Results 1 - 3 of 3
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How does Satan operate in the world? | Bible general Archive 2 | Makarios | 102251 | ||
Greetings Cheryl, Satan is a highly intelligent being (Ezekiel 28:12) who has literally had thousands of years of experience in dealing with human beings, and by this "experience" only can he seem to 'plant thoughts' and impulses in our minds.. Satan tempts believers to sin (Ephesians 2:1,2; 1 Thess. 3:5), to lie (Acts 5:3), and to commit sexually immoral acts (1 Corinthians 7:5), all deeds of which separate us from God (Micah 3:4; Romans 8:7). He accuses and slanders believers (Revelation 12:10), hinders our work any way he can (1 Thess. 2:18), sows 'weeds' among us (Matt. 13:38,39), and incites persecutions against Christians (Revelation 2:10). Moreover, Satan has access to a vast network of demonic spirits who answer to him (Revelation 12:4,7). Satan seeks to wage war against believers (Ephesians 6:11,12), opposes us with the ferocity of a hungry lion (1 Peter 5:8), seeks to plant doubt in our minds (Genesis 3:1-5) and foster spiritual pride in our hearts (1 Tim. 3:6), leading us away from "the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). No wonder our Lord found it necessary to provide us with 'spiritual armor' to protect us from Satan (Ephesians 6:11-18). But we have Jesus in our defense against Satan, making intercession for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Certainly Christ's intercession for us includes the kind of intercession He made for His disciples in John 17:15, where He specifically asked the Father to keep them safe from the evil one. Also, effective use of the Word of God is especially important for spiritual victory, since Jesus quoted the Word to defeat the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4). We must be alert to Satan's attacks (1 Peter 5:8) and his tactics (2 Cor. 2:11) so that we can stand firm against the devil (Ephesians 6:13,14) and resist him (James 4:7). Jesus has given us a great example of what to pray in the Lord's Prayer by teaching us to pray "deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13) and in Luke 22:31,32. Satan is "on a leash", and has an end in sight (Revelation 20:7-10). Blessings to you, Makarios |
||||||
2 | Telepathic communication? | Bible general Archive 2 | LuckyCharm | 102266 | ||
Hi Makarios, and thank you for the very thorough reply! I was thinking some more about this last night, and the possibility came to mind that Satan may send thoughts our way telepathically, as it were, "flooding our airwaves" with his impulses and agendas. Whether or not we pick up on and respond to these "thought waves" depends upon our state of grace and the strength of our spiritual "armor." Does this idea seem consistent with Scripture? --Cheryl |
||||||
3 | Telepathic communication? | Bible general Archive 2 | Makarios | 102268 | ||
Greetings Cheryl! I believe that Satan has no bearing on our "state of grace", since nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:28-39). His Holy Spirit has sealed us until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30) and placed us into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). He purposes to keep us in spite of what Satan may do (John 10:28-30). I do not believe that Satan can communicate with us at all "telepathically", even though his intelligence and experience with us is highly advanced and deceptive, and he was one of the most powerful angels that God had ever created. Satan cannot 'plant' thoughts into our minds. We plant thoughts into our minds, and any sinful thoughts that are there are there because of our sinful nature (tendency to sin). But we have power over the sinful nature as believers, and we are admonished to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and to present our bodies as "living sacrifices" to God (Romans 12:1). Satan has no power over us. I do not believe that "thought waves" or anything thereof (or responding to them) is consistent with Scripture. But we have power to resist Satan and live a life and think thoughts that are in accordance with the Holy Spirit. Blessings to you, Makarios |
||||||