Posted on 01/09/2016 5:00:43 PM PST by matt1234
If yes, what evidence can you cite, and what explanation can you offer? I was prompted to ask because I find myself facing much greater temptation in recent months, precisely when my personal circumstances suggest that I should be facing much less temptation. This makes no sense, so I seeking an explanation. My initial question suggests one possible answer: that God and His agents as well as Satan and his agents are increasing their efforts to control people's souls. I am sure FReepers can suggest other answers.
I will not elaborate on the temptation I'm facing other than to say this: I have not yielded to it.
I welcome all input from the dogmatic to the philosophical to the secular. I think the topic is a fascinating one.
Thank you in advance.
The harder you work at leading a Godly life, the harder Satan is going to try to lead you away.
The answer to your question is yes & it’s going to keep getting worse until the Lord Returns.
Many times, when a person feels like they’re at a high point in their faith- & they actually are, that’s when the devil comes after them the hardest. And he is relentless.
God Never Leaves you. Never. When things get really hairy, sometimes He Will Answer what you need (which is to know that He Is There) right away.
No matter what happens- how things ‘turn out’, you & people who believe on Jesus Christ are going to be MORE than okay.
God Bless. Hang in there.
Yes, rampant corruption.
Evidence #1: Washington D.C. (District of Corruption.)
Evidence #2: Wall Street.
Evidence #3: Collusion between Big Government, Big Business.
Evidence #4: Waste, Fraud, Abuse of every single "benefits" program in this country, enabled by the Government, taken advantage of and exploited by otherwise able bodied people.
Evidence #5: Those who walked away from their mortgage obligations because their homes were financially under-water and decided to stop paying their mortgages, which hurt the rest of us, while benefitting them.
I can keep going. To ignore the rampant corruption in this country at every level of government and business, and frankly, at an individual level is a fools errand.
You want a good Christian fiction book that explains what's been going on recently in story form, read Frank Peretti's book, This Present Darkness
It's fiction but shows what's happening all around us, everyday.
A circumstance of less temptation would be an alcoholic living in a dry county, as a hypothetical example.
Thank you for the well wishes.
Look at the lack of value this country places on the sanctity, dignity, and beauty of human life -- at all stages.
54,000,000+ murdered, unborn human children. How is that not spiritual warfare? How is killing an innocent, unborn, defenseless human being not evil?
How is it so called "Pastors" and "Priests" can say "God bless Planned Parenthood" or "Thank God for abortion!" when both are blatantly evil by definition of the word?
Even moreso, how can anyone look at what's happening in today's world and NOT see that there's a spiritual battle between Good and Evil going on right now, and that the battle has been escalating for a very, very long time?
Ephesians 6:12 'For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.'
And finally, how topical this is right now since I'm re-reading Isaiah these past few days:
Isaiah 5:20-21 (20) 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!'(21) 'Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!'
My take on these times is that we are rapidly approaching a confrontation that will begin externally to our world and intrude into our world, and that we will then see plainly what many already suspect, that demonic forces have gained almost total control over the world and that only this supernatural intervention can overcome those forces.
We know that certain things are wrong in this world, not just in places like North Korea or Iran, but in our own free societies that in some cases have a superficial allegiance to God. We know that we should be overcoming and rejecting certain forces but we seem to be outnumbered and could only hope to do so now by force. And to use force would not only be technically unconstitutional, it would be practically impossible due to a lack of co-ordination and easy identification of who should be opposed by force (some are more obvious than others).
This is essentially the end time scenario. I think what has confused the issue somewhat is that perhaps we have already gone through the first cycle of the end time prophecy and have lived through something that allegorically resembles the millennial kingdom then the release from bondage of the beast, dragon and false prophet. Many think instead that we are waiting for the first cycle to begin so they are not looking directly for the signs associated with the final kingdom onset.
So that is in some ways an optimistic appraisal because we just have this one spiritual crisis to go, and could be into the kingdom at any time soon.
There is no doubt that we live in a time of lying signs and wonders. Almost everything about political correctness is essentially a careful interlocking system of lies and deceptions.
We can win all these battles but we will need more help than we needed in the past, because these are times where the spiritual battles extend beyond the confines of this material world.
I am certainly facing more spiritual opposition of late. I mentioned this to one of my friends and he was experiencing the same.
You rarely start taking flack until you are close to the target.
You are probably doing something right that is bringing you closer to God...and someone is not happy about it.
You are the second person in this thread to cite that verse.
Yes, I also tend to see evil as pervasive in our society, and very much "in your face." What is more troubling is that some people seem to relish spreading evil and destroying good...as if they get enjoyment from it. Very disturbing.
I will pray for strength for you Matt. Yes, it is increasing, evidenced by nothing more than the destruction of marriage (but a ton of other things).
Remember though, Paul says, where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. What an awesome promise!
Very interesting. That is what I am talking about. Care to elaborate?
Nobody asks such questions about temptation unless there is a woman involved.
I can assume from your indecision that the delta in your ages is significant (20+). And that there is some significant risk (to your reputation) to becoming involved with her.
Your question grabbed my attention. I tried to have a discussion about that very topic with my mom just today. She is as solid a Christian as you’ll ever meet, but she wanted nothing to do with that topic. So, not only do I think that the spiritual battle is intensifying, I think there’s also a reluctance from the good guys to consider the consequences of said battle. Ultimately we win, but I fear our road to victory will be quite trying.
I can assume from your indecision that the delta in your ages is significant (20+). And that there is some significant risk (to your reputation) to becoming involved with her.
Who do you think I am? Hillary Clinton?
But seriously it's not like that.
For me, it has been discouragement and bitterness at times. Sometimes comes out of the blue.
Not by me, I hope.
That is really interesting. What prompted you to bring up the topic? Why was she unwilling to discuss it?
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Luke 17.26
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5.20
This world is turning towards darkness as man more and more follow the way of evil versus what God has taught us and for this nation it is excelerating under this evil administration with his executive actions and the supreme courts legitimizing the gay agenda attacking God’s sanctity of marriage.
For the last few weeks I have been watching some of the mystery crime type shows on TV. I mean the ones about real murders.
I try to guess if they are guilty or not and who really did it before the show ends.
One thing which seems to be a pattern is I would guess something like 90% of murders are for money. Maybe 9% are about relationships and of course some are both. A tiny percentage are something else.
Not all the murder about money are to get rich. Some are to avoid financial disaster.
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