Can demons cause intrusive thoughts in people?

Summary:

There is biblical evidence suggesting that:

- Demons can SPEAK to people.

- When demons speak, people can HEAR within themselves what demons say in the form of THOUGHTS.

These could be categorized as intrusive thoughts, because we are not the source of them. Indeed, we are not the source of all our thoughts.

There can be three main sources for the thoughts we can hear within ourselves: 

- Ourselves.

- God. 

- Demons.

Hearing thoughts that come from a demon may not necessarily mean that a demon is inside a person, as they can also be outside of people and speak from there. 

But if those thoughts answer the person from the inside and would not depart, they may need to be investigated further as it could be a possibility that someone may have a need for a demon to be cast out.

Being tempted by thoughts is not a sin, as merely being tempted is not a sin. 

In any case, people are called to discipline their thoughts to the obedience of Christ.

You can find more details below:

Demons can speak to people:

It is possible for someone in the new covenant to hear the voice of a demon.

A demon can have a voice: 

A demon can have a voice, as it is written: "And THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, having-convulsed him and called-out (with a) loud VOICE, came-out of him" (Mark 1:26). 

What is the subject described that "called-out (with a) loud VOICE" (Mark 1:26)? The Greek verb for "called-out" (Mark 1:26) is in the neuter gender, which is referring to the previous Greek noun for "SPIRIT" (Mark 1:26) which is also in the neuter gender.

Hearing the voice of a demon?

It is written that someone can be "PAYING-ATTENTION-TO deceitful SPIRITS and teachings (OF) DEMONS" (1 Timothy 4:1).

The Greek verb for "PAYING-ATTENTION-TO [prosechо́ 4337 in Greek]" (1 Timothy 4:1) can be used in the context of having heard things, as for example it is written elsewhere to "PAY more ATTENTION [prosechо́ 4337 in Greek] to the (things) HAVING-BEEN-HEARD" (Hebrews 2:1).

Speech heard inside of ourselves can be heard in the form of thoughts:

To SAY something WITHIN oneself (with one's own inner voice) is the same as THOUGHTS and THINKING, as both are used interchangeably in the following passage: "some (of) the scribes SAID WITHIN THEMSELVES, “This (One) is-blaspheming”. And Jesus, having-known THEIR THOUGHTS, said “Why ARE-YOU-THINKING evil (things) IN YOUR HEARTS?" (Matthew 9:3-4). 

In a similar way, when a demon may speak to someone, their speech can be heard in the form of thoughts (inside).

There can be three main sources for the speech heard inside of ourselves:

There can be three main sources for the thoughts we can hear within ourselves: 

- Ourselves.

- God. 

- Demons.

Regarding OURSELVES being the source of speech inside of ourselves, it is written: "Hannah was SPEAKING IN HER HEART" (1 Samuel 1:13).

Regarding GOD being the source of speech inside of ourselves, it is written: "says the LORD. “[...] I [...] will SPEAK TO HER HEART" (Hosea 2:13-14). God can speak to the heart of someone, which can be found inside a person. 

Demons can speak from the outside of people:

Hearing thoughts that come from a demon may not necessarily mean that a demon is inside a person, as they can also be outside of people and speak from there.

A demon can SAY things even if OUTSIDE of a person, as for example it is written: "THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT DEPARTS FROM THE PERSON, it-goes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find (it). THEN IT-SAYS, ‘I-will-return to my house from-where I-came-out’. And having-come, it-finds (it) being-unoccupied, having-been-swept and put-in-order. Then it-proceeds and takes-along with itself seven other spirits more-evil (than) itself. AND HAVING-GONE-IN, they-dwell there, and the last (state of) that person becomes worse (than) the first" (Matthew 12:43-45).

Demons can speak from the inside of people:

Demons are able to enter people.

For more information:

One or several demons can dwell in someone:
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If thoughts heard from the inside are answering the person from the inside and would not depart, they may need to be investigated further as it could be a possibility that the person may have a need for a demon to be cast out.

For more information:

What can be done to find out if there is a need for a demon to be cast out?:
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People are called to discipline their thoughts:

Being tempted by thoughts is not a sin, as merely being tempted is not a sin. It is written about Jesus that He was "(One) HAVING-BEEN-TEMPTED in all (things) in-accordance-with (our) likeness, WITHOUT SIN" (Hebrews 4:15).

In any case, people are called to discipline their thoughts to the obedience of Christ.

Paul instructs us that we are to be "taking-captive every thought to the obedience (of) Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Paul instructs us to "be-considering these (things): whatever (things are) true, whatever (things are) honorable, whatever (things are) right, whatever (things are) pure, whatever (things are) lovely, whatever (things are) commendable, if (there is) any virtue, and if (there is) any praise" (Philippians 4:8).

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