the verboten subject

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Sometimes it seems to me that there's a lot of talk about doctrine and the etymology of words in the Bible, and I think these are very interesting topics. But somewhere along the line, one topic never seems to be discussed....at least not very much, and only peripherally. It's almost as if it is a verboten subject. That if one speaks of it, you will be bringing the wrath of God down upon you.

But I think it's important. The subject I'm talking about is ........... Satan. Satan and his ways.

Mostly when I see something written about him, it is within the scope of "he can't do anything to me...I'm wearing the armor of God." Well, I hate to tell you this, but he CAN do a lot to you. Yeah, he will get *his* in the the end, but in the meantime, YOU are his target. He waits for the perfect time to attack.

Now to be really clear....I am not saying that God does not have any power or won't help, but the circumstances themselves won't necessarily change unless it's God's will. BUT you can get the Father of Lies - with with his little whispery "you're all alone" "how can anyone love you" "you don't really believe in God/Jesus/What the Bible says" "you're not worthy" 'nobody wants you" - to back off.

Satan CANNOT stay where the name of Jesus is spoken. He DOES have to leave. The problem, at least for me, is that pretty soon I forget about Jesus as I go about my daily routine. And the song repeats itself. And then, just as the shark can detect blood in the water, Satan again attacks.

I am envious of those who have a solid relationship with Jesus....that He is first and foremost in their minds. It is peace that they have. But in one fell swoop, Satan can disrupt the life of the most godly person...

[Nan]

Pam, without directly answering the central question in your post, I think Paul's comments on 'dying daily' (Gal 2:19-21) and forgetting what is past and pressing forward (Phil 3:13) have a lot to say to the way we have to live our lives. Not one of us has "attained" if we are still breathing and talking.

I can relate to your description of "The problem, at least for me, is that pretty soon I forget about Jesus as I go about my daily routine." I pray for various things for the day - including the opportunity to witness for Him and to be a blessing to others - but in the hustle and bustle I am just me. There must be an answer - but I am not going to give a pat one.

I think we need to be aware of the power of the evil one, and certainly not to overestimate our own abilities to deal with him. We cannot, in our own strength. But we need to give much more time to contemplating the love and power of God.

I do not pretend that this is the whole or even a major part of the answers or response to your post - just musings from how I try to live.

[Clio]

You are so very right Pam. The Adversary is active, agressively seeking those whom he may devour. He can attack us physically, emotionally, mentally, he can manipulate the weather, in addition to attacking us spiritually. ( See Job, Ephesians 6 )

IMHO one of his greatest triumphs is convincing so very many that he is either non-existant or impotent.

This being was third in all of Abba's government. While he has become corrupt and evil, he still retains the powers he had as an angel of glory. It is simply he has turned them to rebellion and evil rather than the furthering of Abba's Will.

The time is fast approaching when the covering grace of Abba's Holy Spirit will be withdrawn, and the evil ones will hold full sway over all the earth except over those who are securely in Abba and Jesus, with a personal, intimate relationship with them.

Those who teach regarding spiritual warfare, the wearing of Abba's armor, and the reality of the conflict becoming manifest on this earthly plane are often castigated as fanatics... and it is insinuated they have a screw loose or their theology is faulty.

Small wonder that many choose not to stand and shout this warning from the rooftops.

Especially, since, if we are to believe him, he's really quite impotent, doesn't really exist, nahhhhh, go back to sleep, shhhhhh :otb

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I think we need to be aware of the power of the evil one, and certainly not to overestimate our own abilities to deal with him. We cannot, in our own strength. But we need to give much more time to contemplating the love and power of God.

Thank you for your response Nan. I was leery about putting the topic up for discussion because I KNEW this would probably be the first thing someone would tell me. At least you did it nicely...some here would not...

Originally Posted By: Clio

You are so very right Pam. The Adversary is active, agressively seeking those whom he may devour. He can attack us physically, emotionally, mentally, he can manipulate the weather, in addition to attacking us spiritually. ( See Job, Ephesians 6 )

IMHO one of his greatest triumphs is convincing so very many that he is either non-existant or impotent.

This being was third in all of Abba's government. While he has become corrupt and evil, he still retains the powers he had as an angel of glory. It is simply he has turned them to rebellion and evil rather than the furthering of Abba's Will.

The time is fast approaching when the covering grace of Abba's Holy Spirit will be withdrawn, and the evil ones will hold full sway over all the earth except over those who are securely in Abba and Jesus, with a personal, intimate relationship with them.

Those who teach regarding spiritual warfare, the wearing of Abba's armor, and the reality of the conflict becoming manifest on this earthly plane are often castigated as fanatics... and it is insinuated they have a screw loose or their theology is faulty.

Small wonder that many choose not to stand and shout this warning from the rooftops.

Especially, since, if we are to believe him, he's really quite impotent, doesn't really exist, nahhhhh, go back to sleep, shhhhhh :otb

Clio, this is exactly what I was referring to. I feel like I should be standing on mountaintop shouting out a warning. But nobody listens. It makes me want to cry.

As in the days of Noah...

[Clio]

Pam -

I agree. It is very disheartening. Especially when you realize that those whose mission is to sever the silver cord have already been released and the releasing from beneath the Euphrates continues.

Still, our instructions were given clearly in Ezekiel 33:2-9

Quote:

2 "Son of man, give your people this message: When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose a watchman. 3 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the people. 4 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action-well, it is their own fault if they die. 5 They heard the warning but wouldn't listen, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. 6 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman accountable.

7 "Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. 8 If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to warn them about changing their ways, then they will die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 9 But if you warn them to repent and they don't repent, they will die in their sins, but you will not be held responsible.

As long as we sound the alarm, the blood is not on our hands, but upon those who refuse to hear.

It's why I keep trying even when other, more learned scholars, insist my theology might be wrong.

I know that I know that I know... and I cannot keep silent.

Clio

[olger]

The enemy likes to place bait in front of believers in hopes of ensnaring them. There is always a "hook" inside.

Fortunately God is stronger. what would your day be like tomorrow if you got out of bed knowing that God and the devil were of equal power?

All you could do is cross your fingers and say "I hope it works out somehow today." But praise God, He is MUCH stronger.

Whatever the enemy uses to overcome people-- from unkindness to SRA, the Lord has a solution in His mighty right arm. Let us lean on Him daily.

olger

[Clio]

olger -

I never said anything about them being of equal power. Neither did Pam. Where did you get that?

Your comments while related to the subject at hand, are sufficiently at a tangent that I want to : because it presents you as yet another who doesn't "get it".

[olger]

Dear Clio. It is an illustration that I have used in the past to encourage believers in God's power. No more, no less.

Have a great day,

olger

[Clio]

Now I'm really confused.

Neither Pam nor I are indicating that we need encouragement in Abba's power... we are voicing a concern that so many, even Christians have bought into the idea that because Abba is stronger, the Adversary is powerless or doesn't really exist except as a figment of man's collective imagination.

And that somehow, the adversary is going to be prevented from touching their lives no matter how superficial or intellectual their relationship with Abba is.

There seems to be this pervasive amnesia that we're talking about the architect and originator of sin, the third most powerful being in all of Abba's Kingdom, who has chosen to use those incredible gifts and abilities for evil.

It should drive us straight into Abba's arms, to wear the armor every day, as found in Ephesians 6, to pray hedges of protection fervently around our loved ones and ourselves, to stand as spiritual prayer warriors for those whom Abba places on our hearts, to stand between, on Jesus our firm Foundation of Peace, the Defender and Architect of our faith and salvation.

The severers of the silver cord have been loosed from the pit beneath the Euphrates River and the releasing for the final confrontation continues. The armies are beginning to be positioned, and the coming of the Adversary in the flesh is being prepared for on the "other side" of this conflict.

Just as the demonic was prevalent and common when the Lord of Creation walked the earth in flesh, so it is becoming ever more common as He prepares to grace this world with His Presence in the skies a second time. They know their time is short.

[John317]

Sometimes it seems to me that there's a lot of talk about doctrine and the etymology of words in the Bible, and I think these are very interesting topics. But somewhere along the line, one topic never seems to be discussed....at least not very much, and only peripherally. It's almost as if it is a verboten subject. That if one speaks of it, you will be bringing the wrath of God down upon you.

But I think it's important. The subject I'm talking about is ........... Satan. Satan and his ways.

Mostly when I see something written about him, it is within the scope of "he can't do anything to me...I'm wearing the armor of God." Well, I hate to tell you this, but he CAN do a lot to you. Yeah, he will get *his* in the the end, but in the meantime, YOU are his target. He waits for the perfect time to attack.

Now to be really clear....I am not saying that God does not have any power or won't help, but the circumstances themselves won't necessarily change unless it's God's will. BUT you can get the Father of Lies - with with his little whispery "you're all alone" "how can anyone love you" "you don't really believe in God/Jesus/What the Bible says" "you're not worthy" 'nobody wants you" - to back off.

Satan CANNOT stay where the name of Jesus is spoken. He DOES have to leave. The problem, at least for me, is that pretty soon I forget about Jesus as I go about my daily routine. And the song repeats itself. And then, just as the shark can detect blood in the water, Satan again attacks.

I am envious of those who have a solid relationship with Jesus....that He is first and foremost in their minds. It is peace that they have. But in one fell swoop, Satan can disrupt the life of the most godly person...

Pam,

Google "Vaughn Allen" for my dad's excellent book-- one of six-- on this very subject or click on this link: http://books.google.com/books?id=o4IjxRY...tPcnaAbo-cxKYkE

You can read it online or buy it. It is also in the Adventist Book Center or at least can be ordered there. It shows why we need to know our enemy, Satan. You can't hope to defeat your enemy as long as you're ignorant of his ways. He is actually already a defeated foe, but he continues to fight a losing battle and find more victims because he hates Christ with such an all-consuming hatred that all he wants is to destroy as many as possible of those whom Christ loves more than His own life.

[Gail]

At the ABC we sell, "Victory on the Battlefield" by the same author, along the same lines.

They look good! I appreciate your sharing that, John317!