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Tired of all the political strife and infighting?
Find out how Christians are supposed to act in the following study
https://christianforums.net/threads/charismatic-bible-studies-1-peter-2-11-17.109823/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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How do you think outsiders view us?
- Thread starter Obadiah
- Start date
Obadiah
Member
I guess I always kinda figured it was Satan who put the evil thoughts in the minds of those people. It's not? Sure, I know he comes to attack Christians too, but isn't he also the cause of evil among non-Christians? If not, what is? I know all people have a sinful nature, but I always kinda thought that CAME from Satan?
What about the power of the Holy Spirit in us that we are told is more powerful than "that which is in the world". I always thought "that which is in the world" is referring to Satan. So if the power we have within us (and NOT within non-Christians) is more powerful than Satan, why is Satan so much more successful in getting to us than to others?
What about the power of the Holy Spirit in us that we are told is more powerful than "that which is in the world". I always thought "that which is in the world" is referring to Satan. So if the power we have within us (and NOT within non-Christians) is more powerful than Satan, why is Satan so much more successful in getting to us than to others?
Good post. I like the way you think. To try and answer your question, I believe It's because there are thousands of lies that can live in one man but only one Truth that can live in all men. The Truth is where the attacks by lies are, you should be able to see that. That doesn't mean people on this forum are any better than others somewhere else. However I have seen many arguments on this forum almost always over small misunderstandings which get blown out of proportion. People take what they are believing in very seriously. It is written that the antichrist will make religion illegal, probably for that very reason.
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Because maybe Christians anticipate a crude, ham-fisted deception? And then Satan becomes much more subtle in his approach?
'You must do evil that good may come.' or
'Being right is equal to being good.'
This is admittedly guesswork on my part.
Grazer started me on a journey to find out what scripture had to say about spiritural maturity. I am going to teach on the subject tonight. My research took me to a John MacArthur sermon. I want to post some of that here. It deals what the work of Satan is and the spiritural growth stage John calls "young men". copy from gty code 62-14
1 John 2:12-14
He says...I'm writing to you, young men, spiritual young men, because you have overcome the evil
one. Very important statement...you've overcome the evil one. How did you do that? Verse 14,
"Because you are strong." How did you get strong? "Because the Word of God abides in you and
that's how you overcome the evil one."
What is the characteristic of a spiritual young man? Somebody who knows the Word of God. The
Word of God abides in them. They know what the Bible teaches. They are equipped with spiritual
knowledge. Characteristic of children is ignorance. The characteristic of young men is knowledge.
They know doctrine. The Word of God abides in them.
Young men, spiritually speaking, are Christians who have acquired knowledge of the truth. They're well
established in the area of doctrine. As the spiritual food has gone in, spiritual strength has resulted.
And you have, perfect tense, already in the past with continuing results, already conquered Satan.
That's an amazing statement. Already conquered Satan.
Well what in the world does that mean? How could that be? Well, you just have to understand where
Satan operates. In 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 13 to 15 it says, "Satan is disguised as an angel
of...what?...of light." He's an angel of light. Satan isn't the one running around making people sin.
People sin because of the flesh. Satan is involved in false religious systems. Ninety-nine point nine
percent of Satan's activity is in false religion. He is a liar and a deceiver. He works in the false
systems, the false ideologies of the world. Don't blame Satan for your sin. Don't blame Satan for what
your flesh is doing. You don't sin because Satan gets after you, you sin because lust conceives in
your heart, James 1:14. You sin because of the lust of the flesh, because you walk in the flesh. Read
Galatians 5:19 to 21, "The works of the flesh are these..." Leviticus 17:7, Psalm 106:36 and 37 say,
"False religion is demonic." First Corinthians 10, "The Gentiles sacrifice to demons." Satan is
disguised as an angel of light, that's what he does. Even in chapter 4 of 1 John we find that you can
test the spirits whether they're from God by whether the spirit confesses Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh. "Every spirit that doesn't confess Jesus is not from God but the spirit of Antichrist." So Satan is
that Antichrist. Satan is that one who proclaims lies. First Timothy 4 says that false religion is
doctrines of demons...doctrines of demons.
And so, if you understand that you understand what a spiritual young man is and how a spiritual
young man can overcome the evil one. How? Because if you know sound doctrine, you have
overcome the evil one. And, you know, it's wonderful to see spiritual young men, people whose
doctrine is sound. And you know you're a spiritual young man when the cults don't attract you, when
false doctrine doesn't allure you, when you're not easily deceived. In fact, generally speaking, when
you're a spiritual young man you get angry at it. You want to fight it. It's wonderful to see somebody
arrive at that point in their spiritual development. They want to go battle the cults, straighten out the
J.W.'s, correct the liberals.
I'm not going to be deceived. Why? Because I am strong in the Word, I
know what the Word of God teaches. And in that sense Satan cannot deceive me. If Satan comes
along and says, "Jesus is not God," I don't care how good his argument is, I don't buy it. If Satan
comes along and says, "God is not a trinity," I don't care how good his argument is, I'm not going to
buy it. I don't care how clever the hypocritical lie speaker, or the false prophet is, I don't buy it. If
somebody comes along and says that Jesus was a sinner on the cross and went to hell for three days
to suffer for His sin, I don't believe that. If somebody comes and says the Bible is not the inspired
Word of God inerrant, I don't believe it, I don't care what kind of argument that person amasses, I'm
not going to buy into that because I know what the Word of God teaches.
Young men delight in the truth and the fact that they've reached t he point where they're no longer vulnerable to being led astray in false doctrine.
They are still vulnerable to the flesh and to sin all their lifelong. That's why Paul can say, "O wretched man that I am." And at the very end of his life, "I'm the chief sinner." Because as you mature there's a decreasing frequency of sin but there's an increasing hatred of sin that makes less sin seem worse.
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It's a good idea to look at the context of Scripture so as to not get the wrong idea.
Paul spoke of how Jesus showed forth the benefit of his longsuffering in him first, as a pattern for them which should hereafter believe on him (Jesus) to life everlasting. This is not Paul saying that the sanctification of the Lord failed or that his sin (being a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious to others) was tolerated or allowed to continue. It did qualify him to say that he has witnessed his own hands doing these types of things, but there is no bragging going and he is especially not saying that sin should continue, or as Paul would say, "heaven forbid!"
Perhaps your teaching encompasses these thoughts already and my thought is unneeded, I can not say. Sometimes I merely think that the emphasis on what has been said is misplaced and if that is the case here, kindly forgive me my presumption. All sin is utterly sinful because it crosses purpose with the Holy One, our Father in heaven who says, "Be thou holy, for I am holy."
Up to you. Good to hear this, and I would ask the Lord to give you a "feel" for your audience so that their needs are met (and also trust this is your desire as well). Said frankly, no guile.Your are correct. I am taking what you said as a given. Maybe I should not?
My eye was drawn to a part of your quoted reference:
My mind is focused on a mini-novella that I'm writing about "Fathers" which attempts a broad overview of the subject and hopefully will be seen as profitable and instructive, driving the message home.
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Mountain Man
Member
If anyone is interested in how "they" view us go to youtube and type in "preacher and see what comes up and read the comments...Church discipline in non existent and everyone is called a brother or sister in Christ no matter what they say or do.
The world see's the smiling feel-good types raking in money and living in mansions and flying on private jets to "services" while staying in 5 star luxury suites and calls the whole thing a fraud...useless arguments over non essentials is one thing but when when it comes to how "they" see us there is a little more to it than that.
The world see's the smiling feel-good types raking in money and living in mansions and flying on private jets to "services" while staying in 5 star luxury suites and calls the whole thing a fraud...useless arguments over non essentials is one thing but when when it comes to how "they" see us there is a little more to it than that.
Hi Mountain Man and welcome to CF.net. Interestingly the world always sees what they desire to see. Even Jesus was judged below and we'll fare no better. I actually believe what you describe fits the image of many Christians not dedicated to a personal walk with our Lord, and we'll know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16.
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, He (Jesus) casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
Mountain Man
Member
I guess my point was that we should police ourselves more,if we do not separate ourselves from those who are clearly violating scripture then we will be seen as agreeing with what is going on, we are told to rebuke error and sin...this has fallen out of fashion in favor of the desire to be liked and accepted and seen as being pleasant and agreeable...nothing wrong with being pleasant and agreeable but we must never agree with what God is against or we place ourselves at odds with God tho we gain the acceptance of man which is in light of eternity useless.
Mountain Man
Member
Or put another way we seem to be very concerned with some aspects of our image while displaying little if any concern over other aspects of our image.
The problem is, a person with a defiled conscience can find something wrong with anything, so that you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. While I care what people think of me for Christ's sake, I don't care what people think of me for the devil's sake.
Mountain Man
Member
Yes a person with a defiled conscience can find something wrong with anything, the problem is when what is wrong is plain for all to see and no effort is required to see it apart from a desire to see it and discernment to recognize it and the courage to confront and expose it....the truth is not popular and one can be hated for saying it regardless of how it is said. The question here is how do outsiders view us, there is only one biblical way for them to view us and that is that we display both the love of Jesus and the righteousness of Jesus, if focus only on the righteousness we will come off as judgmental, if we only focus on the love then it it is likely we will be of little effect other than helping somebody to have a nice day which in light of eternity doesn't count for much...."outsiders" should have a balanced view of us and know that we actually stand for something.
I agree with what you say. We are not called upon to be popular is for sure. I find that people respect others who don't patronize them. It is the responsibility of the one who sees to have the more patience than the one who doesn't see. As you say, the "outsiders" should sense Love when dealing with the "insiders".
mediauwant
Member
Considering today's world view, I'd say we're probably seen as the "outsiders"...
sad.
sad.
Grazer
Member
I think this is a good thing. I think the church and Christianity was at its best when it had no political power
I agree. Look around the world today. Persecution is God's way of cleaning house. People don't fake being saved when they know torture is awaiting them and their families. They don't sit around and debate everything under the sun rather they are focused on worship and making converts.
In counties where literal death is the penalty for professing Christ understanding Christ's call to people to die to self is much more real to them. They understand what Jesus is asking of them and don't take that bold step until they are ready to die. Religious persecution does tend to produce pure Chrisitan fellowships because they are tested by fire.
The Emergenct and Liberal Church folks don't exist in countries that offer the death penalty for professing Christ.
http://www.persecution.com/
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