Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadQuiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter: 084. Obsession
TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 084. Obsession
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Obsession
Sometimes the attack takes the form of mental stupidity or the sense of extreme tiredness when reading the Bible, or praying, or attempting some bit of Christian service. I recall an earnest Christian woman of much more than usual mental keenness, who for a long time was troubled in this way. Her mind was clear enough with other matters or books, but when she turned for her Bible reading, she grew mentally stupid, and seemed unable to get anything. She would kneel to pray at night and intense sleepiness would come over her, yet when she would rise from her knees, and retire for the night, sleep would leave her eyes. And this continued long until a bit of light broke. She recognized that the evil one, or an evil spirit, was attacking her. And steady resistance in Jesus' Name brought relief which has continued without break. And this is only one instance of many of the same sort that I have known of personally.
I know an earnest Christian whose service has been much used and blest, who was beset with an abnormal sense of tiredness, which held him back from service, and affected what service he did. No extra sleeping nor resting brought relief, but as quickly as he was led to see that he was being attacked by evil forces, he resisted earnestly and aggressively in the great Name, and he quickly entered into a new life of peace of heart, and of renewed vigorous mental activity.
I want to say a word here about what is called obsession. We are more familiar with the term demon-possession than with the companion term demon-obsession. Demon-possession means that a demon or evil spirit has been allowed to come in and take possession of one's personality. That was extremely common in the Gospel days, and is still very common in non-Christian lands, and much more common in Christian lands than is commonly supposed.
This other thing of demon-obsession is extremely common too, though not much recognized. It simply means that evil spirits are attacking and disturbing and annoying us. Demon-possession is impossible without the consent of the man whose personality is taken possession of. But obsession is possible without such consent, because it is an outer attack. And the remarkable thing is that obsession by demons is quite a common experience by the saintliest people, though so rarely recognized. Indeed it seems to be true that it is the earnest, consecrated, saintly ones who are singled out for this form of attack. Whatever disturbance or annoyance an evil spirit may cause in this way, comes under this general head of obsession. The mental depression, the melancholia, and mental stupidity, and tiredness, of which I have spoken, really belong under this head of obsession. But it also takes more vigorous forms than these.