Is the Devil on your trail?

Evil is not an equal to good b/c evil is a parasite. But evil is always with is in our hearts b/c we have a sinful nature as a part of our makeup.

 

"...resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

I think this verse supports our good Dr. Bob.

Maybe satan has places he feels more at home than others.

And don't be sending us Satan thru a windows virus either, Doc.

 

I believe Satan uses the mind to tempt us. He does it with fleeting thoughts of sinful behavior, ideas, suggestions, etc. I am tempted often to start drinking again, and it always starts with a thought. It is up to me after the thought to either disregard the thought or to act upon it. That's where we come in......The phrase "the devil made me do it" never held much water with me. He can plant the seed, but it's up to us to water it or dig it up!

Holly

 

Glory Bound,

Ive heard what you are saying also. For the most part it comes from those who are charismatic/pentecostal. The reasoning of these beliefs comes from Wesleyan perfectionism and has been culminated through holiness/pentecostal/charismatic "teaching"
They beleive that one can become perfect through sanctification of the holy Spirit. But they have always had a problem with this view, that being they keep sinning (some have called that just making mistakes) So to get around this problem they say that they are being afflicted by the spirit of this or that. Like im being affflicted by the spirit of drunkeness and they have to cast and rebuke the demon of drunkeness. When all it is is the sinflness of there own nature causing them to sin.
A proper understanding of the doctrine of total depravity would solve much of the nonesense that you hear. I have counsled a number of people that held to that and they had a fear of the devil etc... There is a peace to be had when you have a view of a sovereign God in complete control of everything in your life.

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: dfd2 ]

 

Dr. Bob'

But his 6,200,000,000 cohorts are everywhere!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:
So I figure the odds at 6,200,000,000 to 1 that Satan is someplace else right now.
:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glory Bound:


Also, regarding the doctrine of the total depravity of man - is there a source I can find more about this? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

God's Sovereignity and the Human Will

Total Depravity

Some of us wish that all SBC'ers would embrace this

 

Glory Bound,

total depravity is something that the SBC holds to, here is an excerpt from the current BF&M:

III. Man

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11


Here is an excerpt from The Manual of Theology by John Dagg, who wrote the first systematic theology for a Southern Baptist:


Depravity is natural to man; it is born with him, and not acquired in the progress of life. It is not to be ascribed to evil habit, or evil example. Evil habits are formed by evil doing; and evil doing would not be, if there were no evil propensity. Evil example would not everywhere exist, if human nature were not everywhere corrupt; and the tendency to follow evil example would not be so common, and so much to be guarded against, if it were not natural to man. The Scriptures clearly teach this doctrine. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."[16]

you can find the rest on http://www.founders.org/library/dagg_vol1/all.html

 

Glory Bound,

hi, I just came across a pretty good sermon by John Piper he hits on this topic pretty good. I was thinking of the book of Job and Piper also hits on Job as an ilustration in this sermon:

Piper:
"So both in Job and in the words of Jesus Satan must go to God for permission before he can trouble the lives of God's children."

Check out the sermon and let me know if it helps any. http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper81/042681m.htm

 

I personally do not believe in a "personal" Satan for each and every believer. The Bible calls Satan the "accuser of the brethren" which is exactly what he does. Sure, sometimes he lends a hand in our disobedience, but I do not believe in any way that he is omnipresent. To believe that is to believe that God is not the Almighty, the Alpha and Omega.

Satan can only be at one place at one time, and probably most of that time he spends in the presence of God accusing the brethren, and his flunkies we call demons (remember, one third of the angels joined forces with Satan) probably roam the earth doing Satan's bidding. So it may seem he is always present, but IMHO, it is not so...he has just learned to delegate well. I wholeheartedly believe that MOST of the sins we commit, we do from our own sinful nature and I too tire of hearing people blame everything on Satan...sometimes we need to take a good hard look at ourselves from a Biblical perspective and see that altho we are saved by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ, we still have our flesh to contend with, which is all the more magnified in the presence of the Lord.

Kathy
&lt;&gt;&lt;

 

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Do we have a "personal" Satan, one who knows our thoughts, our weaknesses, and can aflict us in our weakest moment? Does Satan "plant" evil thoughts in our minds?&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

I have not seen a Satan, personal or not, therefore I doubt that one exists. Neither do I believe that man is inherently depraved. I would be happy to consider evidence of Satan, such evidence as would convince a jury of reasonable men. If one has such evidence, please present it. If you cannot, then do not claim that Satan exists.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Wester ]

 

Wester, I have seen nothing in any of your posts that would indicate you are any kind of Baptist. I am willing to be proven wrong on this. Do you have any evidence? According to my yearbook there is no Free Will Baptist Church in Searchlight, Nevada. Again, I am willing to be proven wrong. But if not, you are violating the policies of this board and proving yourself less than honest.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wester:
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Do we have a "personal" Satan, one who knows our thoughts, our weaknesses, and can aflict us in our weakest moment? Does Satan "plant" evil thoughts in our minds?&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

I have not seen a Satan, personal or not, therefore I doubt that one exists. Neither do I believe that man is inherently depraved. I would be happy to consider evidence of Satan, such evidence as would convince a jury of reasonable men. If one has such evidence, please present it. If you cannot, then do not claim that Satan exists.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Wester ]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I rest my case


Kathy
&lt;&gt;&lt;

 

Why would I need a personal Satan? I have a sinful nature and am going to sin every day weather. I can't help that. All Satan needs to do is put the temptation out in the world for us humans to see hear and feel.

All of us have sins Satan uses many ways to tempt us, he uses TV, Movies, Books, our unsaved friends, false doctrine, he spreads confusion and the temptation reaches many thousands of people at one time. He dosn't need to personally tempt me.

Bill

 

Wester,

You claim to be a Free Will Baptist. You are the first one I've heard from that does not believe in Satan. You, by your own words have just indicated that you do not believe in the Bible, because Satan undeniably exists according to God's Word. Are you masquerading as a Christian on our forums?

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: John Wells ]

 

Glory: Do we have a "personal" Satan, one who knows our thoughts, our weaknesses, and can aflict us in our weakest moment? Does Satan "plant" evil thoughts in our minds? Some here have indicated that Satan is not omnipresent, and is limited by space and time. I tend to agree. But I seem to be surrounded by those who think that Satan is harassing each of them daily. As Dr. Bob alluded to - how can this be if Satan can be only in one place at one time, and there are over 6 billion people on the earth?

No, as stated by others, Satan is not omnipresent. Kathy’s comments were excellent. Satan spends most of his time “accusing the brethren.” But he does, as RobertGuwapo pointed out, have millions of accomplices (fallen angels – demons) to torment folks.

Glory: I spoke briefly with my pastor last night, and while he agreed to meet to discuss this, he has indicated that he believes in a "personal" Satan. I'm asking for biblical proof of this concept.
Because I have a minority view on this, I am getting the feeling that maybe I am mistaken - but I want to see strong biblical evidence for the direct (not indirect - Eden, sinful nature) influence of Satan in each of our lives before I change my mind.

Again, I think your pastor is wrong!

Glory: If it is true that Satan haunts each of us, I would think the scripture would be much more clear on this awesome threat to Christians. Isn't this something that we should know?

Might I suggest you read Ephesians starting in verse 6:10 where we find:

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

There is a spiritual world of beings all around us that we cannot see. Hundreds of angels and demons are within inches of us daily. Keep in mind this comforting thought: if you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you cannot be indwelt by a demon spirit as well! The Holy Spirit, being part of God Himself, is much too powerful for a demon or even Satan himself.

Rather than dwelling on the negative, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV) There is no room in our minds for Satan and/or his demon’s thoughts if we fill it with reading God’s Word, praying to God, and thinking about His mercy and grace. Peace be with you!

John