The Problem of Evil: Part 1
In view of the fact that God is the Commander of the New Gideon Army, it is appropriate to write about Him and His character. That way, we will all be better able to discern His will in the days of battle ahead of us.
One of the most difficult and persistent questions in history is how a loving God could allow evil to occur in the earth. Much of the time, evil is explained as a creation of Satan in order to remove all responsibility from God's shoulders. Yet the problem with that view is that it lessens the problem but does not resolve it fully. The leftover problems that this explanation leaves must be ignored in order to make the theory workable.
For instance, if Satan is the creator of evil, who created him? Is not a creator responsible for what he creates?..
The common explanation to the problem of creative responsibility is "free will." If Satan has a free will, then he is said to be fully responsible for all that he does, leaving God innocent of anything evil that happens in the world.
This principle then extends to man as well. If man does evil, then he does so by his total free will, leaving God innocent of anything that men do.
These explanations come at the expense of God's sovereignty, of course. Is God really an innocent Bystander in history? Is God really a helpless Superman in the sky who has all the POWER to stop evil, but is too much of a Gentleman to do much about it?
The leftover problems are:
(1) When God created beings with free will, did He not know that they would start doing evil things?
(2) Is a Creator not responsible for that which He creates?
(3) Why would a good and all-knowing God create either spiritual or physical beings with the capability of doing evil things???
We are usually told that such things were necessary in order to avoid creating a bunch of robots. Well, first of all, necessity does not remove liability. We are back to our original question, except that instead of asking how a good God could create evil, or evil beings with free will, we must now ask what it was that seemed to compel God to create them this way. And how does this reason eliminate God's liability???
In my view, the only way to reconcile a Sovereign God with a God of Perfect Love is to make Him so powerful that He can save everyone on the planet. To do so, however, one must also make Him totally Just. But how can a just God save everyone, considering the fact that there is so much evil in the world? Is there no way--not even for an all-wise God??
DEREK PRINCE ON DEMONS
Demon Spirits. By Derek Prince
Mark 1v23
I have no ambition to improve on the ministry of Jesus. Greek says ‘In an unclean Spirit.”
The Greek says “Be muzzled” when Jesus said be quiet. There were physical manifestations. It was not normal for the Synagogue. His fame spread.
Jesus did not deal with the man; he dealt with the spirit in the man. v32-34 I do not like the words demon possessed. To be demonized is the best translation. A true Christian can not be possessed, but there are some areas where they are demonized. Where they are not fully in control. Almost Jesus dealed with the sick and demonized in one operation. Phillips uses the word expel. I like that. It best represents it best. Continued represents that it was a regular practice of Jesus.
Jesus was dealing with orthodox Jews who were normal people who had areas where they were not in control. Don’t think they must be a criminal or maniac. You must look at this objectively. Americans have no problem believing that Africans need deliverance. I have lived in Africa and I have found more demons here. Many believe that it is unscriptural to lay hands on a person with an evil spirit. If that is the case Jesus was unscriptural. Some we classify as physical are evil spirits. Healing the sick and casting out demons were intertwined in Jesus ministry. It is unscriptural to go out and preach and not cast out demons. The first thing Jesus did when he sent out he gave them authority to cast out evil spirits. It was included in their equipment and their commission. Luke 10v1 Then the 70 returned saying “even the demons submit” Mark 16v15 Go into all the world. V17 These signs will follow those who believe. Matthew 28v19-20 He told them to teach everything He had taught them. The tragedy the church has departed from it. They have made a disaster of it. Only one person is called an evangelist, Phillip. Acts 8v5 Phillips message was very simple. “Unclean spirits came out.” The first thing in his ministry was driving out evil spirits. There are many combined indications that warn us.
They are persons without bodies. They are discontent out of a body. They have 2 main objectives;
1. Prevent people knowing Jesus Christ as savior.
2. Keep you from serving Christ effectively.
The flesh, the old carnal nature. Demons move in and occupy. Flesh is the carcass, demons are the vultures. The remedy for the flesh is the cross. The remedy for demons is to expel. In general, if you are a sincere Christian, and there is something binding or controlling it is a demon...
Dereck Prince Teaching:
CHARARTISTICS ACTIVITIES OF DEMONS.
If these are present in your life, you need to look at it. Anything that has a voice is a person.
1. Entice. They tempt people to do evil. Often in verbal form.
2. Harass. They study you. They know you weak place.
3. Torment. The bible speaks of tormenter in Matthew 18. I have met hundreds of Christians in the hand of tormenters. Unforgiveness. Satan is a legal expert; he knows he can come in.
4. Compel. Anything compulsive is bound to be demonic. Gluttony is demonic.
5. Enslave. Sex sin. Repent, go to Jesus. But go back, you are enslaved.
6. Defile. Make you feel dirty and unclean. Anything that rises up when you go to worship.
7. Deceive. All forms of spiritual deception are demonic. Pride is the doorway.
8. Weaken. Make sick or tired. Kill. Satan kills people physically.
4 and 5 equal addictions. TV is just as much an addiction as alcohol. They can not move into a room
Demonized people are usually restless. Proverbs 25v28
Based in years of experience.
Anger, fear, pride, jealousy. All are demons.
1. Emotions and attitude.
2. The mind. Doubt, unbelief, confusion, insanity.
3. The tongue. Lying spirit. Gossip. Unclean speak, negative talking.
4. Sex. The thing nobody talks about in church. So they go to a Physiologist.
5. Lusts. Perverted desires and appetites. The lusts of the flesh and the eyes.
6. Occult. Vast realm. Every part is demonic. Do not be involved in Yoga. Deep pit.
7. All false religions. In some respects Judaism.
8. All heresies. Departures from the Christian faith.
9. Physical bodies. Epilepsy. Seen many delivered...
5 COMMON QUESTIONS ON DEMONS
Spiritual warfare is simply tearing down strongholds.
We live in a bruised and broken world.
In the western world there is an outbreak of demonic forces.
We are a society that has more abuse and trauma. Sexual abuse, Rape, Internal trauma. All this is an opening for demonic forces. These are doorways
The world is filled with hurt and pain. To a large extent these people are not getting help from the church.
It truly is the end times. There is a greater degree in the Demons I see today.
There is a sense of urgency. The devil reads the signs of culture and knows what it is like. There is a satanic preparation going on in these times.
The devil is not all powerful. He has held back some things to the end. He has no reason for restraint. He knows he has to move quickly.
This presents a challenge for the church. There are more people demonically bound.
If the devil can control the western world he has the world...
CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE A DEMON?
This is the wrong question. You’re taking something that is supernatural and trying to put it in a human context. Preachers and denominations do this all the time. Making rulings in the intellect that is not spiritual. There is an invisible part of you that is spirit.
People say if you have the Holy Spirit you can’t have a demon. Well, where is the spirit and where is the demon? You can’t simplify by saying he’s got it or he hasn’t. They can invade, intrude, come and go.
It is you spirit that is eternally reborn. Your body is not. What lives is what is eternal. There are parts of the human condition that are vulnerable.
Before you become a Christian you do things that open you up. When saved these can sometimes just go. You spirit can be regenerated by your flesh can still have issues of the flesh that must be resolved.
Things aren’t Ok in the body of Christ. The real problem we face is what Christians bring into the church from outside. Years ago when people got saved and come into the church they came from a different values structure. The climate today is much worse and they are coming into the church with all their junk. In fact they are saved pagans and the paganism has never been taken out.
When you are saved they do not have a right to be there...
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A PERSON HAS A DEMON?
You look into there soul. In their eyes. You can be looking straight at the demon. The eyes can be dilated. The way that you know is what I call fly fishing. You keep casting till something bites.
By trying to do what would antagonize a demon.
You must discount any medical conditions. There are hormonal conditions. Are you seeing a counselor? Trauma or abuse issues can be the problem...
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEMON AND MULTIPLE PERSONALITY?
Multiple personality happens after severe personal trauma causes the person to take on something to prevent mental breakdown. They create an internal identity. They do this to cope with life. It often acts like a demon. Often rage is help in the other personality. It is helping the person continue without breaking down.
Most abuse happens when people are children. They often take on a new identity. They become frozen in time. Understand that a multiple personality is not a demon. Many have tried to cast out something and caused bigger problems. Demons are cleaver, they can hide behind alters. You must bring healing to the fractured identities before you cast anything out. The emotional fragmentation has to be handled first.
a. A demon has an inherent hatred towards God. They hate Christian truth. It is their sense of hatred towards “The blood of Jesus” or the name “Jesus Christ” There is a difference in how they respond. A personality speaks like a person.
***
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE THE ONE TO DO IT?
You must know when it is right for you. Sometimes you just leave it cause the person is not ready or it is not yours to deal with.
WHEN DO YOU DO IT?
There is a time and season to be involved. Sometimes the person is not ready. Sometimes inner healing must take place when deaing with a hurting person...
The bottom line is that God's sovereignty and wisdom is somewhat limited by this explanation. The view first postulates spiritual beings who do things according to their own will, independently of God, and then postulates billions of human beings each having their own will and domain independent of God. By the time we put all of these into the equation, we find that God is largely shouldered out of His own universe.
Worse yet, all of these independent gods in the spirit and in the world have no problem using force and coersion to expand their wills upon others in the earth--yet the rules somehow forbid God to do the same. Who makes up these rules???
Then also God's very wisdom and capability comes into question. Was He not wise enough to make a plan that would save everyone? Was He incapable? Does man's free will trump God's will? Is man the master of his own destiny, except for all the coersion taking place at the hands of other men or the things that the devil made them do?
If men are being coerced or forced by other men or spirits, then men are really only as free as their level of authority. As they rise in authority, they get to force and coerce others who then have less free will. But only the top authority--the king perhaps?--has total free will. Everyone else is being forced to be obedient, even against his will...
I believe that there is a way to save all mankind while preserving God's sovereignty, love, mercy, and justice--and every other part of God's character. If it could be shown that He is powerful enough to save all, loving enough to save all, and wise enough to overcome the problem of evil in the world without violating His own demand for justice, would not this be the ideal God to follow? Would not everyone admire such a God and want to follow Him, not by compulsion, but by love?
That is the kind of God that I follow. This is the secret to really knowing God for who He is. Those who truly seek Him will find Him, but I have discovered that most people do not know that such a God even exists. Such a God is "too good to be true....
Others have been so abused that they do not want God to save their abusers. Their heart bitterness and emotional wounds will not allow them to forgive and let go long enough to conceive of such a God. They are looking for a God powerful enough to protect them from abuse, but not so loving as to work in the lives of their abusers to turn them from their sin and to save them.
Most people, however, simply do not know that the Scriptures set forth such a God, because they have been warned against Him by those who set forth alternate viewpoints. As we look at this more closely in the days ahead, I will point out Scriptures for your consideration that you may have missed in the past...
BibelSvar: Posts A - Z
In view of the fact that God is the Commander of the New Gideon Army, it is appropriate to write about Him and His character. That way, we will all be better able to discern His will in the days of battle ahead of us.
One of the most difficult and persistent questions in history is how a loving God could allow evil to occur in the earth. Much of the time, evil is explained as a creation of Satan in order to remove all responsibility from God's shoulders. Yet the problem with that view is that it lessens the problem but does not resolve it fully. The leftover problems that this explanation leaves must be ignored in order to make the theory workable.
For instance, if Satan is the creator of evil, who created him? Is not a creator responsible for what he creates?..
The common explanation to the problem of creative responsibility is "free will." If Satan has a free will, then he is said to be fully responsible for all that he does, leaving God innocent of anything evil that happens in the world.
This principle then extends to man as well. If man does evil, then he does so by his total free will, leaving God innocent of anything that men do.
These explanations come at the expense of God's sovereignty, of course. Is God really an innocent Bystander in history? Is God really a helpless Superman in the sky who has all the POWER to stop evil, but is too much of a Gentleman to do much about it?
The leftover problems are:
(1) When God created beings with free will, did He not know that they would start doing evil things?
(2) Is a Creator not responsible for that which He creates?
(3) Why would a good and all-knowing God create either spiritual or physical beings with the capability of doing evil things???
We are usually told that such things were necessary in order to avoid creating a bunch of robots. Well, first of all, necessity does not remove liability. We are back to our original question, except that instead of asking how a good God could create evil, or evil beings with free will, we must now ask what it was that seemed to compel God to create them this way. And how does this reason eliminate God's liability???
In my view, the only way to reconcile a Sovereign God with a God of Perfect Love is to make Him so powerful that He can save everyone on the planet. To do so, however, one must also make Him totally Just. But how can a just God save everyone, considering the fact that there is so much evil in the world? Is there no way--not even for an all-wise God??
DEREK PRINCE ON DEMONS
Demon Spirits. By Derek Prince
Mark 1v23
I have no ambition to improve on the ministry of Jesus. Greek says ‘In an unclean Spirit.”
The Greek says “Be muzzled” when Jesus said be quiet. There were physical manifestations. It was not normal for the Synagogue. His fame spread.
Jesus did not deal with the man; he dealt with the spirit in the man. v32-34 I do not like the words demon possessed. To be demonized is the best translation. A true Christian can not be possessed, but there are some areas where they are demonized. Where they are not fully in control. Almost Jesus dealed with the sick and demonized in one operation. Phillips uses the word expel. I like that. It best represents it best. Continued represents that it was a regular practice of Jesus.
Jesus was dealing with orthodox Jews who were normal people who had areas where they were not in control. Don’t think they must be a criminal or maniac. You must look at this objectively. Americans have no problem believing that Africans need deliverance. I have lived in Africa and I have found more demons here. Many believe that it is unscriptural to lay hands on a person with an evil spirit. If that is the case Jesus was unscriptural. Some we classify as physical are evil spirits. Healing the sick and casting out demons were intertwined in Jesus ministry. It is unscriptural to go out and preach and not cast out demons. The first thing Jesus did when he sent out he gave them authority to cast out evil spirits. It was included in their equipment and their commission. Luke 10v1 Then the 70 returned saying “even the demons submit” Mark 16v15 Go into all the world. V17 These signs will follow those who believe. Matthew 28v19-20 He told them to teach everything He had taught them. The tragedy the church has departed from it. They have made a disaster of it. Only one person is called an evangelist, Phillip. Acts 8v5 Phillips message was very simple. “Unclean spirits came out.” The first thing in his ministry was driving out evil spirits. There are many combined indications that warn us.
They are persons without bodies. They are discontent out of a body. They have 2 main objectives;
1. Prevent people knowing Jesus Christ as savior.
2. Keep you from serving Christ effectively.
The flesh, the old carnal nature. Demons move in and occupy. Flesh is the carcass, demons are the vultures. The remedy for the flesh is the cross. The remedy for demons is to expel. In general, if you are a sincere Christian, and there is something binding or controlling it is a demon...
Dereck Prince Teaching:
CHARARTISTICS ACTIVITIES OF DEMONS.
If these are present in your life, you need to look at it. Anything that has a voice is a person.
1. Entice. They tempt people to do evil. Often in verbal form.
2. Harass. They study you. They know you weak place.
3. Torment. The bible speaks of tormenter in Matthew 18. I have met hundreds of Christians in the hand of tormenters. Unforgiveness. Satan is a legal expert; he knows he can come in.
4. Compel. Anything compulsive is bound to be demonic. Gluttony is demonic.
5. Enslave. Sex sin. Repent, go to Jesus. But go back, you are enslaved.
6. Defile. Make you feel dirty and unclean. Anything that rises up when you go to worship.
7. Deceive. All forms of spiritual deception are demonic. Pride is the doorway.
8. Weaken. Make sick or tired. Kill. Satan kills people physically.
4 and 5 equal addictions. TV is just as much an addiction as alcohol. They can not move into a room
Demonized people are usually restless. Proverbs 25v28
Based in years of experience.
Anger, fear, pride, jealousy. All are demons.
1. Emotions and attitude.
2. The mind. Doubt, unbelief, confusion, insanity.
3. The tongue. Lying spirit. Gossip. Unclean speak, negative talking.
4. Sex. The thing nobody talks about in church. So they go to a Physiologist.
5. Lusts. Perverted desires and appetites. The lusts of the flesh and the eyes.
6. Occult. Vast realm. Every part is demonic. Do not be involved in Yoga. Deep pit.
7. All false religions. In some respects Judaism.
8. All heresies. Departures from the Christian faith.
9. Physical bodies. Epilepsy. Seen many delivered...
5 COMMON QUESTIONS ON DEMONS
Spiritual warfare is simply tearing down strongholds.
We live in a bruised and broken world.
In the western world there is an outbreak of demonic forces.
We are a society that has more abuse and trauma. Sexual abuse, Rape, Internal trauma. All this is an opening for demonic forces. These are doorways
The world is filled with hurt and pain. To a large extent these people are not getting help from the church.
It truly is the end times. There is a greater degree in the Demons I see today.
There is a sense of urgency. The devil reads the signs of culture and knows what it is like. There is a satanic preparation going on in these times.
The devil is not all powerful. He has held back some things to the end. He has no reason for restraint. He knows he has to move quickly.
This presents a challenge for the church. There are more people demonically bound.
If the devil can control the western world he has the world...
CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE A DEMON?
This is the wrong question. You’re taking something that is supernatural and trying to put it in a human context. Preachers and denominations do this all the time. Making rulings in the intellect that is not spiritual. There is an invisible part of you that is spirit.
People say if you have the Holy Spirit you can’t have a demon. Well, where is the spirit and where is the demon? You can’t simplify by saying he’s got it or he hasn’t. They can invade, intrude, come and go.
It is you spirit that is eternally reborn. Your body is not. What lives is what is eternal. There are parts of the human condition that are vulnerable.
Before you become a Christian you do things that open you up. When saved these can sometimes just go. You spirit can be regenerated by your flesh can still have issues of the flesh that must be resolved.
Things aren’t Ok in the body of Christ. The real problem we face is what Christians bring into the church from outside. Years ago when people got saved and come into the church they came from a different values structure. The climate today is much worse and they are coming into the church with all their junk. In fact they are saved pagans and the paganism has never been taken out.
When you are saved they do not have a right to be there...
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A PERSON HAS A DEMON?
You look into there soul. In their eyes. You can be looking straight at the demon. The eyes can be dilated. The way that you know is what I call fly fishing. You keep casting till something bites.
By trying to do what would antagonize a demon.
You must discount any medical conditions. There are hormonal conditions. Are you seeing a counselor? Trauma or abuse issues can be the problem...
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEMON AND MULTIPLE PERSONALITY?
Multiple personality happens after severe personal trauma causes the person to take on something to prevent mental breakdown. They create an internal identity. They do this to cope with life. It often acts like a demon. Often rage is help in the other personality. It is helping the person continue without breaking down.
Most abuse happens when people are children. They often take on a new identity. They become frozen in time. Understand that a multiple personality is not a demon. Many have tried to cast out something and caused bigger problems. Demons are cleaver, they can hide behind alters. You must bring healing to the fractured identities before you cast anything out. The emotional fragmentation has to be handled first.
a. A demon has an inherent hatred towards God. They hate Christian truth. It is their sense of hatred towards “The blood of Jesus” or the name “Jesus Christ” There is a difference in how they respond. A personality speaks like a person.
***
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE THE ONE TO DO IT?
You must know when it is right for you. Sometimes you just leave it cause the person is not ready or it is not yours to deal with.
WHEN DO YOU DO IT?
There is a time and season to be involved. Sometimes the person is not ready. Sometimes inner healing must take place when deaing with a hurting person...
The bottom line is that God's sovereignty and wisdom is somewhat limited by this explanation. The view first postulates spiritual beings who do things according to their own will, independently of God, and then postulates billions of human beings each having their own will and domain independent of God. By the time we put all of these into the equation, we find that God is largely shouldered out of His own universe.
Worse yet, all of these independent gods in the spirit and in the world have no problem using force and coersion to expand their wills upon others in the earth--yet the rules somehow forbid God to do the same. Who makes up these rules???
Then also God's very wisdom and capability comes into question. Was He not wise enough to make a plan that would save everyone? Was He incapable? Does man's free will trump God's will? Is man the master of his own destiny, except for all the coersion taking place at the hands of other men or the things that the devil made them do?
If men are being coerced or forced by other men or spirits, then men are really only as free as their level of authority. As they rise in authority, they get to force and coerce others who then have less free will. But only the top authority--the king perhaps?--has total free will. Everyone else is being forced to be obedient, even against his will...
I believe that there is a way to save all mankind while preserving God's sovereignty, love, mercy, and justice--and every other part of God's character. If it could be shown that He is powerful enough to save all, loving enough to save all, and wise enough to overcome the problem of evil in the world without violating His own demand for justice, would not this be the ideal God to follow? Would not everyone admire such a God and want to follow Him, not by compulsion, but by love?
That is the kind of God that I follow. This is the secret to really knowing God for who He is. Those who truly seek Him will find Him, but I have discovered that most people do not know that such a God even exists. Such a God is "too good to be true....
Others have been so abused that they do not want God to save their abusers. Their heart bitterness and emotional wounds will not allow them to forgive and let go long enough to conceive of such a God. They are looking for a God powerful enough to protect them from abuse, but not so loving as to work in the lives of their abusers to turn them from their sin and to save them.
Most people, however, simply do not know that the Scriptures set forth such a God, because they have been warned against Him by those who set forth alternate viewpoints. As we look at this more closely in the days ahead, I will point out Scriptures for your consideration that you may have missed in the past...
BibelSvar: Posts A - Z
Antonio that is very deep and beautiful, MAYBE it is like that I would not dare to claim that it is. I can just say that I hope it is. But I must admit that I do not realize it is what Bible tells. You have to show me more. What I mean is that I don´t see that: "there is a way to save all mankind". There is a hope but not the way as I can see now.
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