How does he mislead people

[Az_]

I hear believers frequently refer to Satan as misleading people. I am just curious as to how it is believed he interacts with people in order to mislead them. Is it just placing the occaisional dinosaur fossil in a dig or does he have more direct contact with some? How do you distinguish between the lure of Satan and an individuals honest disagreement with your belief?

[Ovedya]

I think basically for most Christians it amounts to being led into doing things through circumstances that cause us to sin, or to do something that we normally would not even think of doing.

[Orr v'emet]

Well, the simplest response for me is that the Bible says if your not working for God then you are working against Him so therefore anything contrary to the nature of God or His word is the result of the influence of evil, i.e. the devil. Does that answer suffice?

[Az_]

Well, the simplest response for me is that the Bible says if your not working for God then you are working against Him so therefore anything contrary to the nature of God or His word is the result of the influence of evil, i.e. the devil. Does that answer suffice?

Well it spells out how beleivers determine whether someone is working for good or evil. But it doesn't really answer the question of how Satan puts his plans into action. I am looking for the point of contact. What is the influence the he applies to affect a change on people in the eyes of believers.

[Orr v'emet]

Well, the simplest response for me is that the Bible says if your not working for God then you are working against Him so therefore anything contrary to the nature of God or His word is the result of the influence of evil, i.e. the devil. Does that answer suffice?

Well it spells out how beleivers determine whether someone is working for good or evil. But it doesn't really answer the question of how Satan puts his plans into action. I am looking for the point of contact. What is the influence the he applies to affect a change on people in the eyes of believers.

Well, I thought I kinda answered that but I guess maybe you don't understand what I mean. The bible says that the devil roams about the earth seeking whom he may devour. When we take our eyes off God we are opening ourselves up to allow a foothold for the devil to come in. He will use any means necessary.

[Nicks Girl]

There are temptations that Satan puts in our path. Satan spends ALL his time working to stumble the Believers, and get us to believe that God doesn't love us, or care for us. These things are different in different people's lives. What I'm stumbled by, or what you're stumbled by could be two totally different things.

Even though we can't see him, he's there working.

My husband and I notice this alot, when we get super excited and on fire for the Lord, something..tries to change the mood to make us agitated or angry with each other, or other people. Since we both have suffered from depression from spiritual attacks in the past, we know what this is.. and immediately jump into prayer. We need to be in God's Word and praying regularly, Daily, to keep the enemy from succeeding with his fiery darts.

[Ovedya]

Az,

As far as a "point of contact" is concerned, I think I can help. More often than not, Satan influences our physical environment in such a way that he causes us to commit sin. You know that we believe that sin was inherited from Adam, right? Well, we believe that Satan knew from the beginning that to frustrate man in his relationship with God was to frustrate God's plans for mankind. Therefore, Satan uses our situations in our environments to cause us to sin. For example, he might place us in a situation where we would be tempted towards adultery, or drug use, alcohol use, etc.

[Orr v'emet]

Az,

As far as a "point of contact" is concerned, I think I can help. More often than not, Satan influences our physical environment in such a way that he causes us to commit sin. You know that we believe that sin was inherited from Adam, right? Well, we believe that Satan knew from the beginning that to frustrate man in his relationship with God was to frustrate God's plans for mankind. Therefore, Satan uses our situations in our environments to cause us to sin. For example, he might place us in a situation where we would be tempted towards adultery, or drug use, alcohol use, etc.

[AnotherTraveler]

Well it spells out how beleivers determine whether someone is working for good or evil. But it doesn't really answer the question of how Satan puts his plans into action. I am looking for the point of contact. What is the influence the he applies to affect a change on people in the eyes of believers.

If you are asking if Satan can or does actually does physically contact people in a direct eyeball to eyeball, face to face confrontation, yes, that can and does occur, but rarely.

Satan and his devils will always try to come and tempt you in the area where you are already somewhat weak.

There are billions of people on earth and only one Satan (though he does have millions of devils), still, he uses plans like a general directing an army would, rather than personally try to attack everybody, he usually sends out seducing spirits for those that are open to seduction, and demons of doctrine for those open to false doctrine, and so on. Here is a bible example of Satan personally getting involved....

(Mat 4:3 KJV) And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

(Mat 4:4 KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(Mat 4:5 KJV) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

(Mat 4:6 KJV) And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

(Mat 4:7 KJV) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

(Mat 4:8 KJV) Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

(Mat 4:9 KJV) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

(Mat 4:10 KJV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

(Mat 4:11 KJV) Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

[soulwinner]

I believe the point of contact is our minds that is where he attacks the believers. In every battle there is the "Place of the battle" It has to take place somewhere! 2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2Cr 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Phl 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. Hbr 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Hbr 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.