Is Satan really this powerful??

[Katydid]

OK I didn't know where else to put this but my question is, Is satan really this powerful? So here is the deal

Two months ago, my husband and I decided to start going to church. So, the first week, my son got sick. The next, my husband ended up out of town for work. The next, my husband and I were both sick. The next my husband's ex was visiting (she is athiest and would not let us take my stepson so we didn't go). This last one, we had to stay up waiting for someone who couldn't find our house and they didn't get here til 3 a.m.


I mean, we are TRULY wanting to go, but EVERY week we prepare, we plan, then Saturday comes and something happens that keeps us from going on Sunday.


Is satan REALLY this powerful?




P.S. I told my husband that unless one of us is in the hospital on Sunday we are going.

 

[Maccie]

No, I don't think so! But don't let him think he is!

I'm sure others will tell you different - but to my mind there is such a thing a co-incidence.

Hope you get there next Sunday!

 

[mshupe1959]

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, You would have no authority against Me, not any, if it were not given to you from above.

Jesus was speaking to Pilate here but the it is also a blanket statement. Satan has no power except what is given by God. As far as I am concerned, his only power is deception.

As much as it's the ideal, it is not always possible to go together because of circumstances, so if you have to go when you can.

 

[vanshan]

Satan is a coward who still roams about like a lion seeking to devour us. He and his legions can thwart our efforts by placing stumbling blocks and obtructions in our path. He is a weak foe, though, and cannot overcome light with darkness. You should offer a small prayer to Christ to protect your family and help you make it to church. I know this is sometimes awkward if you don't have a regular practice of prayer, but really some small plea for help will not go unaddressed, although we cannot presume to understand how it's addressed. Pray that God's will be done, whether that's to attend the church you plan to go to or be directed elsewhere.

Basil

 

[homewardbound]

If you and your husband are committed to going to church, don't let the illness of one of your kids (unless it's serious) keep at least one of you from going. Also, many churches have Sunday evening services...perhaps yours is one of them. Many also offer opportunities to plug in during the week. Satan is crafty, but there's nothing he can do to thwart God's will, and I have no doubt that you and your family going to church is consistent with God's will.

 

[day2day]

OK I didn't know where else to put this but my question is, Is satan really this powerful? So here is the deal

Two months ago, my husband and I decided to start going to church. So, the first week, my son got sick. The next, my husband ended up out of town for work. The next, my husband and I were both sick. The next my husband's ex was visiting (she is athiest and would not let us take my stepson so we didn't go). This last one, we had to stay up waiting for someone who couldn't find our house and they didn't get here til 3 a.m.


I mean, we are TRULY wanting to go, but EVERY week we prepare, we plan, then Saturday comes and something happens that keeps us from going on Sunday.


Is satan REALLY this powerful?




P.S. I told my husband that unless one of us is in the hospital on Sunday we are going.

No, he does not! please dont give he that much power. You fight the good fight. You must be doing something right.He always comes against you, when live for Christ. Remember Christ is powerful all powerful. Seek Christ with all your heart he will see you through this. for your family.......day2day

 

[Iollain]

I've had the same experience, family getting high fevers and sick to stomach, rashes...that come and go like the wind. You just have to make a commitment that come hell or high water your going to church.

 

[deu58]

Hi Katydid

Satan is a defeated enemy but we did not defeat him, Jesus did, He is the only one that could,

The church pastors like to teach that he is weak, But the bible says that when he is cast down he will rush to and fro like a lion. Ever see a weak lion? Even if you did would you pull his tail and challenge him to a fight?

You said the atheist ex showed up and she would not let the stepson go , So you and your Husband made a concious choice not to go either, You could have went but you did not,

Your husband was out of town, You could have went and shared with him what you learned when he got back,

You were both sick,

Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

You could have still worshipped at home,


So in this particular case I do not think Satan is behind this, If God had wanted you in that church for a specific reason to further the kingdom or there was a particular message you needed to hear you would have been in that church,


For stronger is he who is in us than him who is in the world,
Satan is still very powerful, He is killing people by the thousands every day,

He is no joke and needs to taken seriously by any believer. One the most basic rules of warfare is to never under estimate your opponent,

Another basic rule is do not over estimate him either, He is not all powerfull he has limitations and weaknesses, He is not a boogy man hiding behind every bush and responsible for every thing that goes wrong in somebodies day or life either,

Perhaps there are other factors that we are not aware of , But from the info you provided this is how I see it,


yours in Christ
deu58

 

[DaBronx]

Is satan REALLY this powerful?

The only power satan has over you is the power you allow him to have...Stand strong in Christ and he will run from you like the defeated coward that he is.

No more excuses...Get up on Sunday and GO TO CHURCH.

Praise God and my prayers are with you and your family!

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

When God sees your commitment to go, come H-ll or high water, THEN you will have the strength to defeat all the devices of the enemy. But as long as you let the enemy decide your direction, there you will stay.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but that is how faith works. The enemy DOESN'T want you to have that kind of faith which is pleasing to God.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[Katydid]

I don't mind the harshness, but I would like to address some of what was said.

We have three children living with us, a 2 yr. old, a 3 1/2 yr.old and an 8 yr. old (my stepson).

We live in Germany and the only services available to us, that we know of, are on post on Sunday morning.

We do not trust my stepson's mother to be alone with him, hence, her coming to our home for her visitation. She knows that she hasn't earned our trust yet, and respects that. Even so, when we had them go for a walk together, she shaved his head.

I do not know where this chapel is, and I am not comfortable driving alone with all three kids to a place that I do not know how to get to.

I do not know what services are offered, is there children's church, a nursery, etc. Even if there are, do I know the people running it, will I trust them with my children. If not, how do I manage two preschoolers in a service?


You may be thinking, "Oh my what a pessimist, what a defeated attitude", but I will say this. I am a complete optimist in most things, and I am the one being optimistic about this. I have been to too many services at military chapels to trust going to my first one alone. There have been a few that we had to walk out of because they were completely unfriendly toward young children in service, and no offense, but I am not going to leave my children with paid employees who aren't allowed to teach them anything religious. So we know that there is a service for us, we just don't know where or which one it will be. This is why it is important for us to go together the first time. God knows all that is on my heart, and has given us the strength to have service at home as a family for the entire 2 years that we were at our last post (the one with the paid employees). I just pray that this isn't His way of saying to continue living that way, as I truly long for fellowship.

I understand the harsh posts and you are right, there are times when we could have or should have. But, at the time, it didn't seem possible. That is what I am saying. Though I know in hindsight, that we coulda or shoulda, at the time, there wasn't a way. Do you know what I mean?

 

[Maccie]

Katydid, your circumstances should make us all ashamed! It just goes to prove that what is written in a post is only half, or even a quarter of the story.

Now, I wonder if you are on a base that has a Chaplain? Can you get in touch with him/her? Maybe that way you could find out where the chapel is and what goes on? Also, I don't know where you are, but it is possible there is an English-speaking church somewhere near you. The internet might be able to give you some information.

Do you know any other Christians there, or around you? Maybe they could help you with info.

I do sincerely hope you find somewhere you can settle. My prayers are with you.

 

[deu58]

Hi Katydid

Ahhh I see, Like I said with the info you gave us that is what I saw, Now I see the reasoning behind those choices to, Sensible and Godly Choices,

I still do not see Satan as necessarilly behind it all though any thing is possible,

When Jesus said "do think that the 300 whose blood was mingled with there sacrifices were greater sinners than any one else in Israel?"

Bad things happen all the time for no other reason than it was time for them to happen,

I hope all goes well for you in the future, I see you are Messianic, Do you believe in house blessings? If you do have you had it done yet? You are living in a house where who knows what may have gone before you got there, Maybe something even from years ago, Could be a prescence still in the house that does like the Spirit that dwells in you.

I doubt if that presence {if there even is one} could really cause you serious harm becuase of the presence of the Holy Spirit but still, Why not get rid of it if it is really there?

yours in Christ
deu 58

 

[homewardbound]

Knowing your circumstances better, I would still say it's not Satan who is preventing you from attending church. You've simply encountered a set of circumstance that makes it more difficult. If anything, I would consider these challenges to be a test of your committment to go to church. And I definitely believe it is Satan who is placing doubts in your mind. But the bottom line is that you want to go to church, you seem to be committed to doing so, and though you might have to deal with some extenuating circumstances, ultimately there is nothing that will keep you from it.

 

[BarbB]

I think it's the enemy - probably not Satan himself! When I resolved to attend a community prayer group regularly, I ended up locking my keys in the car two weeks in a row. I praised God and called AAA. I got there late - and said "you're not going to keep me from my Jesus!" Haven't been bothered since.

Use the phone and call around to get the information you need. Don't let anything stop you. You can get into a rut with excuses for not going! God bless you and keep you!

 

[Katydid]

I doubt if that presence {if there even is one} could really cause you serious harm becuase of the presence of the Holy Spirit but still, Why not get rid of it if it is really there?

We have blessed the house, and all the rooms. When we first moved in, my middle son couldn't sleep, so it made him feel better to go from room to room and "scare away the bad guys". My neighbor insists that my son, because he is so young, could actually see the spirits. I am not sure of that, but he is a very sensitive boy, and I have no doubt that he felt something here.

Now, I wonder if you are on a base that has a Chaplain? Can you get in touch with him/her? Maybe that way you could find out where the chapel is and what goes on? Also, I don't know where you are, but it is possible there is an English-speaking church somewhere near you. The internet might be able to give you some information.

There are a couple churches, but when we looked into them, they were Jehovah's witness and LDS. I am going to call the chaplain tomorrow, and I am also going to drive over to the post that the chapel is on and look around.

 

[deu58]

Hi Katydid

We have blessed the house, and all the rooms. When we first moved in, my middle son couldn't sleep, so it made him feel better to go from room to room and "scare away the bad guys". My neighbor insists that my son, because he is so young, could actually see the spirits. I am not sure of that, but he is a very sensitive boy, and I have no doubt that he felt something here.

Also animal are sensitive, I believe these things to be true also, Maybe there is more here than meets the eye, Becareful and watchful abd pray with out ceasing,

I suppose that if things do not improve the military will not let you change houses? Probably hard to get a house as is it is eh? Years ago when I was in the navy it was hard to get base housing, they had a waiting list a mile long

yours in Christ
deu 58

 

[-FOC-]

Satan is a coward who still roams about like a lion seeking to devour us.

this kind of attitude always worries me.

Yet Michael the archangel, when taking issue with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, dared not to bring a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
(Jud 1:9)

the Lord protects us, but let us not be fooled, Satan is a fallen angel who is limited by God in his power.

Satan is hardly a ''coward''.
He is blinded for sure, but Id think that one who is foolish enough to think he can stand against God Almighty could hardly be labeled ''coward"

 

[artybloke]

Satan is a mythological creature imported by the Jews from Zoroastrainism, and into Christianity from dualist heresies like Gnosticism. He only exists in the mind of the literalist and the vaguely psychotic.

So no, it wasn't Satan. And stuff happens. Live with it.

 

[Katydid]

So no, it wasn't Satan. And stuff happens. Live with it.

I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and just bring to your attention that this statement seems awfully rude.