Is there a doctrinal issue if you conflate what is from God, and what is from the devil?

[Ariel82]

Ariel love you sis and I know what your saying or at least trying to say but this is bad theology.
We are no match against Satan for even with Christ temptation he left for a season. Even the arc angel says the Lord rebukes you.
Satan will flee when we seek God and stand on his word.
Greater is he that is in me.....than he of the world. You would never want to do a one on one with Satan.

But you will never have to do a one on one with Satan for the Holy Spirit always walk with us and we have angels protecting us even if we can't always see them.

What Satan tries to do is to tempt is to step outside their protection, to run ahead of God's plans for our lives, to speak before we pray.

If God didn't allow the temptation we would never hear the dark whispers to sin because we would always be surrounded by his light and love as it is in heaven.

However here in earth we are surrounded by free will and human and angelic beings who rebell against God's light and truth and love.

It's so very different than home, but God gives us glimpses of what this world is suppose to be like, what it will be like when Christ comes to toss Satan, his demons and their followers into the fiery pit.

So we live by hope and not by sight, helping those God leads us to speak and interact with back along the path towards home and our Heavenly Father.

I know any temptation in my life can be over come because God promises that He has given us the means to resist the devil and watch him flee.

So no alone I am no match, but as I have told the youth, we are never alone.


God has our back and though in the darkness we may be afraid, when the Son rises in our presence then all darkness is chased away by the light.

I hope all God's children have the assurance of this truth about God's love for each and every one of us.

So what exactly is bad theology?

 

[Lillywolf]

I think telling the difference between what is of God and what isn't is so simple if you think of how the devil rebelled and why. The devil felt that he could be as fine, in his way, as the Lord. He was puffed up with himself. The devil wants us to look to him the way the devil thinks of himself.

So, it isn't so much what is of the devil as what our goats are. If we give something what belongs to God, we are doing just what the devil wants--to replace God.

You can give the power to take the place of what the Lord does for you to a fancy car or you can use a car in you work. You can meditate on the Lord and His ways and receive joy or you can smoke dope and try for joy.

The devil wants us to replace God in our life. He wanted Eve to replace God's knowledge with what was against God and promised her great things to happen if she would do that. It is the same today. Just read the ads. "Buy this and you will have joy forever".

I don't know about it being that easy to tell the difference and for some Christians. Especially the new ones.
Remember, we're told even the enemy, Satan, can appear as an angel of light and that he can quote scriptures.
Many a false teacher I believe would appear to be cloaked by that disguise of Satan.

 

[UnderGrace]

ya'll need to get your 'head-phones' on concerning 'ben', he's a '....stirrer, a new ager,
definitely not a dragon slayer for our Christ!!!

Where does scripture tell us to slay dragons for Christ

 

[Lillywolf]

Thanks for the reply. I think it could be found below.

Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

Not put in subjection the world to come, is reserveved for the chaste virgin bride the Christian church. She alone has not fornicated with the gods of this world and violated the first loving commandment to have no gods before our one God.

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

There it appears no mercy for that creation of messengers.

1 Corinthians 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

There the woman should show her submissiveness to the Holy Spirit and the angels of God. By the woman covering her representative glory, her hair, as the kind of unseen messengers who long to look into salvation possibly as sign to help bring the message clearer if we do prophesy by brining the gospel . They are unlike God they cannot see into the heart of.

1 Peter1:9-12 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

There again the angels desire to look into the mystery not being subject to it. The gospel to them remains like manna food that begs the question; "What is it ?" as the literal meaning of the word ? Or described as the hidden mana in the book of Revelation to describe the mystery of "What is it" as that which seems to be that which is hidden in parables, the unseen spiritual understanding.

Firstly let me assure you, you are not rambling in the least.

1 Corinthians 11:4 tells men they must cover their head also. "Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head." I think the head covering is intended to show a united church, the body of the faithful gathered in worship and prayer. And I think that tells us that in the whole of chapter 11 that it would seem the angels are there watching us in those times.
I think they're overseers of the import of the Gospel to us. I also think , being Angel in the Latin is "Angli" , meaning messenger or emissary, that they are also there to inform us as the go-between of God's message to the individual.
I believe the Hebrews scripture rightly details this even more.

As for Jude 1:6, I read that as informing us of the fallen angels. Not the angels in God's service.

I also think 1 Peter's verses tell us the angels serve us not themselves. And while in that duty witness the Gospel unfold in us.

I could be completely wrong though. Just my thoughts.
Thank you for sharing such an extensive series of scriptures and personal commentary. Blessings.

 

[Lillywolf]

Where does scripture tell us to slay dragons for Christ

The dragon, as just Revelation shows us, has long been the symbol for the enemy. To answer your question then in that regard, all over the new testament.

 

[Lillywolf]

ya'll need to get your 'head-phones' on concerning 'ben', he's a '....stirrer, a new ager,
definitely not a dragon slayer for our Christ!!!

Ben Hur?
Is that who is thought to be Quantrill? (what a name choice given American history. )

 

[Deade]

Did not the scriptures say that the angels looked with aw at what christ did? While I think God hid the mystery before his death, for all, so satan would fall for his trap (which he did) I am prety sure they know about it now.. wouldn’t they?

It has me thinking also..lol

Are you saying God manipulated the devil?

 

[UnderGrace]

The dragon, as just Revelation shows us, has long been the symbol for the enemy. To answer your question then in that regard, all over the new testament.

So then are you saying we are to engage in spiritual warfare with devil(s)?

I have seen preachers go out on the streets and hold prayer vigils to bind spirits is this slaying dragons?

 

[Lillywolf]

So then are you saying we are to engage in spiritual warfare with devil(s)?

I have seen preachers go out on the streets and hold prayer vigils to bind spirits is this slaying dragons?

Remember the scripture that warns us the adversary prowls the earth, where he is lord, like a hungry lion seeking souls to devour?

I don't know about street preachers binding spirits so I can't say what they're doing is legitimate. I just know that we are , as Paul told us , wrestling against cosmic powers aligned against the world and the righteous in Christ.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

 

[UnderGrace]

Remember the scripture that warns us the adversary prowls the earth, where he is lord, like a hungry lion seeking souls to devour?

I don't know about street preachers binding spirits so I can't say what they're doing is legitimate. I just know that we are , as Paul told us , wrestling against cosmic powers aligned against the world and the righteous in Christ.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Yes I agree with this.

Not sure if this is what oldethennew meant, since to slay means to kill, I guess only he can explain but it is a heavy accusation against Ben which is always the way around here.

 

[Lillywolf]

Yes I agree with this.

Not sure if this is what oldethennew meant, since to slay means to kill, I guess only he can explain but it is a heavy accusation against Ben which is always the way around here.

I agree only oldethennew can speak for what they meant by what they said of "ben".
When I read it I took it to mean destroy the ability someone of ill intent, games, to succeed among the sons and daughters here.

 

[unctus]

God does test, sanctify, and chastise, but why through certain beliefs (doctrines) could one, essentially, confuse God for the devil? How is that even possible?

Psalms 127:1
Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.

 

[Quantrill]

Ben Hur?
Is that who is thought to be Quantrill? (what a name choice given American history. )

I assure you I have never been 'Ben Hur'. As to 'Quantrill', perhaps you should do a real study of him instead of accepting the popular views.

Quantrill

 

[BenFTW]

A discussion like this indicates to me, that a lot of people do not understand that God is sovereign.

As far as conflating what comes from God with what comes from the devil, I would tell you to go read the Bible from cover to cover, and then see if you are still confused!

Unless, of course, the OP has his same obvious agenda going on here, and I am the only one that thinks he is talking about signs and wonders, and how they are always from God. People who say they aren’t from God are therefore attributing to Satan what is from God.

Of course, the easy answer to that is to read about the things Pharaoh’s magicians could do, or Simon the magician and other non-believers in the NT could do. Of course, God’s works are greater! But, with the number of outright charismatic charlatans that are on TV these days, claiming to do miracles, it could be that the work of the devil is being attributed to God.

Feel free to correct me if I have misinterpreted the OP!

Wow. I just saw this going through older posts and no, I didn't have any agenda in mind (especially in regards to signs and wonders). I have no clue where that came from. I thought the OP was very straight forward in the question it raised.

 

[BenFTW]

ya'll need to get your 'head-phones' on concerning 'ben', he's a '....stirrer, a new ager,
definitely not a dragon slayer for our Christ!!!

Apparently I missed a lot of posts in this thread. I suppose that was a good thing. lol

 

[garee]

So then are you saying we are to engage in spiritual warfare with devil(s)?

I have seen preachers go out on the streets and hold prayer vigils to bind spirits is this slaying dragons?

The gospel is the key that binds and loosens the gates of hell. God has slew the dragon. Those dragons as lying spirits come out with prayer and fasting .

Fasting a metaphor used in various parables that indicates the work of the gospel.

 

[Hevosmies]

Well Ben, when you read the Bible you come across all those things you mentioned:

God taking lives (one time He violently killed off the entire planet, saved Noah and his family).
God sending a strong delusion (This one in the NT too, so the "Oh thats the OT" excuse wont fly)
God sending in famine, disease, pestilence (both in NT and OT, especially the book of Revelation)
God raining down fire and brimstone on cities (and world in the future)

So yes indeed. God does all kinds of things in the Bible. No problem there.

 

[Dino246]

Fasting a metaphor used in various parables that indicates the work of the gospel.

Um, no. Fasting is literally going without food for a period longer than the normal time between meals.

Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert, and at the end, He was hungry. The devil tempted Him to create food from rocks. This was not metaphorical.

 

[Hevosmies]

Um, no. Fasting is literally going without food for a period longer than the normal time between meals.

Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert, and at the end, He was hungry. The devil tempted Him to create food from rocks. This was not metaphorical.

I agree. fasting isnt a metaphor. My friend garee, thinking everything in the Bible is a metaphor, always quoting "things not seen".
Oy vey!

Btw i dont mean to boast, but i've been fasting for 3hours.