Hello all,

It's been a good while since I've posted... feels good to be back!

Last night we were having a rehearsal for a small Easter play we plan on having at our church and we came up on the scene where Jesus appears to the disciples. The script we had (written a few years ago by one of church members) indicated that Thomas touched Jesus (from the book of John in chapter 20). I couldn't remember this happening so I retrieved my bible and, sure enough, I couldn't see where the bible says that Thomas actually touched Jesus, all I saw was where Jesus says "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed".

Of course, this started the debate of whether Thomas had touched Jesus, if he could have touched Jesus even though Jesus asked him to given the response to Mary when she attempted to touch him, etc.

So, I went through scripture trying to find out if there was any information that would clarify this and, since I'm posting, you probably know where I ended up...

I noticed that some translations don't use the word "touch" when referening to the conversation between Jesus and Mary but instead use either "cling" or "hold on" which would indicate that it would have been possible that Mary DID touch him. Wouldn't it?

Anyway, I figured this has probably been discussed and maybe even clarified and, if so, can someone point me to the thread and/or URL that would give some insight?

Many thanks and God Bless!

-Samson

Hmm... not sure if I agree with the ability of Satan to enter the mind of an individual that has been redeemed. I believe we are forgetting that our sinful human nature causes us to have evil thoughts from the INSIDE, not Satan. Remember, as long as we are alive in this human flesh we are in constant battle with this flesh, this flesh that wants to do wrong. I believe the apostle Paul makes that known, doesn't he?

Too often, I think, we give credit to Satan and his demons for actions that we commit out of our own sinful nature.

I would tend to believe, at least for now (still studying, researching), that Satan will attempt to deceive us, to lure us into evil actions, etc. from outside (as Christians). I don't believe he has the power to enter the mind, soul, or body of a Christian unless he/she turns against God and basically opens the door again.

Am I wrong here?

God Bless,

-Samson

Petro,

My prayers are with your father...

God Bless,

-Samson

Petro,

Sorry for the late reply... this thing called a job keeps getting in the way...

Thanks for the insight as well.

All the info you give indicates that man does NOT have free will. But at the very end you say that man must believe in order to be set free. How can that be the case if there is no free will?

Sorry, just confused.

-Samson

Petro,

Many thanks for all the info!

The one remaining that I have on this is related to your message

"Everyone that does not belong to  Jesus belongs to the Devil, and the Devil, Satan, the Evil One does as he please with his own, because the scriptures teaches plainly that they are in bondage to sin"

If this is the case, when or how does an individual that belongs to Satan get to make a conscious effort to call out to Jesus for rescue? That would have to mean that:

1. Satan does NOT have complete control but that God has complete control and that Satan only THINKS he has complete control.

2. Satan DOES have complete control and a lost individual has no chance until God decides it's time to draw him to Christ, in which case Satan's hold is temporarily broken until the individuals decides to heed the call of God to accept Jesus, or not.

If "1" is true, then an individual who has yet to accept Christ has no recourse, no power, no ability to choose... no free-will?

But wait, if number "2" is true then... no free will either?

So, who has control, Satan or God? How much control over his decisions does an individual have?

Thanks again!

God Bless,

-Samson

I agree, interesting stuff!

From the last few replies to this thread it appears that the general consensus is that Satan cannot ENTER the mind to manipulate it but that all of his work occurs from the outside, i.e. temptations, coersions, etc. This would mean that we have the power through Jesus Christ to overcome. I would imagine the same does not apply to those who are not saved, true?

What then of the previous verses relevant to Judas, etc.? It seems to imply/state that Satan took control somehow. Yet, one has to believe that there was always the opportunity for Judas to step back and say "No, I will NOT betray the Master!".

But is that scripture stating somehow that Judas was possessed? If so, then Judas no longer had control over his mind and would have required someone with faith and power to cast Satan out, no?

Is it correct to state that Satan always has the power (given by God) to tempt and coerse from OUTSIDE the body?

Is it correct to state that Satan cannot TOUCH the body unless given explicit permission by God? In other words, he doesn't have free reign to touch us unlike he has free reign to tempt us. Maybe?

Ok, gotta get back to work for now. Thanks for all the replies!

God Bless,

-Samson

So I try to corrolate what happened to Job, Judas, and Ananias & Saphira. It seems that in every occasion in which Satan wreaked his havoc upon Job he had to first consult with God before doing so.

Why would it be any different with any other individual? I believe, first of all, that nothing occurs on this earth, universe, or anywhere in time and space without the stamp of approval from God.

Which brings to question the events that took place with Judas, Ananias, and Saphira. I understand the bible says that Satan put the desire to lie in the hearts of Ananias & Saphira. What exactly does that mean?

An earlier quote in this thread states ""A repentant heart is something that you can't just conjure up with sheer will power. Will power comes from the mind. True repentance comes from the heart. It is placed in the heart by God Himself. "

What is the difference between the heart and the mind in the quote above? We cannot be talking of the piece of muscle that beats in our chest, can we?

If Satan is able to manipulate the minds of people in order to do his will (even if it means only non-christians), then why only do it to the minds of some?

Why not put murder in the heart of every individual out there as opposed to only a few?

Maybe it all goes back to Job. Maybe he wants to but God is saying "No". Ok, not maybe, but being the evil one that he is, I'm sure he WANTS to destroy every being in site before they have an opportunity to come to Christ.

So that must mean that God allows some to be possessed, some to be coerced to murder, others to steal, others to injure, others to become politicians (just a joke...)...etc.

Which reminds me, if Satan had no fear of confronting Jesus after He had fasted in the dessert, why should he have fear of confronting any of us? He did not manipulate the thoughts of Jesus. It seems that all the mind games were being played from outside but never did he get in and manipulate the mind itself.

Is it the same with us? We can be tempted from without but cannot be manipulated from within? But then what of Ananias & Saphira, or Judas?

Sigh...

God Bless,

-Samson

Our Sunday School lesson this past Sunday centered around Corinthians and the fact that we do not battle against flesh but instead are fighting a spiritual war. The teacher mentioned more than a few times that Satan caused him to do certain things during his youth, that Satan was in control of him (referencing slaves of the devil), etc. He also mentioned that Abel's murder at the hands of Cain was the result of Satan driving Cain to do it. I thought that was interesting.

So, being the ever questioning fella, I asked the question:

What can Satan do and what can he not do?

I had general questions like:

As a Christian, can Satan (or his demons) directly influence my thoughts?

Can he/they manipulate my dreams or cause them?

Can a Christian be possessed?

Etc., etc.

I've done a quick "google" search but work impedes me from really digging into it and I've not found anything really substantial. If someone can point me to some good reference material (preferrably online), that would be fantastic!

God Bless,

-Samson

Hmmm... that's really interesting. I was under the impression that God reveals his truth to us through his Word and that the Holy Spirit guides us to understand God's word. But you're saying that the Holy Spirit revealed God's truth to you OUTSIDE his Word thereby leading you to repent of your sins.

Are there other truths that we need to be made aware of outside of God's word that was left for us? That would seem to make his word incomplete.

God Bless,

-Samson

Hello Lance,

Pray for it? Don't we all have it? I pray for increase on a daily basis, many times over during the day.

What is your faith based on, out of curiosity? On reading or hearing the word of God? Or has he done something in your life that you just knew, without a doubt, that it was the work of God? Is your faith a result of an effort put out on your part? In other words, do you just simply say "I'm gonna believe" and then do it?

I ask because I see many folks who are adamant about their great faith in God but their works nowhere reflect that faith or LOVE of God...

-Samson

Feel? Isn't this really all about faith? I strive to love God, I worship him, I seek him constantly, I read his word, but these are all actions I take in hopes that I can someday REALLY know him and love him.

It's different with my wife. I can see her, I can feel her, she responds immediately to me when I call, I hold her hand and its warmth lets me know she's really there.

I can't see God but I can see his creation. It takes faith to know he created it. I can't feel God although many times I cry with joy because a song, a tragedy, a special moment lets me reflect on him and my hope arises that God is there and he's watching, listening, caring.

Faith. That's the secret to all this, isn't it? I can't love God without unending faith. That's the struggle, even when we listen and read his word. Human nature... the sights, the smells, etc. get in the way...

God Bless,

-Samson

What does it mean when one says "I Love God"? How does one know when one loves God?

I know I love my wife because I would do anything to ensure her happiness, anything I can do obviously. I love her because I've come to know her in the 19 plus years that I've been married to her.

It wasn't always that way. We were married much to young thinking we were doing the right thing after having a child out of wedlock. I wasn't in love nor was she. But I've grown to love her over the years and I cannot imagine living without her.

Does one immediately love God when he/she accepts Jesus as his/her personal saviour? How do you know? I cannot honestly say that I would die for him right now and there are probably countless "christians" in the same boat, although they wouldn't all admit it.

How can I come to love him to that level?

God Bless,

-Samson

Does the bible mention anywhere (I read through Leviticus) on WHY God decided to call certain animals unclean? We had this discussion in Sunday School yesterday and no one was able to come up with an answer.

God Bless!

-Samson

Hope.

It's about hope. It's because humans have always failed me. It's because sickness, fear, and death are miserable realities of life and hope is what tells me that there is a place and time when these things will be gone. Hope. We can't know for sure, that's why it's called faith and that's why we hope. We can believe but that belief is based on hope.

Hope that in spite of my failures, in spite of my struggle to find complete faith, hope that what my father preached is true. Hope that He is there. That He is real.

Hope.

-Samson

Yes, comments:

1. No. Doctors today, tomorrow, or yesterday could not cure this woman. Doctors today, tomorrow, or yesterday could not cause new kidneys to appear, cannot replace my middle ear to the same condition that God created it.

That's why it's called a miracle. The nature of the need doesn't matter, it's what man can do as opposed to what God can do. It doesn't matter who the daughters and sons of Abraham are. Can they get miracles today is the question, not WHO can get the miracles. Or is it?

Again, no one is questioning who can cure who of what. Neither is the question "CAN God cure anyone of anything". The answer to that question is yes. The questions are, again:

1. What is required for the healing to take place?

Is it faith and only faith?

Is it faith combined with God's will?

Is it faith combined with God's will combined with a sinless life?

What is it?

If it's only faith then we must assume my parents had no faith.

If it's faith with God's will then it really doesn't matter if you have faith or not, God's will determines the outcome.

If it's faith with God's will with a sinless life then forget it, I'll never be healed. Will I? Will my mom?

Comments?