How Does Satan Attack Us?

[Buck72]

Miss Firerose,

I'd love to keep up with you, but you obviously have more time than I do. Tell you what, give me a few days, and I'll see if I cannot answer your questions. However, if you really want to know what I think, or rather what the Bible says, then email it to me at moose_pilot@yahoo.com

I'll be happy to reply while I'm away on frequent trips. For the time being I'd need an hour per post!

I mean you well - discussing these topics makes for heartfelt (volatile) conversation. I will tell you that I've checked out the "creedless creed" of this webpage http://www.geocities.com/lib_christian_2000/liberal.htm And it scares the absolute life out of me that people are accepting this in light of the pure faith that Christ taught.

I've got about 100 references, just to start with, that with a clear, simple reading will rapidly dispel 90% of what that site claims.

Christ quoted the OT throughout the Gospels, he held the Jews responsible to know the scriptures. The Bereans "searched the scriptures" to see if what they were being taught was true.

The Bible IS the barometer of truth. Apart from it, we become our own barometer...not good.

Act 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Act 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Act 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

 

[MinDach]

He can use lots of different ways, he can use your children, that is the mosts hurtful way. He has come to me 4 times in my life, he comes most of the time when you have prayed for your child or someone you love, he will come in a dream, or do harm to your body, one time after I had lead a friend to the Lord, he woke me up with a very loud scream, this was in my room, with no one else around. You can feel when he is around, but when we use the word of God and speak it to him, he has to leave. I would never take satan on if you do not know what you are doing, he is very strong in this world.

 

[MissFirerose]

Miss Firerose,

However, if you really want to know what I think, or rather what the Bible says, then email it to me at moose_pilot@yahoo.com

No thanks, I have a clear understanding of the Bible. Please don't try to imply that you somehow have a higher understanding of it than I do, since for one, we don't know each other, and, one of us is a liberal, and the other a conservative, so chances are we'd disagree.

I'll be happy to reply while I'm away on frequent trips. For the time being I'd need an hour per post!

Yes, right now I'm on Christmas break, so I have time a plenty. In a few weeks I'm sure no one will be seeing me for months on end.

I mean you well - discussing these topics makes for heartfelt (volatile) conversation. I will tell you that I've checked out the "creedless creed" of this webpage http://www.geocities.com/lib_christian_2000/liberal.htm And it scares the absolute life out of me that people are accepting this in light of the pure faith that Christ taught.

What about it was "creedless" in your opinion, might I ask? A creed does not have to be a strict set of rules. A creed can be something that blossoms in one's heart.

I've got about 100 references, just to start with, that with a clear, simple reading will rapidly dispel 90% of what that site claims.

And chances are that 99% of those references are from other conservative sites, so of course, they would be against liberal thinking.

Christ quoted the OT throughout the Gospels, he held the Jews responsible to know the scriptures. The Bereans "searched the scriptures" to see if what they were being taught was true.

Yes, but Christ did not reply alone on the OT. He even to some point mocked how critical some of the old laws were taken by going what they directly said to do, such as eating on the Sabbath for starters. Ironically, one could say that some Christians tend to follow the apostle Paul's teachings more closely than that of Jesus's. Most of the bigotry and intolerance that sprout in Christianity have their roots in Paul's passages. It's also something particular that Paul and Jesus disagreed on many major topics.

The Bible IS the barometer of truth. Apart from it, we become our own barometer...not good.

I politely disagree. I think the Bible is inspired by God, but I think man has his own hand in what was written as well. That's why I would always look to my own morality and common sense to justify an action that was permissible in the Bible before taking it.

 

[Katmando]

Folks, like it or not, the Church is under enormous attack. Christ warned us about this in His word, but none of you seem to get it. I must not be explaining it clearly enough, and am prone to getting short at times (sorry, I'm growing too); but my gosh - THE TRUE CHURCH IS BEING PERSECUTED. When I say "true Church" I mean the folks that are in Christ. Now you may argue: "We're all in Christ". That would be terrific, but not everyone that says: "Lord, Lord" is going to make it!!

Very scary and it is getting harder and harder to recognize
these that are attacking the churchas they mascerade them selfs as worshiping God but leaving out the true Jesus.

Today's church, like the world in soaks itself in, prefers to glorify the individual, and somehow attach "God" on the end of that self-love whereas they pursue their pleasure in what they would've pursued ANYWAY, WITHOUT GOD. Somehow "christianizing" their worldliness.

I think you are only seeing the tip of the ice berg. My Mother is involved in some of these "today's churches" some call it "new age". Actually I believe there is one out there called "Church of Today" some of them teach this thing call "course in miricles" which was written by Hellen Schucman which was a research psychologist, an atheist and a Jew. She claimed receiving revelations from Jesus in the form of dictations.

Some say it started as an experiment. Think about it! Schucman was a research psychologist; she was into experiments on minds, she did not believe in God, therefore she did not have any qualms or fear of God for misleading people and lying about him and she decided to test the gullibility of human beings. She invents a religion using Christian terminology to target the Christians, even though she does not believe in Christianity. Why Christians only? Aren’t the rest of people children of God too?

Some of its teachings:

“There is no life outside of Heaven. Where God created life, there life must be. In any state apart from Heaven life is illusion. At best it seems like life; at worst, like death. (T-23.II.19:all)[7]



Real life is only Mind, but the body is a lifeless illusion and God did not make the body”

“ The body neither lives nor dies, because it cannot contain you who are life. …God did not make the body, because it is destructible, and therefore not of the Kingdom. (T-6.V.A.1:all) & (T-6.V.A.2:1) [8]



​

So who made the body?


Even if we assumed this absurdity were true, there is nothing new in that. This is the Berkley’s idealism. According to Berkeley's principal metaphysical position “nothing, including material objects, exists apart from perception; external objects are ultimately collections of ideas and sensations.” [9]


"There is no need for help to enter Heaven for you have never left. But there is need for help beyond yourself as you are circumscribed by false beliefs of your Identity, Which God alone established in reality. (C-5.1:1-3) [14]


"Once an individual has been caught in the world of perception he is caught in a dream. He cannot escape without help, because everything his senses show him merely witnesses to the reality of the dream" (A Course In Miracles: What Is It?, p. 7). [10] Evil does not exist. It is an illusion that must be overcome by right thinking.

"Innocence is wisdom because it is unaware of evil, and evil does not exist." [T33/38] [15]

And there is no sin!

"4. No one is punished for sins, and the Sons of God are not sinners. 5. Any concept of punishment involves the projection of blame, and reinforces the idea that blame is justified. " T-6.I.16] [17]

And it starts of by attempting to brainwash there victims:

“Some of the ideas the workbook presents you will find hard to believe, and others may seem to be quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply the ideas as you are directed to do. You are not asked to judge them at all. You are asked only to use them. It is their use that will give them meaning to you, and will show you that they are true. [24]

And this all in the name of LOVE. VERY VERY Scary!!

 

[Buck72]

No thanks, I have a clear understanding of the Bible. Please don't try to imply that you somehow have a higher understanding of it than I do, since for one, we don't know each other, and, one of us is a liberal, and the other a conservative, so chances are we'd disagree.

I do not have a "higher understanding" other than I READ IT and then believe what it says. That's all.

What about it was "creedless" in your opinion, might I ask? A creed does not have to be a strict set of rules. A creed can be something that blossoms in one's heart.

The Bible says sin blossoms in the heart. What now!?

And chances are that 99% of those references are from other conservative sites, so of course, they would be against liberal thinking.

Nope those are all Bible references. I do not usually pull from other sources unless I'm on a discussion that requires it. Ours is purely Biblical.

Yes, but Christ did not reply alone on the OT. He even to some point mocked how critical some of the old laws were taken by going what they directly said to do, such as eating on the Sabbath for starters. Ironically, one could say that some Christians tend to follow the apostle Paul's teachings more closely than that of Jesus's. Most of the bigotry and intolerance that sprout in Christianity have their roots in Paul's passages. It's also something particular that Paul and Jesus disagreed on many major topics.

Christ never mocked the Law, not once. He fulfilled the Law, the pure heart of the Law and not a mindless devotion to base religiosity.

What kind of bigotry and intolerance? And what did Paul and Jesus disagree on?

I politely disagree. I think the Bible is inspired by God, but I think man has his own hand in what was written as well. That's why I would always look to my own morality and common sense to justify an action that was permissible in the Bible before taking it.

Thanks for being polite. Maybe we can both learn something.

I'll politely disagree back:

God is not helpless to effect His word to us. The Bible is an integrated message system given by God THROUGH 44 different authors. It contains precisly ZERO error. There is not a thread of evidence from Gen 1:1 to Rev 22:21 that has the slightest hint of man's error. The only errors have been to exclude its supernatural origin because it was written by a bunch of men.

MissFirerose, you scare me sister when you say that you will "look to your own morality and common sense" with regard to Biblical practicality of faith.

Isa 64:6-8 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

I dare to explain the image Isaiah used in v.6, it is very unclean. So to say that we have a "morality" worthy of anything is to refute the Biblical contrast that our best works are desolate wreckings to be destroyed.

 

[Captain Jackson]

Satan cannot attack us, if he exists. Satan certain cannot have the power Christians calim he has. If he does have the power to manipulate our thoughts, then we do not have free will.

 

[Katmando]

Satan cannot attack us, if he exists. Satan certain cannot have the power Christians calim he has. If he does have the power to manipulate our thoughts, then we do not have free will.

Very good point Captian Jackson if we believe Satan does not exsist and he can not attack us he does not need to attack us. If we beleive that then he has already decieved us. Tricky indeed.

 

[threedog]

There is no Satan...just evil men.

Threedog

 

[Im_A]

I'd like to open a topic about the strategy, reason, manner, and means that Satan uses to attack believers.

if we know how Satan attacks, who's mind are we really concerned more about?

 

[WingsOfTheNeophyte]

Perhaps a point to consider is whether Satan is attacking you at all? Are you sure that all the bad thoughts, desires, hardships simply do not originate in your subconcious? Perhaps these questions like is this against the bible? maybe I should to it? Is this God real? Im miserable maybe I should commit suicide? Naturally these questions will originate in both our concious and subcouncious as we struggle to understand this world, are people really so afraid of their own minds that they must attribute their own thoughts and feelings to some unknown being? Perhaps mastering our own minds is the answer instead of being afraid of it, fighting against it?

 

[Emmy]

Dear Buck72, you had good replies, there are many men and women who know the Satan is real, even if Satan would prefer not to thought of as REAL. I can only agree, Satan is a deceiver, a liar who promises so much, and keeps nothing, he is like Paul described him, " a roaring lion, waiting to devour us." Jesus vanquished him on Golgotha, but Satan fights on. Christian men and women know, if God is for us, even Satan has no chance to hurt us, we have been given te power of prayer, and the whole armour of God. Satan will pretend he is still strong, but we can face him with the certain knowledge, that Jesus is STRONGER than Satan, and Satan will run away from us, if we have Jesus on our side, and let Satan know this. I say this humbly and with with full assurance, Buck72, and send greetings. Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

you scare me sister when you say that you will "look to your own morality and common sense" with regard to Biblical practicality of faith.

Acts 15v28: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us".

Lets recognise the need for humanity and Godliness!

 

[Abiel]

Apologies if I repeat something someone has already said. Mostly I think Satan gets the day off. Mostly he just sits around enjoying the show whilst we stuff things up with no help from him whatsoever.

That being said, I believe the primary method he used is opportunism. He waits for the opportunities which we mainly give to him on a plate. By the time this prowling lion pounces, his meal is often the carrion left over from the feast we have created.

 

[Liqu]

How does Satan attack us?

Satan attacks through the unconscious. He is the source of all of the voices you are hearing in your head telling you to commit sin. Only by shouting the word of God can he be beaten back. Anyone who denies these voices is only trying to conform to society's image. As much as you may want to give in to the constant temptation, you must fight him and look to God.

I pray for those who have been mislead and that they find the Lord.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Satan attacks us thru Visa, Goochii (hehe), 4x4... all that consumer-capitalist rubbish that steals from those who are really in need.

 

[Im_A]

i sometimes wonder if Satan's attack on us is making us think it is Satan attacking us. that way, the attacks are never-ending.

 

[KCDAD]

Those of you throwing that name around, Satan, where did you come with your ideas about it? Not from Job, obviously where satan, or the adversary, is working for and with God, and certainly not from the New Testament where Jesus calls Peter Satan. Certainly not from the Old Testament prophets that refer to Lucifer... the son of the morning star, which is also a reference to Jesus as well as a real human king of the times. You can't mean Genesis' reference to the serpent... the serpent is never identified as Satan, Lucifer or the devil... so where do you get this crazy excuse for one's own desires, temptations and behavior? (The devil made me do it... RIGHT!)

 

[Im_A]

Those of you throwing that name around, Satan, where did you come with your ideas about it? Not from Job, obviously where satan, or the adversary, is working for and with God, and certainly not from the New Testament where Jesus calls Peter Satan. Certainly not from the Old Testament prophets that refer to Lucifer... the son of the morning star, which is also a reference to Jesus as well as a real human king of the times. You can't mean Genesis' reference to the serpent... the serpent is never identified as Satan, Lucifer or the devil... so where do you get this crazy excuse for one's own desires, temptations and behavior? (The devil made me do it... RIGHT!)

here's a link on the origins of the word "Satan."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan#Etymology_and_other_names

seems even tho the word may be from Hebrew, assuming this site is correct, the site also mentions how the term is "applied", but never literally stated specifically in the Old Testament, and then in the New Testament, as you quoted, it seems the use is still passed on as Jesus called Peter...Satan. the application seems to fit in with adversary, accuser. seems the Satan is deriviation of many things that are applications and not a literal "Satan." i also wonder if Lucifer and Satan are two different ideas. only because we hear of Lucifer the fallen angel, and that's a name of that fallen angel, and Satan is not it. seems that if one wants to question there being an evil force, they should be questioning if Lucifer exists, instead of application or whatever word can be best defined as Satan (maybe i should edit my last post?) this is just what i'm getting from the site i quoted.

but here's an interesting tid bit from that website.

Where Satan does appear in the Bible as a member of God's court, he plays the role of the Accuser, much like a prosecuting attorney for God. The following information has been taken directly from the article on 'Satan' in the Jewish Encyclopaedia:

"Such a view is found, however, in the prologue to the Book of Job, where Satan appears, together with other celestial beings or "sons of God," before the Deity, replying to the inquiry of God as to whence he had come, with the words: "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."[8] Both question and answer, as well as the dialogue which follows, characterize Satan as that member of the divine council who watches over human activity, but with the evil purpose of searching out men's sins and appearing as their accuser. He is, therefore, the celestial prosecutor, lawyer who sees only iniquity; for he persists in his evil opinion of Job even after the man of Uz has passed successfully through his first trial by surrendering to the will of God, whereupon Satan demands another test through physical suffering [9].

"Yet it is also evident from the prologue that Satan has no power of independent action, but requires the permission of God, which he may not transgress. He can not be regarded, therefore, as an opponent of the Deity; and the doctrine of monotheism is disturbed by his existence no more than by the presence of other beings before the face of God. This view is also retained in Zech. 3:1-2, where Satan is described as the adversary of the high priest Joshua, and of the people of God whose representative the hierarch is; and he there opposes the "angel of the Lord" who bids him be silent in the name of God.

"In both of these passages Satan is a mere accuser who acts only according to the permission of the Deity; but in I Chron. 21:1 he appears as one who is able to provoke David to destroy Israel. The Chronicler (third century B.C.) regards Satan as an independent agent, a view which is the more striking since the source whence he drew his account[10] speaks of God Himself as the one who moved David against the children of Israel. Since the older conception refers all events, whether good or bad, to God alone [11], it is possible that the Chronicler, and perhaps even Zechariah, were influenced by Zoroastrianism, even though in the case of the prophet Jewish monism strongly opposed Iranian dualism[12]. An immediate influence of the Babylonian concept of the "accuser, persecutor, and oppressor" [13] is impossible, since traces of such an influence, if it had existed, would have appeared in the earlier portions of the Bible."[14]
​

and one more quote for interest:

The normative Jewish concept, however, was and remains that Satan cannot be viewed as an independent agent. In the Babylonian Talmud [16], Rabbi Levi asserts that "everything Satan does is for the sake of heaven." When another rabbi preached a similar idea in his town, it is said that Satan himself came and "kissed his knees."

just some interesting thoughts i found researching the term "Satan" through wikipedia.

 

[elman]

Those of you throwing that name around, Satan, where did you come with your ideas about it? Not from Job, obviously where satan, or the adversary, is working for and with God, and certainly not from the New Testament where Jesus calls Peter Satan. Certainly not from the Old Testament prophets that refer to Lucifer... the son of the morning star, which is also a reference to Jesus as well as a real human king of the times. You can't mean Genesis' reference to the serpent... the serpent is never identified as Satan, Lucifer or the devil... so where do you get this crazy excuse for one's own desires, temptations and behavior? (The devil made me do it... RIGHT!)

I agree and I would add that if we place ourselves in the hand of God, if we are a child of God we need fear no satan because God is able to preserve us.
Rom 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(from New International Version)

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Satan is OUR adversary, not Gods.