problem with the devil and with numbers

[lutherangerman]

Hi there,

Since some years I have this problem with numbers. It started when I was still a seeker and read the book of Revelation, about the devil and the number of the beast. It scared me a lot and I didn't know how to understand it. Since then I always have these knee-jerk reactions to when I see this number or similar numbers like 66 or 665 or something. For example, when I read a blog and it has "65 comments", I feel like I should not make a comment now so that I wouldn't make the 66th comment. Sometimes I see this number so often. For example, if I play a trading computer game I might suddenly notice that I have "666" goldpieces in my inventory.

One time when I was still a seeker I went to this numerology website where they calculated my full name (Daniel Peter Neubacher) to have the numerology value of 667. It was really weird. And it made me afraid many times.

I feel really wacked out by this sometimes. In the last two years since my baptism it has gotten better, and I don't fall in horror anymore, but it used to be really bad previously. For a while back then I had the fear that demons might place the mark of the beast on my hands when I have an evil thought. It was really awful.

Please say a prayer for me that I can overcome this thing. It's feeling so ugly to me spiritually. I have become able to detach myself from these thoughts but sometimes I am afraid the problem could come back to me.

Any advice would be appreciated. I am a baptized lutheran christian.

 

[MyEverything]

I'm not sure how to advise you, but I'll definitely be praying for you!

 

[ezeric]

Hey brother,

Anything that erodes life, or 'takes away', from our life, is NOT of GOD.

When I was younger, going to Christian School, they showed the 'left behind' movies. I was about 14 or so.

It freaked me right out, and I lived the next few years always wondering if I had been left behind. That JESUS, somehow came back, and left me.

It would happen, when I was alone, then if I couldn't get ahold (by phone, or in person) of some other believer (like my Mom), when I knew they should have been home - it would start this 'fear' again - that I was left behind.

GOD showed me, how to trust the future to HIM, and I no longer have that fear.
HE has delivered me from all my fears. That is what HE does, if we trust HIM.
Psalm 34:4

I helped minister to a new Christian (a few weeks back), that was consumed by numbers. Every number had a meaning (or so she thought), and these thoughts would 'take over', and she (like me earlier), was immobilized by fear and couldn't do the normal things we were supposed to do, because of fear, and these thoughts.

We certainly couldn't love others, we were too consumed with self and we weren't trusting JESUS living like this either.

The devil doesn't want us to be 'others focused', he wants the focus to be on us.

Either, we are so great and proud that we can't see others.
Or, we are so afraid, that we try to correct and understand ourselves, that we don't see others.
Both are selfish and unloving.

Now, the key is knowing HE loves us, and that HE understands, and the We are not the first to have these problems. GOD knows how to deal with us.

Our test is this, can we trust our past to HIM? That HE has forgiven all our sins?
Can we trust our future to HIM? That HE is going to prepare a place for us, and there is more to our life now and after death as well.
Can we trust the present with HIM? This is the hardest, trusting that everything is working for our good, and that HE is our personal deliverer.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:10

May the LORD bring you (his little sheep) into the freedom of HIS pasture and into Joy unspeakable.

-eric

The Exchanged Life

 

[lutherangerman]

Thank you, MyEverything and ezeric. The prayers are very appreciated, and it was nice to hear from someone who had similar fears like I had.

Ezeric, how did you exactly "heal" this woman you spoke of? The thinking that numbers have a meaning is exactly the type of thing many people with schizophrenia are obsessed with. And I do have schizophrenia too. Many christians now think that they should not tackle this issue spiritually because it is simply a disease and that we who have that illness just need medical attention only. And that spiritual treatment of this would not have any good effect and might only exacerbate the problem.

I can relate to this because I am aware some churches practice a pretty tacky and out of place idea of spiritual warfare, but basically, the problem is real and I find the church should not leave such people alone, and that those people like me need something else than just man's medicine. I think somehow the solution must be in God's love because that's the best God offers to us in Jesus.

 

[ezeric]

Dear my German Lutheran Brother,

Many times, healing comes gradually as you begin to believe the truth and start to come against (rebuke, deny) the lies of the devil, as the devil gives wrong/evil thoughts to all of us.

We all (I mean everyone, all people) get 3 thoughts that come to us.

1. Our own thoughts, like 'I want to buy bread today' or I want a tea or coffee.
2. The devils thoughts. These all bring fear, shame, guilt, destruction, loss, anger, worry - these are not YOUR thoughts, nor are they GOD'S! Resist them!
3. GOD'S thoughts, as you have the mind of CHRIST. (note; its not one day, but NOW). 1 Corinthians 2:16. HIS thoughts, are usually quiet, soft, caring, wise, always loving (for your or others own good), tender, peaceful - basically anything that flows out of the fruit of the SPIRIT (the devil can't produce that, because its HIS Fruit. The devil has no fruit of the SPIRIT. Galatians 5:22

The lady we were ministering too, started to realize (revelation) that those numbers brought fear - not release. Everything in GOD'S Kingdom brings freedom, brings release.

She was afraid, she didn't have peace but discord in her life. (Galatians 5:19)

Anything bringing fear, discord (opposite of peace inside you) is not of GOD, so therefore must be rejected.

Also, you have authority over the enemy and his thoughts - they are NOT your thoughts, but the thoughts of the Sin nature (which isn't you, its the devils voice you hear). Remember, every person, hears these voices/thoughts.

Lastly, start to leave behind all the legalism (self effort, law keeping, church rule keeping) and rest in JESUS love alone. The more you 'give up', the more you gain!

-eric

The Exchanged Life

 

[wayfaring man]

Everything exerts an influence by it's own existence. But He Who Is The Great Determiner Is God. And all the influences of everyone and everything else combined into one cannot even begin to be as Powerful as God Alone Is.

666 in The Book of Revelation is a reiteration. 6 is the number of man which has not entered into 7 ( God's Rest).

So, in that context, 666 is man, man, man all we can do by and for and to ourselves without relying on God. ( But that's what it means in The Book of Revelation; wherefore, if 6, 66, or 666 come up in another context it may have nothing at all in common with that specific biblical association.) For example there are 66 "books" of our Bible, and 66 chapters in Isaiah, but that's in another manner of application and doesn't carry the same significance.)

Nothing is anything but what context makes it.

Furthermore, once we learn to rely upon God through the faith of Christ, we rise above the earthly manhood and begin to experience the heavenly, where God's grace makes our world a far different and better place. And even though for now this new world is experienced mostly within, when Jesus returns we will be so transformed that we will be able to experience The Kingdom of Heaven within and without !

May God's Promises Comfort and Encourage us. Amen.

wm

 

[John S]

Hi there,

Since some years I have this problem with numbers. It started when I was still a seeker and read the book of Revelation, about the devil and the number of the beast. It scared me a lot and I didn't know how to understand it. Since then I always have these knee-jerk reactions to when I see this number or similar numbers like 66 or 665 or something. For example, when I read a blog and it has "65 comments", I feel like I should not make a comment now so that I wouldn't make the 66th comment. Sometimes I see this number so often. For example, if I play a trading computer game I might suddenly notice that I have "666" goldpieces in my inventory.

One time when I was still a seeker I went to this numerology website where they calculated my full name (Daniel Peter Neubacher) to have the numerology value of 667. It was really weird. And it made me afraid many times.

I feel really wacked out by this sometimes. In the last two years since my baptism it has gotten better, and I don't fall in horror anymore, but it used to be really bad previously. For a while back then I had the fear that demons might place the mark of the beast on my hands when I have an evil thought. It was really awful.

Please say a prayer for me that I can overcome this thing. It's feeling so ugly to me spiritually. I have become able to detach myself from these thoughts but sometimes I am afraid the problem could come back to me.

Any advice would be appreciated. I am a baptized lutheran christian.

You might want to check with a doctor to see if you are autistic.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Hi there,

Since some years I have this problem with numbers. It started when I was still a seeker and read the book of Revelation, about the devil and the number of the beast. It scared me a lot and I didn't know how to understand it. Since then I always have these knee-jerk reactions to when I see this number or similar numbers like 66 or 665 or something. For example, when I read a blog and it has "65 comments", I feel like I should not make a comment now so that I wouldn't make the 66th comment. Sometimes I see this number so often. For example, if I play a trading computer game I might suddenly notice that I have "666" goldpieces in my inventory.

One time when I was still a seeker I went to this numerology website where they calculated my full name (Daniel Peter Neubacher) to have the numerology value of 667. It was really weird. And it made me afraid many times.

I feel really wacked out by this sometimes. In the last two years since my baptism it has gotten better, and I don't fall in horror anymore, but it used to be really bad previously. For a while back then I had the fear that demons might place the mark of the beast on my hands when I have an evil thought. It was really awful.

Please say a prayer for me that I can overcome this thing. It's feeling so ugly to me spiritually. I have become able to detach myself from these thoughts but sometimes I am afraid the problem could come back to me.

Any advice would be appreciated. I am a baptized lutheran christian.

Numerology is nonsense. It's like believing in astrology. Don't be afraid of that which is untrue and thus has no power.

 

[heron]

Romans 8:37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[hlaltimus]

What may appear to be a fairly insignificant problem to one person, may not be so to another. God has made us all with alternating strengths and weaknesses, and I'm glad that he so chose to construct our race. Our existence would be highly predictable, unexciting, unchallenging and outright boring otherwise.

I too have had some "little things" that have really bothered me to the point of being a major burden and a mental distraction...but only to me. Things which I didn't have the nerve to confess to my friends, for fear that they would either laugh in suppressed hysteria, or else assign me a catagory amongst the deranged for making so much out of so very little. I understand how you feel, it's something significant to you, and I am equally sure that God takes it seriously too, although others may not deem it important through either insensitivity or devaluation on their part. How could someone possibly recoil in a frightened terror over the sound of a harmless leaf shaking in the wind, (or for that matter!) truly believe themselves to be pursued, (when in reality,) on one is at all? Don't underestimate the potential weakness of the human construction:

"And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; (a Jewish captivity) the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee; they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues," - Leviticus 26:36

We are just as weak as God will allow us to be, and it was the strong, manly and confident Peter who denied his Lord before a simple, (and probably,) non-violent "servant girl" in John 18:17. A big, tough man frightened or intimidated by a scrawny little servant girl? Yes, for we are all just as weak as God allows us to be.

IMHO: In my honest opinion, these uncoincidental particular numbers are all just a bogus front that the enemy has somehow arranged for him to work behind. They mean absolutely nothing at all to him and so should to you, other than the key value from Satan's perspective, of getting you to believe that they do have a value, representative meaning, or a binding authority in your life. An old preacher once told me, "When we believe Satan's lie, we give that lie power to work against us." and I am sure that he was right. It could be that the reason why these numbers are bothering you so, (is oddly enough,) because you believe that the numbers are relevant to you somehow or in someway, (when in reality,) they only command power over you because you believe that they must. Renounce this whole, flimsey lie that Satan is attempting to weigh you down with, that all of these numerical coincidences have some kind of force or power over you. They do indeed have a present power over you, but only because you believe that they must! Take away all faith on your part that the numbers do have a relevant meaning or force over you, and you will by that act, take away Satan's legal opportunity to oppress you for the same. It also just could be that you are the victim of a very intelligent, tireless, inventive and clever adversary, who had previously gone through the trouble of calculating the numerical value of your legal name, and so arranged for this whole fiasco knowing that this was already true. Then, all he had to do was to get you to believe that it was all true. Refuse to put your faith in it.

 

[StoneWater]

Teachings of Jesus.

Superstitions? No.

Simple.

Devil is in the details beyond that.

YOUR choice.

Not mine. Yours.

Go at it.

 

[jonahthesign]

Once in a while I take a look at my own hands to see if I have the mark
I feel stupid after I do that too :/

 

[flowerforever7]

Honestly, it sounds like OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, (not to be confused with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder).

What you described is a very common attribute of OCD, I have religious OCD and experience something very similar. I would look it up when you have the time.

 

[RobertZ]

Teaching of Jesus lol. You mean, what you think are the teachings of someone you never met and you only assume based on minimal amount of research and contemplation were teachings from a man named Jesus

I see your making an effort to spread your satanic teachings all around the forums eh? Thats alright troll, you will be banned soon enough.

 

[Philothei]

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[Heavens]

The number is just a hint God gives us so we can look up what it is in scripture. So in looking at the other place in the Bible where 666 occurs, there it is! It is gold! An annual tribute of it in fact;

(1Ki 10:14) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

Mammon. Money.

Tying that scripture in with other relevant scriptures clears it up! What is it that Jesus or His apostles say about the love of money?

There's your answer

(Mat 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(1Ti 6:10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now we know what this means

(Rev 13:18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Blessings in Peace!