Sr. Pastor-Teacher: Rev. Mark A. Cain 

SERIES:  THE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS

CHAPTER 19:  THE POWER OF THE WORD EXPOSES EVIL EXORCISTS

TEXT (L52):         Acts 19:13-22

Memory Verse— "So the word of the Lord was growing in mightily and prevailing.”         Acts 19:13-22 (NASB)

Demon Possession Versus Demon Influence (Doctrine by Pastor R. B. Thieme Jr.)

1. Demon possession is defined as demon invasion of the body of the unbeliever only. Generally, this occurs through one of the devil's devices such as idolatry, divination, necromancy, drug addiction, the phallic cult, mysticism, astrology or some other form of bizarre religion used as an avenue for communicating doctrines of demons.

2. In contrast, demon influence is the demon invasion of the soul with Satanic thought. Satanic thought isn't always expressed in terms of evil, but often in terms of improving the world and your fellow man by means of human good crusades minus God's design.

3. All demon activity is related to man's free will; human consent must be involved. Some form of bad decision is made, so that the demon can invade the body of the unbeliever or influence the soul of a carnal (back-sliding) believer.

4. The believer is indwelt by God the Holy Spirit who makes a temple out of the body of the believer (1 Cor. 6:19-20). A demon cannot dwell in that temple. 

5. The attack on the unbeliever is to line him up with Satan's policy, which is evil. The attack on the believer is to discredit him and to utilize him in some way against the Lord.          

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