Deliverance Myths Busted: Returning to Biblical Basics - Part 2

Part 2: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Deliverance – Addressing Misconceptions

If there’s one thing we all agree on when it comes to deliverance, it’s this: the Holy Spirit is key. But how exactly does the Holy Spirit work in deliverance? Can a person be saved—have the Holy Spirit—and still be oppressed by demonic forces? This is where things get murky. And, honestly, it’s easy to get lost in the fog of different teachings, rituals, and, yes, misconceptions.

So, in this article, we’re going to clear things up. We’ll dig into how the Bible describes the role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life, whether Christians can have both the Spirit and be oppressed or even possessed by demons, and where some of the confusion comes from in modern-day deliverance ministries.

I. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: What Happens at Salvation?

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, something truly miraculous happens: the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. Think of it as a divine seal—God’s stamp of ownership. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not just symbolic; it’s real. It changes you. It marks you as God’s own.

Ephesians 1:13-14: “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.”
This is huge. The Spirit doesn’t just “visit” you. He indwells you, meaning He takes up residence inside you—permanently. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee, the down payment if you will, of the eternal inheritance that God has promised.
Romans 8:9: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.”
Here, Paul makes it crystal clear: if you belong to Christ, you have the Spirit. No exceptions. No delays. The moment you believe, the Holy Spirit enters your life.

But here’s where the question arises: If the Holy Spirit is in us, can we also be inhabited by demons?

II. Can a Christian Be Possessed by Demons?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions floating around in deliverance ministries today. Many well-meaning people believe that Christians can be possessed by demons while simultaneously housing the Holy Spirit. But Scripture simply doesn’t support that.

Let’s unpack this.

Possession vs. Oppression

First, we need to understand the difference between demonic possession and demonic oppression. These terms are often thrown around, but they’re not the same thing.

Possession: When a person is possessed by a demon, it means the demon has complete control over that individual—mind, body, and spirit. It’s not just an influence; it’s full domination.
Oppression: Demonic oppression, on the other hand, is when a person is influenced or attacked by demonic forces. The demon might try to tempt, harass, or torment, but it does not have complete control. This is an important distinction because Christians can face oppression but not possession.

Scripture’s Stance on Possession

The Bible teaches that believers, those who have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot be possessed by demons. The Holy Spirit and demonic forces are fundamentally incompatible. They can’t share space. Here’s why:

2 Corinthians 6:14-16: “For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”
Paul makes it clear here—light and darkness don’t mix. If you’re a Christian, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. There’s no room for a demon to take up residence inside you.
1 John 4:4: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
The Holy Spirit who lives in you is infinitely greater than any demonic force. If God Himself dwells within you, it’s impossible for a demon to possess you. It’s like trying to force darkness into a room full of light—it just can’t happen.

So, can a Christian be possessed by a demon? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean Christians are completely free from spiritual attack.

III. Demonic Oppression: A Reality for Believers

While possession is off the table for believers, demonic oppression is very real. Satan is described as the “roaring lion” seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8), and he still seeks to influence, deceive, and attack believers.

Ephesians 6:12: The Ongoing Battle

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. Even though the Holy Spirit lives in us, we still live in a world where spiritual warfare is happening all around us. Christians can be influenced, tempted, and attacked by demons—but not possessed.

How Does Oppression Happen?

Oppression typically occurs when believers leave areas of their lives unprotected. For example:

Unrepented Sin: Holding onto sin can give the enemy a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). This could be bitterness, unforgiveness, addiction, or any area where we refuse to submit to God.
Fear and Lies: Satan is called the father of lies (John 8:44), and one of his main tactics is to deceive. When we believe lies about ourselves, God, or others, we allow spiritual oppression to take root.

IV. Misconceptions About Receiving the Holy Spirit

Now, let’s address a related misconception: that the Holy Spirit is something believers receive in a separate event after salvation, often through the laying on of hands or an additional ritual. While there are instances in the New Testament where the Holy Spirit was received after conversion, these were unique, transitional moments in the spread of the Gospel.

Acts 8:14-17: The Samaritans’ Delay

In Acts 8, we read that Peter and John went down to Samaria after hearing that many people had believed Philip’s preaching but had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:15-17: “When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
What’s going on here? This was a unique situation. The Gospel was spreading beyond Jewish territory, and the Holy Spirit came through the apostles to demonstrate unity between Jewish believers and Samaritan believers. It was an important moment in the early Church to show that God’s Spirit was for everyone—not just the Jews.

Acts 19:1-6: Paul and the Ephesian Disciples

A similar event occurs in Acts 19 when Paul meets a group of disciples who had only experienced John’s baptism, which was focused on repentance, not the full revelation of Christ and the Spirit.

Acts 19:2: “And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’”
Once again, this was a transitional moment. These disciples hadn’t been fully taught about Jesus, so Paul baptized them in the name of Christ, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Normative Pattern: The Holy Spirit at Salvation

In most cases, as we see in letters like Ephesians and Romans, the Holy Spirit is received immediately at the moment of salvation, not at some later event. The events in Acts 8 and Acts 19 were unique because of the transitional nature of the Gospel spreading to new groups.

So, if you’re a believer, the Holy Spirit is already at work in your life from the moment you accepted Christ. You don’t need to wait for a special impartation or ritual.

V. Conclusion: Embrace the Truth of the Holy Spirit’s Power

The Holy Spirit’s role in a believer’s life is far more powerful and immediate than some modern deliverance practices suggest. If you’ve trusted in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is already in you—He is your protector, your guide, and your guarantee of eternal life. While demonic oppression may come, you are not defenseless. God has equipped you with everything you need to overcome.

In the next article, we’ll explore why deliverance in the Bible was often instantaneous, but today, it sometimes takes hours, days, or even weeks. What’s going on with that? Stay tuned.

Glossary:

Indwelling: The act of the Holy Spirit permanently residing within a believer upon their salvation.
Demonic Possession: When a demon fully controls a person’s mind, body, and spirit.
Demonic Oppression: When a demon influences or harasses a person, but does not have full control.
Spiritual Warfare: The ongoing battle between good and evil forces, particularly involving Christians and demonic forces.
Unrepented Sin: Sin that has not been confessed or turned away from, often allowing spiritual vulnerability.
Foothold: A metaphor used in Scripture to describe an opportunity or weakness that allows Satan to influence or attack a believer.