Can't Blame the Devil

Gerry · Sep 23, 2002

Every time you start down the right road, doing things right, guess what happens???

Yep! satan pops up and attacks and kills and destroys. And so we go off blaming satan for our problems.

But Guess what? satan is not in charge of anything. God is STILL and ALWAYS in charge. He only allows satan to test us, and see how real we are, satan is powerless to do anything without permission.

So guess what? When these trials and tests come along they are directly from God or from satan with His permission.

These things are for many reasons. But most of the time it is a matter of our spiritual growth. We tell ourselves we have grown and we tell God we have grown and so He gives us this final exam before allowing us to go to the next grade.

So when these trials and tests come along THANK God for them. Read about Job. After the trials and tests are over, we will be better than before.

g_1933 · Sep 23, 2002

And be glad that we are not (not that I know of) many of us that are tested as hard as Job was. I cannot say that I know that I would have remained faithful through that.

paulewog · Sep 23, 2002

God won't test us through something we can't endure, He promised...

Satan is kinda odd. He still thinks he can defeat God, and yet he has to ASK God before he can do anything. Right. ???

Anyway, we also cannot rebuke Satan - not even Michael the Archangel can do that, instead, he said (in Jude verse 9, I believe), "The Lord rebuke thee." ......... just thought I'd add that

ZiSunka · Sep 23, 2002

He might give us more than we can bear, but not more than He can bear for us!

paulewog · Sep 23, 2002

errr.... yeah, good point

Sharky · Sep 23, 2002

great point there Gerry.

Yup satan doesn't force us to sin. He can only tempt us. You can pretty much realise that everytime we're tempted, we don't immediately sin. We have urges to do this, feelings to do that. Sometimes they're harder for us to control. You can look up the bible. There is not a sinlge place where satan forces someone to sin.

Sin always and always will come down to us. 'Do it or don't do it. There is no try.'

LilAngelHeart · Sep 23, 2002

Originally posted by Gerry
Every time you start down the right road, doing things right, guess what happens???

Yep! satan pops up and attacks and kills and destroys. And so we go off blaming satan for our problems.

But Guess what? satan is not in charge of anything. God is STILL and ALWAYS in charge. He only allows satan to test us, and see how real we are, satan is powerless to do anything without permission.

So guess what? When these trials and tests come along they are directly from God or from satan with His permission.

These things are for many reasons. But most of the time it is a matter of our spiritual growth. We tell ourselves we have grown and we tell God we have grown and so He gives us this final exam before allowing us to go to the next grade.

So when these trials and tests come along THANK God for them. Read about Job. After the trials and tests are over, we will be better than before.

That's a good way to look at it, and it's true! Satan can only do what God allows, no more, no less. When you are a Christian, that is.....

LilAngelHeart · Sep 23, 2002

Originally posted by paulewog
Satan is kinda odd. He still thinks he can defeat God, and yet he has to ASK God before he can do anything. Right. ???

LOL! Right!!

I never could figure out why Satan even bothers!!

LOL!!

JohnR7 · Sep 23, 2002

I still remember the "honeymoon" when I first got saved and God did so much for me. But then as I grew in grace, He started to expect me to do more and more for myself. He actully expected me to grow up and then one day He wanted me to start to help others fight off the devil in their lives. At first I missed the "honeymood" phase of my christian life, but then I sort of started to like the battle. Still, I feel like a teenager, maybe someday I will grow up and be a mature christian.

george · Sep 23, 2002

James says that we are tempted by our own sinful desires, so you,er right Gerry. satan can,t make us do anything, and there Is no were in the bible that say,s he can, It,s hard learning God,s way, but his way is the best way. and after It,s over you,ll rejoice and be glad.

Gerry · Sep 23, 2002

Originally posted by g_1933
And be glad that we are not (not that I know of) many of us that are tested as hard as Job was. I cannot say that I know that I would have remained faithful through that.

I think you are right. I think Job was an extreme case to teach and inspire us. What if Job could come back to day and we could talk to him, and tell him about the trials and tests we are having to go through; the ones that we "can hardly bear", and we whine and cry about them. Don't you think Job would probably bust out laughing? He would probably roll on the floor, saying: "You call that a problem?" I think he would.

I think a sign of Christian maturity is to reach a point where we can say: "Whatever you are trying to teach me, Father, help me to learn it, and thank You for this opportunity to grow. ALL Praise and Glory and Honor go to you Father.

Gerry · Sep 23, 2002

Originally posted by paulewog
God won't test us through something we can't endure, He promised...

Satan is kinda odd. He still thinks he can defeat God, and yet he has to ASK God before he can do anything. Right. ???

Anyway, we also cannot rebuke Satan - not even Michael the Archangel can do that, instead, he said (in Jude verse 9, I believe), "The Lord rebuke thee." ......... just thought I'd add that

One thing we definitely can do is resist him. We have the power and strength to do that. If not God would not have told us to do it.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

All we have to do is be submissive.

panterapat · Sep 23, 2002

Just a little glitch- Sorry

panterapat · Sep 23, 2002

Scripture tells us: (I'll paraphrase because I don't have a Bible right here)

When a house is swept clean of an evil spirit, the spirit goes out over dry land. If it finds no other house to enter, it will gather seven(I think) other evil spirits and return to the house it was swept from.

This explains why we face strong temptations after a strong conversion. But remember that God will never allow you to be tempted beyond your strength to resist.

If we remain in Jesus, Satan has no power. The victory is already won.
PRAISE GOD IN ALL THINGS!!!

In Christ, Patrick

Gerry · Sep 23, 2002

Originally posted by JohnR7
I still remember the "honeymoon" when I first got saved and God did so much for me. But then as I grew in grace, He started to expect me to do more and more for myself. He actully expected me to grow up and then one day He wanted me to start to help others fight off the devil in their lives. At first I missed the "honeymood" phase of my christian life, but then I sort of started to like the battle. Still, I feel like a teenager, maybe someday I will grow up and be a mature christian.

AMEN! I floated like a cloud, and I don't think my feet touched the ground for six months.

Annabel Lee · Sep 23, 2002

I seem to have had a different experience. I've never felt the Devil in my life. When I sinned, it was my sin alone. I never felt like there was an outside force.

Athlon4all · Sep 23, 2002

Amen Gerry, when we are in Christ we are a new creation and old things have passed away (2 Cor 5:17), and God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13).

panterapat · Sep 25, 2002

Annabell Lee:

You may feel as if a sin is your sin alone. But in reality, all sin affects the entire body of Christ on earth. Each individual good act increases our (the people of God)ability to respond to God and each individual personal sin decreases our (the people of God)ability to respond to God.

It is as if we are all on a boat rowing to heaven. If some people stop rowing, the boat will slow down. If some people start to row in the opposite direction- well you get the idea.

Though sin is personal, it is also communal. As for not feeling an outside force tempting you to sin- all sin comes from the devil. If you feel it or not, does not change it.

In Christ: Patrick

LilAngelHeart · Sep 25, 2002

Originally posted by Annabel Lee
I seem to have had a different experience. I've never felt the Devil in my life. When I sinned, it was my sin alone. I never felt like there was an outside force.

Really??? :o

Annabel Lee · Sep 25, 2002

Originally posted by panterapat
Annabell Lee:

You may feel as if a sin is your sin alone. But in reality, all sin affects the entire body of Christ on earth. Each individual good act increases our (the people of God)ability to respond to God and each individual personal sin decreases our (the people of God)ability to respond to God.

It is as if we are all on a boat rowing to heaven. If some people stop rowing, the boat will slow down. If some people start to row in the opposite direction- well you get the idea.

Though sin is personal, it is also communal. As for not feeling an outside force tempting you to sin- all sin comes from the devil. If you feel it or not, does not change it.

In Christ: Patrick

Maybe I didn't explain myself correctly. When I stated, "When I sinned, it was my sin alone.", I meant there was no one I could point at and blame. The blame and the sin were mine.
I don't feel an outside force. I think the devil may be a convenient exuse for sin. But more likely it's just simple human vanity, arrogance and greed. Those traits are inside every human being. We don't need a devil for that.

And yes, my sins do affect others. I never stated that they didn't.

Can't Blame the Devil

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