Attack of the devil or........
 

Years ago there was a minster that told me his family was under attack of the devil every spring, from my perspective it was a matter of how he and his family were treating folks that caused these "attacks".

How can one discern, when untoward happenings in our lives occur, whether it's a reaping of what was sown or an attack of the devil? Can it be both?

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Good question. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Only you know for sure.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Not always. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

That expression "Give the devil his due" seems to get worked overtime in some of the ranks of Pentecost. I think at times he gets way more credit then he should.

I also think at times he is a scape goat for when we are reaping things we have sown and the harvest is a bumper crop of trouble.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I agree.

With all that we blame the devil with, I almost (Notice the word ALMOST) feel sorry for him with the schedule he would have to keep up with......lol! I think we bring upon ourselves a lot more than what the devil is reponsible for. The devil isnt omnipresent and there is no way he could do all the things we blame him for. Now he is responsible for a lot, dont get me wrong, but we need to take reponsibility for our actions as well and quit blaming the devil for everything. Brother RevDWW, your completely right......

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I don't think you could ever give him more credit than he deserves:)

If it wasn't for him we might be living in the Garden of Eden. :)

I think the problem can be two fold- some blame the devil for human mistakes and the flip side when they don't recognize the enemy is at play.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

It's the womans fault we are not still in the garden..........not the devils. :aaa

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

See you just don't get it. :snapout:club:ursofunny

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Who made the wrong choice? The devil can beguile, lie, and deceive all day long, but we have to make a choice to do what he is tempting us to do.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Yes, BUT as I see it it is his fault for prompting the tempation, IF he had left her alone all would be well, sooooooooo it is his fault!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLUS God spoke to Adam and HE partook KNOWING it was wrong. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

But, if you use this logic, isn't it God's fault for creating mankind knowing they would be tempted, and give in to that temptation? Not that I believe this at all in any way... I just don't think it's the devil's fault either. It's what happened. God knew it was going to happen. And created everything that is anyhow. Since God is perfect, there must be a pretty good reason for that.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

What did you do that you are paying for? Come on. Out with it! Confession is good for the soul, Brudda! Tell us all the details! :D

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I'm paying for a house. But that ain't bad........:whistle

I don't have any confession worth hearing. I was just wanting to discuss how to tell the difference between an attack of the devil and things we bring on ourselves.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Meaning no disrespect, but I disagree with this argument. Yes, the devil played his part and still does even now. HOWEVER, we can't blame him for what we CHOOSE to do. We are creatures of free-will and therefore we are held accountable for our choices. We have to take personal responsibility for the things that we do.

Eve can blame the serpent. Adam can blame Eve. I can blame the devil or my parents for the way that I was raised or my peers for pressuring me too hard, but in the end, it boils down to Personal Responsibility. That is something that is lacking in America today. We're always wanting to blame someone else for what we CHOOSE to do, but nobody has ever held a gun to my head and forced me to do anything.

Anyway, just my humble opinion.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Personal Responsibility....what a concept! Jesus taught it when He said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "turn the other cheek". Not only am I able, but I must make the decision on how I respond to the things that effect me.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I think sometimes both, and sometimes neither. Bad things happen because we live in a sinful world that's a battleground. Sometimes we are just casualties of the battle.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Oh I 100% agree Eve had a choice, not debating that at all. My point is that satan instigated the sin, and in MY opinion it is his fault. But yes we all have a will to do right or wrong, no debate there. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

No I don't think it is God's fault for creating mankind. I wonder if He regrets it sometimes. :)

God allowed sin to give man a choice to serve Him or evil, rather than force man to worship Him. True worship if you will. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Wonder no more,
Genesis 6:6 8 (KJV)
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. :nod

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Yes I knew that. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Thank God for His Grace!!!!!

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

AMEN!

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

By the way it was their evil imaganations that grew worse and worse that caused the Lord to repent. No blame was put on the devil.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Thats because the devil has already been judged for his deeds, now man has to make his own choices.

My question has always been, how did sin ever get in heaven to begin with???

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

It's kind of interesting that Satan sinned and fell before their was a devil..........




Perhaps angelic beings have some form of free choice also. They must if satan could choose to rebel against God.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I think it is obvisous that they had/have a free choice that is why 1/3 was cast out with Lucifer. :)

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

I wonder if the devil don't work in some folks favor at times? Can he influence good things to happen to people so they will believe a lie?

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

As long as that minister yielded his mind (flesh) to the thought that the devil had power in the spring.. rest assured negativity would reign.

We live in a spirit world so I believe the answer is "both" (reaping/attack).

The Book says to not give place to the devil. So I choose to say my problem is me, (flesh) and I can conquer it through the power of the Holy Ghost. I won't give that old sleuth foot any credit.

Re: Attack of the devil or........
 

Wasn't it JOb that said "the thing I feared the most has come upon me"? (paraphased)