Is this spiritual warfare or is it just me?
If you’re in a leadership position in an aggressive and innovative church then this is one of those times of year where there might seem to be a lot of spiritual warfare…right? You’re probably planning an incredible teaching series or publicity campaign or whatever.
During these times, I hear a common story about how since we are doing something that stands to make some waves for the Kingdom we are subsequently being attacked by Satan.
I don’t have a problem with that idea.
But I do question it…if you know me, you know I question everything.
What are we saying when we claim that we are being attacked by Satan?
Last week my battery went dead. Was that an attack by Satan or did my battery simply go dead because it got to the age that batteries get to when they die?
just asking
{IMG | Dunechaser}
Yeah, I agree. It is not unspiritual to question when someone says that God told them something or when they say Satan is attacking them. A lot of people view you as less spiritually mature if you don't automatically accept it. I get frustrated when people use the "God Card" as conversation enders when they can't or don't want to defend their position. I am not saying God doesn't speak to anyone or that Satan doesn't attack anyone I just want to know HOW you know it is God or Satan…
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Hmm that's a tough one. I try not to obsess like: "oop, the devil's got me today" because it's kind of absurd.
I agree that it is possible to be spiritually drained w/o being attacked by the devil.
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Satan loves to attack car batteries that are just about five years old.
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You abviously just didn't pray enough that day.
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@karl // you always speak with true wisdom
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Well, usually these kinds of statements are in the eye of the beholder. I'm not accountable to Vince's experiences of attacks or God's voice. If someone pulls a 'God card', as Travis calls it, I will accept an explanation of "Says the Lord" if the party making the claim can explain what is being said and why he/she interprets that based on a track record of following God's leading in his/her life. And if it effects me, then I require "Says the Lord to me too!".
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If Satan were to attack car batteries then we believe God is capable or active in making batteries work or stay working. Possible? Sure.
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i think people give satan too much credit… he is not omni-anything. and i think there is enough depravity in me that satan doesn't need to help.
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Apparently the greater Temecula/Murrieta valley is going through some 'attacks' because you guys showed up in force on this post
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I say "word" to Micah. As a created being, Satan is not omnipresent. And we see in Daniel that it takes angels time to travel places.
So If I say I'm being attacked by Satan himself, I'm probably seeing myself as more important than all of the other things that non-omnipresent being could be concerned with (larger-scale wars/genocide, the destruction of children, hindering the gospel, the American media, advancing postmodernism, new versions of Internet Explorer…), whether I realize/admit it or not.
And I've come to realize that Satan doesn't need my help to screw things up. I often make myself my own God, and do a fine job of screwing things up in my flesh.
That being said, there is a host of fallen angels, an army, that is real.
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