HEY-
I've always thought that it's possible for the devil/demons to affect us physically. Like for a while when I first started playing guitar for worship, I would feel sick every week on my way to church.
And a few weeks ago this girl I know who was getting ready to go to South America on a missions trip with me fell off a horse, and she said that she thought it was the devil trying to attack her because she was going on a missions trip.
One of my friends was like, in one of those "that girl is weird" voices, "she said that she thought it was the devil?! the devil can't affect us physically can he?????? i don't think so"
and i was like "umm yeah i think he can", but i couldn't think of a specific verse to back it up. then i realized i just assumed it's true because of what people told me, i never read it in the Bible or anything.
SOOO do you think the devil can affect us physically? or can he just affect our minds, but our minds are so powerful that can lead to the physical?
Job chapter 2 (GWT)
1 One day when the sons of God came to stand in front of the LORD, Satan the Accuser came along with them. 2 The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From wandering all over the earth."
3 The LORD asked Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles. You're trying to provoke me into ruining him for no reason."
4 Satan answered the LORD, "Skin for skin! Certainly, a man will give everything he has for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand, and strike his flesh and bones. I bet he'll curse you to your face."
6 The LORD told Satan, "He is in your power, but you must spare his life!"
In these verses from Job you see that the Lord has rule over Satan, and by commanding him to let Job have his life, he is ruling over him.
Satan does have powers because he is granted it. Job nor God had directly rebuked him. Basically, the devil was only able to attack him due to the fact that Job did not command Satan to leave properly, or ask for protection.
Satan has no hold on us if we are filled with the light of God. No hold at all. We are filled with the light of God if we genuinely ask Jesus to be the Lord and saviour of our hearts, follow and study his word, believe he died on the cross to forgive us our sins and iniquities, pray against evil forces, command them to flee from us, and most importantly we believe that Jesus established a "New Testament" between God and us.
As one fellow on here answered, Job did learn valuable life lessons in the suffering he experienced but then again, he also did suffer greatly. This is not a typical, or real formulation that could possibly occur if you are rebuking Satan as a Christian. If you do rebuke Satan, the Bible states he must flee. Satan has no hold on you unless you do nothing and let him "obsess" you, which means harm you physically or mentally etc. If you do not order him to go from your life, he can never posess you, but he can start to harm you. So keep praying, and be strong in your will to fight.
What most people tend to forget is that before Jesus died, such as in the Chapter of Job, we had an "Old Testament" with God. It was a curse because Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of Good and evil. Because of this "original sin" our relationship with God was severed and we were punished. Satan was let loose on the land and basically stole the right to hurt us unless we made blood sacrifices etc of our doves, or lambs to purify ourselves from being "unclean," and prayed for God to intercede and cast him away from us. Women had to do this in childbirth etc.
Many of us were going to hell, or being punished by God because we were unclean, and unworthy due to all of our sins, and our unfaithfulness. Satan could, at that point, effect us alot easier, but the key word is could, not would always. Satan, at this point, could still not physically effect you unless you had little Faith. It is impossible to, because once you are God's - Christian, and a spiritual warrior against him - there is no place for him.
The Bible states time and time again that God will cast Satan from you if you ask, and God's word is living, and the only truth. Any doubts you are having right now are because Satan is trying to trick your mind into fear so he CAN have a place in you, but unless you break your tie with God he cannot.
Even though all of this was occuring in the Old Testament, you have to remember that God was here for us, and loved us, but needed to find a way to cleanse us again from our original sin so he could interceed on our behalf, stop the devil, and help us make our way to heaven to be with him; so God sacrificed the purest lamb that has ever been, Jesus his only begotten son, and therein was created the New Testament.
The Lord has stated that "we are MORE than conquerers," "No weapon formed against you shall prosper" etc.
God has given us spiritual warfare for times when our Faith seems dim, and Satan is tempting us to be fearful. Eventually some people give in, and think he CAN effect us when he CANNOT if we are fighting against him, and by letting that doubt cloud their mind, and by not using prayer, they dies or are hurt by him. Satan is always trying to pull us closer into his traps and snares - which of course would be giving up your belief in God altogether.
We can fight against his TEMPTATIONS with God's words, and most importantly we as Christians have to pray and lay down any fears, or burdens at God's feet so that the Lord has permission to fight the actual spiritual battle that is going on for us. And by the way, the Bible states that all spiritual battles that go on, and sometimes effect us in our daily lives, do actually go on constantly between angels and demons.
God is always fighting for us. The world has painted a picture of Satan on one shoulder, and God on the other, both being equal, as strong as one another, a negative, and an equal positive, when the truth is that God defeated the Devil a long time ago, he really did. Satan has no power but to TEMPT unless you let him. If you say NO, he cannot tempt you. NO is a Holy Word, remember that. That is why the Bible says stay strong and do not fall into his temptations.
Satan is an asteroid as to the Sun - which of course is God - So don't think so little of God's power. He has hold of you, and the Earth, not satan. What satan wants you to believe is that he has power over your life, so you fear him, and make mistakes in fear, wrather then leaps of Faith in God. So have Faith that all is well, and PRAY! : )
I Personally ride horses and have fallen off many times, so do not worry. You both are to do great things, and that is why he is trying to attack you. Satan only attacks those who are a threat to him, so believe in yourself! : ) Be excited, and rejoice in the plans God has for your life! : ) God is here for you, as I am. We are spiritual brothers and sisters, and Jesus is your Daddy, Father, and Saviour Forever! Would you let a dog attack your kid? Well how much more would God fight for you? ; )
If you ever are feeling scared pray for God to take away that fear. Say Lord I offer this up to you, and ask you to please accept, and conquer this fear for me, then let it go! I mean it; let it go! The biggest mistake Christians make is to hold onto their fears, and burdens after they have offered them up to the Lord because they try to fix their issues themselves. This usually only leads to bad decisions and God's perfect will being blocked. Pray some spiritual warfare verses which you can easily google online, you can ask any of us, or look them up in your Bible. There is usually a section where it suggests verses for all circumstances in the front or back of your Bible. : ) Praise and Worship also works very well for restoring Faith, but most importantly listen to your intuition! If God is telling you, SATAN IS HERE, in your heart you will know, and feel like something isn't right, so pray, fight, ask for prayer from others, and for God to fight the fight for you, sing, read the word, and say SATAN I REBUKE YOU, YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE! IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME, AMEN!
As for the person who said demons do not exist, I'm sad for your lack of Faith : (. By questioning the existence of demons you are questioning the word of God, which is living, and God himself, whom is "the TRUTH, the WAY, and the LIFE." Please be careful what you choose to say because your acts are always noted by God, even on here, and judgement will come. I will pray for your Faith to grow and for God's love to fill you! God Bless you! : )
As for your Faith, please go and get a book called "Why I Believe."
My brother and I started off as scientific people. The book prooves beyond a shadow of a doubt that God and his Kingdom, demons, hell etc are real. Creation is proven aswell, all the information studied, and concluded from leading Harvard scientists, and other Dr.'s from around the globe.
Evolution has NEVER been proven, yet it's taught. Darwin actually historically admitted his theory was wrong before he died.
Scientists around the world have also studied the realistic numbers, and computed how physically probable it would be for a cell, such as explained in the big bang theory and evolutionism, to evolve into an organism and eventually end up as us. It was proven Impossible.
That book helped me alot, but more then facts rely on Faith, God's love for you, and alone time with him. Let the Lord Jesus know how much you love him, and ask for protection. : )
Trust in God's word! He loves you so much, and will protect you. Any Christian on this site who has answered you and has given you little, or no faith is not a true Christian. We are here to be a light unto others.
Just trust in God, and walk in love, the rest will follow! I'll keep you in my prayers! : ) *Hugs*
God Bless, and have a great night!: )
If you have any more questions feel free to ask! I'de love to help!
God's will be done!
