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| Is the Devil Laughing? |
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I saw a post on YouTube, which I will purposely NOT plug into this blog, because I would not want it to get any more attention then it has already gotten. It was a video blasting a well-known Christian preacher and author. This sort of thing really vexes my spirit. Why? Why are Christians attacking other Christians? I just don't get it!! Isn't the devil supposed to be the accuser of the brethren? So why are Christians often accusing other Christians?? Isn't this supposed to be the work of the devil? Aren't we supposed to honor and encourage our fellow believers, especially those who are on the front lines for Jesus? Isn't this Stompin' On Holy Ground?
Sure we may not always agree with everything that comes out of the mouths of some preachers, but how does that make us right and them wrong? Think about the pride in slandering others, just because they don't see things the way we do. Grant it, there are false prophets and we should not feed from their teachings. I am talking about Bible believing preachers, who are teaching the Word of God, to the best of their ability.
It seems to me that the more effective a preacher is at soul winning, the more they are attacked. I would like to think it is coming from our enemy, the evil one; but I see it coming from within the church. Think about this: Would a soldier wound one of his own men? This is sad; very, very sad :( And I believe it grieves the Lord.
I wonder if the devil just sits around laughing, because Christians are doing all the work for him. Even while I was typing up this post, I received a reply from the comment I left regarding this video, and a very long message in my Inbox. Here is what I wrote...
"Satan is going to attack those who reach people for Christ effectively. ****** is winning people to Christ and lives are being changed. Satan does not like this! Sometimes I wonder if it really is satan doing the attacking, or if he just sits back and laughs, because Christians are doing it for him. Consider this...."
What do you think?
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| To add a comment to "Is the Devil Laughing?" |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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| Is the devil laughing? Nope. He's in a world of trouble and he knows it. He's just hoping to take as many down with him as he can. |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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| Maybe he is laughing. The future isn't written as far as he is concerned, is it? In his great arrogance maybe he still thinks he can one-up God? Interesting post, Sue. Yes it does relate to your Stompin blog. ~mike |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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Is the future written for Satan? I sense we could go off and argue that point. My feeling is that the moment Christ rose after fulfilling the debt, Satan knew the clock started ticking. (That's if he didn't know before then.) |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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| I bet he knows more scripture than we do... |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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| and probably how to interpret it better as well... |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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Ouch, Zach. Sadly, you're right.
Sue, I agree with you. We need to be accountable within the body, but I really don't think we should be showing disrespect to each other in the sight of non believers. When we do that, we don't look any different than anyone else.
Above all, put on love....I think I read that somewhere.... |
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| July 15, 2007 |
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This may raise some eyebrows, but I believe the devil is God's servant. God has set limits on him (as exampled in the book of Job) and he knows and acts within those limits (not by choice) but because of God's sovereignty. God "binds and looses" the devil in accordance to what best serves His (God's) purpose. We should be the ones laughing. 8>D
However, I agree that it is truly sad that Christians attack Christians. We can't say, "the devil made me do it." |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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| I agree with you. This is very sad. I have seen Christians belittle other Christians. I never understood that. We are supposed to be a family and the "body of Christ". If we were God's mouth I don't think He would like what was coming out of it. I think the Devil is probably laughing. He is trying to bring people down with him and sadly succeeding with some. |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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YOU shall not speak against the Lords anointed. It is a sad true fact so many christian's and preacher's do speak against other believers.We need to pray for the lost who are save to know the truth, Not make fun and condem them.We also need to focus on the truly lost who do not know Jesus and putting down each other is no way to win anyone to the Lord what a sad example of christianity that is.
1 Samuel 24:6
He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."
1 Samuel 24:5-7 (in Context) 1 Samuel 24 (Whole Chapter) 1 Samuel 24:10
This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'
1 Samuel 24:9-11 (in Context) 1 Samuel 24 (Whole Chapter) 1 Samuel 26:9
But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?
1 Samuel 26:8-10 (in Context) 1 Samuel 26 (Whole Chapter) 1 Samuel 26:11
But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."
1 Samuel 26:10-12 (in Context) 1 Samuel 26 (Whole Chapter) 1 Samuel 26:16
What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"
1 Samuel 26:15-17 (in Context) 1 Samuel 26 (Whole Chapter) 1 Samuel 26:23
The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed.
1 Samuel 26:22-24 (in Context) 1 Samuel 26 (Whole Chapter) 2 Samuel 1:14
David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
2 Samuel 1:13-15 (in Context) 2 Samuel 1 (Whole Chapter) 2 Samuel 1:16
For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.' "
2 Samuel 1:15-17 (in Context) 2 Samuel 1 (Whole Chapter) 2 Samuel 19:21
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed."
2 Samuel 19:20-22 (in Context) 2 Samuel 19 (Whole Chapter) Isaiah 61:1
[ The Year of the LORD's Favor ] The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Isaiah 61:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 61 (Whole Chapter) Lamentations 4:20
The LORD's anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.
Lamentations 4:19-21 (in Context) Lamentations 4 (Whole Chapter) If God has place a calling on a person to preach the gospel who are we to comdem them.If you disagree with them just pray the Lord reavels the truth to whoever is without wisdom from God and God will give the wisdom to them in His perfect time as alway's.
All my love and His from above,
Diana |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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I go back and forth on this one. What if someone had said something about Jim Jones? What if someone had said something to Jim Bakker? What if someone says that to get to heaven all you have to do is be a good person? What if someone says that you have to have a negative attitude (because there is so much suffering in the world) What if they are wrong and you are right? What if they are a false prophet and are misleading? ----------------------- I think there is a balance that needs to be reached. We cannot let the Truth be watered down in the name of unity. On the other side, we can't always be attacking each other. |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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I 1:12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?
17:21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, `art' in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.
Just like you say it, we should stop fighting (attacking) and listen more Jesus prayer, because at the end there is only one Jesus without caring what is your church denomination or whatever. The Christ we pray to is the sameone, the One who died for you, for me, and for all of us. God bless. |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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Great blog Sue! I agree with you 100%--and with Norm and with Charlie. The bottom line is that God IS sovereign. With that in mind, if we are hooked up--in realtionship as we should be, the accuser of the brethren cannot decieve us. Rather, we can trust God to expose what he wants to for our well being. That said--it's still not our place to judge.
A friend of mine made a very powerful statement to me this week. She said 'the ultimate curse in dealing with the enemy is to ignore him. What you give your attention to, you bless. What you turn away from is to curse it--becaue you have denied it the power to feed on your mind.' I think that applies here. We can shut down false teachings and false prophets by simply turning away. Our words of condemnation are not needed to 'help God out'. They only place us in jeapordy. |
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| July 17, 2007 |
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Good point Birdie. If correction is needed, it should come from some who know the person, then they should go to him/her privately. Correcting or admonishing another saint is a serious matter. Matt. 18 has been given as to how we should go to another in love. Speaking "in the name of God" is serious too.
One final note: Alice heard recently of a certain church "denomination in a major U.S. city "disfellowshipping" that same "denomination" in another city. That seems ridicilous! |
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| July 17, 2007 |
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It really turns me away from a preacher or teacher when he/she uses their position to "dis" other ministries. I want to hear what someone is for not who they are against. Yes, people should be held accountable for gross error but we should always treat fellow believers with respect, going to them privately first, with witnesses. |
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| July 17, 2007 |
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Someone could start another entry. Pharisee or Saint? (or anointed if you prefer). I just started Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala last night and boom right in my face was the following in Chapter 2 5:12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 5:13 God judges those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you." |
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| July 17, 2007 |
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Great Point Norm, I think we are called to Judge or Chrisitan brothers, we should keep them in line with what the bible calls us to do. However, like MikeNLaura says it can be done with style... I also agree with Charlie that the Devil is God's servant... God would not be all powerful if he was not... The reference to Job was spot on IMHO. Cheers and God Bless |
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| July 17, 2007 |
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Norm, I agree with you about the false prophets. That is why I included that they should be confronted. But I also think that we should be led of the Lord to do this. And I love the verse you sited. We should drive out the wicked among us who are not willing to repent. But we should not come up against fellow believers who are teaching and preaching the Word of God.
Oh and I love Jim Cymbala books! Carol Cymbala's book was also very good.
I will comment on some of these other points at another time. It was a long day.
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| July 18, 2007 |
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But we should not come up against fellow believers who are teaching and preaching the Word of God. This is why I commented about Phariee (or false prophet) vs. Saint. We can't determine this just based on whether the words they say are coming out of the Bible. The people I mentioned above did that. Heck the devil did that. With people who have virtual ministries (online), how do you confront them and how do we know whether these people have tried confronting them privately or not? Somehow I think that (although you haven't said this directly) that the video you saw was more of a mocking tone than a confrontation one though. Is that accurate? |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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BTW, to those of you who say the devil is God's servant, does that mean when you are tempted you say it is of God? |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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Yes, I clearly remember being in a motel room with several men when Jim Baker fell. I was amazed to see these men say things like, "I knew all along he was a scammer" and stuff like that and they were the ones who used to go to PTL and give their money every year. I never was a "fan" of Baker but I couldn't believe how fast those who believed in someone could turn. And then, the same night there was Jimmy Swaggart on there frothing at the mouth at Baker and telling people on Nightline that Baker was a cancer that needed to be excised, etc. I said right then that Swaggart had something to hide and sure enough...the rest is history... We really need to watch what we do ESPECIALLY in front of the watching world.... |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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The video was definately not a confrontation. It had the preacher speaking the Word while this guys "opinions" kept popping up on the bottom of the screen why he was right and the preacher was wrong. Meanwhile, I agreed with the Pastor :) And yes, he used scripture to slander. I guess you could say he was using the Sword of the Spirit in the wrong way.
But you do make an excellent point Norm. We should confront when we need to, but to do it behind the persons back is slander. |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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| Well, yes, it's a two-edged sword and can surgically heal or destroy...a very dangerous weapon, indeed. At least Paul faced Peter in person!! |
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| July 21, 2007 |
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Great post, Sue! Star for you. I am guilty of this, though. I disagree with Joel Osteen so often but I was ashamed to find myself bad-mouthing him a couple months ago. :(
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| July 29, 2007 |
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How about a round of applause for Calvinism? :) (Sorry Sue, just trying to be helpful)
Brian, My point was that we are now "attacking" someone who was "attacking" a well known "preacher". Did Jesus attack the Sanhedrin? Did the apostles do the same? I don't think from the sounds of it this is what was happening here. But (and I hesitate to post this, because someone could see this a request for a link) to say that either of them is wrong or that the devil is laughing one way or another is conjecture. :) |
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| July 30, 2007 |
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Thanks Brian. I think every group has a few who just don't "represent" the rest of the group very well :) That is even more true for Christians as a whole. |
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Follow this blog
"Satan is going to attack those who reach people for Christ effectively. ****** is winning people to Christ and lives are being changed. Satan does not like this! Sometimes I wonder if it really is satan doing the attacking, or if he just sits back and laughs, because Christians are doing it for him. Consider this...."
What do you think?