tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post209741489332630991..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: The Devil Made me Do ItPhil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-68303873314526564692008-12-16T12:40:00.000-08:002008-12-16T12:40:00.000-08:00Phil:I wonder if I might "reprint" your blog entry...Phil:<BR/>I wonder if I might "reprint" your blog entry on my blog. You've done a nice job dealing with the condition of man and I'd like to have your thoughts appear on my blog. May I have your permission?<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>Dan Grubbs<BR/>The Portico Dialogue<BR/>http://porticodialogue.blogspot.com/.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10259572228950679729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-69773588620841448982008-12-16T11:09:00.000-08:002008-12-16T11:09:00.000-08:00I've notice that this site makes frequent use of i...I've notice that this site makes frequent use of images not in the public domain, such as the cut that appears to be from Norman Rockwell. Was this licensed from http://www.rockwelllicensing.com?937 West Main Middlevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04333126824044083258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-63883371446510835652008-12-15T07:53:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:53:00.000-08:00Candy - What's the source for that Spurgeon quote?...Candy - What's the source for that Spurgeon quote? I'd really like to read the whole thing.Tom Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01439152487935038636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-45354941265292017702008-12-14T19:25:00.000-08:002008-12-14T19:25:00.000-08:00Amen, Phil.Amen, Phil.Becky Schellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17770865501944518003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-73326066116307810792008-12-14T00:15:00.000-08:002008-12-14T00:15:00.000-08:00This week has been a real struggle because the Hol...This week has been a real struggle because the Holy Spirit has been convicting me of my selfishness and pride a la <A HREF="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=james+4%3A1-8&src=esv.org" REL="nofollow">James 4:1-8</A>. <BR/><BR/>i haven't been wanting to give up the selfish things i was seeing happiness in, even though the Spirit was saying otherwise, particularly with the above passage he put in front of me... several times.<BR/><BR/>So i am deeply grateful for your teaching tonight: the <I>thing</I> needed to finally break through my stubbornness.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Live As Ifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14292061310319630822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-47807858202643421672008-12-13T20:38:00.000-08:002008-12-13T20:38:00.000-08:00Er... actually the Armor of God breakdown is found...Er... actually the Armor of God breakdown is found under my blog archive, dur. :PAndrew W. Moirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522126906232487686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-83319173050871251332008-12-13T20:34:00.000-08:002008-12-13T20:34:00.000-08:00Great post! Thanks for this well-done teaching. ...Great post! Thanks for this well-done teaching. I'm a former Pentecostal who ran away headlong into the arms of Reformed soberness. :)<BR/><BR/>Candy: That Spurgeon quote spoke about me dead on. Thanks for sharing that with us. :)<BR/><BR/>Since the subject came up: if anyone cares to look around on my somewhat new blog, I did a several-part breakdown of the Armor of God. Look for my links list and you should find it. :)<BR/><BR/>http://bibletrue.blogspot.comAndrew W. Moirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522126906232487686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3122086701557281852008-12-13T11:05:00.000-08:002008-12-13T11:05:00.000-08:00Absolutely agree with the post. Wondering about a...Absolutely agree with the post. Wondering about a treatment of when things do turn to "spiritual warfare" and Satanic attacks. Can we know the difference, and how?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-15370364242700311032008-12-13T09:19:00.000-08:002008-12-13T09:19:00.000-08:00I love that your answer was permeated with Scriptu...I love that your answer was permeated with Scripture.Jonathan Moorheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687367307942260277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-57205048384699929602008-12-13T04:31:00.000-08:002008-12-13T04:31:00.000-08:00Phil,Well done; spot on.thank you very much for an...Phil,<BR/>Well done; spot on.<BR/><BR/>thank you very much for another truthful, edifying post.<BR/><BR/>bobGo Share Your Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10494251154976285819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-88686914739234056882008-12-13T01:17:00.000-08:002008-12-13T01:17:00.000-08:00(Oops, that's "in terms of", not "in terms to".)(A...(Oops, that's "in terms of", not "in terms to".)<BR/><BR/>(And guess what my word verification is right now? "PRODIM". How about that? So appropriate for a person who has often struggled with melancholy!)Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08289347868497438542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-39673642192786374742008-12-12T22:40:00.000-08:002008-12-12T22:40:00.000-08:001. Phil--great post. Thank you. I was just thin...1. Phil--great post. Thank you. I was just thinking today that I've been getting worse and worse in terms to fleeing from temptations. It is as if my flesh has made a merciless comeback these past few years after about a long period of relative peace and tranquility. Jesus has set his own free, and we need to have the desire to run from sin--but I've been caving in way too often and way too easily. Thanks for this timely post!<BR/><BR/>2. Candy--I smiled when I read that Spurgeon quote, especially the part about Melancholy marking certain people for her own. I guess I'm one of those people (although I wouldn't say that I have a fine mind). Glad to be reminded that the "prince of preachers", whose words offer us so much hope, suffered from melancholy himself! (And you know, I do find that the Lord is very merciful to those who tend to be more melancholy in nature.)Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08289347868497438542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-58756233109522296852008-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:002008-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:00Excellent article.Excellent article.David Mohlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05586107161513106957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-39054904814775399832008-12-12T17:26:00.000-08:002008-12-12T17:26:00.000-08:00I remember being a member of a charismatic church ...I remember being a member of a charismatic church some years ago, and suffering from extreme depression. I tried everything I could to dispel the debilitating despair. A guy in our church claimed to have a deliverence ministry. In hopes of getting rid of the gloom, I went to him for counsel. He guided me through some sort of rigamarole to determine if I had demons. He concluded that I did not. Thank goodness I only went to him as a last resort at the time and that I really knew deep inside that he did not have the answers I needed.<BR/><BR/>I remember a really weird book from way back when, called "Pigs in the Parlor" that stated that Christians could have demons, and I remember, even though a very young Christian, totally being turned off by the book and realizing that much of our struggles dealt with the flesh. But...years later, I was seeking an answer, any answer.<BR/><BR/>I realized later that more reasonable answers came from a person who suffered the same bouts of melancholy I did.<BR/><BR/>Spurgeon stated: <I>Some minds appear to have a gloomy tinge essential to their very individuality. Of them it may be said, "Melancholy marked [them] for her own"; fine minds withal and ruled by noblest principles, but yet they are most prone to forget the silver lining and to remember only the cloud. <BR/><BR/>These infirmities may be no detriment to a man’s career of special usefulness. They may even have been imposed upon him by divine wisdom as necessary qualification for his peculiar course of service. </I>candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088593538648596769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-10504928576665710462008-12-12T16:10:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:10:00.000-08:00Oops! Sorry! I got no Blogger notice that the fir...Oops! Sorry! I got no Blogger notice that the first post was received so you can delete it and this to save space.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216069619358775317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-66211283592214878212008-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:00Ah yes, 1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not si...Ah yes, 1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us." How often are we practicing atheists and won't admit it, in denial about how we'd NEVER do or say what we do if we remembered that Omnipresent Jesus is RIGHT NEXT TO us observing EVERYTHING. Just because He doesn't MANIFEST His presence, or more likely because we're so spiritually dull, fleshly and worldly doesn't mean He's not there. <BR/><BR/>I was talking with a brother in Christ about this and how cocksure both odiously self-righteous sides of the John 3:16 disaster are of themselves, flagrantly violating this very verse, 1 John 1:10 above, without a care, as Jesus groans. And of course then we blame God for the Church's powerlessness and worldliness. THAT's a surprise, God save us. If I point at you as the supposed source of the problem I've got three pointing back at me showing the REAL culprit with the big thumb pointing to God to call down judgment if I don't repent. God save us.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216069619358775317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-85913641834111096972008-12-12T16:03:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:03:00.000-08:00Ah yes, 1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not si...Ah yes, 1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us." How often are we practicing atheists and won't admit it, in denial about how we'd NEVER do or say what we do if we remembered that Omnipresent Jesus is RIGHT NEXT TO us observing EVERYTHING. Just because He doesn't MANIFEST His presence, or more likely because we're so spiritually dull, fleshly and worldly doesn't mean He's not there. <BR/><BR/>I was talking with a brother in Christ about this and how cocksure both odiously self-righteous sides of the John 3:16 disaster are of themselves, flagrantly violating this very verse, 1 John 1:10 above, without a care, as Jesus groans. And of course then we blame God for the Church's powerlessness and worldliness. THAT's a surprise, God save us. If I point at you as the supposed source of the problem I've got three pointing back at me showing the REAL culprit with the big thumb pointing to God to call down judgment if I don't repent. God save us.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216069619358775317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-56782976725205875852008-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:002008-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:00I meant to say: and the main combatants are God an...I meant to say: and the <I>main</I> combatants are God and Satan.CRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912897040503058967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-78157132281274673382008-12-12T15:28:00.000-08:002008-12-12T15:28:00.000-08:00I think it's also important to note that it is a s...I think it's also important to note that it is a spiritual warfare and the combatants are God and Satan (I'm not in any way, shape or form suggesting dualism). So, God and Satan are the combatants, and Christians, having been delivered from the bondage of the power of sin are participants in this spiritual warfare.CRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912897040503058967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-82207982087584588432008-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:002008-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00Wilco,What would also be helpful would be to put o...Wilco,<BR/><BR/>What would also be helpful would be to put on the armor of God that the apostle Paul speaks of Ephesians 6. It's God's armor, but it is armor that we must put on.<BR/><BR/>The advice that Phil points out from Scripture is excellent on fleeing from the devil. But often times people think they can go through a whole day or days or weeks or months leaving their armor on the ground with them being half asleep and expect at moment's notice to be able to defend themselves in a spiritual warfare when it's too late when their armor is laying aside. <BR/><BR/>Our pastor did an excellent series on putting on the whole armor of God. If I knew how to link directly to that part of the website for his series, I would.CRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912897040503058967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-91953448756103064902008-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:002008-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00I have been struggling with anger for a long time ...I have been struggling with anger for a long time and have been in therapy in the past. Recently I asked for pastoral help from people in my church. I thought satanic influence was an option since I really felt the anger was beyond my control. They saw no evidence for my theory and told me to see a (christian) therapist. <BR/><BR/>15 minutes ago I got mad at my wife and this post was the first thing I read afterwards. <BR/><BR/>Ouch.<BR/><BR/>This means I'm just a jerk. This means it's a character issue. Which is a lot harder and more painful to get rid of.<BR/><BR/>Anyways. Thanks for the inspired and inspiring words.wilcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739755234958428857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-75918790163319371902008-12-12T12:39:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:39:00.000-08:00Bang on target. As one who teaches principles of ...Bang on target. As one who teaches principles of Spiritual warfare I can confirm that my students are always a bit frustrated with the first part of the class which focuses on holy living. Fortunately they get the grasp of the concept by the end (for the most part). <BR/><BR/>Victory doesn't come on the heals of incantations (seven sons of Sceva) But on the heals of surrender.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-50688633104076931932008-12-12T11:37:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:37:00.000-08:00"We ourselves are to blame when inordinate worldly..."We ourselves are to blame when inordinate worldly affections crowd out what should be a pure love for God and the things of God. Neither the world nor the devil could ever take advantage of us if our own flesh did not cooperate."<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.Ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10294589687449827936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-34072972989899219752008-12-12T11:03:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:03:00.000-08:00Well, this might surprise you or on the other hand...Well, this might surprise you or on the other hand it might not. But, THIS particular charismatic completely agrees with Phil on this post, and incidently thinks its one of your best ones yet. But then I am kinda difficult to pidgeon-hole sometimes, arent I?Adrian Warnockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12153686724298326405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-57414412227302084822008-12-12T11:02:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:02:00.000-08:00"Since Satan is not omnipresent, am I to think tha..."Since Satan is not omnipresent, am I to think that I am so important that of all the places and people in the world he would be there influencing me?"<BR/><BR/>We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness. There in the spiritual realm are many spirits who fight against us. I agree Satan himself is probably in China, but I simply use his name as an expression of our contending with the spiritual wickedness.<BR/><BR/>I agree it's our flesh, or myself, that is to blame for my sin.<BR/><BR/>Satan sifted Peter, and Peter sinned, but the Lord had prayed for Peter, and so he was converted.<BR/><BR/>I believe the Lord intercedes for all His children, and so Satan's devouring has no more teeth to it, but simply a barking chained lion.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.com