Lefein, You are seemingly making statements as they are fact rather than your observations. This is where condemnation often takes shape. You say they can only work with what they are given to work with . . .I'm sorry but where does Scripture teach this?
Satan had to ask God for permission before he did anything with Job, and even then, he couldn't make anything out of thin air, he can't create ex-nihilo.
He can't enter where you don't open a door, if he can't create his ammo, and he can't get ammo where he is not allowed inside, and if he can only go where God allows, then he can only work with what he is given.
Logic.
One with a broken mind a demon will over look? Again, how would you come to know this? These aren't facts, merely your observations and you're presenting your point as though it's based on fact.
How often is a person born, or naturally made to be as a vegetable used by a demon for a dwelling?
These are not dumb spirits, they know that a car without tires, or gas isn't going to get them very far down the road.
For me, the whole goal in all of our lives is to be free from the bondage of our "self" and walk in the spirit, not after the flesh. It's so easy to get lost in debates on things like this because some choose to embrace literal while others choose to pursue spiritual.
Then don't fight me...Work on yourself.
"if" spiritual is set above natural, why then emphasize the natural? Why must we try to impress on others the literal when it's clear everyone's natural mind can come to conclusions of their own volition. Yet it's the spiritual implications that are hidden from our understanding and can only be revealed through spiritual relationship with the Father.
Because the Spiritual and the Natural are not two separate Realities. The whole world isn't a metaphor to be taken any which way we wish.
Fish do indeed have bones, and rocks hurt when they hit your foot...You can make a metaphor out of these facts, but the facts still exist and should not be ignored.
If the demons are real, what now? Should we cower in fear? Should we warn the world of their power? Should we take advantage of the situation and build great reputations on how to rid the world of them? Or should we just brush them off as we continue to pursue our goal of maturing our relationship into the deeper things of God?
Obviously you should not cower in fear, but it is poor stewardship, and I daresay stupidity to ignore the enemy at your gate, even if you are superior to him in might.
We are not to become devil minded, but we don't outright ignore the enemy when he attacks us.
We are told to submit to God, and resist the Devil, and he shall flee.
It does not say; Submit to God, ignore the Devil, and he'll get bored and go away.
For me . . ."if" they are as we've been taught, then Jesus really "was" tempted by "S"atan, the greatest adversary against God. . .and yet that would mean that darkness actually would have something that Light desired otherwise, how else could light be tempted at all in the first place? It's all connected on one level or another.
"Tested" is a more accurate translation of the Greek word "perisathenai" or literally translated "to be tried"
Jesus went to be tried. Just because you are tried, doesn't mean you desire what is being offered.
I could be 'tempted', or offered by someone to sleep with an aids filled man...but I hardly desire to accept that offer. Jesus knew well what Satan was offering, and he knew well enough to not desire it. It is not a sin to be tried.
And "if" demons are real and I'm just full of poopiness, is it that big of a deal anyway? Do we not have the power to walk on serpents and not be harmed?
I think you are assuming that I have attacked you...This is false.
But clearly dear friend, that is the whole point...We have power over the devil, and darkness. But just because we are mighty, doesn't mean we have liberty to metaphorise the enemy into a philosophical equivalence to the flesh.
Job's flesh didn't walk up to God and say - He only loves you because you bless him! "Someone" did, that someone is called The Accuser.
The Accuser isn't some force who is full of dark glory...But he is a pest enough to not ignore if he infests a certain area of our lives. He isn't our flesh either - otherwise he'd have been called our flesh.
