Morning Rundown: Part 2: What’s the Difference Between Possession or Demonization?

Here’s a quick rundown of the top stories on mycharisma.com:

Part 2: What’s the Difference Between Possession or Demonization?

In the study of deliverance, one of the challenges we run into is making sense of the terminology. Definitions of terms can change a lot over the course of centuries, and somewhere along the way we began to misappropriate the terms we use to identify someone who is emotionally overcome by an evil spirit.

The Bible uses the words devil, demon and spirit interchangeably when discussing evil spirits. Meanwhile, the original Greek (that predates our modern Bibles) uses the term ‘demoniza’ to describe those whom they attack. Yet in modern Christianity we unintentionally misuse the word possession because the King James version translated that word in its place (Mark 5), as has nearly every other modern Bible translation that uses the KJV as its primary source.

When we think about the word ‘possessed’ in the context of modern English, we use the word as a condition that relates to being overcome to the point of total control or ownership. Likewise, when we consider someone overcome by an evil spirit in the context of our modern world, we immediately think of the movie The Exorcist. We picture someone whose flesh and soul—mind, will and emotions—are completely and totally overcome by a demon.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up to date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, 

Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

The Spirit-Led Battle for Our Children’s Souls

Arnold Glasow said, “One of the tests of leadership is to recognize a problem before it has already become an emergency.”

Well, there is a problem. And in some respects, there is an emergency. To a certain degree, there are many leaders who do not recognize that there is a problem and as a result, we are in a state of emergency. And that is why on any given evening, you will find me at a school board meeting around the country, using my allotted time, usually two to three minutes, to passionately speak about and defend the very least of these, our children. I have no qualms, do not mind traveling long distances nor will I back away from those who may try to misrepresent me as I fight the cultural war which is raging.

At Stake: Our Children’s Souls

I realize that what is at stake are the souls of our children; those who usually cannot speak up and fight for themselves. And so, since I decided to make Jesus my choice, I’ve put on my traveling shoes going from city to city to turn right side up that which has been turned upside down. It is apparent that my appearances have been causing quite a stir in many circles. There are those who support me, but also those who try to detract from what I am doing; in fact, accusing me of being everything but a Christian, a man of God. One such accuser says I’m guilty of “harassing school boards in his home state of North Carolina and taking his bigoted show on the road.”

Sign up NOW for a FREE Charisma Magazine Online 30-day trial!

The Prophet and God’s Redemptive Plan

We need the prophets. Some prophesy. Some are prophets. There is a distinct difference between a person who operates in the gift of prophecy and one who functions in the office of the prophet.

The prophet is the second office mentioned in the five ascension gifts that Jesus gave the church to mature us for the work of the ministry. The prophet is of paramount importance.

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!