CordieLaLa said:
Hi guys,
I was just lookin up some stuff on how to shrug off evil because I want to give my all to God and I found this stuff saying what Satan does. It's got me thinking if Satan does all this then what hope do I have? Because to be honest I do a few of those as well. According to this article even using the word "I" is part of Satan. I've been rackin my brains on how to avoid using "I" as much as possible and it's been hard lol.
What do u think? I just feel constantly guilty now.
Greetings CordieLaLa , and all ,
If it were up to us to compete against the devil on our own , we wouldn't stand a chance .
But with The Lord as our Helper / Deliverer , and His Holy Spirit enlightening and strengthening us within ; we have the enablement which gives us the victory over the wiles of the devil .
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. <-----> 1st John 4:4
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. <-----> Luke 10:18-20
As far as self-asserting ( I this and I that ) , it's not just what we say , but how we say it , when we say it , to whom we say it , and why we say it ; that must be taken into account for upright evaluation .
Certainly there is a lot of luciferian type expression in this world ; and a considerable amount of it tries to pass itself off as being " good " , "religious " , " christian " etc .
It's good that you're looking to draw closer to The Lord and His Holiness .
Know that this is cause for the devil to try harder to prevent your growth ... for you are seeking that which does bring the wisdom and empowerment to be able to rebuke the devil effectually ... and he'd rather not see that happen . But , God is the Great Determiner not Satan , and therefore if we seek what God is willing to permit in the appropriate way , with the appropriate regard ... then we will be granted our desire ; though we may indeed have to endure a time of struggling before our hope is realized .
The devil is an opportunist / extremist .
If he perceives that we are going through a low point , he'll try to convince us we're worthless , hopeless , losers . But if he sees we're going through an upbeat time ; he'll try to entice us into thinking we're especially superior as elite something or others' . Either way we believe a lie if we listen to him - for every thing he says is said in such a way as to turn out a perversion of the truth ; this is because he's trying to prove something which simply isn't nor indeed can be . So he's got to settle for the illusion ... and the more he can get others to believe the illusion is true , the stronger the illusion appears in it's own illusionary way .
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. <-----> Romans 12:3
Yet , in the Big Picture , God is allowing all this for Good Reason .
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. <-----> Psalm 107:38-43
And in the upcoming last days , the devil will even be allowed to vaunt himself upon earth , even to the point of persecuting God's people unto death in some cases .
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. <-----> Daniel 11:32-36
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. <-----> Revelation 13:14-17
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: <-----> Revelation 14:9+10
But all these things work together for our good , if / when we love God .
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. <-----> Romans 8:28
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. <-----> Revelation 12:11
For example : many of us are far too involved in worldly activities and pursuits .
And Christ is coming back for a church without spot or blemish ... so when the devil brings on the Beast system spoken of in Revelation , this will essentially force us who have not separated ourselves , to choose between our physical life , or our spiritual place in God's Kingdom . And since this occurs shortly before Christ's Return - it ensures there won't be any lukewarm believers for Him to sort through in His Day of Glory & Open Triumph .
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. <-----> Ephesians 5:25-27
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. <-----> Revelation 3:15+16
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. <-----> Matthew 12:33
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. <-----> Matthew 10:34-40
Regarding " feelings of guilt " . These can be good or bad depending ...
Conviction is of The Holy Ghost .
Condemnation is of the devil .
Both begin similarly , by showing us things which aren't right about us .
But condemnation offers no remedy , no ho hope of solution . While conviction encourages to take / make specific steps which together with God's gifts will bring an everlasting remedy , one which will be to our Saviour's praise throughout all eternity .
May The Lord Be Pleased .
wm
