Under spiritual attack? Possible or misunderstanding?

[Monster]

This is a serious question (or set of them) that I'd like to get input on. I have my beliefs, opinions and scripture that I reference but I'm looking for input from others. So, if anyone would be willing to take the time;

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack?

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking?

- What can be done as prevention?

- Is it a good thing? <---assuming it's happening, it likely means an attempt is being made to make a righteous person falter?

This has nothing to do with any activity here at the BB. This is something that's been nagging at me lately. I'm looking for insightful input/advice/guidance. I'll probably think of more specific questions later.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Scarlett O.]

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack?

You'd better believe it, brother. Christians cannot be possessed by the devil, but they come under attack from him everyday.

Why would he attack a Christian if he cannot possess one? To beat us into fear, doubt, guilt, pain, and defeat. To ruin our witness for Christ. To shake the faith out of you. That's just three reasons among many.

That's why Paul said the following about the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 = "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmetof salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and suppication. To that end keep alerwith all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...............

That's why Jesus warned Peter about the devil's upcoming spiritual attack...

Luke 22:31-32 = "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." ​

And then there's Peter's warning to us .....

1 Peter 5:8 = Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

​

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking?

- What can be done as prevention?

The attack could be anything - physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, intellectual. It could come in any form.

Prevention comes by keep a daily walk with the LORD via prayer and His word, asking for prayer partners, keeping one's MIND renewed and therefore one's self TRANSFORMED.

I find that the mind is a HUGE battlefield and a place where attacks start.

When the attacks come in the form of temptation, I find that for myself and for others that I give counsel to on another forum, that the devil is going to convince you that this area of temptation that you are trying to stay clear of is your GREATEST need and that if you don't give in to this temptation that you will just die.

It's a lie, of course.

Also, stay away from things of the occult. Even some artwork, movies, books, and more that might seem relatively harmless compared to grossly occultic things can be harmful to one's mindset.

I don't know if any of this is what you wanted, but here it is.

 

[michael-acts17:11]

I fully agree. I must add that the majority of our spiritual problems & temptations comes not from Satan, he is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or omnipresent, but comes from the wickedness of our own flesh. Satan attacked the apostles personally, but cannot possibly temp billions of different people at the same time. If we are honest, we are responsible for our own temptations & failures.

 

[Arbo]

I fully agree. I must add that the majority of our spiritual problems & temptations comes not from Satan, he is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or omnipresent, but comes from the wickedness of our own flesh. Satan attacked the apostles personally, but cannot possibly temp billions of different people at the same time. If we are honest, we are responsible for our own temptations & failures.

I'm curious. How do you know that he is unable to attack multitudes simultaneously?

 

[Monster]

You'd better believe it, brother. Christians cannot be possessed by the devil, but they come under attack from him everyday.

Why would he attack a Christian if he cannot possess one? To beat us into fear, doubt, guilt, pain, and defeat. To ruin our witness for Christ. To shake the faith out of you. That's just three reasons among many.

That's why Paul said the following about the armor of God.



That's why Jesus warned Peter about the devil's upcoming spiritual attack...



And then there's Peter's warning to us .....

​

The attack could be anything - physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, intellectual. It could come in any form.

Prevention comes by keep a daily walk with the LORD via prayer and His word, asking for prayer partners, keeping one's MIND renewed and therefore one's self TRANSFORMED.

I find that the mind is a HUGE battlefield and a place where attacks start.

When the attacks come in the form of temptation, I find that for myself and for others that I give counsel to on another forum, that the devil is going to convince you that this area of temptation that you are trying to stay clear of is your GREATEST need and that if you don't give in to this temptation that you will just die.

It's a lie, of course.

Also, stay away from things of the occult. Even some artwork, movies, books, and more that might seem relatively harmless compared to grossly occultic things can be harmful to one's mindset.

I don't know if any of this is what you wanted, but here it is.

This is precisely the sort of input I'm looking for. Call it affirmation, re-affirmation, encouragement, maybe even constructive admonishment. I really appreciate all you've offered.

God's word is so vast, and I'm so very limited. We (my wife and I) have been feeling battered about lately. And me personally, I've been lacking the energy to do exhaustive searches, I'm in the Word daily but not enthusiastically. At the risk of sounding lazy or hapless, I've thrown myself more or less on the mercy of this community for doing the heavy lifting for me, for this "subject" specifically. Thanks for being willing to offer your insights and that wonderful thing called mercy! :1_grouphug:

It's always such a blessing to have others come alongside and lend energy and support, it's tough to ask for it sometimes.

 

[Monster]

I fully agree. I must add that the majority of our spiritual problems & temptations comes not from Satan, he is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or omnipresent, but comes from the wickedness of our own flesh. Satan attacked the apostles personally, but cannot possibly temp billions of different people at the same time. If we are honest, we are responsible for our own temptations & failures.

I'm all in for the temptations (James 1), not sure about how much control we have over failings. Though, I'm likely not processing "failings" rightly.

- Our failures because we fall into the process of sin described in James 1 = All us.

Or

- Our failures because we have no control over what God's purpose is for us and we with proper motives and good intentions fail because "it wasn't mean to be." = God's will, different than ours maybe?

Or

- I'm rambling because I'm exhausted in too many ways and at too many levels. BUT definitely not being argumentative because if this thread turns into a battleground for any reason, I'ma bail with contentment over what Scarlett O. and you have already offered :thumbsup:

 

[michael-acts17:11]

I'm curious. How do you know that he is unable to attack multitudes simultaneously?

There is not a single verse of Scripture which attributes God-like qualities to Satan or any other angel. Only God is omnipresent & omniscient. These attributes are necessary for God to hear, understand, & answer every person's prayer at the same time. They would also be necessary for Satan to know every person's weakness & attack all of us at the same time by different methods. It only takes thirty seconds of critical thought to dispel the myth of Satan's universal attack on all believers. I believe it is superstitious to think Satan is personally tempting one's self. Man's heart is desperately wicked, & needs no other source of evil to tempt us.

My favorite ridiculous statements about Satan include "Satan is hindered us from going to church to hear what God has for us" & "Satan puts wicked thoughts in my mind".

 

[Arbo]

There is not a single verse of Scripture which attributes God-like qualities to Satan or any other angel. Only God is omnipresent & omniscient. These attributes are necessary for God to hear, understand, & answer every person's prayer at the same time. They would also be necessary for Satan to know every person's weakness & attack all of us at the same time by different methods. It only takes thirty seconds of critical thought to dispel the myth of Satan's universal attack on all believers. believe it is superstitious to think Satan is personally tempting one's self. Man's heart is desperately wicked, & needs no other source of evil to tempt us.

My favorite ridiculous statements about Satan include "Satan is hindered us from going to church to hear what God has for us" & "Satan puts wicked thoughts in my mind".

*Bold Is mine.

So you've no Scripture either way, but rely on a best guess?

 

[michael-acts17:11]

*Bold Is mine.

So you've no Scripture either way, but rely on a best guess?

Best guess? No. A firm conviction. Angels are finite beings. They do not posses the powers of the Godhead. I am baffled by the willingness of so many to place Satan as God's equal in power & knowledge. If you are going to claim that Satan possesses such powers, then the burden of proof is on you to substantiate your belief with Scriptural evidence. I look forward to seeing it.

 

[Aaron]

This is a serious question (or set of them)

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack? Yes.

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking? Demons and carnal men.

- What can be done as prevention? Daily prayer: lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

- Is it a good thing? Not good in itself, but works for good. <---assuming it's happening, it likely means an attempt is being made to make a righteous person falter? It's just that demons and carnal men hate everyone but themselves and take pleasure in inflicting pain.
​

 

[righteousdude2]

I agree, and added a little more....

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack? Yes.

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking? Demons and carnal men.

- What can be done as prevention? Daily prayer: lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

- Is it a good thing? Not good in itself, but works for good. <---assuming it's happening, it likely means an attempt is being made to make a righteous person falter? It's just that demons and carnal men hate everyone but themselves and take pleasure in inflicting pain.
​

Everything Aaron said and a little more:

* Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? and you are not your own (1Corinthians 6:19).

* So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

* For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39).

* You are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

* And what agreement has Christ with Belial? or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:15).

Don't be fooled by the world or the liar [Satan]. There is a snare [trap] that a lot of believers fall into, and I was one of them, as I failed to give the enemy and his cohorts enough respect. In fact, I was extremely naive about the supernatural world, warfare, and the armor needed to keep me from being attacked, and even oppressed.

Just remember: If Satan could [by permission of God] go after Job; Jesus in the wilderness; and be described as the roaring lion, looking for someone to devour, you and I are fair game. Just remember, we have the power over temptation, and whatever else the devil, mankind, or the world may throw in your way on the narrow [and difficult according to Jesus] path. Use the Word, every promise, and don't become complacent, or take the enemy for granted. The armor is there to wear; Wear it!

One more thing about possession of believers. Because Peter describes the devil as looking for someone to devour, that says to me that he [the enemy] can only attack us from the outside, not from the inside-out [possession would be attacks from the inside, out]. Of course, this is simply my opinion, but it works for me, when I remind the jerk to leave me alone in Jesus's name! :thumbsup:

 

[Arbo]

Best guess? No. A firm conviction. Angels are finite beings. They do not posses the powers of the Godhead. I am baffled by the willingness of so many to place Satan as God's equal in power & knowledge. If you are going to claim that Satan possesses such powers, then the burden of proof is on you to substantiate your belief with Scriptural evidence. I look forward to seeing it.

I asked two questions. I made no claims. You are jumping to a conclusion that doesn't exist.

 

[michael-acts17:11]

It sounded like you were taking the opposite position. So, what do you believe concerning the finite vs infinite powers of Satan?

 

[Yeshua1]

This is a serious question (or set of them) that I'd like to get input on. I have my beliefs, opinions and scripture that I reference but I'm looking for input from others. So, if anyone would be willing to take the time;

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack?

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking?

- What can be done as prevention?

- Is it a good thing? <---assuming it's happening, it likely means an attempt is being made to make a righteous person falter?

This has nothing to do with any activity here at the BB. This is something that's been nagging at me lately. I'm looking for insightful input/advice/guidance. I'll probably think of more specific questions later.

Thanks in advance.

Paul wants us to put on daily full armor of God to fight against Him and his ways and minions, and peter advises us on satan...

Remember that while we are kept and protected by God, satan cannot "unsave us", we can still be tempted to disobey God, and fall into his snares to enslave us, and if we refuse to submit to the Lord, can become useless to Him in being able to use us , and "shipwreak our faith"...

 

[Monster]

Paul wants us to put on daily full armor of God to fight against Him and his ways and minions, and peter advises us on satan...

Remember that while we are kept and protected by God, satan cannot "unsave us", we can still be tempted to disobey God, and fall into his snares to enslave us, and if we refuse to submit to the Lord, can become useless to Him in being able to use us , and "shipwreak our faith"...

Right on!

I used to have a daily practice of "praying on" or through the process of putting on the armor. I got out of the habit, it's probably not a bad idea to begin again.

I've gotten great feedback all throughout, edifying and encouraging and it's appreciated.

It's a bit odd asking questions like this, considering I've been saved for 40+ years. The heart and mind can get awfully tired though. Years and maturity (maybe the lack thereof) aside, this is what the Body is for.

And, I don't want to look for a "commie under every bed" in a spiritual sense. I read Peretti's "angels vs. demons" books way back in the day and it seemed then that everyone, regardless of affiliation was seeing demonic reasons/excuses for everything. They were fun reads but about as theologically deep and wide as a thimble full of water.

I always want to be cautious when trying to discern exactly what is and what isn't...input from the Brethren always helps (Sisteren too!).

 

[salzer mtn]

This is a serious question (or set of them) that I'd like to get input on. I have my beliefs, opinions and scripture that I reference but I'm looking for input from others. So, if anyone would be willing to take the time;

- Do Christians fall under/come under genuine spiritual attack? _Yes________

- And if so, who/what could be doing the attacking? ________________Saten, His Demons, The lost which are controlled by Satan____________________________

- What can be done as prevention? _____________Claim the promices of God________________________________

- Is it a good thing? <---assuming it's happening, it likely means an attempt is being made to make a righteous person falter? ______________ Remember, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

This has nothing to do with any activity here at the BB. This is something that's been nagging at me lately. I'm looking for insightful input/advice/guidance. I'll probably think of more specific questions later.

Thanks in advance.

11 Cor 12: And lest i should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messanger of Satan to buffet me, lest i should be exalted above nature. Satan tempts us through our flesh, through lost people and some times by evil sujestions or thoughts in our mind, all of a sudden and without warning. Sometime he launches an attack on us with in several different ways. Read the above in blue.

 

[12strings]

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT IT?

A few thoughts:

1. 2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, table to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

While this passage is talking specifically about leading those who are in the snare of the devil toward Christ...I think a larger principle applies, which is this: The way to battle the Devil, to free people from His clutches, is to patiently, yet boldly teach the sure truth. I can't discount those who have cast out Demons, or say that has no place, but I think the PRIMARY way God battles satan in our lives is through his word, taught, read, imbibed, and applied.

2. Isaiah 59:16:He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

There are some striking similarities between this and the Eph. 6 Armour...and I believe this is a messianic prophesy...so...the more I consider the Eph. 6 armour...the more I am convinced that CHRIST IS THE ARMOR! Put on Christ!. He is the one who brings salvation, with his righteousness, his Word, bringing his peace... Simply saying to myself, "I'm going to suit up with this spiritual armor, and then battle satan myself" ...we can't do it! Jesus has already struck the deathblow, and will complete what he has started...

1 John 3:8 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Consider Jesus, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted...I Truly believe this will do more for those under spiritual oppression or attack than trying to learn tricks of casting out demons or trying root out the exact cause of each and every oppression...You can say, "I don't even understand why this is happening, or what caused it...but I know whom I have believed, and am pursuaded that he has committed to keep that which I have entrusted unto him until that day."

 

[12strings]

Is Christ Always the Answer?

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