Remember when Christ looked at Peter and said; "get thee behind me Satan", He was not speaking to Peter who was the one speaking, He was speaking to Satan the one using Peter's mouth. Peter was not possessed but he was temporarily influenced by the devil speaking the thoughts of the devil.
Matthew 16:22-24 "…22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.…"
In the case of Judas, Christ called him a devil because the devil was living in Judas. There is a difference between one who is being influenced by the devil and someone who is possessed.
John 6:69-71 "…69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.…"
Even believers who are born again can be influenced by the devil and his minions. We see this in our day when it is very hard to tell the difference between authentic believers and pretenders, they look so much alike.
God said that "even the elect would be fooled if it were possible", meaning it is possible for born again believers to be deceived for a time.
Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Many believers today are falling into all kinds of traps to distract them from preaching Christ. Many believers are believing the wrong things about God's word that cause them to disobey Christ. Because of the stubbornness of many Christians today our witness is lame and impotent. Our influence is worldly more than godly and our children have been taught things that build pride instead of humility.
If you do not believe me spend time reading the entire books of Psalms and Proverbs to get perspective. When you are finished I am confident that you will notice more readily the worldly and arrogant mentality of our times.
The solution always is to pray for those around us, that they might confess their sinfulness and trust in Christ.
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