Satan

[Chrystalwuzhere]

I think it would be neat to discuss the role the enemy (i.e. Satan and demons) play in our lives. You all have heard the expression, "The devil made me do it." I've also heard Christians blame every single misstep, every bump, every stubbed toe, car trouble, etc. on the enemy. Then I got to wondering, exactly how much of our lives is the enemy involved in?

I guess that's where I would like to start discussing. What is the enemy's role in our life, exactly how involved is he in making us stumble, and well...how involved are they in our lives? Do they constantly barrage us day and night to get us to fall? Do they put thoughts in our mind? Do they constantly hit us with temptations? Or, do they only occasionally hit us? And, do we sometimes blame things on Satan, when really it was just that we're having a bad day?

[CoreIssue]

The simpliest frame is that God allowed Satan to continue and not imprison him with the rest of the fallen angels to act as a god of all that is not god.

Or, to give reality an opposition leader to God, to put it another way.

We are freewill beings born with a conscience and innate knowledge we need God. But with natures that follow more after Satan, the Father of Adam's fall.

Angels represent God and demons Satan, on the earth. Demons, as well, have not been cast into the Pit to act as Satan's 'angels.'

They each, within the parameters God gave them, work to influence us. How much they can is according to us, as in how far we are willing to let them go, consciously or unconsciously.

Why? So that justice and true freewill can be served. So eternal choices are truly eternal and locked in.

When all is done all that go with Satan go with him into the Lake. All who choose God go with him into eternity in the New Jerusalem.

There is no longer any need for good and evil to be together. Now good can flourish in fulness and evil can reap its true rewards.

Hope that makes sense. It is truly complex but that is a basic outline.

[Chrystalwuzhere]

They each, within the parameters God gave them, work to influence us. How much they can is according to us, as in how far we are willing to let them go, consciously or unconsciously.


Thank you, Core.

What I really want to discuss is how much DO they influence us daily? How much of what we go through is actually because we're being buffeted by the enemy, and how much is just the normal course of life?

For example: Let's say I have a horribly bad thought. Was that me doing it, or a demon hurling that thought at my mind?

[John * Thunder!]

`

Awwww. CI! :( I was gonna say that. Darn. Now I'll have to
think of something different to say.


Hmmmmmmm. :scratch:


Okay. How's this? I have a personal theory, but i am fairly certain that
it aligns with GOD's Word.


As we all know, Lucifer was cast down after publicly declaring that he will be
attempting to overthrow The Almighty Father! By saying that, he basically made it
clear that he considered himself to be as powerful and magnificent as GOD Himself.
Bad move, obviously.


However, what made him decide to do this?? I mean, we are fully aware that
GOD Made this beautiful Angel of Light, but GOD didn't Mold him into a blasphemous
cretin, did He?? So, what exactly caused ol' Luci to turn against the Greatest,
most Beautiful Spirit in all of time and creation??


Folks, my theory is, it's because of us. Humans.


Okay, picture Albert Einstein, as brilliant as he was, deciding one day to clone
ants. He builds a beautiful ant farm, but he doesn't keep a lid on it. What happens?
The ants climb out, they scatter, they eat into the wooded laboratory and destroy
the whole building in a matter of two years! Not to mention, the rampage they wind up
going on once their numbers extend into the tens of millions! I ask you, what would the
second greatest scientist say to his/her colleagues behind Albert's back??


"Vut is ziss numbskull doing, people?? Has he gone mad?? Vy has he made
zees ants?? Vut is da point?? He is not fit to vun ziss laboratorrrrrrry anymore, yah??"


See my point?? Lucifer watched from a distance, probably in astonishment, and
when the day came that GOD Called him to the Throne to Speak about Job, Lucifer
jumped at the chance to show The Holy Father just what a mistake He had Made. Job
made Lucifer look bad, as you know. But this probably served only to infuriate the
most powerful Angel even more!


And well, you know the rest.


`

[Jessie]

I think he hurls things our way, but then we have to resist it and not play his game,
and too confess our sin when we get caught in the trap.

he seems to hit me hard in certain areas of worth. which now I'm reconizing its him,
and not taking a nose dive so much.

cant wait till its all over!

[John * Thunder!]

`

For example: Let's say I have a horribly bad thought. Was that me doing it,
or a demon hurling that thought at my mind?


I believe the answer of that lies in the statement made by Paul in one of his letters.


He explained that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers,
rulers of darkness of the world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places! EPH. 6:12


Basically, we are now GOD's children, JESUS's flock, and we are therefore fair game
for the demons of the spiritual darkness! The good news: where the light is, darkness
cannot be. The bad news?? When we stray from the Light, Satan and his minions
are there, lying in wait!


However, even when we are not straying, the demons are still around us, NEAR US!
And as you alluded to, they can certainly toss thoughts and phrases at us. But the
more we keep our thoughts and heart upon JESUS, those demons cannot coerce us
to do anything!


LOL! Sis, if only you knew how many times I stop myself from saying something which will
land me in jail, get me into a fist fight or some other bad repercussion. And right after I
stop myself and think of how JESUS would not like it if i had said it, I automatically
recognize that there is a demon in my midst! Probably more than one.


Thank GOD for His Discerning Holy Spirit! Amen? :nod:

[CTZonEdit]

The theory is interesting but remember Satan was cast out before humans were created.

He lost his throne way before we were even on the scene.

But as far as the topic at hand I believe that we give way too much credit to demons. Demons do not have the power to toss thoughts into your head supernaturally. They may whisper in your ear over and over until you listen to them but they can just throw a thought into your head or use some mind control. If it was that easy we'd all be mind controlled demonic followers.

We are responsible for our own thoughts and actions. And we defeat demons and Satan through the power of the truth of God.

Demons and Satan know who God is and how powerful he is when we call upon him. But they know what makes us weak and that it takes faith to cry out to God.

They may alter people's actions and situations around us, to get us to fail. But we decide or choose to fail, they do not control us like robots, unless we ask them to do so.

[CoreIssue]

I am with CTZ here.

Demons can whisper thoughts and ideas to Christians, impact through using the physical world around you, guide others to influence you and even appear as people and such to dialogue with you.

But Christians must listen and go along with it.

Is it easy? No. Not when it appeals to our flesh and it desires. Which is our greatest weakness.

In non-Christians, Demons can be allowed in so thoroughly they can take over anothers body. The person literally lets them in, voluntarily or sub-cosciously.

So, while they can put tremendous pressures on us, we are responsible for how we handle it.

I believe their two greatest tools are lust, all forms of self gratification and desire, and fear, meaning all kinds of fear that render us impotent.

[DaimyoMateo]

" You have heard that it was said, ’You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43f.).

If Satan is our enemy should we love him? Is that the Christian thing to do?

[CoreIssue]

" You have heard that it was said, ’You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43f.).

If Satan is our enemy should we love him? Is that the Christian thing to do?
Interesting question.

Actually, I believe we are to avoid Satan. Have no interaction with him in any form.

So, love, but stay away from totally.

[wvpeach1963]

Well said CTZ!

Daimey core issue is right we are to have no interaction with satan as its not safe in our human condition we are frail in many ways .
Our only dealings with him are to oppose him when ever we encounter him or his influence.
I my self feel sorry for him. Knowing the love of God once just think how miserable he must be now as a fallen angel seperated from God. He is a pitiful creature in my view.
But just like a injured animal that we might feel sorry for , we can't help it because it might turn and bite us. Its the same with Satan. I feel sorry for the miserable thing he is , but I know he's still dangerous.


The theory is interesting but remember Satan was cast out before humans were created.

He lost his throne way before we were even on the scene.

But as far as the topic at hand I believe that we give way too much credit to demons. Demons do not have the power to toss thoughts into your head supernaturally. They may whisper in your ear over and over until you listen to them but they can just throw a thought into your head or use some mind control. If it was that easy we'd all be mind controlled demonic followers.

We are responsible for our own thoughts and actions. And we defeat demons and Satan through the power of the truth of God.

Demons and Satan know who God is and how powerful he is when we call upon him. But they know what makes us weak and that it takes faith to cry out to God.

They may alter people's actions and situations around us, to get us to fail. But we decide or choose to fail, they do not control us like robots, unless we ask them to do so.

[CoreIssue]

Daimey coreissue :scratch:

[KRISSY]

Think people when we do right as opposed to doing wrong who's in control of us then, what about choosing the good from the bad? When we make right decision/choices is it GOD us or the devil, same rule applies to making, wrong decision? I usually blame ever wrong I do on the devil though I know he's a deciever but lets be realistic some of our actions are caused by our own disobedience.

Characters of the devil: he's a deciever, liar, thief, war monger, instigator of crime, an accuser and the list is endless.

Though he's all of the above I still believe that we can be and should be the stronger of the two.

[CoreIssue]

Agree.

It isn't the devil made me do it. It is I listened to the devil and followed him.