94. More on THE question
Re The Question of the Century..
How do we know it is God who has spoken?
I am inclined to think we need more discussion on SIGNS.
But in the meantime...HOW DO WE KNOW IF SATAN IS SPEAKING?
Do we ask Satan for a sign ?
I guess most will say, I dont want to go there, Ross.
But that is to help us think it thru... faith is not the whole answer.
PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS BELOW
How do we know it is God who has spoken?
I am inclined to think we need more discussion on SIGNS.
But in the meantime...HOW DO WE KNOW IF SATAN IS SPEAKING?
Do we ask Satan for a sign ?
I guess most will say, I dont want to go there, Ross.
But that is to help us think it thru... faith is not the whole answer.
PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS BELOW
posted by Ross at 9:56 am
3 Comments:
It is still the knowledge of faith, I think. Without faith we would put it down to our imagination and not recognize the voice of Satan any more than we recognize the voice of God. We are more readily deceived then than ever.
We know when Satan speaks because of its effect. I will speak from my own experience. I have learned to recognize His voice because of the fruit that came from listening to it. …it pleases the ego, causes confusion disturbance, leads to mistakes which bring pain and bitterness.
One can’t see the wind, one knows it because of its effect. Normally the wind is necessary and beneficial but a tornado is dangerous and destructive.
Some typical promptings of Satan ……. “you owe it to yourself” “You don’t have to go that far in following truth” its not really right, but it won’t do any harm” Then there is the constant accusation … bringing up the mistakes of the past when they have been repented of, forgiven, and forgotten which cause discouragement, weakness and despair. Reminding us continually of our own unworthiness and powerlessness. “ Why would the God of Heaven be interested in you?” “Why would you be given power and insight.” Satan uses the words “if” and “but” and “how”. He prompts the thoughts of fear and suspicion that makes us less loving and more defensive, prevents us from freely devoting ourself to others and to the Force of Love.
Then if you have talents the world would desire Satan says…. “just consider what could be yours (self satisfaction, acclaim, wealth, power etc.) if you just promoted your natural talent (here the suggestion that its God-given so perfectly legitimate to make it a priority!!)
When an evil thought pops into our mind we can let it “work” on us like yeast in dough until it has pervaded our being, or we can quickly and ruthlessly dismiss it
?? God warned Cain ….”see, sin lies at the door”. Although his sacrifice had not pleased God’s as Abell’s had, he had not sinned perhaps, maybe it was more that he hadn’t understood. On the other hand God would know his heart and if there were any feelings of one-upmanship/ “my sacrifice is better than yours” lurking there. It was his envy and bitterness at Abell’s preferment that set him up to do evil. So Cain was warned that sin was lying in wait at the door.(lying in wait suggests the Predator walking about “seeking whom he may devour) When Cain opened the door of his heart to his anger and envy, Satan could enter the thought to kill his brother. So perhaps one could say it is human to seek approval and glory for oneself, and it is human to feel envy and bitterness. But it is Satan’s spirit which “works” on those feelings and builds them up into something that prompts wrong action. “the spirit we are of” is what modifies our natural behaviour, making it worse or better. ??
Tell me what you think.
Why would Satan give signs? He is the Evil One, the opposite of Truth, so his reasons would only be to deceive.
God gives signs to identify Himself, to confirm His existence, His power, and His interest in a person, or people.
Satan hardly wants us to recognise him for what he is .... blowing his cover would defeat his purpose as the Deceiver.
So we must learn to recognise the deceptions.
(a)He transforms as "an angel of light" (II Corinthians chapter 11 vs 14) In 13th Chapter of Revelations Satanic beasts are described, the second one performing great miracles and signs "and deceives those that dwell on the earth"
(b) Satan uses the same methods he used when he tried to deceive Jesus in the wilderness. He tried to persuade Jesus to doubt or misuse His own Power: just as an assertion that He had it(to "show off"?)and for His own gain and glory. Satan offered all the wealth, power and glory of this material world as reward for Jesus' submission to him.
(c) so.... signs that glorify or promote ourselves or glorify and promote some other earthly thing (e.g. an icon, a celebrity)should arouse suspicion.
(d)signs of power that diminish God in the eyes of men or make Him unnecessary will be signs from Satan: sorcery, witchcraft, "black magic" ... (I also think Mankind is capable of "supernatural" power, which is not Satanic, but Satan uses His subtlety to encourage people to revere themselves or to be revered by otheres,when they use these powers.)
THe Egyptian sorcerers matched Moses' signs at first... plague for plague, until Moses' power surpassed theirs.
The Children of Israel were warned against these powers most emphatically in Deuteronomy, chapter 18 (from verse 9 onwards) because God said He had something much better to offer them.
Signs that glorify God, that inspire faith and belief in Him, that give us love and courage and humility, are signs that we can trust...lady r.
The above comments use the Bible as the source of reference because the accounts of the authors show they knew what they were talking about and they had a clear understanding of phenomenon that we don't understand very well....lady r
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