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Post by Obadiah on Apr 6, 2023 6:35:47 GMT -8
One very important thing when going into battle is to have your armor on. When David went into battle against Goliath he didn't need man-made armor as he had God on his side to fight the battle. The same is true for us because the Bible tells us the kind of a battle we are in.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph. 6:10–13)
Here's The Warriors Prayer based on Ephesians 6
Heavenly Father, Your warriors prepare for battle. Today we claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God.
We put on the Girdle of Truth! May we stand firm in the truth of Your Word so we will not be a victim of Satan's lies.
We put on the Breastplate of Righteousness! May it guard our hearts from evil so we will remain pure and holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.
We put on the Shoes of Peace! May we stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel so Your peace will shine through us and be a light to all we encounter.
We take the Shield of Faith! May we be ready for Satan's fiery darts of doubt, denial, and deceit so we will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.
We put on the Helmet of Salvation! May we keep our minds focused on You so Satan will not have a stronghold on our thoughts.
We take the Sword of the Spirit! May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in our hands so we can expose the tempting words of Satan.
By faith your warriors have put on the whole armor of God! We are prepared to live this day in spiritual victory! Amen!!
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Post by Parker on Apr 6, 2023 7:23:52 GMT -8
Satan is trying to rob believers of the spiritual blessings God has given us and to make us ineffective in the kingdom of God. He uses unbelievers to accomplish his goals. This can be seen by the new interest in spiritualism in this country, and spiritualism is even entering the Church. This makes it important to study demon possession because it is quite clear to me that many of the so-called mediums become demon possessed. Having submitted themselves voluntarily to these other powers, they frequently get into a state in which they cannot keep themselves from them, and they become subject to them and possessed by them. That is one of the most dangerous aspects of spiritualism as a whole.
This is one reason that some cults, teach people to abandon themselves and their own self-control. Indeed, people are deliberately worked up into a kind of excitement in which they lose themselves. And it seems to me that that kind of teaching opens the door directly to being oppressed by the devil. A true Christian cannot be demon possessed but they can be demon oppressed and hindered. The moment you surrender your understanding and discrimination, and abandon yourself and your higher controls, you are at the very least putting yourself in a very dangerous position. Just look at Jonestown and Waco.
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Ozias
Full Member
Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you
Posts: 100
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Post by Ozias on Apr 6, 2023 14:07:44 GMT -8
I think understanding Spiritual Warfare is important but it's also important not to go overboard with it. I was always taught not to look for a demonic spirit under every rock. Jesus told us "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10::19.
As far as recognizing people that are demon possessed Or Christians that are demon oppressed, Jesus also told us:
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
The blood of Jesus conquers everything that we will ever come across in this life. The blood of Jesus demolishes the doctrines of demons.
The Blood Jesus is God’s Ultimate Weapon for Spiritual Warfare. A proper understanding of Jesus’s blood is essential if as Christians we are to live a full and meaningful life and know how to overcome the enemy of our souls.
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Post by Theophilus on Apr 6, 2023 15:01:57 GMT -8
For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 Through careful strategy and cunning deceit, Satan attempts to set up “strongholds” in our mind. A stronghold is an area in which we are held in bondage (in prison) due to a certain way of thinking. In the above Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us that we have the weapons we need to overcome Satan’s strongholds. I hope we will learn more about these weapons in this thread, but right now, please notice that once again we see that we are engaged in warfare, spiritual warfare. Verse 5 shows us clearly the location of the battlefield on which this warfare is waged. Our thoughts. Deg Deeper here> berean-apologetics.boards.net/post/5851/thread |
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Post by Parker on Apr 6, 2023 15:27:00 GMT -8
The key to being Victorious in spiritual warfare is to live a life surrendered to Jesus as a Living Sacrifice.
Living for Jesus means that pleasing Him is our highest aim (Colossians 1:10). Although we could have dozens of lesser Motivations, we who are filled with the Spirit of Christ are motivated primarily by His goals and His plans for our lives. When those plans collide with lesser goals, those who are living for Jesus follow His way and not their own (Proverbs 3:5–6).
A friend of mine told me the other day that he couldn't imagine not living his life for Christ. That really wouldn't be living it would be just existing.
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Post by Parker on Apr 8, 2023 9:41:56 GMT -8
Then there's Trials and Temptations berean-apologetics.boards.net/post/6125/threadThere hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. 1 Cor. 10:13. So we are not alone in this one. The word ‘temptation’ has come down in the world; we are apt to use it wrongly: Temptation is not sin, it is the thing we are bound to meet if we are men. Not to be tempted would be to be beneath contempt. Many of us, however, suffer from temptations from which we have no business to suffer, simply because we have refused to let God lift us to a higher plane where we would face temptations of another order. A man’s disposition on the inside, i.e., what he possesses in his personality, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the nature of the one tempted and reveals the possibilities of the nature. Every man has the setting of his own temptation, and the temptation will come along the line of the ruling disposition. Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest at which I aim—not towards what I understand as evil, but towards what I understand as good. Temptation is something that completely baffles me for a while, I do not know whether the thing is right or wrong. Temptation yielded to is lust deified, and is a proof that it was timidity that prevented the sin before. Temptation is not something we may escape, it is essential to the full-orbed life of a man. Beware lest you think you are tempted as no one else is tempted; what you go through is the common inheritance of the race, not something no one ever went through before. God does not save us from temptations; He succors us in the midst of them (Heb. 2:18.) |
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Post by Redeemed on Apr 8, 2023 11:42:36 GMT -8
Well yeah but then there's "In Christ you are a new person" IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.] 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. Col 3:1–4. Once again, the key to it all is Jesus Christ, who is mentioned four times in the first four verses of our text. let's do some grammar. Prepositions are important words. The one we choose to use makes a difference in what we're saying. try explaining to a 5-year-old the difference between throwing the ball to his little brother at throwing the ball at his little brother! Okay so back to our text... look at the word "with" Will notice it's there three times and each time is a different tense... three time zones in our lives. You were raised with Christ. That's past tense Your life is hidden with Christ in God. that is present tense, You also will appear with him in glory. Here we have the future tense. To me this is the key to being Victorious in spiritual warfare. Abiding in Christ. We have a friend that sticks closer than her brother Proverbs 18:24 Jesus was known as a “friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34), and He has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus is truly the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, and blessed are those who have Him as their Friend (see John 15:14). And on top of that... THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Ps 27:1 Stick with Jesus and Satan can't lay a hand on you. |
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Post by Obadiah on Apr 9, 2023 4:57:29 GMT -8
So what about evil? Simple philosophic definitions begin with evil being the negative of good. There is the almost childish concept that evil must be if there is good, just as light implies that there is darkness. A rather comprehensive statement with regard to the existence of evil is given by William Wallace in a book entitled The Elements of Philosophy:
Evil is opposed to good, which is the integrity or perfection of being in all orders: material, moral, and spiritual.… Taken in itself evil is a negation of the perfection due to a nature or to a being. As such, however, it is not a simple negation; rather evil consists in a privation, i.e., in the fact that a certain being lacks a good it requires to enjoy the integrity of its natures. While this implies that evil is non-being, it does not imply that evil is non-existent.…
Since evil is a privation it can exist only in a subject or in a being that, as such, is good. Evil presupposes good, both as the subject that it affects and as the perfection that it negates.
The above philosophical look at evil does not in any way deny or contradict any biblical concepts of evil. Wallace himself later says, “God is not and cannot be in any way the cause of evil, for he is infinite goodness and desires only to communicate good.”
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Post by Obadiah on Apr 11, 2023 6:01:07 GMT -8
Well yeah but then there's "In Christ you are a new person" IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.] 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. Col 3:1–4. Once again, the key to it all is Jesus Christ, who is mentioned four times in the first four verses of our text. let's do some grammar. Prepositions are important words. The one we choose to use makes a difference in what we're saying. try explaining to a 5-year-old the difference between throwing the ball to his little brother at throwing the ball at his little brother! Okay so back to our text... look at the word "with" Will notice it's there three times and each time is a different tense... three time zones in our lives. You were raised with Christ. That's past tense Your life is hidden with Christ in God. that is present tense, You also will appear with him in glory. Here we have the future tense. To me this is the key to being Victorious in spiritual warfare. Abiding in Christ. We have a friend that sticks closer than her brother Proverbs 18:24 Jesus was known as a “friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34), and He has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus is truly the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, and blessed are those who have Him as their Friend (see John 15:14). And on top of that... THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Ps 27:1 Stick with Jesus and Satan can't lay a hand on you. I like the terminology "in Christ", as in "Abide in Christ" Some translations use "Remain", but I like abide. To me abide means to live in. When you abide or live with someone the natural outcome is you get close to them know them well. And I believe the better you know someone more of a loving relationship you have with them. I like to meditate on these statements: • Christ is my life. • The Holy Spirit is the presence of Christ in me. • I am a bearer, not a producer, of fruit. • He is the vine; I am the branch. • To abide in Christ is to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit through me. • I can change because Christ lives in me. • Christ desires to live His life through me. • Nothing comes against me that the new life within me cannot handle. • The life of Christ can produce the character of Christ through me. • Christ is my life. |
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 11, 2023 9:04:50 GMT -8
This is what I've always been taught about demonic possession and oppression. Got?>"There is strong biblical evidence that a Christian cannot be demon possessed. The question then arises regarding what influence/power a demon can have over a Christian. Many Bible teachers describe demonic influence on a Christian as “demonic oppression” to distinguish it from possession." got?One way to look at evil spirits is they are like intruders and squatters in unwanted places. I think it's running rampant with the homeless condition in our current society. Demon possession easily becomes likely with drug addiction. A good way to define demon possession is “… a condition in which one or more evil spirits or demons inhabit the body of a human being and can take complete control of their victim at will.” That at will is the scary part because it enables the possessed person to function normally until they go on a rampage. And, yes, it is possible, just look at Ted Bundy. There's a picture of him manifesting in the courtroom and he looks extremely demonic. Most of the time he was cool Joe College dude. Our Modern society doesn't want to believe demonic activity really happens that it's only in the movies. It has been discredited and dismissed as mere mental conditions, hallucinations, symbolism of evil, etc., but the mention of demoniacs and being demonized is clearly seen in the New Testament, especially the Gospels. |
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Post by makesends on Apr 11, 2023 18:55:10 GMT -8
This is what I've always been taught about demonic possession and oppression. Got?>"There is strong biblical evidence that a Christian cannot be demon possessed. The question then arises regarding what influence/power a demon can have over a Christian. Many Bible teachers describe demonic influence on a Christian as “demonic oppression” to distinguish it from possession." got?One way to look at evil spirits is they are like intruders and squatters in unwanted places. I think it's running rampant with the homeless condition in our current society. Demon possession easily becomes likely with drug addiction. A good way to define demon possession is “… a condition in which one or more evil spirits or demons inhabit the body of a human being and can take complete control of their victim at will.” That at will is the scary part because it enables the possessed person to function normally until they go on a rampage. And, yes, it is possible, just look at Ted Bundy. There's a picture of him manifesting in the courtroom and he looks extremely demonic. Most of the time he was cool Joe College dude. Our Modern society doesn't want to believe demonic activity really happens that it's only in the movies. It has been discredited and dismissed as mere mental conditions, hallucinations, symbolism of evil, etc., but the mention of demoniacs and being demonized is clearly seen in the New Testament, especially the Gospels. Two immediate thoughts: 1) It is not logical to attribute physical (temporal, material) characteristics to spiritual matters —at least, certainly not as we have done, to say that if a person is inhabited by the Spirit of God, he cannot be inhabited by demons. We know no such thing, and there is a LOT of evidence to the contrary in foreign countries, and some in the USA. Furthermore, I have every reason to believe that the evil spirits exist on a plain they do NOT hold in common with the Spirit of God. They don't know what he does until they see the evidences, I believe, or until he scares them out. 2) Those who don't believe that there are active evil spirits nowadays have probably never lived in a 3rd world country. Just saying. |
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Post by civic on Apr 12, 2023 4:35:27 GMT -8
This is what I've always been taught about demonic possession and oppression. Got?>"There is strong biblical evidence that a Christian cannot be demon possessed. The question then arises regarding what influence/power a demon can have over a Christian. Many Bible teachers describe demonic influence on a Christian as “demonic oppression” to distinguish it from possession." got?One way to look at evil spirits is they are like intruders and squatters in unwanted places. I think it's running rampant with the homeless condition in our current society. Demon possession easily becomes likely with drug addiction. A good way to define demon possession is “… a condition in which one or more evil spirits or demons inhabit the body of a human being and can take complete control of their victim at will.” That at will is the scary part because it enables the possessed person to function normally until they go on a rampage. And, yes, it is possible, just look at Ted Bundy. There's a picture of him manifesting in the courtroom and he looks extremely demonic. Most of the time he was cool Joe College dude. Our Modern society doesn't want to believe demonic activity really happens that it's only in the movies. It has been discredited and dismissed as mere mental conditions, hallucinations, symbolism of evil, etc., but the mention of demoniacs and being demonized is clearly seen in the New Testament, especially the Gospels. Two immediate thoughts: 1) It is not logical to attribute physical (temporal, material) characteristics to spiritual matters —at least, certainly not as we have done, to say that if a person is inhabited by the Spirit of God, he cannot be inhabited by demons. We know no such thing, and there is a LOT of evidence to the contrary in foreign countries, and some in the USA. Furthermore, I have every reason to believe that the evil spirits exist on a plain they do NOT hold in common with the Spirit of God. They don't know what he does until they see the evidences, I believe, or until he scares them out. 2) Those who don't believe that there are active evil spirits nowadays have probably never lived in a 3rd world country. Just saying. Mark are you saying above that a born again believer can also have a demon in them who has possessed them ? I'm not clear as to what you meant above. Thanks ! |
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Post by Obadiah on Apr 12, 2023 5:00:10 GMT -8
I wasn't quite clear on his answer either civic . At least the first part the second part I totally agree with. Although with the advent of homeless encampments I think that's starting to change. Plus the use of Fentanyl. I was taught that the use of mind altering drugs is like opening the door and putting out the welcoming mat for demonic spirits. And that we get our word for pharmacy or Pharmaceuticals from the Greek word Pharmakeia. Pharmakeia φαρμακεια is the Greek word for pharmacy, which is the practice and making of medication and vitamins. It also refers to the making of spell -giving potions, or alchemical potions (or elixirs) believed to have transforming powers, such as the power to extend life, boost energy, or enhance the mind.Pharmakeia φαρμακεια Greek word for Pharmacy - "witchcraft"The modern transliteration of pharmakeia is pharmacia. Pharmakeia and its related forms appear several times in the New Testament, including the Epistle to the Galatians and the Book of Revelation. It is frequently translated as "witchcraft" or "sorcery".The Greek word “pharmakia” literally means “drugs”, and appears five times in the New Testament: in Gal 5:20, Rev 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, and 22:15.So to say that drugs are harmless and Should be made legal is just asking for trouble. |
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Post by Bronson on Apr 12, 2023 13:26:01 GMT -8
When a person is prompted and motivated to indulge in evil, we say he is tempted. Something we never think about when a person feels a compulsion to do something destructive or evil, or an inner movement which takes away his reasoning and his natural resistance, you can be almost sure that he is undergoing demonic influence. Demonic influence is often behind a lot of irrational behavior such as uncontrollable anger or limitless physical indulgences in various areas like food, drugs, sex, you name it.
The Bible tells us that we Christians are to be living sacrifices unto God. That's our reasonable service Romans 12:1. It's what should dominate our lives. But I'm using the word “domination” here in a specific way to distinguish demonic activity that falls short of full demonic control. I would say that demonic domination includes direct and partial control over certain areas of a person’s life and body.
Particular spheres of a person’s personality and particular parts of his body come under Satan’s domination, even though other areas of his life are considered absolutely normal. In many cases of obsessive and addictive behavior, demonic domination is the key. Again, words of caution must be spoken!
Addiction and obsession are also sometimes just unbalanced mental activities. You must be careful of that old demon under every rock mindset. Yet we must be aware of how demons dominate people to follow, without limits, paths of evil and self-destruction. And we most definitely want to make sure not to allow them to get us to participate in any of their self-destructive behavior.
Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin. Proverbs 16:29
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Post by Obadiah on Apr 13, 2023 7:17:45 GMT -8
Fits right in> berean-apologetics.boards.net/post/6244/threadLet us move on to consider the strategy that the Tempter employs. This is most instructive because it is exactly the strategy he employs when he appears as an angel of light to us—not that we shall see visions of shining beings—but the personality that he exemplifies, the character in which he appears, is the same now as then. He is an angel of light. Scripture makes clear that the devil can also appear as a roaring lion, meaning he can strike in tragedy, in sickness, or in physical evil, as he struck Job or Paul, with his thorn in the flesh, which Paul called the messenger of Satan. When he appears as a lion, he can strike fear into our hearts. But his most effective strategy is to appear as someone good, someone attractive, something or someone who appeals to us as an angel of light. |
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