Can a Christian be ‘Demonized’?

As part of our ministry in deliverance, I have been made aware that there is in the church today a very wide divide when it comes to the notion of Christians being under the influence of demonic spirits. The main reason for this divide is an incorrect translation of one word in the original Koine Greek of the New Testament. This article will explain in simple terms how this one word has created such a misunderstanding that has lead to such a rift in the body of Christ. 

In the Greek of the New Testament, the word 'daimonizomai' expresses  presence of demonic spirits in a person. What this word really means is: 'to be demonized' which simply means 'to be under the influence of a demonic spirit'. The word 'possessed' used throughout the translated scripture, is an incorrect translation of the Greek word  'daimonizomai' and does nothing but create confusion on the subject of deliverance in Christians. The reason is that in English, the word 'possessed' implies total control or ownership. As we know, a true Christian cannot be possessed. This concept of possession, when applied to the relationship between a demonic force and a person, has no support in the scripture or in the original translation of the Greek. 

This is a crucial point because, while a Christian cannot be possessed by a demonic spirit, they can certainly become 'demonized', or 'under the influence of' a demonic spirit. This happens when we are not in control of a specific area in our lives and a demon finds it's way into that area and torments us. Scripture in support of this idea includes the following:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.”

This scripture warns us that the enemy is deceitful and can work through people who act like they are following Christ but by their false prophesies, preaching of a different gospel, and by the fruit of their actions we can discover that they are really demonized false apostles.

Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

This scripture also warns us against becoming complacent or apathetic as Christians, explaining plainly that the enemy can demonize true believers. The pat argument amongst uneducated Christians is that sin or a demon cannot exist in the same body where the Holy Spirit exists – and, as this and other scripture points out, is incorrect on two counts.  First, this false security reduces the person of the Holy Spirit to some kind of ‘good force’ and totally takes away His position as the third person of the Trinity. Second, the Holy Spirit (and the entire Trinity) is omnipresent and is constantly at work in the regenerate believer – but the believer is constantly struggling with the old, sinful nature. In other words, just because we are saved doesn’t mean that we are perfected yet. We are constantly at war with the dark side. The idea that the Holy Spirit cannot be in the same space as evil has no biblical merit at all and creates a very weak statement regarding the power of God. God has dominion over all things, that is true, but it is totally up to us as believers to believe in Jesus and to overcome.

In deliverance ministry, we must command the demons to go in Jesus Name. He will not cast the demons out for us because He has given us that authority and He expects us to use it!

Mark 6:7 confirms this to be fact. "And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits"

A perfect illustration of the fact that Christians can be demonized appears in Acts 8, the story of Simon the Sorcerer. This from Acts 8: 9-24:

“Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;  and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.  But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed."

"Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

In this scripture we see that Simon, a former practitioner in the occult of magic, had believed and accepted Christ, was baptized in water and observed great signs & wonders. But when he saw the people receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, out of jealousy he offered Peter money to bestow the Spirit on him. Simon had been saved, accepted Christ but there was still an issue. Simon needed deliverance from the occult. He had believed in Christ but still had the heart of an occult sorcerer. He was still a captive to sin even after he had believed and been baptized. A prime example of a Christian being demonized and in serious need of deliverance.

In summary, the argument that many use that "a Christian cannot be demonized" is that the Holy Spirit cannot reside in a person who is being demonized, or that they cannot co-exist in the same person. But the Bible gives many examples where the Holy Spirit was at work in demonized believers. Below is a partial list of scriptures for self-exploration.

Ephesians 6:10-18             1 Thessealonians 2:18           1 Corinthians 10:12-14 
1 Peter 5:8-9                      Ephesians 4:25-27                  1 Corinthians 5:1-5 
2 Timothy 2:24-26             Galations 3:1                          Acts 5:1-11
1 Timothy 4:1-2                 2 Corinthians 12:7 
1 Timothy 3:6-7                 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 
1 Timothy 1:19-20             2 Corinthians 2:10-11 

For more in-depth information on demons and the ministry of deliverance, see the Derek Prince section under the Video Teaching area of this web site.


Be Blessed & Be A Blessing!
 ~Mark Williams, Minister of Healing & Deliverance