swords99

When we become spiritually born again into the family of God, the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. My gift is one of discernment. It never ceases to amaze me when I read a book or other piece of literature that claims to be christian how I can tell from just a paragraph or a few pages whether its true or not. My spirit will get deeply troubled if the writing is not of God. I am not leaning on my own understanding, but the Holy Spirit reveals these things and we all need to pray for discernment. One time my wife and I decided to visit a new church that was just around the corner from us. I do not remember the name of it. Everyone appeared very friendly. Then I picked up the Bible that was in the pew and before I even opened it I knew God did not want me joining this church. On the cover of this Bible it said BIBLE. That's all it said and it was a red flag for me. Why? Because it was missing the word: HOLY. My spirit became very troubled and we never went back.

My wife and I are born again Christians. Although we know better, we sometimes watch the TV show "Ghost Hunters". My wife was watching it last night. Shortly after it was over she felt unsettled and a little paranoid. She told me she believed satan was bothering her. I told her not to watch the show and to rebuke the devil with Scripture. About 2 hours later, after I had already gone to bed and she was still up, she heard a man's voice say: "boo boo". Now this is my nickname for her and I call her that a lot. She thought I had called out to her but, I was asleep. Makes one wonder about the power of the wrong TV shows and how satan will use them. Or was it just a coincidence?

I agree with what virtuous wrote. I was very troubled when I stumbled upon a website by a evangelical pastor who delves heavily in the paranormal. When I wrote him an email to express my concerns, he got angry and accusatory. He claims its a spiritual gift and that he has helped many wayward people find God. Yet I see very little, if anything, about Jesus Christ on his site. I asked him what does the light have in common with the darkness (which God's word also asks) and I asked him if he was born again. He refused to answer and that refusal I believe speaks volumes. As born again Christians we absolutely must use discernment, and if we haven't already, then we need to ask God to help us be discerning.

Hi Mia, Yes, I agree a Christian can be attacked by satan while praying for someone or doing the Lord's work. This is because Christians are a threat. But this isn't the same as being possessed. What happened to you sounds more like oppression. You were being bothered by demons but they did not take over your body and speak through you. Satan possesses those whose souls he seeks to destroy and Scriptures tell us that the soul of the born again believer who trusts in Jesus Christ alone for their eternal salvation can never be snatched from the hand of the Lord. We do have that protection. I have a friend who would always get inflicted with an illness that would last for months every time she tried to start a prayer group, bible study or any other ministry for the Lord. But she was never demon possessed. When she realized her authority as a born again believer in Jesus Christ, and that Christ defeated satan at Calvary and thus demons have no right to mess in her life, she would use the word of God and rebuke these demons and they did flee.

I 150% agree with your statement above. However, I don't think that randomhit10 was referring to the general case; I think she was referring to people who intentionally/willfully cross the line to explore and/or participate in the spiritual world knowing that this is disobedience - e.g., witchcraft, attempting to contact the dead, psychics, etc. What happens to them? Does this mean that "ghost hunting" is prohibited by God? I have asked that question on other websites and never got an answer. I know of some Christians who are part of an investigative team and they say they're not doing anything wrong? Have they crossed the line?

randomhit10 wrote: that "familiar spirits are demonic spirits" and this I agree with completely. You also said something interesting in that you wrote: "I have learned the hard way that there are some really bad things out there just waiting for you to give them an opportunity to have you for lunch...christians are not immune if you deliberately cross the line and dabble in the spirit world, against God's instruction..." My question is this: Would God ever instruct a Christian (or anyone for that matter) to ever dabble in the spirit world? There's a man who calls himself the paranormal pastor because he hunts for "ghosts" and claims this is his spiritual gift. But would God ever give us a gift to be used in the spiritual realm even if we use it to bring the wayward to God, as this pastor claims he does? Also, I'm not so sure I agree that a truly born-again, Bible believing Christian who places his faith and trust in Christ alone, can be demon possessed. We can be oppressed by satan but that's something entirely different. Jesus does indeed protect our souls if we are born again from the enemy who seeks to steal and destroy it.