Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

I have heard some really strange ideas on this topic…ranging from uncontrollable temper through fleshly desires and on to profound mental depression…any of which would be more than I would welcome. However, the inspired Scriptures do not exactly pinpoint what was Paul’s thorn in the flesh. So, I decided to examine the context and some [...]

What About Satan?

I have heard recently that Satan does not exist, that a loving God would not allow an evil being to exist or to tempt man. Well, someone should have told both God and Jesus that Satan is just a myth, for there is plenty of evidence from them that Satan does exist and is, in [...]

Who Is Satan?

Good question.  Especially today, when many religious groups teach that Satan does not really exist.  But he does, for Jesus and the Apostles referred to him.  Let us investigate together just who and what Satan is. The name “Satan” means “adversary.”  He is also called the devil, which means  slanderer. In Revelation 9:11, he is [...]

Demons

Demons WERE wicked spirits under the control of Satan, opposed to God, and capable of causing misery and pain to humankind. (Matthew 8:28-34; Matthew 12:24)  Using their powers, they could aflict men with blindness (Matthew 12:22), dumbness (Matthew 9:32-33), and insanity (Luke 8:26-36).  They knew the deity of  Jesus and the Lord, knew their own [...]

Witches

Do you believe in witches?  Do they really exist?  What does the Bible say? Well, first of all, as with any subject, we must begin with the premise that the Bible is truth.  We must agree to abide by the plain teaching of the Bible.  That having been said, what about witches?  The Bible teaches [...]

Seven deadly sins

You’ve heard of them. Ever wonder where the list comes from? (And as an aside, I reserve the right to end any sentence in a preposition, no matter how many English-language gurus there are who read this. If you want to tell me I shouldn’t do it, leave a comment. But I digress…) Surely the [...]

Does satan get better with age?

Someone made a comment in last Sunday morning’s Bible class about satan, and how we sometimes give him more credit than he deserves. Frankly, I think we sometimes don’t give him enough credit too, but more times than not, we see him as having attributes that he doesn’t have. satan is not omnipresent, for example. [...]

Become a Christian and do whatever you want!

Sort of sounds like an advertisement, doesn’t it? As crazy as it sounds, there is a good bit of truth in that statement. It doesn’t have anything to do with the idea that once you’re saved you can never lose your salvation. It doesn’t have anything to do with tricking people into becoming “Christians” either. [...]

Can satan hear our thoughts?

I think sometimes we don’t give satan enough credit. After all, he is described as “the wicked one” (Matthew 13:19), “the father of lies” (John 8:44), and “a roaring lion…seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He is very powerful, but is he all powerful? Does he have the same traits — even some [...]

What’s wrong with this picture?

How do we view satan (intentionally spelled with a lower-case “s”)? I mean really picture him in our minds? Don’t we typically visualize satan as being in charge of some hellish kingdom with his minions, cracking the whip on the poor souls doomed there for eternity? He’s basically the king of hell, right? Is that [...]