Today's post is the beginning of a series by guest writer Lucas Ward.
Whatever the eventual relationship between European settlers and the Native Americans, the friendship between the Pilgrims and the Indians is a historical fact. The Natives were a great help to the Pilgrims and were a major reason that colony survived the first year. Yet, something odd continued to happen: the Indians would explain to the Pilgrims how to do something, but leave something out. When the settlers had trouble, the Natives would say, "Oh, you have to do this. Everyone knows that." They grew up in a culture and environment in which certain truths weren't so much taught as absorbed as children. The Pilgrims grew up in a different culture and environment and had not learned those things. It sometimes led to great confusion. Similarly, because of my rearing in the Church, I just don't worry about demonic possession. "Everyone knows that!", but then I was asked three different times by four different people in a nine day stretch about demonic possession and did they need to be concerned about it. It occurred to me that maybe this was something I needed to address. I preached two sermons on this and related issues, which I hope to turn into three to four articles here.
Demonic possession as described in the Gospels is dramatic and scary. There is a reason Hollywood keeps mining this material to make horror movies. After reading the Gospels, it makes sense to be concerned about this terrifying phenomenon. In considering this, the first thing one should realize is that in the Bible demonic possession took place for a very limited period of time. There are NO cases of demonic possession in the Old Testament. Yes, Saul was troubled by an evil spirit (1 Sam. 16:14), but that's what he was, troubled. He was not possessed or taken over by it. That is the only thing even related to possession mentioned in the OT. Possession is hardly mentioned in Acts (chapter 19), and not mentioned at all in any of the epistles or even in Revelation. Biblically, demonic possession was an affliction that began just before Jesus began His ministry and tapered off during the time His Apostles were active. This matches both OT and NT prophecy:
Zech. 13:1-2 "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land."
When was the time that a fountain was opened in Jerusalem to wash away sin and uncleanness? When Jesus died for our sins and was raised, right? This time would also encompass the establishment of the church and its expansion throughout the world, right? What does God say would happen at that time? Among other things, He would cause the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
1 Cor. 13:8-10 "Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away."
Paul here prophesies that spiritual gifts, including prophecy and speaking in tongues, would cease when the perfected, or completed, revelation of God's word was revealed. Sure enough, by the end of the first century as John completed the Revelation, the reports of miracles ceased. If there are no miracle workers, then there are none who can exorcise demons. Would God allow us to be controlled puppet fashion by evil spirits with no hope of being cleansed? Of course not, and I can prove it: 1 Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." If this passage is true, then we can say definitively that God would never allow us to be possessed that way, as it would be beyond our ability to control.
Why did God allow demon possession during that time? So Jesus could demonstrate His authority. All of Jesus' miracles demonstrated His authority. He had authority over nature (calming storm, walking on water, water to wine). He had authority over illness, shown by his numerous healings. He had authority over death, with triple the recorded resurrections of anyone else in the Bible. He had authority over demonic forces, shown not only by His exorcisms, but His ability to delegate such authority to as many as 70 disciples (Luke 9:1; 10:17).
Do we have concerns about demonic influences in our lives? Yes, which is the topic of my next devo. Do we have to worry about becoming a possessed, evil creature against our will? Categorically, emphatically NO!
1 Cor. 10:13 ". . . God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. . ."
Lucas Ward
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