When Christians do Satan's Work

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Stranger

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I'm glad that you see it too because it's not talked about and yet it's an area that I think that Satan has done his most fruitful work. Take the leadership in that one church we went to - they had a lifelong effect on my family. They didn't even care - I think that was what hurt the worst. And they were supposed to be Christians and didn't even follow the basic tenets of the Christian faith. We went to another church where a corrupt family owned the church. The pastor finally left and called us over his house to talk. He told us that the family caused so much trouble in the former church where they went that there are people who refuse to step foot in a church today. That same family went on to wreak havoc wherever they went and harmed a lot of people. I wonder why this isn't talked about more.

I think you're right - power does corrupt - even in Christians. But we should know better because that's how Satan fell - pride. I read that's what happened to Rick Warren - he was invited to be on the CFR - and he must have been flattered; now he's espousing mixing Christianity with other religions and that's expressly forbidden in Scripture. I just wonder how a believer can be so deceived or blinded by the evil one. I know before we're saved we're blinded but it seems that even after being saved Satan is able to blind believers at times so that they do his work. I'm unsure whether it's sin or Satan tempting them to sin.

I do believe that there are definitely people who are not regenerated who are posing as Christians. I don't know what their motives would be however. I also believe that there are true believers who do engage in deep sin - I've seen it. I wish that this was taught more because I think that Satan is using some people - whether saved or unsaved - and causing a lot of harm, and they don't realize who is behind it.

That's a healthy viewpoint. Yes it does hurt when one is wronged but ultimately we know that Christ will deal with such matters. He did say that a servant is not above his master - if they persecuted Him they'll persecute us.

Yes, it is possible for Christians to commit sins that involve the running of the local Church. But such sins are dangerous for them as God watches intently His Church, and the worship that is going on there. Note when God killed Ananias and Sapphira in (Acts 5). That is a decision only God can make, but He does make it at times.

Many and varied are the motives a non-believer will go to church or align himself with a fellowship of believers. But satan's motive is always the same. he wants to cause havoc and disruption among believers and the worship they are giving to God and Christ. Thus when Moses went out of Egypt with God's people Israel, a mixed multitude went with them. (Ex. 12:38) And of course Jesus had His Judas to contend with. So we will have the same in our fellowships.

Stranger
 

Soverign Grace

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I'll phrase it this way; every single person on this earth struggles with sin until the day they die. Some come to Christ and do repent, but that doesn't mean the struggle & errors don't still happen.
We only kid ourselves when we pretend otherwise.

Have you ever heard this concept taught though? I haven't in any church I've been in for 40 years. I think it might be too strong a topic or one that might make people uncomfortable? I don't know but I wish that it was something taught more.
 

Soverign Grace

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Yes, it is possible for Christians to commit sins that involve the running of the local Church. But such sins are dangerous for them as God watches intently His Church, and the worship that is going on there. Note when God killed Ananias and Sapphira in (Acts 5). That is a decision only God can make, but He does make it at times.

Many and varied are the motives a non-believer will go to church or align himself with a fellowship of believers. But satan's motive is always the same. he wants to cause havoc and disruption among believers and the worship they are giving to God and Christ. Thus when Moses went out of Egypt with God's people Israel, a mixed multitude went with them. (Ex. 12:38) And of course Jesus had His Judas to contend with. So we will have the same in our fellowships.

Stranger

The corrupt family was caught in evil and their names dragged through the mud - they were multi-millionaires and lost their business. They harmed a lot of people and did a lot of harm to Christianity because everybody in town knew of their church.

It seems odd that one who isn't regenerated would want to pose as a Christian but as you say I guess their motives are many and varied and maybe something we couldn't understand. But Scripture does say that the wheat grows with the tares.
 

Soverign Grace

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Yes, I once heard a pastor say that Christians need to "wrap their heads around the idea that the devil wants to destroy every Christian, every Christian home, and every Christian church." The Bible says it this way: 1 Peter 5:8--> "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." The operative phrase is "stay alert"--to watch out for his schemes. Satan's greatest success comes from convincing the world that he doesn't exist--just because we don't see him with our physical eyes. We need always to pray that the Spirit of God open our eyes.


One wonders it this isn't perhaps the reason why Judas was characterized as a "devil" (John 6:70)? He was obviously a slanderer--we can see it right in the Scripture. (John 12:4-6)



This is a significant problem in the Church. We spend nearly all of our waking hours among unbelievers. Pastors often lament that they are able to get their parishioners out to church for one hour a week, where they are duty-bound to concentrate on Jesus Christ, and then the rest of the week, they live as if He didn't exist. Here is a video comprised of clips from three pastors, John MacArthur, Paul Washer and Carter Conlon (who took over Times Square Church after the death of David Wilkerson) who express this frustration quite well:

I think that his schemes should be taught. In the churches we've been in for 40 years we've learned about all the Christian topics, but no church ever laid out exactly what kind of schemes are used against believers. I had even searched on Amazon for a book on it one time.
 
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Stranger

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I think that his schemes should be taught. In the churches we've been in for 40 years we've learned about all the Christian topics, but no church ever laid out exactly what kind of schemes are used against believers. I had even searched on Amazon for a book on it one time.

You might check out the book, 'War On The Saints' by Jesse Penn-Lewis.

Stranger
 
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Butterfly

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I think that his schemes should be taught. In the churches we've been in for 40 years we've learned about all the Christian topics, but no church ever laid out exactly what kind of schemes are used against believers. I had even searched on Amazon for a book on it one time.
I have read loads of books about spiritual warfare - but I must admit I have not heard much teaching in the church about it either- personally when a person comes to faith I think it is the first thing they should be instructed in, I had no idea. Along with that should be ' how to put on the armour ' and to consistently read Ephesians chapter six.
We should always take a step back when things are said to us ' hold every thought captive to the Lord ' , so many of our responses and reactions are on impulse. I have messed up big time in forum life in the past, and it's still easy sometimes to ' react ' x
I do sometimes think that some of it is our personalities as well, sometimes Satan doesn't actually have to be involved in creating issues and problems, it happens without any of his Imput.
Rita
 
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Willie T

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I'll phrase it this way; every single person on this earth struggles with sin until the day they die. Some come to Christ and do repent, but that doesn't mean the struggle & errors don't still happen.
We only kid ourselves when we pretend otherwise.
The church we attend stresses this almost every week. The pastor will say: "We are not perfect; we are being..." And the congregation thunders back, … "perfected."
 
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Butterfly

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Surely that is not the same as learning about the battle and teaching us to know the subtle ways he uses people around us. Just as we need to be able to understand how we can be used by our reactions, emotions and circumstances we should also be aware of ' how ' to avoid falling into his traps.
We know we are a work in progress, the same as others - but just knowing that is not enough. I look back with regret at how many battles he won in church life simply because we never really asked vital questions about what was really going on. We did not ' stop ' and take a step back and think !
Although I have been aware of the spiritual battle for many years, but must admit it's only recently that I have begun to truly grasp how he very subtly uses the people in my daily life - so maybe it's about the Lord opening our eyes and ears more
Rita
 
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Jane_Doe22

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Have you ever heard this concept taught though? I haven't in any church I've been in for 40 years. .
I hear it every single week at my church, and have also heard it at many others.
I think it might be too strong a topic or one that might make people uncomfortable? I don't know but I wish that it was something taught more.
I'm going to say something here, and I want to stress the disclaimer that this is my experience/sampling of visiting many churches/peoples, and that this comment is speaking in VERY broad terms, with a mountain of execptions to this broad trends---

I find that most people are very comfortable with acknowledging that fact that all person still sin. The notable exception of two groups, whom have a sizable portion of people who can get very uncomfortable with this. These groups are:
- People still very young in their faith whom have not yet understood have grown-ups in the faith still make mistakes.
- OSAS folks
 

Enoch111

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I'll phrase it this way; every single person on this earth struggles with sin until the day they die. Some come to Christ and do repent, but that doesn't mean the struggle & errors don't still happen.
Does the Bible says that Christians will "struggle" with sin, or does it say that sin shall NOT have dominion over us? In other words, the whole point of God giving His children the indwelling Holy Spirit is for them to be overcomers. Whether this is taught or not is another matter, but every Christians has a Bible, and every genuine Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit. So we were not meant to struggle but to overcome.

As to "errors" God will have all men to be saved AND to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God's truth is in the Bible, and we can know the truth and the truth will set us free from all errors.
 

Lady Crosstalk

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I have read loads of books about spiritual warfare - but I must admit I have not heard much teaching in the church about it either- personally when a person comes to faith I think it is the first thing they should be instructed in, I had no idea. Along with that should be ' how to put on the armour ' and to consistently read Ephesians chapter six.
We should always take a step back when things are said to us ' hold every thought captive to the Lord ' , so many of our responses and reactions are on impulse. I have messed up big time in forum life in the past, and it's still easy sometimes to ' react ' x
I do sometimes think that some of it is our personalities as well, sometimes Satan doesn't actually have to be involved in creating issues and problems, it happens without any of his Imput.
Rita


I think our own "fleshly" (i.e. "sin nature") is not supposed to ever control us once we become Christians, but, in a moment of weakness, we can forget to put our armour on. Satan IS the "Father of Lies" and inspires rage (which the Bible compares to murder) as well. He imprisons and controls unbelievers. But, as Christians, we have been set free and "it is for freedom that Christ set us free". Forming the habit of reflexively telling the truth is a good defense against Satan's attempts to imprison us in his web of lies again.
 
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Lady Crosstalk

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Surely that is not the same as learning about the battle and teaching us to know the subtle ways he uses people around us. Just as we need to be able to understand how we can be used by our reactions, emotions and circumstances we should also be aware of ' how ' to avoid falling into his traps.
We know we are a work in progress, the same as others - but just knowing that is not enough. I look back with regret at how many battles he won in church life simply because we never really asked vital questions about what was really going on. We did not ' stop ' and take a step back and think !
Although I have been aware of the spiritual battle for many years, but must admit it's only recently that I have begun to truly grasp how he very subtly uses the people in my daily life - so maybe it's about the Lord opening our eyes and ears more
Rita

The very saddest thing is how Satan can use the people we love the most to "get to us". Jesus rebuked Peter for speaking worldly thoughts to Him.
 

Jane_Doe22

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Does the Bible says that Christians will "struggle" with sin, or does it say that sin shall NOT have dominion over us? In other words, the whole point of God giving His children the indwelling Holy Spirit is for them to be overcomers. Whether this is taught or not is another matter, but every Christians has a Bible, and every genuine Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit. So we were not meant to struggle but to overcome.

As to "errors" God will have all men to be saved AND to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God's truth is in the Bible, and we can know the truth and the truth will set us free from all errors.
I think you are misunderstanding what I was saying. Let me phrase things slightly differently / elaborate and see if that conveys better--

Every single person on this earth will be tempted to sin until the day they die. And at points they will each succumb to to this temptation and fall. Some people come to Christ, repenting and receiving forgiveness for their sins. But that doesn't mean that the temptation (and yes, sometimes succumbing) does still happen. People are fallen. Stumbling and still needing the Savior is part of everyone's walk in this life. No mortal ever out grows that need.
 

marks

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My husband and I have watched Christians do Satan's work in every church we've been in and at times we've seen each other do it. This isn't a pleasant topic but one that affects all of us at one point or another in our Christian walk.

hi Sovereign Grace,

I think that we all commit sins, and these sins have detrimental effects on those around us.

We need to be forgiving, humble, and loving to our brothers and sisters. And if they are not truly our brothers and sisters, that will become known in time.

Much love!
Mark
 
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Butterfly

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I think our own "fleshly" (i.e. "sin nature") is not supposed to ever control us once we become Christians, but, in a moment of weakness, we can forget to put our armour on. Satan IS the "Father of Lies" and inspires rage (which the Bible compares to murder) as well. He imprisons and controls unbelievers. But, as Christians, we have been set free and "it is for freedom that Christ set us free". Forming the habit of reflexively telling the truth is a good defense against Satan's attempts to imprison us in his web of lies again.
I agree, but if these things are not explained , or taught, or spoken about in church life then it can be a battle to even realise the freedom we have. Also when we come to faith we come damaged , some more than others. Satan knows how to use the things in our lives that drag us down - we obviously learn as we grow in faith, but it would help if christians realised that it's not just about bringing people to Christ, it's also about nurturing them as well. I came to faith, the church I was a part were thrilled - but then I was left to discover things for myself - 37 years later, I am still discovering things.
It's not so much family with me, it working in a non Christian environment with loads of people who don't share my faith or beliefs- it's been a real learning curve !
Rita
 

Taken

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My husband and I have watched Christians do Satan's work in every church we've been in and at times we've seen each other do it. This isn't a pleasant topic but one that affects all of us at one point or another in our Christian walk.

Some of the best vessels for Satan to do his work, in my opinion, are Christians. What better way to lead others astray than to operate in one generally above reproach? We were in a church one time where the leadership claimed that "God" had put them in their positions and therefore their word was to be obeyed (sacrosanct). But they used their positions to hurt others and puff themselves up. They hurt people, including my family. Members of my family still won't go to an independent bible church today because of them. And the worst part about it is that they just didn't care. We left the church and within a short time the pastor was pushed out.

I think that Christians need to be aware that we are all targets for destruction by the enemy. Not only individually but as a group. I think that Satan wants to destroy unity among believers because we're weaker. We know that Satan attacks us but what I never hear talked about is that Satan sometimes uses other believers.

The Bible says a perverse man sows strife (Prov. 16:28); and that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21); and despite the fact that God warns us not to circulate a false report (Ex. 23:1) we can’t resist the temptation to gossip—especially when slander is involved on here and in church.

Slander is not pretty. It means "to defame someone; to harm their reputation; to disgrace; or to accuse." Slander is a tool of the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Consider this: the word slanderer in 1 Timothy 3:11 is the same word for “devil.” When we slander someone, we are acting like devils. We are mirroring the character of Satan. We can’t claim to be Christians and mirror the character of Satan at the same time.

I think this is something we should be on guard against; we're supposed to be on one side or the other. We have an enemy and a world that is very anti-Christian and seems to be growing more so as we draw nearer to the end. For those who claim to be Christians sometimes we seem to look more like the world.

All works are tested by Fire.
All works that do not Glorify God, shall be Burned Up, regardless of WHO is doing the works.

1 Cor 3:

[13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
[14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
[15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

Lady Crosstalk

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I agree, but if these things are not explained , or taught, or spoken about in church life then it can be a battle to even realise the freedom we have. Also when we come to faith we come damaged , some more than others. Satan knows how to use the things in our lives that drag us down - we obviously learn as we grow in faith, but it would help if christians realised that it's not just about bringing people to Christ, it's also about nurturing them as well. I came to faith, the church I was a part were thrilled - but then I was left to discover things for myself - 37 years later, I am still discovering things.
It's not so much family with me, it working in a non Christian environment with loads of people who don't share my faith or beliefs- it's been a real learning curve !
Rita

It is a point of grief that we in the Church don't do a better job of discipling new believers to maturity. With intensive Bible study, it probably would only take about three years. But too many who are doing discipling of new believers aren't even mature believers themselves! I have seen many a small group leader who is mostly ignorant of what the NT teaches, let alone the OT. The OT tends to be a "closed book" for Christians these days--but there is a great deal to be gained by studying it in addition to the NT. It doesn't help that we have "pastors" like Andy Stanley who is apparently teaching new believers that they should ignore the OT! :(
 

Soverign Grace

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You might check out the book, 'War On The Saints' by Jesse Penn-Lewis.

Stranger

I have that book! You're the only person I've ever talked to who has read it. It's very dense - her writing style is hard to follow - at least for me. I have experienced when I grow spiritually, the evil one is often right there, and she wrote about that in her book.
 

Soverign Grace

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I have read loads of books about spiritual warfare - but I must admit I have not heard much teaching in the church about it either- personally when a person comes to faith I think it is the first thing they should be instructed in, I had no idea. Along with that should be ' how to put on the armour ' and to consistently read Ephesians chapter six.
We should always take a step back when things are said to us ' hold every thought captive to the Lord ' , so many of our responses and reactions are on impulse. I have messed up big time in forum life in the past, and it's still easy sometimes to ' react ' x
I do sometimes think that some of it is our personalities as well, sometimes Satan doesn't actually have to be involved in creating issues and problems, it happens without any of his Imput.
Rita

I thought the same thing - and I too have read a number of books on spiritual warfare. Can I ask you what book that you thought was the best? I've been searching for another one . I was left on my own to muddle through the attacks. It was very difficult - I didn't know anything about that part of the Christian faith and I think it's dangerous to not know about it. Pastor Bubeck said that some of the worst suffering that he's seen has been in believers plagued by Satan. I bumped into a neighbor who was a Christian back then when I was a new believer and we got to talking and I thank God that she was more honest than most and shared her struggles; she recommended the book "The Adversary" and that described some of the struggles that I was having. It was such a relief to finally understand what had hit me. But I was so disappointed that no one bothered to come up beside me as a new believer but this is something that I plan to do. I like the saying by Gandhi: "Be the change you want to see in the world." I had been raised Catholic and that's all I knew. I was literally left on my own to read and study the bible. I was misled early on and took all the pamphlets that I had gotten from radio and TV preachers of the "name it and claim it" hucksters and burned it in the wood stove.

So God began me on my journey of listening only to Him and not elevating a pastor above what God wanted to teach me in His Word because it's mans interpretation. It was a difficult process and I'm not saying that I never listen to sermons - I do - but back then I had been deceived. So it was treacherous to step my way through the land mines of false teaching. Thus I cam to rely on God alone leading me. I still make mistakes but I know to go deep into the spirit at times to sense what is really going on in a situation. And at times He will bring a verse to mind applicable to a situation that helps me.

Someone asked me about my taking a different position than several other believers on an issue in this forum but I have learned to trust God alone and not to be swayed by the crowd. I followed the crowd early on and they led me down the wrong paths. I believe that those painful early experiences in my walk galvanized me to never want to be misled again because I was greatly misled. When I walked through the fire of satanic attacks and false teaching I finally developed a close relationship with God and I came to trust my own spirit - His spirit - that He placed within me when I was spiritually regenerated.

Often there are believers that are misguided themselves who lack discernment and point the finger at another whose position they disagree with. We know from Scripture that Christ didn't follow the crowd. Often He had to go directly against the crowd. We should never judge truth or a certain position because the crowd follows it, as evidenced in the following Scriptures:

Matthew 7:13

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”

Matthew 15:14

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

After that I went solely on my own. I only knew two Christians and they were into the Pentecostal church. Some believers fit into that church - but rolling in the aisle and speaking in tongues out loud didn't fit with my quieter nature. It was too much emotion and too little Scripture. So I was left on my own and determined to use my own instincts - or spirit to sense truth and error. I studied the bible and bought a lot of Christian literature. I guess in one way it was good in that God allowed it all, and when I look through the eyes of my faith I think that God may have possibly wanted me on my own because I wasn't indoctrinated with any diverse theology that is from another Jesus or spirit as in Corinthians:

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:4

I really think that a primer on spiritual attacks should be included with every salvation booklet.

You're right in that sometimes our reactions in the flesh come out when we respond to another's goading who has a spirit not of God giving them the compulsion to goad.

I find it's when we're tired, not feeling up to par, or otherwise at a distracted moment that Satan can use that to have us react in the flesh instead of exercising our senses to perceive evil spirits at work in another believer. I was told that I have the gift of discernment but I have not understood how to use it to help the church yet since our church doesn't get into that; I want to learn how I'm supposed to use it to benefit the church so I'm going to read up on it. But as it stands I can sometimes perceive when another spirit other than that of God is at work in a person and on a forum and this verse came to mind yesterday as I prayed about a situation:

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Proverbs 26:25

I'm sure everyone has had the experience of the Holy Spirit bringing a verse to mind at a specific time, and that happened to me yesterday as I dealt with an issue. I'm of the belief that a Christian can have a demon and a person inhabited by a demon will often attack someone in the deliverance ministry or who has the gift of discernment and not know why they're even doing it. You can often recognize the earmarks of this when we see someone heckling, inciting, goading, baiting, or taunting another in their posts or in person and I've witnessed it on here.

We have to be careful that we don't point the finger at the one reacting because it's doing them an injustice. For instance, it would be unwise to advise someone to turn the other cheek if an individual was was becoming aggressive to the point of causing one to feel unsafe or otherwise threatened. The sinner should be stopped from that type of behavior; we should not admonish the victim of this type of abuse. That is just wrong and twisted. In psychology it's called "blame the victim." We have to look at where a problem is originating and with whom. As an analogy I recall the principal in our local school telling me that often a teacher would send a child down to the office, yet upon questioning he learned that the child only reacted to abuse, the problem didn't originate with him, it originated with another child who was goading and instigating. Usually when you deal with an individual who does this they'll play the innocent and claim that you are taking it wrong, or they'll find a way to twist it so as to blame you when you did no wrong and your conscience is clear before God except for the fact that you knew that you could react better but the lions share of the problem should be on the perpetrator.

We had very twisted neighbors one time who got off on instigating. They would laugh and tell us about a couple they were friends with. "Bob" our neighbor, told us he would get his friend aside and say: "Hey Jimmy I saw Carla talking to another guy at the bar when you went to the bathroom." They said when they got back to the hotel they could hear thuds, bangs, and screams coming from the next room where their friends were. They laughed when they told us that Jimmy beat Carla and they'd hear Carla scream: "NO JIMMY! NO!" And they'd hear Jimmy beat her up again. It was pretty sick but showed me a clear example of subtle instigators and how they operate. You would do Carla a grave injustice by admonishing her to turn the other cheek when the right thing to do would be to counsel her to walk away from the entire bunch.

I recall Dear Abby saying years ago that you don't turn the other cheek if the first one is black and blue. I believe there is wisdom in that and every believer has to hammer out how they interpret Scripture and when and how to apply it.

I believe that the Holy Spirit gives some the gift of discernment but that all Christians may be able to perceive it by the earmarks. Sometimes it bears a resemblance to the way the girl possessed with a spirit of divination would not stop following Paul in Acts 16:16. We even see the apostle Paul reacting with annoyance:

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her."
 
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Soverign Grace

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I think that Christians who are plagued by an evil spirit/s experience problems in their lives: if they're coming on a forum and taunting another believer/s they most likely experience problems in their personal lives as well but most won't admit it. My husband is very up front and that's something that he doesn't like: seeing Christians going to church and acting holier-than-thou and then abusing or cheating people in a business deal, or being nasty. They say all the right buzz words that make them look and sound like a Christian or sit in the pew week after week with their pasted on smile then go home or on a forum and act like the devil. We all have the sin nature, but I 100% percent believe that a Christian can be demonized and we can train our senses to perceive when evil spirits are at work in a fellow believer or false brethren.

Such demonized believers don't know why they have compulsions to do wrong. Some can have addictions and compulsions such as pornography, alcohol, gambling or such and hide such practices from their fellow believers. Since they aren't honest, and slap on their face of Christianity they then forego the help that they desperately need. I think that the church as a whole woefully does a great disservice to believers by not teaching this and by not teaching Christians that they can be demonized. I've often heard the saying that that a Christian and an evil spirit cannot exist in a believer. That is not Scriptural and I have witnessed otherwise. Since the enemy works in darkness and doesn't want to be exposed, he uses compulsions in whom he is attached, to attack a believer with the gift of discernment who recognizes the signs of demonization in the believer. The demonized believer doesn't understand why he or she compulsively follows or tries to goad another believer. They should recognize that it isn't them driving these compulsions, it's evil spirits who are driving it and they can be freed of it.

I don't know how the spiritual realm operates in that regard and how Satan can gain access to a believers mind, but I know that it happens. I've read that when a believer engages in some sin - often a secret sin - that opens the door to the demonic realm. We can learn to recognize the signs of demonization and treat the believer with love instead of disdain. This is sometimes hard to do but it's something we're called to do. It's easier when you see that it is not the person's true nature but the nature of the evil spirit attached to him or her.

There are various demons and their specific working that believers can learn to recognize. We know one example of the slave girl with the spirit of divination so we can recognize that specific spirit when we see signs of goading, taunting, or those type of actions. We can recognize the working of the evil one when we see someone who is acting contrary to the teachings of Christ. Although we all fall and momentarily act contrary to Christ's teaching; and I may say at times it's justified when dealing with someone with a particularly strong spirit, but it's when we see a pattern of a specific type of behavior that we should recognize that it's more than just the sin nature. I've watched some very strong spirits at work in Christians and on this forum; it's as if the evil spirit is like lightning and looking for a rod to strike. Such a believer is often restless like the slave girl who pestered Paul. The demonized believer cannot help their compulsion to do evil and you can spot this restlessness if you exercise keen discernment.

Isaiah 57:20

“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy and we can perceive in our spirit when his works subtly or not so subtly enter in. We see that he can work in people who are instigators, aggressive or violent. He can work in people subtly and cleverly hide his work, although Christians can "have their senses trained by reason of use" to sense when there is something likely beyond the flesh operating.

"The serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field" - we can see how this subtlety is at work when individuals cleverly couch their barbs and mocking and try to goad another to engage in an argument. It's the spirit not of God and we can see this at work even in Christians - or those who claim to be Christians. These individuals don't know what is driving their behavior but they keep repeating it; they have a compulsion to act that way. Compulsions are a clear symptom of demonic behavior.

Believers can exercise their discernment to sense the subtle deception and twisting or mishandling of the truth. Some people are highly skilled in this; or rather the spirit using them as a vessel. This must be done carefully however because evil spirits are very intelligent and hide; they want to work in darkness and attack any believer that may expose them because they fear exposure.

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Sometimes the Holy Spirit will bring a verse to mind such as: "When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart." Proverbs 26:25 A believer can sometimes sense that there are seven abominations in another's heart. We learn to recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit who speaks in a "still, small, voice" and we can sense when another spirit not of God is at work in someone.

Usually I've read that the Christian has opened the door to evil somehow in their life. They don't recognize that evil spirits have attached themselves to him or her. I've read that often Christians will go on for years pasting on a smile at church, while secretly dealing with compulsions, addictions, pornography, unnatural urges, drug or alcohol abuse and the like. This is one of the ways that we can recognize demonic workings that are present even in believers:


The nature of specific demons shown in the Old Testament that remain active today.

Jealousy/feelings of jealousy - Numbers 5:14, 30

Ill will/evil - Judges 9:23

Distressing/evil - I Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10; 19:9

Lying/deceiving - I Kings 22:22; II Chronicles 18:20-22

Perverse/distortion/dizziness - Isaiah 19:14

Deep sleep - Isaiah 29:10

Heaviness/fainting/despair - Isaiah 61:3

Harlotry/prostitution - Hosea 4:12; 5:4

Unclean/unclean/impurity - Zechariah 13:2

Familiar - Deuteronomy 18:11

Sorrowful - I Samuel 1:15

The nature of specific demons shown in the New Testament that are still active today.

Mute/robbed of speech/Deaf and dumb/ deaf and mute - Mark 9:17; 9:25

Infirmity/causing sickness/ crippling - Luke 13:11

Divination/predicting the future - Acts 16:16

Deceiving/deceitful - I Timothy 4:1

Fear/timidity - II Timothy 1:7

Error/falsehood - I John 4:6

Unclean - Matthew 10:1

Divination - Acts 16:16

Bondage - I John 4:6

Deceiving - I Timothy 4:1

Error - I John 4:6

Death - Hebrews 2:14-15

I think that the church needs to step up to the plate and teach this largely ignored aspect of the Christian faith. In the meantime I think that we should all work on our discernment; I've been trying just this year to really try to tune in and exercise discernment. And God has been faithfully leading me in this.

Hebrews 5:14

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

I think that it would be a good idea if someone had a ministry here or if we provided links to Christian organizations that are involved in deliverance. Most importantly I believe that we have to understand that Christians can have a demon. Then half of the battle is already won. But we can all do self-reflection and ask God to show us what He wants to show us in each circumstance. And then we can act with love to our fellow believers when we recognize the source of these behavior; the challenge is opening up understanding to other believers so that they can see where these compulsive behaviors are originating.
 
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