Satan Fights Back

[JDarr]

Some of you have probably read that I recently have made a little bit of a turn around in my relationship with God. It's ben the best decision I've ever made. I'm happier, I'm spending time around the right people, and I feel like there's someone with me everywhere go. It's been great, but I can tell Satan isn't happy with it.
I drastically cut my drinking to almost none which I knew was holding me back, but now there's other things suddenly jumping into my life that are trying to keep me from doing what I know is right. It's either a pretty girl suddenly interested, a kegger at my neighbors, a big homework assignment I have to do instead of read the Word, or a work schedule changing during bible study. Whatever it is, I can tell I'm under attack. I know some of you must see the same thing happening in your lives. In all honesty, it's made things tough, but every time I dodge a bullet I feel like I'm slapping death in the face. It's really hard, but it's a great feeling and I want to encourage anyone who ever feels like they are becoming a target to know that there isn't a much better feeling that seeing bad things heading your way and putting the blood of Jesus in it's way. I bet this is just a tiny taste of what the rewards in heaven are going to be like. I'm Still Stoked:meme:
JD

[Ryan Pultz]

I feel yeah just when you start to feel like you are getting on top things start to try and knock you back down. That is when you need your brothers and sisters around you to help pick you up when you fall

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

[DAB]

JD arr
Before you made your turn around you were in satan's coral and he did not have to do anything to you as long as you were safe ( pun ) in his coral. The min. you got out of his coral ( made your turn around ) he had to do something to get you back into his coral so now he starts putting stumbling blocks in your way,and he knows if he can make you stumble, then he can whisper in your ear " see what you just did where was God when I put those stumbling blocks in your way that made you stumble, you might as well give in and come back to my coral as you aint strong enough to not stumble" he does all this and more to make you give up and go back to your old ways. So now you tell old Satan to take a hike you aint going back, so out comes another stumbling block, this happens over and over as long as you don't go back.
Be of good cheer as Christ has defeated Satan and with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit you will win the battle. You need to put on the whole armor of God to keep on keeping on.
But as any Christian will tell you, we as people are not perfect we still have that sinful nature to contend with, Yes we will stumble, but it wont keep us down we just go to God in prayer and claim the promise in 1 John 1:8-10 but the nineth verse of 1 John chapter 1 is the promise we must claim.
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
NIV


Now I know this is not all that can be said.

Trust Christ with all your :throb: and you can not go wrong.

I needed to write this so I could put it to good use also, and to give you support in your fight with Satan.

In Christ's Perfect Love.

DAB

[First Bite]

Life is difficult. Life is a series of problems.

Once we truly know that life is difficult ...once we truly understand and accept it...then life is no longer difficult.

Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing.

Mark

[JDarr]

[B]Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing.

Mark

Ah, Discipline.... That's an easy one:hoboy:
I better make extra sure I put my armor on tight every day because discipline is nowhere near most admirable quality.

JD

[Duckwheat]

So let me get this right. Satan's handiwork is a pretty girl, a keg at the neighbors house and a big homework assignment. You have to be kidding me.

You sound like a young guy who is trying to find his way. It sounds from your post, present and past. That you are looking for some very obvious black and white signs to show you the way. They don't exist. You have to use your noggin to make a few decisions. Some of your decisions will be better than others. AS you get older, hopefully you will make less bad decisions and more good ones.

Let me share something with you, I think you are lost, confused, or trying to be something you have seen or heard for the sake of simplicity.

I am pretty sure if you asked the pretty girls parents, they feel she is a gift from heaven. God gave us a brain and we figured out how to make beer. I think he wants us to ejoy the fruits of our labor, with moderation. He does not want you drink enough beer that you endanger yourself or others. I don't think he's much on alcoholics who abuse their familes, but that is my opinion. THe same brain we use to make beer he gave you to do the big homework assignment. Use the gifts that you have been given. By exercsing the gifts you have been given you may be able to do something meaningful in your life.

If your folks raised you to know the difference between right and wrong you are off to a good start. Just calm down a little. Treat people with respect and in a way you would like to be treated. Help out when you can, but not if you have the big homework assignment.

I have become more in tune with the spiritual side of my life as I have aged. Having a wife you care about. Watching your kids come into the world and grow and progress is going to have that effect on you. Don't rush the process. Enjoy the journey..........................

Good luck,

DW

[shinnookums]

Romans 16:20 (love this one)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet...

[STRUTTIN-1]

The Lord will give you strenth.Nasty habits are for you to give up.Duckwheat offers great advice.:pray:

[Matthewc]

Life is difficult. Life is a series of problems.

Once we truly know that life is difficult ...once we truly understand and accept it...then life is no longer difficult.

Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing.

Mark


Yes I think so.

[illbynoeggs]

ACCOUNTABILITY my Brother !!!...That's where you'll find the support you need. I can tell you from my experience that if it weren't for a group of men that I meet with every week, I would not have been able to get through the really tough times that come into my life. Satan is like a roaring lion waiting to devour us all the time. Having the ability to share my life with other men and having the prayers and support is a wonderful thing. Being open and honest is not easy in the world we live in however. Most men are fooled into thinking that they can handle anything on their own. That is a lie from Satan!! I encourage you, and all guys, to be accountable in a small group with other men. God bless you and I'll keep you in my prayers brother.

Mike

[Idahoan]

ACCOUNTABILITY my Brother !!!...That's where you'll find the support you need. I can tell you from my experience that if it weren't for a group of men that I meet with every week, I would not have been able to get through the really tough times that come into my life. Satan is like a roaring lion waiting to devour us all the time. Having the ability to share my life with other men and having the prayers and support is a wonderful thing. Being open and honest is not easy in the world we live in however. Most men are fooled into thinking that they can handle anything on their own. That is a lie from Satan!! I encourage you, and all guys, to be accountable in a small group with other men. God bless you and I'll keep you in my prayers brother.

Mike

I agree.

[samiam]

Pretty encouraging and insightful couple of posts from you lately JDarr, it's been a pleasure reading them. even better, it's been a blessing. i also experience the reality you describe. when i'm sitting on top of the world, especially, without temptations tempting me, it's right then i need to remember that without God's strength I'd be a pile of ugliness and weakness. I also know that in and of themselves things such as drinks being served nearby aren't necessarily sinful. It's my motives, my heart, my reactions to things that causes me to sin. i.e. guns don't kill people.... people kill people. You might have heard the phrase "building up hedges around yourself (your heart)" and i have had to discipline myself to often deny perfectly non-sinful situations due to the sinful reaction i felt welling up inside me. and i agree with the earlier post about being accountable with other men. i just don't think we can do that with women in the same way. i found a church, and got a whole new set of best friends with similar backgrounds and interests in a God-fearing future. Keep it up, JD!

[SouthSantiamSlayer]

Some of you have probably read that I recently have made a little bit of a turn around in my relationship with God. It's ben the best decision I've ever made. I'm happier, I'm spending time around the right people, and I feel like there's someone with me everywhere go. It's been great, but I can tell Satan isn't happy with it.
I drastically cut my drinking to almost none which I knew was holding me back, but now there's other things suddenly jumping into my life that are trying to keep me from doing what I know is right. It's either a pretty girl suddenly interested, a kegger at my neighbors, a big homework assignment I have to do instead of read the Word, or a work schedule changing during bible study. Whatever it is, I can tell I'm under attack. I know some of you must see the same thing happening in your lives. In all honesty, it's made things tough, but every time I dodge a bullet I feel like I'm slapping death in the face. It's really hard, but it's a great feeling and I want to encourage anyone who ever feels like they are becoming a target to know that there isn't a much better feeling that seeing bad things heading your way and putting the blood of Jesus in it's way. I bet this is just a tiny taste of what the rewards in heaven are going to be like. I'm Still Stoked:meme:
JD
Man I thought no one else felt the same as me!
I guess I feel comfort that someone else is in the same boat.
I find it hard to stay outta of the rut that i usually fall back into.
Its easy for me to fall back into alot cause of friends that I have and
i guess stress of life. But if I look at it in a way that I'm pleasing God
by doing whats the hardest for me, suddenly it isn't so hard.
You've got me excited for my eternal life through Jesus Christ!!! :excited:

[Salmon Stryker]

I love your heart Josiah. I think you are totally on the right track and I want to encourage you in the battle. It is a battle and the fact that you see that means that you won't easily lose heart...not without a fight anyway. Having said that, I don't think you need more discipline or more accountability....I think you simply need to walk with God and follow your heart.

Life is difficult. Life is a series of problems.

Once we truly know that life is difficult ...once we truly understand and accept it...then life is no longer difficult.

Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing.

Mark

I would change Marks quote to say Life is difficult. Life it seems is an endless series of problems.

Once we truly understand that...it is still difficult.

But life is not a problem to be solved, it is an adventure to lived. (What can we solve anyway? At what point is our life solved?) We have a calling, a place in the story that God is telling. Our place of adventure is written on our hearts in the form of desire. What we were created for God has written on our hearts. So we need to get that heart back and then we need it called out, affirmed and live from it. Then we walk with God and follow that noble heart that he gave us through this dangerous battlefield here on earth.

To me discipline sounds like..."I can handle my life on my own." For the most part we can be disciplined apart from God.

And accountability can be a negative. "Your heart is bad, you are just waiting to screw things up by sinning, so we are putting a few men around you to help hold you accountable." We do need to walk with other men...but it needs to be an encouragement and an empowerment....more like "I see your glory, and I want to help you fight all of hell to be the person God created you to be.

I am sorry for disagreeing with some of you, and I am sorry for being preachy, I probably crossed the line on AUP of the chapel board. But I spent much of my young life trying to measure up in a legalistic christianity and was pretty unhappy until I met God in a real way and since he has shown me a much better and more real and more exiting way of life.

[SouthSantiamSlayer]

I love your heart Josiah. I think you are totally on the right track and I want to encourage you in the battle. It is a battle and the fact that you see that means that you won't easily lose heart...not without a fight anyway. Having said that, I don't think you need more discipline or more accountability....I think you simply need to walk with God and follow your heart.



I would change Marks quote to say Life is difficult. Life it seems is an endless series of problems.

Once we truly understand that...it is still difficult.

But life is not a problem to be solved, it is an adventure to lived. (What can we solve anyway? At what point is our life solved?) We have a calling, a place in the story that God is telling. Our place of adventure is written on our hearts in the form of desire. What we were created for God has written on our hearts. So we need to get that heart back and then we need it called out, affirmed and live from it. Then we walk with God and follow that noble heart that he gave us through this dangerous battlefield here on earth.

To me discipline sounds like..."I can handle my life on my own." For the most part we can be disciplined apart from God.

And accountability can be a negative. "Your heart is bad, you are just waiting to screw things up by sinning, so we are putting a few men around you to help hold you accountable." We do need to walk with other men...but it needs to be an encouragement and an empowerment....more like "I see your glory, and I want to help you fight all of hell to be the person God created you to be.

I am sorry for disagreeing with some of you, and I am sorry for being preachy, I probably crossed the line on AUP of the chapel board. But I spent much of my young life trying to measure up in a legalistic christianity and was pretty unhappy until I met God in a real way and since he has shown me a much better and more real and more exiting way of life.

I really see what you are saying.
I agree.
Thanks for that insight. :cool:

[Dullhook]

But I spent much of my young life trying to measure up in a legalistic christianity and was pretty unhappy until I met God in a real way

Good hearing from you again, Scott! :wave: You make some great points.

It seems as though each and every one of us as Christians go through that "legalistic" period especially during our early walk with Christ. I sure enough did. It brings back visions of the Pharisees who had lost touch with God and couldn't recognize the deity and heart of Jesus due to the logs in their eyes. Even though our intentions might be good we try relying too much upon our own flawed wills and understanding rather than trusting our Lord and walking in His Spirit. This always gives the enemy the opportunity to lead us astray through temptation. It's indeed a long walk and steady progression that we're on. It's more about surrendering more of our hearts and leaving our puny brains behind. Remaining steadfast in our faith. Being the imperfect people that we are it will be difficult to ever completely submit ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit... but since God loves and knows us so well we are graced. Does He really expect more out of a bunch of depraved sinners? One day when the journey is over and we meet our Savior face to face all will become evident and fulfilled. :throb: