1 PIGS IN THE PARLOR : Pigs in the Parlor

Chapter 1: PIGS IN THE PARLOR

Demon spirits can invade and indwell human bodies. It is their objective to do so. By indwelling a person they obtain a greater advantage in controlling that person than when they are working from the outside. When demons indwell a person, he or she is said to "have" evil spirits, to be "with" evil spirits, or to be "possessed" with demons. (See Mark 9:17; Luke 4:33; Mark 1:23; 5:2; Matthew 4:24). The word translated "possessed" by the King James version is the Greek word "daimonizomai".

Many Greek authorities say this is not an accurate translation. It should be translated "demonized" or "have demons". Much misunderstanding has resulted from the use of the word "possessed". This word suggests total ownership. In this sense, a Christian could never be "demon possessed". He could not be owned by demons because he is owned by Christ.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ." I Peter 1:18,19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD'S." I Corinthians 6:19,20The Christian should always consider indwelling demons as unnecessary and undesirable TRESPASSERS.

A trespasser is one who unlawfully and stealthily encroaches upon the territory of another. Trespassers can continue their unlawful practices until they are confronted and challenged on the basis of one's legal rights. Jesus has purchased the believer with His own blood and has made him a steward over his own life.

The devil has no legal right to him; however, it is up to him to defend his rights. No demon can remain when the Christian seriously desires him to go! "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7b).

Demons consider the body of the person indwelt to be their "house":

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into MY HOUSE from whence I came out. Matthew 12:43,44a It is not uncommon for demons to speak through a person who is being delivered (See: Mark 1:23, 24). I have often heard evil spirits declare, "This is my house"

They are referring to the person's body, and are seeking to deceive the person and the deliverance minister into thinking that they have a right to that body. No demon can back up such a claim. All demons are liars and deceivers. Demons have no title to bodies redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.When demons are being commanded out of a person they will sometimes contend "I have been here a long time" as though tenure of occupancy gives them title to a person's body. The Christian must be assured that no demon has a legal right to indwell his body.

Twenty-five times in the New Testament demons are called "unclean spirits". The word "unclean" is the same word used to designate certain creatures which the Israelites were not to eat (See Acts 10:11-14). The pig was one of these "unclean" creatures. According to Old Testament law they were not to be eaten or even touched. The New Testament lifts this prohibition by showing that these creatures were spiritual types.

[God] disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of FOOD AND DRINK, or with regard to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only THE SHADOW of things that are to come, and they have only a SYMBOLIC value. But the reality-the substance, the solid fact of: what is foreshadowed, the body of it belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:15-17 (Amplified)

As a spiritual type the pig is to the natural realm what the demon spirit is to the spiritual realm. Just as the Israelite zealously protected himself from contact with pigs, the Christian is to guard himself from contact with evil spirits.What would you do if a herd of filthy pigs came into your parlor and began to make themselves at home?

Would you invite such a thing? Would you pay no attention to them in the hope they would soon leave of their own accord? Would you try to clean up their mess as fast as they made it? You would do none of these things. You would drive them out as quickly and unceremoniously as possible! And this is to be our attitude toward demon spirits. As soon as they are discovered they are to be driven out.

All four Gospels record the event of Jesus cleansing the temple. This is an unusual picture of our Lord. He was filled with righteous indignation at what he found in the temple. It was no time for mere words; it was a time for action. He began personally and determinedly; to purge the temple of every defiling thing. This is an illustration of the cleansing of our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, from all that is unclean.

Demon spirits provide nothing good. They only defile.

They have no more place in us than the cattle, birds and money changers had in the earthly temple. We can act in the same authority with which Jesus cleansed the temple and rid ourselves of defiling evil spirits. Jesus did not make pretty speeches or debate with those who defiled the temple - he drove them out!

As unreasonable as it may seem, some Christians are not as ready to get rid of indwelling demons as one might assume. Some are embarrassed to admit the need for deliverance. The embarrassment should never result from having them but in failure to act promptlyin getting them out. Others have walked in agreement with certain spirits for so long that they do not want to change. Not all Christians really want to live in purity.

Such are as those who have made friends with pigs. But even the prodigal Son came to himself while among the swine and decided that he would separate himself and return to his Father. Let us pray that all of God's children who cohabit with spiritual swine will see that there is a better life.

A research scientist in bio chemistry told me of an experiment in which he was engaged. It was his objective to isolate and identify the factors which are responsible for hog pen odors. By determining the reason why hogs smell as they do it would to then be possible to find an antidote. Thus, hogs could be made more compatible with human society. It is not our objective to make demon spirits compatible. We are not looking for ways to make demons easier to live with but how to get rid of them. We want no pigs in our parlor!