how powerful is the devil?

[Kostilaks]

hi

 

[Barney2.0]

He can only do what God let’s him do as with the story of Job, the devil whether he knows it or not serves God’s purpose for the world and humanity, yet he remains in rebellion in hopes of replacing God in his own fantasy.

 

[friend of]

It sounds like you're experiencing OCD. I don't think the devil has the power to create signs in your mind, you are just choosing what you're reacting too. You might be overstimulated. Take a step back, breathe, pray to the Lord, and don't feel that you need to respond to these things and they should pass.

 

[BrotherDave]

I asked God for signs

You should not be seeking a sign from God. Jesus said that an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign (Mat 12:39,16:4). He also warned us that false Christ and prophets shall arise and show great signs and wonders that can almost fool His elect. (Mat 24:24). The devil or Satan is the great deceiver he comes an angel of light and he will break the supernatural realm whereas God will not. God has given us His word the Bible. That is where we find truth and guidance.

As, the previous poster noted remember how the devil manipulated things in Jobs life. And recall how the magicians of Pharaoh were able to cause things to happen similar to what Moses was doing in an effort to free Israel from the Egyptians.

Keep praying and asking God for help for whatever you are seeking answers for. But don’t look for mystical signs. Remember to that God will never lead you to do anything contrary to what He says in the Bible. Also, keep in mind that it is in our times of weakness and distress that the power of God can be felt (2 Co 12:9). It is in these times we sincerely pray and seek God. This strengthens our relationship with Him. But do not be anxious nor expect anything from God. He has his own schedule and plan and will not modify it for us.

When your search for information on the Internet and you do not keep your browsing private then (cookies) data stored on your browser will be used by others to lure you to whatever they are pushing. May be good to unplug for a while and read more of His word....

 

[dreadnought]

I asked God for signs and since then a lot of coincidences started happening to the point that I cant ignore them but accept them as signs from God. The problem is that the signs are not clear enough and are coincidences made in internet and facebook. when coincidences like this happen I am sad because I made a question to God for something and also asked him signs.
the signs are negative and made me sad and depressed to the point I don't want to go out or church. now people say that this is the work of the devil. but if the signs were a NEGATIVE answer to my question that I asked from God. Why would I be happy? that's why I am so confused. at first, the signs were not clear enough. but I started ignoring them and the signs/coincidences become more powerful but still not clear enough. people say that its just coincidences and the devil suggests to you to consider them as signs from God.
I know devil suggests but does he also create the circumstances of the coincidences to happen and look like a sign? at first I was ignoring the thoughts. my thoughts were like "this is just a coincidence" and then suggestions came in mind telling me "this is not a coincidence, its a sign from God" I decided to ignore the coincidences and signs and started feeling better. but somehow coincidences started becoming more like signs to the point that I didn't need a suggestion from the devil to consider them as signs from God. so my question is if the devil can actively CREATE signs. most of the signs, came in my internet and facebook, by looking something for my problem, God or anything related. and then I would see an image or post in internet related to my problem that is almost impossible to happen unless its from God. so can devil actively see mess with this stuff? for example go to an other person suggest him to upload in the internet a post that is somehow connected with me. he then returns to me and suggests me to look something in the internet and lures me to the stuff that he created by suggesting other people far away from me to upload. can he see the future?

The devil can't force anyone to do anything, but he is terribly subtle (Gen 3:1), and he'll do everything he can to tempt you into pride, immoral sexual behavior, substance abuse, or whatever other sin you might contemplate committing.

 

[Mark51]

God’s requirements regarding prayers are that we must lead lives in harmony with our prayers. Our course of action must please Him; otherwise, we cannot expect Him to consider our petitions and supplications with favor.-Isaiah 1:15-17; Proverbs 1:28-32; 15:29; 28:9; Micah 3:4.

For our prayers to be heard by God, not only must we be morally and spiritually clean but we must also prove the sincerity of our prayers by working at what we pray for. He will not do for us what we can do for ourselves by earnestly applying His counsel.

Consider that Jesus also counseled us to ask his heavenly Father for Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13) But we cannot expect God to impart this to us miraculously, without any effort on our part.

 

[Greg J.]

I asked God for signs and since then a lot of coincidences started happening to the point that I cant ignore them but accept them as signs from God. The problem is that the signs are not clear enough and are coincidences made in internet and facebook. when coincidences like this happen I am sad because I made a question to God for something and also asked him signs.

Satan's is extremely powerful, so much so that the archangel Michael treated pure evil politely (Jude 1:9) (but not with respect, except for respecting that he was powerful). I don't concern myself with Satan's power. It is a million times what it would take to deceive or kill me. All levels of our protection from Satan come through God. We do the things God said to do because they reveal more of God in us. Satan cannot withstand God's presence. How does darkness fight the light? Maximize your protection by filling your life with Jesus (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:17). i.e., be obedient, pray, regularly request protection (Matthew 6:13), etc. These are things to do for the long-term.

the signs are negative and made me sad and depressed to the point I don't want to go out or church. now people say that this is the work of the devil. but if the signs were a NEGATIVE answer to my question that I asked from God. Why would I be happy? that's why I am so confused. at first, the signs were not clear enough. but I started ignoring them and the signs/coincidences become more powerful but still not clear enough. people say that its just coincidences and the devil suggests to you to consider them as signs from God.

I can say some general things, none of which I would say to you if I knew you better, because each person's spiritual condition, relationship with God, knowledge of Scripture, and supernatural experiences are unique.

We should not regularly be asking God for signs. It demonstrates a lack of faith which can give the devil a opening. Satan doesn't just want to deceive you with an answer to your question, he wants to train you to recognize his voice thinking it is God's voice. Because of this you might get reasonable answers/experiences to your questions for the purpose of getting you to decide you're hearing God's voice.

Sometimes after seeking God's will a long time about something serious, we can ask God for a sign and he will answer. The more humble a person is, the more likely God is to give a clear answer, but counting on oneself being "humble enough" is not going to work to help you know God's will. I recommend first exhausting all the other options for determining what the best option is (for several months, study Scripture, pray, fast, ask people experienced with what you are facing, ask the pastor, etc.). Be aware of when you know the best option, but are trying to find a better alternative. God may not give you any answer. Knowing what is best/right is often God's answer. God wants us to trust him no matter what we do and no matter what is happening in our lives. He wants you to trust his Word (2 Peter 1:4). God always does what he says (the problem experiencing it is at our end). The best you can do is make sure God is heavily involved with you all the time (James 4:8), then you will start to see that he is already helping you with everything, and by renewing your mind daily you will eventually perceive his will for you (Romans 12:2).

I know devil suggests but does he also create the circumstances of the coincidences to happen and look like a sign? at first I was ignoring the thoughts. my thoughts were like "this is just a coincidence" and then suggestions came in mind telling me "this is not a coincidence, its a sign from God" I decided to ignore the coincidences and signs and started feeling better. but somehow coincidences started becoming more like signs to the point that I didn't need a suggestion from the devil to consider them as signs from God. so my question is if the devil can actively CREATE signs. most of the signs, came in my internet and facebook, by looking something for my problem, God or anything related. and then I would see an image or post in internet related to my problem that is almost impossible to happen unless its from God. so can devil actively see mess with this stuff? for example go to an other person suggest him to upload in the internet a post that is somehow connected with me. he then returns to me and suggests me to look something in the internet and lures me to the stuff that he created by suggesting other people far away from me to upload. can he see the future?

Yes, Satan can create signs. You really, really, really need to be discerning things in your life through what God has already said in Scripture and not through your perception of your experiences. It is 100% perfectly fine to stop looking for God's will or spiritual truth through your experiences. Some people would say no one should ever be doing that. Either way, what God as revealed in Scripture overrides any experience of God (1 John 4:1).