachings of Jesus & the Apostles.
May we be among those who truly "hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
Amen.