He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13–14 NKJV)

Deliverance is a popular idea right now. People want deliverance from sickness or deliverance from addiction. Some churches even have deliverance ministries, purportedly delivering believers from a whole host of problems. Those ministries claim that at the root of those problems there is a “spirit” or “demon.”

But can a believer be demon-possessed? The short answer is no. Although the Bible doesn’t expressly say a born-again believer can’t be demonically possessed, it does say God has “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13 NKJV). Notice that delivered is past-tense. That means it has already happened.

That one verse should be enough. But if you’re not yet convinced, here are five more that support the conclusion that believers cannot be demon-possessed.

1. Jesus lives inside the believer.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23 NKJV)

2. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:14 NKJV)

3. A believer is a temple of God.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NKJV)

4. A believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 3:13–14 NKJV)

5. The devil flees from a believer who resists him.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NKJV)

I’m not saying believers should ignore the spiritual battle around them. The Bible tells us about that battle (Ephesians 6:12) and instructs us on how to equip ourselves to fight that battle. God has given us spiritual armor to protect us, and we should put His armor on every day (Ephesians 6:13–18).

The enemy can throw “fiery darts” at us (Ephesians 6:16 NKJV). Yet, he can’t take up residence within us. The Holy Spirit lives in us, and He doesn’t have a time-share. His presence in you isn’t temporary. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5b NKJV).

So, the next time you hear about a deliverance ministry, remember that you have already been delivered. Thank God that His Holy Spirit lives inside you and seals you. And praise Him for His presence as you walk by faith with Him.

 

Photo by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov on Unsplash