HI Phil and Everyone,
I think that much of that article is off-the-wall, and even contradicts
itself, and is damaging
I don't write half as well as you do, and so I am not sure whether or not I
can present min the error that it contains.  Nevertheless, there are some
things that are stated which I must address.  I actually wish I had never
replied to the article, because it will be difficult to formulate a coherent
response as to what I believe about this subject.  On the other hand, this
is good for me as it has had me examining myself and why I believe as I do.
I haven't been able to get to this until now, and I have had two days to
think and pray . I don't write as well as most people, but I'll do my vest
to get my thoughts across clearly.   .
Like you, Phil, I could spend much time tearing apart the article, and
refuting much of it, but I really don't have that kind of time.
Now, What is this about Christians being invaded by demons?
    This is like saying that Mr. Joe Christian was just calmly   walking
down the street minding his own  business, when all of a sudden these demons
from outer space land on his head and inhabit his body.  I certainly see
nothing in the character of the Lord as revealed in the Word to support such
garbage.
    I have been taught that being influenced by demons really is a downward
spiral of six steps (at least) .
1. temptation. 2. deception. 3. vexing work of demons. 4. depression. 5.
oppression. 6. possession.
(Phil, I have a booklet you can read on this particular spiral, which I
could send you as a text file, as soon as I get my scanner and Openbook
working again.)
Anyway, I hope to support that the occurance of demon work in the life of
the Christian, has a lot to do with how much the person allows in his own
life, or else, how much the person had in his life before he or she became a
Christian.  Proverbs 26-2 tells us:  As the bird by wandering, and the
swallow by flying,
so the curse causeless shall not come.  What I am trying to say here is that
whether or not God reveals things to us, as to the reasons why this is
happening to someone, yet there is a cause.  God is not capricious in
allowing and exposing these forces of evil.

    Our Mr. Chuck Smith, whoever he may be, seems to have positioned himself
so high and lifted up in what he thinks is Christ,
that he seems to ignore Paul's admonition to us in Ephesians 6.

" Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take
unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins
girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And
your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints; Etc. etc.
This is our warfare position.

Back in the arly 70's I was involved in a lot of this stuff, including
casting outsessions etc.  We did a lot of dumb things, and did not always
move in the wisdom of the Lord, yet, God did honor our faith, and to those
who came to us who were oppressed of the devil, God did set them free, in
spite of us because there were His people who were crying out in their
hearts for deliverance.

Casting out demons, is scriptural, but it is like spiritual plumming, it is
dirty, stinky work.

The best way to do it, if the person is able to hear you, is to do it by
teaching, and let the truth set him free.

Now, as to whether demons can inhabit Christians, here is what I believe and
why.

Once a believer who confesses Jesus as savior  becomes a Christian, he is
responsible to walk in the truth that has set him free.  Now if he
deliberately chooses to turn his back on God, and deliberately and willfully
give himself to the thing he was freed from, then, he is walking in the
Devil's territory.  The lLord will let the devil have him for awhile, till
he repents.  See Matthew 12-43-45.

Now, I am not talking about someone who is weak and falls back into sin, I
am talking about someone's deliberate choice.



    "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry
places, seeking res, and finding one.  Then he saith, I will return to my
house from which I came out,  and when he is come, he findeth it empty,
swept and garnished.  Then goeth he and taketh  with himself seven other
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last state of that man is worse than the first.   Even so shall it
be also unhto this wicked generation."

    Also, read in context, Matthew 18, 15, 35.  This will show you what
happens once a person has been forgiven, and chooses not to forgive.
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained
thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall
agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done
for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say
not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore
is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take
account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought
unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not
to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and
all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down,
and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee
all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed
him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one
of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on
him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him
into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw
what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all
that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O
thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst
me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even
as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the
tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall
my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not
every one his brother their trespasses." (Matthew 18:15-35 AV)


    nNow, there is more that I can say, but this is enough for now.
God bless.
Vinny