Dolphdolph wrote:Ed, it's like I said earlier, our actions are motivated/influenced by a combination of voices from our flesh, the Holy Spirit, demonic spirits upon our partially renewed mind. The battle field is the mind where we have a free will and a certain amount of self discipline. The spirit is at enmity with the flesh. Who wins this battle depends on how good a Christian soldier you are or want to be. How much do you want to die to self and let Christ live through you??? Everyone draws the line somewhere. How much do you give to the poor, the Church is one measurement. How often do you witness to people, how much fruit do you bear, how humble are you? How good, unselfish do I need to be to be saved? (Faith without works is dead) How many of us are crucified with Christ, DEAD to self 100% ? Probably none.
So where is God going to draw the line for salvation? How dead, unselfish should one be? (I'm getting way off track, sorry)
Back to Satan and demonic influence. I say it's always there, subtly pushing Hell's agenda and don't underestimate it.
I agree Satan has an agenda but I don't believe he has anywhere near the power he possessed before Jesus' death. With Christians he can try to exert his influence over us but he has no power to do so. It is our flesh that leads us astray to allow Satan into our hearts so to speak.
With unsaved Satan can set in place things to tempt them but I don't believe he can deceive then to the point they respond out of deception but rather out of ingrained lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life.
In other words Satan doesn't have the power for anyone to say the devile made me do it.