The Bible and other gods
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No offense but you don't believe everything in the bible because it says God is the only God. You are believing the lies of real beings and creatures. They lie about being Gods. They can be impressive and powerful but they are not "nice guys". They are only trying to spiritually poison you and cause you to spread their lies and poison here to other Christians. You need to reject them all, repent, and tell them to leave you alone!
“I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit …” (Romans 9:1)
Where is the Consciousness at?
The Mind!
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)
Where do we see Visions and Dreams at?
The Mind!
To claim God never reveals, Speaks to us within our Mind or Consciousness, which is the Mind, is un-biblical!
Where is the Consciousness at?
The Mind!
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)
Where do we see Visions and Dreams at?
The Mind!
To claim God never reveals, Speaks to us within our Mind or Consciousness, which is the Mind, is un-biblical!
As to the existence of 'gods', I think CS1 gave the best explanation in post 22. Scripturally, there are angels and demons of different forms, different spirits that either serve God or don't. (Some of the strangest "grey" area would be the lying spirit that served God by speaking falsehoods through the mouths of priests for other 'gods.') We see John the revelator turning to worship the angel that guided him through the revelation and the angel told him not to worship him. It is possible to encounter something that isn't evil but without a good understanding start to idolize it as something more than it is. Not all of these spirits are bad.
In a sense, RCC patron saints also fit into this fold of spiritual entities that can be petitioned for guidance. It becomes more complicated when we consider that many of the pagan 'gods' were amalgamated into RCC patron saints. It was part of what led Martin Luther to reject the notion that people needed a mediator for talking to God (Christ is the mediator). There are different feelings on the subject, but it is part of the reason why the RCC is accused of being polytheistic by some parties.
When Iceland was being converted to Christianity, the conversation wasn't that the Wodinists were conversing with thin air but rather that devils or other spirits had been guiding their ways. It is easy to see how if John the Revelator's vision had been abruptly interrupted before the angel had a chance to tell him not to worship him, that John might have continued with the wrong idea in mind after the experience. This might also be the case for other spirits that are worshiped as 'gods'. It may not have been the intention to have that kind of reaction by their interaction. These spirits may not be inherently devilish despite being worshiped and idolized by the few, just as the guiding angel wasn't inherently devilish despite John feeling the urge to worship and idolize.
So we have historical examples of pagan 'gods' being amalgamated and other examples of pagan 'gods' being deemed demons. We see that generally speaking there isn't a rejection of the concept that "something is there" but rather there is a rejection of the title of that thing being a "god". One thing that is true about most of these pagan gods is that none or very few of them by description fit the profile of a 'capital G' supreme God.
In a sense, RCC patron saints also fit into this fold of spiritual entities that can be petitioned for guidance. It becomes more complicated when we consider that many of the pagan 'gods' were amalgamated into RCC patron saints. It was part of what led Martin Luther to reject the notion that people needed a mediator for talking to God (Christ is the mediator). There are different feelings on the subject, but it is part of the reason why the RCC is accused of being polytheistic by some parties.
When Iceland was being converted to Christianity, the conversation wasn't that the Wodinists were conversing with thin air but rather that devils or other spirits had been guiding their ways. It is easy to see how if John the Revelator's vision had been abruptly interrupted before the angel had a chance to tell him not to worship him, that John might have continued with the wrong idea in mind after the experience. This might also be the case for other spirits that are worshiped as 'gods'. It may not have been the intention to have that kind of reaction by their interaction. These spirits may not be inherently devilish despite being worshiped and idolized by the few, just as the guiding angel wasn't inherently devilish despite John feeling the urge to worship and idolize.
So we have historical examples of pagan 'gods' being amalgamated and other examples of pagan 'gods' being deemed demons. We see that generally speaking there isn't a rejection of the concept that "something is there" but rather there is a rejection of the title of that thing being a "god". One thing that is true about most of these pagan gods is that none or very few of them by description fit the profile of a 'capital G' supreme God.
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My situation with demons is odd. I’ve achieved both much victory and much defeat on this subject. I’ll elaborate…
Over the years I have killed many demons who were tormenting me and making my life a literal living hell. I don’t know the exact figure of victories, but I estimate over 200 demons no longer exist because of me. The figure could be as high as 300, but I don’t know because I’ve killed so many and no longer keep track.
How does a Christian kill a demon? The answer can be found in the Gospels where Jesus casted demons out of a victim. The scriptures here describe how those infernal spirits begged Christ to send them into the bodies of swine (considered a filthy animal by the Jews at the time and even by many non-Jews today) because dwelling on the bodies of pigs would have been preferable to the fate that awaited them.
And what fate awaited them? Death.
Without a body a demon will die. I’ve seen this happen with my own eyes, and the Bible confirms this to be true. Matthew 12:43 says that without a body a demon will wander around without water and find none of it. Water is used as an analogy here, because without water (nourishment) a human will die from thirst. And so it is with demons: If they don’t have a human host, they die from lack of nourishment, or whatever sustains their existence.
God gives me the ability to pull demons out of my body. This ability comes directly from the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus conferred this ability to his disciples, and it is available to all believers today. But there is one condition that Christians must meet to kill demons: They must be in excellent standing with God.
What does that condition of excellent standing with God entail? It means the Christian cannot be in a state of sin.
Since I have problems with sinning, as do many Christians like myself who aren’t as disciplined as they want to be, I’m often in a situation where demons come right back and attach onto me, causing torment and grief—and I can’t do anything about it because God won’t allow me to pull the demons out of my body to kill them, since I’ve been in a state of sin. This is where I have suffered much defeat.
I wanted to kill the demons who have been tormenting me last night, but couldn’t. They continued to harass me in my sleep and cause a lot of grief. And nothing could be done about it because God isn’t pleased with me over my sins.
I really wish God would drop this requirement that I have to be perfect to get rid of demons. They are truly ruining my life. It isn’t possible for me to be perfect 100% of the time, so this means my life is pretty much ruined unless God has compassion and realizes that no one can live up to perfect standards.
Over the years I have killed many demons who were tormenting me and making my life a literal living hell. I don’t know the exact figure of victories, but I estimate over 200 demons no longer exist because of me. The figure could be as high as 300, but I don’t know because I’ve killed so many and no longer keep track.
How does a Christian kill a demon? The answer can be found in the Gospels where Jesus casted demons out of a victim. The scriptures here describe how those infernal spirits begged Christ to send them into the bodies of swine (considered a filthy animal by the Jews at the time and even by many non-Jews today) because dwelling on the bodies of pigs would have been preferable to the fate that awaited them.
And what fate awaited them? Death.
Without a body a demon will die. I’ve seen this happen with my own eyes, and the Bible confirms this to be true. Matthew 12:43 says that without a body a demon will wander around without water and find none of it. Water is used as an analogy here, because without water (nourishment) a human will die from thirst. And so it is with demons: If they don’t have a human host, they die from lack of nourishment, or whatever sustains their existence.
God gives me the ability to pull demons out of my body. This ability comes directly from the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus conferred this ability to his disciples, and it is available to all believers today. But there is one condition that Christians must meet to kill demons: They must be in excellent standing with God.
What does that condition of excellent standing with God entail? It means the Christian cannot be in a state of sin.
Since I have problems with sinning, as do many Christians like myself who aren’t as disciplined as they want to be, I’m often in a situation where demons come right back and attach onto me, causing torment and grief—and I can’t do anything about it because God won’t allow me to pull the demons out of my body to kill them, since I’ve been in a state of sin. This is where I have suffered much defeat.
I wanted to kill the demons who have been tormenting me last night, but couldn’t. They continued to harass me in my sleep and cause a lot of grief. And nothing could be done about it because God isn’t pleased with me over my sins.
I really wish God would drop this requirement that I have to be perfect to get rid of demons. They are truly ruining my life. It isn’t possible for me to be perfect 100% of the time, so this means my life is pretty much ruined unless God has compassion and realizes that no one can live up to perfect standards.
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I find it impossible for someone filled with the Holy spirit to also have Demons attached to them. Light and Darkness do not, nor ever can co-exist together. I wonder if your definition of Demons attaching is more of a reference where you still are vulnerable when temptations face you. If a recovering alcoholic sits in the bar every day, they are only putting them self in position to fail. If a Believer suffers from porn addiction, they need to stop looking at places where porn exists. You are the one who opens these doors. I guarantee that the Holy Spirit is not leading you to do as such. You have to be ignoring God to achieve these others things.
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That seems to be the response I’ve heard from many other Christians. They think that if I suffer with a demon problem, then I must not be a real Christian. But I am born-again; I do believe Jesus is my savior; and I accept the Bible and all scripture teachings as the absolute truth.
The reason why God is allowing these demonic attacks to happen is because he doesn’t like my addictive tendencies. Please note: I said God allows it, but he doesn’t cause it. That is a big difference.
I wish addiction were a choice. If it were, I could simply put down the stuff and not feel like I need it. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy for me. Addictive personalities are probably innate, meaning there is a gene that affects the brain and predisposes people to addiction.
My grandfather has this gene. He is a very smart person who graduated from Rice University, the most prestigious university here in Texas and arguably one of the most prestigious in the US. He was very successful too, having made a lot of money in the oil and gas industry as an exploration geologist—but he has a compulsive gambling problem. Indeed he is addicted to gambling and wastes a ton of money every year on it, well into the six figures. Last year my dad went over to his house to help him pay taxes. He inquired about his gambling losses for tax write-offs and found out that my grandfather lost $82,000 that year at Indian casinos.
So yeah, I have this addiction gene. It was passed onto me.
What addictions do I have? Fortunately it isn’t gambling. Knowing me and my personality, it is best to stay away from gambling because I would probably like it too much and get addicted to it, just like my grandfather.
I like to drink a lot. When I do drink, which is pretty much every day, I don’t just drink one or two beers. Instead I might drink 3, 4, or even 5. And sometimes it happens not just once a day, but two or three times a day.
I also like substances. I don’t want to confess to doing anything illegal on the internet, so I won’t elaborate any further on this. But I will say that I don’t do the hard stuff and stick to the prescription stuff. But still, prescription pills can be every bit as addicting as stronger drugs, especially when someone takes more than one pill, and I like to take more than one pill. I also like nicotine a lot, and quitting that drug is super hard.
I really need a detox pill to help me quit misusing alcohol and pills. Last week I wanted to make an appointment with my doctor to get some Librium or another related pill that mellows me and exponentially eases the withdrawal process. For some reason I keep putting that off, but I really need to do it.
The reason why God is allowing these demonic attacks to happen is because he doesn’t like my addictive tendencies. Please note: I said God allows it, but he doesn’t cause it. That is a big difference.
I wish addiction were a choice. If it were, I could simply put down the stuff and not feel like I need it. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy for me. Addictive personalities are probably innate, meaning there is a gene that affects the brain and predisposes people to addiction.
My grandfather has this gene. He is a very smart person who graduated from Rice University, the most prestigious university here in Texas and arguably one of the most prestigious in the US. He was very successful too, having made a lot of money in the oil and gas industry as an exploration geologist—but he has a compulsive gambling problem. Indeed he is addicted to gambling and wastes a ton of money every year on it, well into the six figures. Last year my dad went over to his house to help him pay taxes. He inquired about his gambling losses for tax write-offs and found out that my grandfather lost $82,000 that year at Indian casinos.
So yeah, I have this addiction gene. It was passed onto me.
What addictions do I have? Fortunately it isn’t gambling. Knowing me and my personality, it is best to stay away from gambling because I would probably like it too much and get addicted to it, just like my grandfather.
I like to drink a lot. When I do drink, which is pretty much every day, I don’t just drink one or two beers. Instead I might drink 3, 4, or even 5. And sometimes it happens not just once a day, but two or three times a day.
I also like substances. I don’t want to confess to doing anything illegal on the internet, so I won’t elaborate any further on this. But I will say that I don’t do the hard stuff and stick to the prescription stuff. But still, prescription pills can be every bit as addicting as stronger drugs, especially when someone takes more than one pill, and I like to take more than one pill. I also like nicotine a lot, and quitting that drug is super hard.
I really need a detox pill to help me quit misusing alcohol and pills. Last week I wanted to make an appointment with my doctor to get some Librium or another related pill that mellows me and exponentially eases the withdrawal process. For some reason I keep putting that off, but I really need to do it.
You need to get Your mind right!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Just concentrate on these Verses. They are telling us we have the ability to change how we think. You have to "want this" or it will not happen. If you are truly tormented, then you should be desperate enough to try what God tells us to do!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Just concentrate on these Verses. They are telling us we have the ability to change how we think. You have to "want this" or it will not happen. If you are truly tormented, then you should be desperate enough to try what God tells us to do!
"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks". Luke 6:45.
You do not have an addictive gene you are a New Creature in Christ Jesus. 2corinthians 5:17
You are in a battle, but Victory is assured. You say Jesus is your Savior, now make HIM Lord of your Life!
Jesus came to set the captive free, and open up the prison doors. Whom the Son has set free, IS FREE indeed. John 8:36 Luke 4:18-20
Look to the answer, not to the problem.
Ask the Lord to take away the desires that hold you captive, Repent, surrender and receive today in Jesus' name. The God you serve is greater than any demon in hell IF you have faith to believe that? I recommend you get into a support group of Believers that use a Christ-centered Program like Teen Challenge ( which is not for teens only but adults) or Celebrate Recovery.
IF you Draw Near to Jesus HE will draw near to you and you will distance yourself from the addiction. Leave and cleave.
You need to seek out help from those who know the Lord. Also, tell your doctor the medication you are using is causing adverse behavior. I too was in addition and the only reason why I did not get set free sooner was I did not want to.
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I believe you suffer demonic attacks--King Saul was given over, due to his sins, to demonic attacks. They can be remedied to some extent, and ultimately, there could be a cure. With King Sault there never was a cure because he never fully repented of his sins.
I believe you are a Christian, but not a Bible-believing one in the sense that you read and understand the Bible's teaching on "other gods." Any sense that these "other gods" are "real gods" or "nice gods" isn't in the Bible at all. You're either naïve or you're mentally unstable. If you've mentally unstable, you warrant understanding and counselling, but not enablement.
I believe there is a kind of "addictive gene," though not physical DNA. Sin is a spiritual contagion and has, I believe, a spiritual means of transmission from generation to generation, including certain sin tendencies. Again, you deserve understanding and compassion, but not enablement.
If you claim to be a "biblical Christian," you need to accept what people here are saying to you about what true biblical Christianity is. You don't have to listen to the judgmental Christians, but only to the truths about Christianity that really are true. Good luck conquering those "demons."
BTW, demons don't die. They wander in waterless places as a consequence of their rejecting the water that satisfies forever. But they don't need physical water, since they are spiritual beings. Those who are separated from the presence of the Lord forever will also live in waterless places, ie they will feel thirsty, having rejected the One who gives them water leading to eternal life.
You don't, therefore, "kill demons," though you may succeed in winning some victories over them. As a Christian you do have that power, though I agree that sometimes they will be difficult to dispose of permanently, due to your weakness.
I believe you are a Christian, but not a Bible-believing one in the sense that you read and understand the Bible's teaching on "other gods." Any sense that these "other gods" are "real gods" or "nice gods" isn't in the Bible at all. You're either naïve or you're mentally unstable. If you've mentally unstable, you warrant understanding and counselling, but not enablement.
I believe there is a kind of "addictive gene," though not physical DNA. Sin is a spiritual contagion and has, I believe, a spiritual means of transmission from generation to generation, including certain sin tendencies. Again, you deserve understanding and compassion, but not enablement.
If you claim to be a "biblical Christian," you need to accept what people here are saying to you about what true biblical Christianity is. You don't have to listen to the judgmental Christians, but only to the truths about Christianity that really are true. Good luck conquering those "demons."
BTW, demons don't die. They wander in waterless places as a consequence of their rejecting the water that satisfies forever. But they don't need physical water, since they are spiritual beings. Those who are separated from the presence of the Lord forever will also live in waterless places, ie they will feel thirsty, having rejected the One who gives them water leading to eternal life.
You don't, therefore, "kill demons," though you may succeed in winning some victories over them. As a Christian you do have that power, though I agree that sometimes they will be difficult to dispose of permanently, due to your weakness.
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you have been deceived, satan even comes as an angel of light, and there are warnings against what you are saying in the OP. you may claim you are Christian but you are unlearned as one, get into the Word of God, and find your error and then repent of it. I will share one verse which is important for you to see if you are able. others are sharing to you as well, read them carefully, and it's really easy to see why it would anger others with your OP, of which, I fully disagree.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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S
are we to be impressed?
the high devil? oh. is there a lower devil then?
since you 'believe' every word in the Bible, you had best seek God for deliverance from whatever entities are enticing you and playing your game
might not work though since you seem rather attached
this is life and death. demons might seem amusing to you, but they desire to destroy you
and there is only one devil.
the high devil? oh. is there a lower devil then?
since you 'believe' every word in the Bible, you had best seek God for deliverance from whatever entities are enticing you and playing your game
might not work though since you seem rather attached
this is life and death. demons might seem amusing to you, but they desire to destroy you
and there is only one devil.
Those who speak English suffer from a limitation of language. We don't have enough words in the language to address this topic adequately without people either getting their knickers in a twist.
We as Christians associate the three-letter word 'g-o-d' with a certain set of attributes which uniquely describe the Creator of the Bible. While we have other words such as divinity and deity, they have the same associations. So, for the purposes of this thread, please allow the following:
"being" = created intelligent personal entity which exists primarily in the spirit realm but may manifest in the physical realm
These are referred to by several terms in Scripture such as elohim and benay elohim. I'm not going to translate the terms because it will only add to the confusion at this point. God created many "beings" when He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, cf. Job 38:7). Some are identified as angels, some as archangels, some as seraphs, and some as cherubs. Others later are called demons.
"Beings" were created by God through Jesus for His purposes, which include the administration of the physical realm. The clues in Scripture suggest that God gave over most of humankind to the care of the "beings". Instead of directing humans to worship God, they taught humans to worship them instead, even to the point of humans calling them "god".
According to Scripture, there is only one entity rightly called "God". However, there are many beings referred to as "gods". None of the "gods" is worthy of worship, and most if not all seek to mislead humans away from God and destroy them by means of corruption, deception, and enticement. That is why the Bible contains strong admonitions not to seek them or their powers.
Anyone interested in a more detailed study is encouraged to read Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm.
We as Christians associate the three-letter word 'g-o-d' with a certain set of attributes which uniquely describe the Creator of the Bible. While we have other words such as divinity and deity, they have the same associations. So, for the purposes of this thread, please allow the following:
"being" = created intelligent personal entity which exists primarily in the spirit realm but may manifest in the physical realm
These are referred to by several terms in Scripture such as elohim and benay elohim. I'm not going to translate the terms because it will only add to the confusion at this point. God created many "beings" when He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, cf. Job 38:7). Some are identified as angels, some as archangels, some as seraphs, and some as cherubs. Others later are called demons.
"Beings" were created by God through Jesus for His purposes, which include the administration of the physical realm. The clues in Scripture suggest that God gave over most of humankind to the care of the "beings". Instead of directing humans to worship God, they taught humans to worship them instead, even to the point of humans calling them "god".
According to Scripture, there is only one entity rightly called "God". However, there are many beings referred to as "gods". None of the "gods" is worthy of worship, and most if not all seek to mislead humans away from God and destroy them by means of corruption, deception, and enticement. That is why the Bible contains strong admonitions not to seek them or their powers.
Anyone interested in a more detailed study is encouraged to read Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm.
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