suggesting doubt in their minds? Putting thoughts into their head? Maybe. But we are the ones who still must make the choice.
But I have found that if one pays attention to the voices in their head, they can know who's talking. satan might be able to tempt us through fearful thoughts and doubt. But scripture instructs us to take these thoughts captive to Christ and get rid of them. That means don't dwell on that stuff. Dwell on God.
I have been paying attention to inner dialogue for quite awhile now and it gets easier over time to be able to tell the voices apart. My carnal mind is easy because he's pretty much only negative. I've had to tell him to shut up several times.
I'm not positive about my is my spirit talking and I call it my conscience? Or could it be the Holy Spirit talking to me? But he always wants to do the right thing, so it's one of them. I think in scripture somewhere it says God has no dealings with man (the flesh?) but the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit, and our spirit can talk to us.
It was hard at first to discern the still small voice of God. But there is subtle yet distinct differences in how He taks...and how I think. Grammatically. Plus He always says just the right thing in the right way, and...I can't do that, lol. So that is His voice.
Maybe...a couple of those times, I told my carnal mind to shut up, maybe it was really satan putting thoughts in my head. Could be I guess. I quote scripture to that guy, lol.
I agree, we make the choice.
I did not imply the existence and activity of the Tempter in any way makes the Devil stronger than God. Its we who choose what we do, good or evil.
It can be voices in the head, but in this text is seems Satan can mimic the inner voice and the person believes he is "arguing with myself".
11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Lk. 8:11-12 NKJ)
Those by the wayside hear the preaching and on their way home the devil comes and mimics the person's inner voice, and gives reasons why the gospel should not be believed. In this manner the "mind is blinded" to the truth:
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 (2 Cor. 4:4 KJV)
Christian not realizing this often mistake the Tempter for "their own carnal mind". This is not to deny our carnal minds tempt us, but it can be the Tempter doing it.
The best way to dispense with both is to quote Scripture.
The Holy Spirit doesn't go through our minds, our flesh in any manner, body or brain. He speaks through our Conscience, "Spirit to spirit".
Its not verbal, its a "knowing" just like we "know God is our Father". Paul explicitly says the Spirit bore him witness through his conscience:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. (Rom. 8:14-16; 9:1-2 KJV)
Of course the Holy Spirit can speak audibly, but from its rare occurrence (implied by the rareness of reports of it in scripture) His speaking audibly is likely something He did only in the apostolic age, directing the advance of the Gospel:
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2 NKJ)
I will start a thread on this subject. I think Christians blame themselves too often when in fact the Tempter's telepathic "suggestion to do evil" is the source.
I think a good example is when you go to a friend's house, and you see money laying around. Suddenly the thought appears "steal it" which you immediately and forcibly reject. That thought was likely a demon or the Devil himself Tempting you, the proof is your immediate and complete rejection of the thought. That indicates it was NOT in your heart to begin with.