Demonic possession-v-Demonic influence!

[jari]

By all means lets look at other scripture to see whether your proposition has support. Feel free to quote.

longsuffering is a good word...

Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

1 Timothy 1:16
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

The scripture tells longsuffering is part of God's character. And His longsuffering leads people to repentance.

 

[David777]

Hello Jari.

Yes, I agree Jari, God has exhibited His patience and longsuffering.

 

[Davy]

Hi, eddieb: That is an interesting question, (Quote--my question in return is why does it matter? sin is sin!)

If it is just a sinful "natural" works of the flesh, it does not seam as alarming than if it was demon influenced. Simply because if it was demon influenced, that raises the question why has that demon decided to focus its attention on oneself and is that only the beginning. Jesus said in Matthew 12:43-45, that when one demon enters into someone, they can invite others to join him so the person ends up in a worse state, being influenced into more wicked and self harming sins of the flesh. Thus it seam clear to me, one should be interested in learning how to discern if they are under a demon influence to get additional help and much pray. We all sin and fall short, but if that sin was originally influenced by a demon, what's next???

Ananias seams to have had no clue that he was being influenced by a demon or Satan and his wife seamed oblivious to this as well. But if he was able to develop the spiritual self awareness to sense something was not right, perhaps he and his wife would have not died. So how does one do this, that is why I asked the original question in the first place.

 

[jari]

i think this question becomes essentially to the other question do you believe God is merciful? And how He treats us.

Jesus went around and drove out demons , ananias lied to Peter and died. whats the deal here?
was ananias lie so bad?
sick can be healed , demons cast out, people saved. but not lie forgiven?
all sins will be forgiven, Jesus said.
so whats the deal here.......

i think he was vessel unto destruction like pharao was, person who never accepted God.
even pharaoh had change , annanias too but they just didnt want to but tried to have their ways despite the fact they saw God's work right before their eyes they refused to submit to God and be saved.

they didnt want to have anything to do with God.

and even annanias saw GOd's miracles he wanted to buy him self a share in that which was not acceptable at all.

 

[David777]

Hello Jari.

Acts 5 is straight forward, this was the early church, the first fruits.
This has to be considered as the primary reason for God's harsh judgement
on Ananias, that is what the text states.

God is acting strongly within the early church to ensure its survival.
God is acting to protect the church from corruption.
Whether or not Ananias is saved is not the issue, if Ananias believed then
he is saved. It is primarily about the early church, that is what these chapters are about.
No other interpretation is possible.

If you think about it Jari, if God was judging a believer for lying, what hope would the
rest of us have! Salvation would then rest on human effort, this is unacceptable
and doctrinal heresy.

If God was judging an unbeliever, what hope would anyone have!

There is only the one interpretation, God is longsuffering, and God was actively protecting
the early church from to much corruption. Believers are judged now Jari, this fits
the context perfectly.

 

[jari]

hi David.

hope you doing fine.

God is acting strongly within the early church to ensure its survival.
God is acting to protect the church from corruption.

text does not state this was the case. this is just speculation.

Whether or not Ananias is saved is not the issue, if Ananias believed then he is saved. It is primarily about the early church, that is what these chapters are about. No other interpretation is possible.

i dont know why you say no other interpreation is possible......... i think we have simalar exsamples in the bible that teach us.

If you think about it Jari, if God was judging a believer for lying, what hope would the rest of us have!

yes He wasnt, i believe.

If God was judging an unbeliever, what hope would anyone have!

did you read what i said in my previous post? i just explained my point of view there. simply put God knows true unbeliever when He sees one. For example Judas fate was known to Jesus well ahead of time he betrayed Jesus. Judas Im sure had free will but God knew what choice he was going to make.
same with annanias , God knew His choice ahead of time and God knew annanias would never accept Jesus as savior... that's atleast how i would explain it.....

 

[David777]

Yo.

Thanks for the reply Jari.

Yes Jari i read your earlier post, just disagree.

You are entitled to an opinion Jari, have a great day, catch you later.