Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by l1tilr on February 1, 2009 at 6:51am

David Jeremiah wrote a book about Angels and if I recall, it mentioned angels and fallen angels appearing to man throughout the times.

I'm wondering if they are the same

today's Gospel, from Mark 1:21-28 (New International Version)

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[a] spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Many instances of ghosts in the old testament refer to "giving up the ghost" as meaning someone died.

In Luke 24:37; "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Jesus's words leave the impression that they knew about ghosts and believed in them as well.

Permalink Reply by Beth on February 1, 2009 at 1:00pm

Thanks Thomas. We already have a wonderful church but our study isn't on ghosts and spirits right now and with some pretty devasting medical issues hitting our church family I was a bit uncomfortable asking them but I needed an answer.

l1tilr- Thank You for the verse refernces. This really helped alot!

Permalink Reply by Christian on February 2, 2009 at 9:06am

If you believe in Jesus, I think you have to believe in spirits. They are mentioned in the bible many times. But one thing I think we need to do is seperate them from what we think of as ghosts today. They are not the haunting kind. Nor are they the spirits of dead friends and relatives. Only Jesus can bring us back from the dead and those days haven't come yet. There are most definitly evil spirits walking this earth (and certainly some angels), but they are not going to haunt a home or someone specifically, they are going to cause trouble for the sinners and for the believers. A little prayer and faith and they can be sent away (not the angles of course).

Permalink Reply by Clayton Juhl on March 1, 2009 at 6:07pm

I'm like you on this Elizabeth I still have lots of questions. My wife is a total believer in "ghosts" spirits of people who have died with unfinished business so they remain here on earth. I really don't believe that peoples spirits remain here. I believe in the spirit realm yes there are angels and demons, but I'm with Christian on this one only Jesus can bring us back from the dead and that hasn't happened yet. If there is scripture that says otherwise to this I am also vey curious, whether totally for or totally against human spirits remaining on earth, in order to be able to share this with others and have the scriptural back up?

Permalink Reply by russ allen on March 20, 2009 at 9:03am

spirits good and evil abound. Angles are all around. No where that I can find does the Bible speak of peoples souls staying on earth for unfinished business. The only time spirits conversing with others is;


Luke 16:19-17:1
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
KJV

Permalink Reply by russ allen on March 20, 2009 at 9:09am

look in 1 Sanuel 28 and read of Saul consulting a medium. Interesting story.(read before hand to what had been going on in Saul's life and what led to this)

Permalink Reply by Mike on April 5, 2009 at 2:04pm

Elizabeth,

There are no ghosts; however, you could tell her that there are spirits (fallen angels) that were sent to earth after following the angel of light (Lucifer) in a rebellion against God (I think there are references in the book of Isaiah). You could go to the read the story about in the book of Job on how got let the devil tempt Job even through trials and testings Job still praised God and was rewarded with more than he lost. You can tell her the story of how Jesus was tempted by Satan in the new testament and how He won the victory over sin and death at the cross that allows each of us the opportunity to accept Him and go to heaven. You can finish the story from the book of Revelation that in the end that after Jesus returns there is going to be a new Heaven and a new Earth where there will be no more tears or saddness or death or evil.

There is alot you can tell your daughter that is a biblical explanation for spirits, that's why the book of Ephesians tells us to put on the armor of God for protection. Also, there is no reason to be afraid of them because Jesus said he will never leave us and we are all in God's hands.

Good luck with your daughter. Maybe read The Book together and you'll find more answers to questions of life.

Mike