Satan

[TsukinoRei]

Satan seems to get directly blamed for an awful lot of things.  My impression from the words of some Christians is that every time any person belongs to another religion they have been deceived directly by Satan himself.  That every time a child from a Christian home grows up to become an atheist, Satan himself had taken them by the hand and led them away.  That Satan is behind every law which the denominations feel does not align with Gods law.  That Satan's hand was even on the life of every terrorist.  So, my question is this.  Does, in your view,  Satan have an omnipresence on the scale of God?  Or is it perhaps sin, a separation from God, which plagues the world and Satan isn't quite as directly involved as some would imply?

[Sevenseas]

Well, generally speaking, (  ), he is not personally responsible or omnipresent as God is

 

here are some scripture references that might help with facts and dispense with some popular opinions:

 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I Peter 5:8

 

So, we see that we have  a part to play in avoiding being devoured.  Does the devil seek out in a personal manner?  Well the book of Job would seem to suggest that he sometimes does,

but, this is probably (IMO) more like what happens: 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.  Eph 6:12

 

So we learn in that verse (and others following in that chapter) that the devil has a kingdom and that it is spiritual in nature...that is, not flesh and blood

 

Another thing to consider:  He is the prince of the 'power' of the air Eph 2:2...he is also the 'god' of this world  II Cor. 4:4

 

The devil is a liar.  John 4:44

He is also the tempter, a thief, a murderer and distorts God's creation.

 

However, the Bible teaches that we are drawn away by our own sin   But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  James 1:14

 

The sins of the flesh can become so engrained in an individual, that we see a progress from the flesh to a demonic or spiritual dimension...a spiral downwards

 

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

A study just on witchcraft alone would be very revealing....beginning in the OT and don't think of Macbeth with witches at the cauldron or the nouveau and polite form of the craft or natural elements and

so called spell casting

 

Witchcraft as referred to in scripture, is the desire to control another.  It is demonic and frequently employed by people who like to control and often use the name of Jesus to do so.

 

Getting just a little scary?

 

Should not scare....Paul wrote this:  Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.  (II Cor 2) 

 

Interestingly, he does not go on to write about the devil's schemes...which actually indicates the truth of his statement that the Corinthians were not in ignorance.  I think a list might have been useful,

but a better education in those schemes can be had by searching through the Bible from old to new testaments....which may be the purpose of the Holy Spirit in not giving us an all encompassing

list to begin with

 

So, it's complicated but less so if we simply believe scripture and understand that we do, in fact, have a murderous enemy that we cannot see and further, that may rear his head through another

Christian (Jesus' rebuke to Peter for 1 example of that) and likes nothing better then to sow discord, jealousy, rumor and hatred among those who are supposed to love each other and not only

in the family of our heavenly Father, but even within the family structure of father, mother, children

[MorningGlory]

 Your impressions are spot on; satan IS behind all of the things that plague the world.  That is his agenda.  He isn't on par with God; he wants to BE God and is sorely lacking in credentials.  His main goal is to separate mankind from their Creator and he's been at it since the beginning. 

[enoob57]

Well, generally speaking, (  ), he is not personally responsible or omnipresent as God is

 

here are some scripture references that might help with facts and dispense with some popular opinions:

 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I Peter 5:8

 

So, we see that we have  a part to play in avoiding being devoured.  Does the devil seek out in a personal manner?  Well the book of Job would seem to suggest that he sometimes does,

but, this is probably (IMO) more like what happens: 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.  Eph 6:12

 

So we learn in that verse (and others following in that chapter) that the devil has a kingdom and that it is spiritual in nature...that is, not flesh and blood

 

Another thing to consider:  He is the prince of the 'power' of the air Eph 2:2...he is also the 'god' of this world  II Cor. 4:4

 

The devil is a liar.  John 4:44

He is also the tempter, a thief, a murderer and distorts God's creation.

 

However, the Bible teaches that we are drawn away by our own sin   But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  James 1:14

 

The sins of the flesh can become so engrained in an individual, that we see a progress from the flesh to a demonic or spiritual dimension...a spiral downwards

 

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

A study just on witchcraft alone would be very revealing....beginning in the OT and don't think of Macbeth with witches at the cauldron or the nouveau and polite form of the craft or natural elements and

so called spell casting

 

Witchcraft as referred to in scripture, is the desire to control another.  It is demonic and frequently employed by people who like to control and often use the name of Jesus to do so.

 

Getting just a little scary?

 

Should not scare....Paul wrote this:  Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.  (II Cor 2) 

 

Interestingly, he does not go on to write about the devil's schemes...which actually indicates the truth of his statement that the Corinthians were not in ignorance.  I think a list might have been useful,

but a better education in those schemes can be had by searching through the Bible from old to new testaments....which may be the purpose of the Holy Spirit in not giving us an all encompassing

list to begin with

 

So, it's complicated but less so if we simply believe scripture and understand that we do, in fact, have a murderous enemy that we cannot see and further, that may rear his head through another

Christian (Jesus' rebuke to Peter for 1 example of that) and likes nothing better then to sow discord, jealousy, rumor and hatred among those who are supposed to love each other and not only

in the family of our heavenly Father, but even within the family structure of father, mother, children

This is just awesome work seller of purple

[Guest]

Jail Time

 

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Revelation 20:1-3

 

And Forever Timed Out

 

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

 

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:7-10

 

~

 

Satan seems to get directly blamed for an awful lot of things.  My impression from the words of some Christians is that every time any person belongs to another religion they have been deceived directly by Satan himself.  That every time a child from a Christian home grows up to become an atheist, Satan himself had taken them by the hand and led them away.  That Satan is behind every law which the denominations feel does not align with Gods law.  That Satan's hand was even on the life of every terrorist.  So, my question is this.  Does, in your view,  Satan have an omnipresence on the scale of God?  Or is it perhaps sin, a separation from God, which plagues the world and Satan isn't quite as directly involved as some would imply?

 

 

~

 

Jesus

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

 

Or The

 

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

 

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

 

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

 

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 1 John 2:21-26

 

Deceiver

 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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.

 

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:3-5

[other one]

Satan seems to get directly blamed for an awful lot of things.  My impression from the words of some Christians is that every time any person belongs to another religion they have been deceived directly by Satan himself.  That every time a child from a Christian home grows up to become an atheist, Satan himself had taken them by the hand and led them away.  That Satan is behind every law which the denominations feel does not align with Gods law.  That Satan's hand was even on the life of every terrorist.  So, my question is this.  Does, in your view,  Satan have an omnipresence on the scale of God?  Or is it perhaps sin, a separation from God, which plagues the world and Satan isn't quite as directly involved as some would imply?

It is my understanding that Satan is simply a created being and isn't anything approaching God.  He the greatest creation of God so  he would be much more than a human.   Hew is pretty old also and has been around when the universe was made, so his knowledge of how things work would astounding.  He also has about a third of the heavenly host to assist him and if you believe as I do, the disembodied spirits of the half breed neplilim that lost their fleshly bodies in the flood.

Even just with the fallen angels he would have millions of entities to do his bidding.

 

 

However, I don't think I really needed Satan's help to sin before I was born again, but he seemed to always be around should I need any help.

 

As Flip Wilson used to say.... "the devil made me do it..."    well maybe the devil or some of his followers made the suggestion.    but I firmly believe that just as eve, we ourselves make the decision not to follow Gods instructions.......   and now that we have inherited the knowledge of good ans evil, there is no excuse on our part.

 

I know from personal experience that Satan or one of his followers can directly affect your reality, but unless you give them permission, I have never experienced nor seen them force anyone to do anything.    Even possession takes permission from someone.

[TsukinoRei]

Thanks, everyone, for your various answers.  And I'm glad you also brought up the scriptural definition of Witchcraft, Sevenseas!

 

For those of you who do believe that Satan is behind everything, do you think that is true in the sense that he acted as a catalyst in the Garden of Eden?  Or true in the sense that there is a little version of him sitting on everyone's shoulder and whispering in their ear?

 

Also, a question for everyone!  Do you believe that belief in Satan is a salvation issue?  

[Leonard]

I'll say that a good 80% of what satan gets blamed for are actually the actions of unsanctified flesh!

[Guest man]

Also, a question for everyone!  Do you believe that belief in Satan is a salvation issue?

 

 

Only if that belief equates to worship.

[BlessedByTheBest]

Satan seems to get directly blamed for an awful lot of things.  My impression from the words of some Christians is that every time any person belongs to another religion they have been deceived directly by Satan himself.  That every time a child from a Christian home grows up to become an atheist, Satan himself had taken them by the hand and led them away.  That Satan is behind every law which the denominations feel does not align with Gods law.  That Satan's hand was even on the life of every terrorist.  So, my question is this.  Does, in your view,  Satan have an omnipresence on the scale of God?  Or is it perhaps sin, a separation from God, which plagues the world and Satan isn't quite as directly involved as some would imply?

 

sin has altered mankind, and its operation in us is at enmity with God. 

it is this nature which Satan has cultivated in man and has authority over.

 

is he directly responsible? he can do nothing without man's cooperation.

is he directly involved? yes, but only in alignment with God's sovereignty.

 

omnipresence?  i have come to believe that he can have eyes and ears in as many locations as he and 1/3 of the heavenly host can be, within or without a host.

but no, he himself cannot be omnipresent.

 

the spiritual realm is infused with the physical realm.  it would be foolish to deny its influence.

 

remember, the serpent was the most subtle creature in the garden.

he won't come banging our door down to tell us he came to steal, kill and destroy.

he manipulates, guides, and uses people to carry out his nefarious plans in order for him to obtain a tighter squeeze on this planet.