I just wanted to know if it is possible for the baptized to be spiritually indwelt by a demon?
I am asking as a kinda apostatized Pentecostal who has dabbled in some "dark" things, and is struggling to overcome nightmares, sleep paralysis, and bizarre experiences. ("dark" things in the spoiler)
Breaking chastity for sex (on at least six occasions), looking at pornography (hundreds of times), drinking underage (since 14), driving alone with just a permit (the last year), lying (a lot), cursing (including religiously), dabbling in the occult (astrology, praying to foreign gods, participating in afterlife rituals), etc.
(bizarre experiences in more spoilers)
I was emancipated from my parents last December, and have been living with a friend since. Over this time I have done the activities in the above spoiler, among other things. But on the point of bizarre occurrences, it adds onto the fact I am suffering from sleep paralysis. When I awaken, I see weird shadows (not always) despite my room being completely empty of anything to cause such. As well as the fact on three instances, I have awoken to find myself inside my closet (which has a shudder doors). My roommate has also complained about me babbling nonsense in my sleep. And at least twice has seen me in my sleep, crawl out of my bed and just lay there. Once I was speaking, and the other time not. The time I was speaking, I said something like "Come into me _____" and it was surreal, because I felt like I was awake and doing this, but I was apparently asleep (because I woke up later, and don't actually remember doing it? I don't know if that makes sense.) I don't even know the name I said, I just know my friend said it started with an "M", and no, it was not Moloch. This happened back in July, and we were looking in the local library (and on Google) for demonology books, and couldn't find the name she claimed I spoke. I don't even know if it was a demon, because I don't even know if I believe in demons anymore. My roommate does, however. She's a strict Baptist, and she is threatening to kick me out, because she's claims I'm possessed. But I told her I don't believe in that. She is getting crazy fanatical, and insisting my actions are completely proof of my possession.
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:32 am
Just because you are saved once, or have been baptised, that doesn't mean that you're set for life, exactly. I've been Pentecostal all my life, and I've known of people who were actually posessed, and people who had been posessed at one time. Believe what you want, but I believe it exists. I can't tell if you are or not, but I wouldn't exactly think that you are. Although, if you participate in rituals, you no doubt will be. Your roommate may be going frantic about it, but she's only concerned. I will tell you this though:
When you dabble in things you shouldn't, it makes you vulnerable to things without you even realizing it. I have been raised a Pentecostal with a preacher/pastor for a dad, so I've always known what and what not to do. But up until earlier this year, everytime I would get depressed I'd read up on anything dark or supernatural that I could find. Ghost stories, stories of unsolved murder cases, poltergeists, demon encounters, anything. Then I would somehow end up in porn and all that, just like you said. Then I would have nightmares, horrible nightmares of things in my room trying to kill me. They were usually some sort of shadowy-figure, and at some point in one of my dreams it told me that it's name was Jessly, and it was going to drag me to Hell. I would be sitting on my bed thinking about certain things, and I would get a burning feeling on my hand, and look down and there would be red marks on my hand. I literally couldn't be home by myself. I'd end up running outside and hiding from absolutely nothing. But I had to stop and refresh myself in God, and it all went away. Then when it all tempted me to come back, I had to resist.
I don't want to be the one to tell you that you're wrong, but you need to stop and rethink everything that you're doing. If we could sin or get into "dark things" even being saved without some sort of consequence, then there would be no point in us getting saved in the first place, besides recognizing God. That's just what I think. Don't let yourself be vulnerable. Please be careful about yourself.
Our Lady of Poverty
MatchaRosee
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Garland-Green
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:57 am
Like the previous poster said; dabbling in things you shouldn't makes you vulnerable without even knowing it. Baptism means nothing really, unless there was a true conversion before it. Unless Jesus has made an impact on your life, and how you live your life. The only real shield there is - is the shield of faith. Unless you have been born again, and you are a new creature then it is just a meaningless and empty submersion in water. If you want to be safe, if you want to be secure - then you have to pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. The only place safe from evil (possession), is walking in the Spirit (1 Peter 2:11). I believe that because God, and the Devil have no common ground. No fellowship (2 Corinthians 6:14).
What caused you to be emancipated? Is there any connection there to you doing those activities you mentioned in your spoiler? Could the situation have opened up to demonic influence? I have heard people with similar experiences to yours before, and I have myself experienced demonic attacks at night. My experiences have been very similar to what you are describing, with black shadows etc. The only things I have found to work while it happens, and I have heard other people say the same - is prayer, in Jesus name. You need Jesus in your life. It sounds cliche, but you really do. You need to walk closer to Him...
We are not told exactly how someone opens himself up for possession. If Judas’ case is representative, he opened his heart to evil—in his case by his greed (John 12:6). So it may be possible that if one allows his heart to be ruled by some habitual sin, it becomes an invitation for a demon to enter. From missionaries’ experiences, demon possession also seems to be related to the worship of heathen idols and the possession of occult materials. Scripture repeatedly relates idol worship to the actual worship of demons (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:20), so it should not be surprising that involvement with idolatry could lead to demon possession. (Source: gotquestions.org)
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:48 am
Our Lady of Poverty
I just wanted to know if it is possible for the baptized to be spiritually indwelt by a demon?
I am asking as a kinda apostatized Pentecostal who has dabbled in some "dark" things, and is struggling to overcome nightmares, sleep paralysis, and bizarre experiences. ("dark" things in the spoiler)
Breaking chastity for sex (on at least six occasions), looking at pornography (hundreds of times), drinking underage (since 14), driving alone with just a permit (the last year), lying (a lot), cursing (including religiously), dabbling in the occult (astrology, praying to foreign gods, participating in afterlife rituals), etc.
(bizarre experiences in more spoilers)
I was emancipated from my parents last December, and have been living with a friend since. Over this time I have done the activities in the above spoiler, among other things. But on the point of bizarre occurrences, it adds onto the fact I am suffering from sleep paralysis. When I awaken, I see weird shadows (not always) despite my room being completely empty of anything to cause such. As well as the fact on three instances, I have awoken to find myself inside my closet (which has a shudder doors). My roommate has also complained about me babbling nonsense in my sleep. And at least twice has seen me in my sleep, crawl out of my bed and just lay there. Once I was speaking, and the other time not. The time I was speaking, I said something like "Come into me _____" and it was surreal, because I felt like I was awake and doing this, but I was apparently asleep (because I woke up later, and don't actually remember doing it? I don't know if that makes sense.) I don't even know the name I said, I just know my friend said it started with an "M", and no, it was not Moloch. This happened back in July, and we were looking in the local library (and on Google) for demonology books, and couldn't find the name she claimed I spoke. I don't even know if it was a demon, because I don't even know if I believe in demons anymore. My roommate does, however. She's a strict Baptist, and she is threatening to kick me out, because she's claims I'm possessed. But I told her I don't believe in that. She is getting crazy fanatical, and insisting my actions are completely proof of my possession.
Yes, a true Christian can be influenced by demons and even possessed.
You said that you're an apostate--so you would say that you do not believe in Jesus as the Christ, correct?
