Satan vs. Self

[Anon]

How much of our problems do you think the devil causes/encourages, and how much do you think its just our old natural man causing our own problems?

Some people seem to see the devil in everything...others don't see the devil in enough....I'm not sure what the balance really is. The Bible says alot about the devil seeking us to destroy us...but on the other hand we have an old nature we have to make die daily.

Whatcha think?

[kevinmiller]

I wonder the same thing...

[RayJr]

I believe self gets things started and the devil and his minions help push you over the edge.

I think that you come up with the ideas because ours as humans is a sin nature. Even after savation our sin nature still exists.

[Anon]

Like if you have a bad thought...I wonder if the devil really "puts it there" or if you do it by yourself.

[RayJr]

I believe that you came up with it your-self, for the most part, I don't think the devil is incapable of doing it, but I think we help him out in that area.

[JAHinton]

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The beginning appears to be from within. He is tempted when he is drawn away of his own (idios) lusts. The enticement appears then to be from without. Someone has illustrated a bass lieing in the shadows thinking of how hungry he is. Just then, the fishermans lure comes by. He is soon in the skillet

Idios is in parenthesese because it is the Greek word translated own and is the source of our word idiosyncrecy (sp?)

[John81]

The devil is a finite being. He can't be everywhere at once so I doubt if he spends that much time on the average Christian when he has so many "bigger fish" he can work his evil through and on. So, likely as not, the devil himself probably isn't attacking us very often.

Of course, he does have a horde of demons doing his dirty work too. For the most part, like bad thoughts, I believe they come from our old sin nature. This is why we are commanded to put off the old man and put on the new man in Christ. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

The demons are there, and the devil is around too, but most often I believe we need to begin by looking within ourselves and then if it seems needful, consider demonic forces.

At the same time, never underestimate the craftiness of the enemy and his desire to distract and destroy us.

By keeping ourselves in prayer and in the Scriptures, and obeying the Lord in all things, we will be better prepared for whatever comes our way.