Definition
(my definition, that is)
B1 Someone knowingly or unknowingly doing the devil’s will.
B2 Someone knowingly or unknowingly teaching the devil’s doctrine.
B3 Someone knowingly or unknowingly representing the devil’s
kingdom.
Some
Bible characters he has worked to destroy:
B1 Job (Job 1-2)
B2 King David (1 Chronicles 21:1)
B3 Jonah
B4 Peter (Luke 22:31)
B5 The Lord Jesus (Mark 1:13)
B6 Elijah (1 Kings 19)
Some
examples
B1 A narcissist
C1 Greg Zaffuto:
Emotional abuse is crippling. It robs a person of their
self-esteem, creativity, individuality, the ability to think
rationally, confidence in themselves and their independence and
autonomy.
Toxic narcissists want to remain in control by keeping you
confused, anxious, doubtful, scared and apologetic. It's their way of
maintaining control of the twisted situation. They thrive when
attempting to make people crazy. It's called psychological warfare.
(Source)
C3 Narcissistic Law of Double Standards (Source)
D1 What shall apply to us shall not apply to them.
D2 What they demand of us shall not be asked of them.
D3 What rules they place upon us shall not be disputed.
D4 What rules they enforce, they need not follow themselves.
D5 What tactics they use on us shall not be used upon them.
B2 An abuser
C1 Quoting Jimmy Hinton concerning the Southern Baptist Convention
Caring Well Program Lesson 10: This false theology of protecting
abusers assumes that all people are capable of repenting and that the
church should be a place where all are welcome, regardless of what
they’ve done (or are doing). It’s driven by authoritarian
leadership structures that give leaders all the power to make
decisions regarding abusers, regardless of what church
members or abuse survivors think. It allows leaders to keep the
church in the dark about the presence of abusers and anyone who
questions the leaders’ decisions are labeled as divisive trouble
makers. (Source)
[Emphasis is mine]
C2 I’m only going to give just one example of an abuser. Reverend
Teresa Pecinovsky Tells Her Story of Abuse by a Former Professor at
Abilene Christian University
B3 A molester. I’m only going to give just one example of an abuser
and the cover-up. This is how many molesters continue. Remember,
these are the devil’s agents. What
does it look like when churches choose to provide cover for child
predators?
B4 A controlling personality
C1 Manipulative speech. The following link lists a number of
techniques for controlling speech. Glossary
of Manipulative Rhetorical Gambits and Code Words.
C2 Another list (I know nothing about this website): Subtly
Controlling Behavior
B5 A person using a position or occupation of trust to gain something
for themselves, so this person could be an abusers, molester, thief,
etc.
B6 A person who brings suffering:
C1 satan himself: Job 2:7 NLT So Satan left the LORD's presence,
and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.
C2 God haters: Hebrews 11:35-37 NLT Women received their loved
ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to
turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a
better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their
backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37
Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed
with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,
destitute and oppressed and mistreated.
C3 Other people from many occupations and positions of authority: 2
Chronicles 32:10-15.
Control
B1 Sometimes known (unfortunately) as pastor, denominational leader,
educator, husband, wife, etc.
B2 They are motivated by the self for power, money, sex. It can be
one, two, or all three. Power is always paramount, as they believe
that their way, their plan, their actions, their thoughts, their
decisions, their rules, etc. as always the best.
B3 Pastors, husbands, elders, etc. and etc. show this extreme
control. What they teach is absolute. Their doctrine is the only
doctrine. Submit or suffer. They will bully, intimidate, lie,
essentially do anything to gain power and submission over people.
Often you see pastors in this roll by strongly promoting their books,
their products, their store, etc. and criticize most others. John
9 gives a good example. They finally expelled him from the Temple
and Temple life. There are other examples in the Bible.
B4 You see these types of pastors, etc. who show:
C1 One leader with one program. They often make a show by having a
board of elders who rubber stamp every decision.
C2 Little but usually no freedom. No questions can be asked
concerning their actions, beliefs, or decisions are allowed. If a
person does, they will be place under discipline.
C3 That they are superior to all others (or at least most others).
C4 They are privileged and not subject to the same rules as others.
B1 The devil’s agent’s leadership style is the hunter,
controller, no freedom.
B2 God’s leadership style is the shepherd.
The
devil’s goal and the goal of his agents
B1 The devil’s agents can be anyone. They can be pastors,
educators, family members, etc.
B2 The devil’s goal is to
C1 Obtain everything in his control and none in God’s control.
C2 Obtain everything to rebel against God
C3 Obtain a solution to a problem—kill them.
C4 Cause suffering
C5 Cause Christians to sin, to become ineffective, to believe in
error, to get side tracked in some way.
C6 To have all people believing lies are truth and truths are lies.
C7 To have all people believe good is evil and evil is good
C8 For people to seek only for themselves
C9 To hate God and God’s servants
The
devil’s attitude
B1 Some actions that the devil loves and rejoices in: Galatians
5:18-21
WEL
But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19
Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual
sins,
moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish
scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which
I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that
those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
B2
Some
actions towards others: 2
Timothy 3:1-5 WEL Know
this also, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2
For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggers,
arrogant, users of abusive language, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, impossible to
please, false accusers, unable to control themselves, fierce,
despising those who are good, 4 Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5
Having an appearance of godliness but having spurned its power. From
such turn away.
B3
Hate instead of love:
C1
Actions of love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL Love
is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag
about itself, is not haughty, 5
Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily
aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in
injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, calmly
endures
all things. 8
Love never ends...
C2
Actions of hate: No patience, much
harshness
and meanness,
envious, brags about him/herself, arrogant, shameless
and obscene, self-seeking, easily aggravated,
keeps lists of wrongs, rejoices
in injustice, rejoices in lies, doesn’t
tolerate anything, tends to not believe what we say, hopes
for the worst, will not endure anything (impulsive and lashes out),
loves only to gain advantage.
B4
Stealthy
and covert in actions: 2 Timothy 3:6 WEL For
this type are those who wheedle into houses and captivate gullible
women loaded with sins carried away with various evil desires,
C1
The idea of wheedle (Greek
ἐνδύνω endýnō) is to clothe themselves, that is, hide their
intentions and goals.
C2
This describes a person who is a narcissist gaining the confidence
and trust of a person.
B5
Misusing Scriptures by interpreting and applying them in ways not
seen in that passage. Matthew 4:6 NET and said to him, "If
you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He
will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they
will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a
stone.
C1
In Robertson’s Word Pictures he writes: Cast thyself down (βαλε
σεαυτον κατω). The appeal to hurl himself down into the
abyss below would intensify the nervous dread that most people feel
at such a height. The devil urged presumptuous reliance on God and
quotes Scripture to support his view (Ps 91:11f.). So the devil
quotes the Word of God, misinterprets it, omits a clause, and tries
to trip the Son of God by the Word of God. It was a skilful thrust
and would also be accepted by the populace as proof that Jesus was
the Messiah if they should see him sailing down as if from heaven.
This would be a sign from heaven in accord with popular Messianic
expectation. The promise of the angels the devil thought would
reassure Jesus. They would be a spiritual parachute for Christ.
C2
This promise was given to believers mainly as a spiritual protection.
The promise here given does not extend to dangers rashly incurred
or presumptuously sought, and was therefore no justification of the
act to which our Lord was tempted by the devil. Joseph Alexander
commenting
on Psalm 91:11
B6
Reminds us that God has not answered our prayers, so plants the idea
that God cannot or will not help us.
B7
Promoting his agents into positions of power and authority,
especially church leaders.
C1
Gain doctorate degrees for the purpose of making impressive resumes
to gain key positions, yet they themselves are devoid of truth.
C2
They are described as wolves, teaching lies to making disciples after
their own ways, doctrine, and beliefs. Acts 20:29-30 NLT I
know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you
after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own
group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a
following.
C3
Act religious, pious, and holy but do not have the power, that is,
the new life, the grace, joy, and empowerment
of the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:5 NET
They
will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have
repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
C4
Their victims are always learning but never know truth. Adam Clarke
in his commentary writes:
Ever
learning] From their false teachers, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth, because that teaching never leads to the
truth; for, although there was a form of godliness, which gave them a
sort of authority to teach, yet, as they denied the power of
godliness, they never could bring their votaries to the knowledge of
the saving power of Christianity. There are many professors of
Christianity still who answer the above description. They hear,
repeatedly hear, it may be, good sermons; but, as they seldom
meditate on what they hear, they derive little profit from the
ordinances of God. They have no more grace now than they had several
years ago, though hearing all the while, and perhaps not wickedly
departing from the Lord. They do not meditate, they do not think,
they do not reduce what they hear to practice; therefore, even under
the preaching of an apostle, they could not become wise to salvation.
C5
To pretend he is god, an angel of light and peace, the spirit guide
to wisdom, etc.: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NLT These
people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise
themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder
that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked
deeds deserve.
B8
Lies in every conceivable way through
deception, misinterpretation, misapplication, accusations,
blasphemy, etc.
B9
Accuses us of sin and unbelief. Revelation 12:10 CSB Then
I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and
the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them
before our God day and night, has been thrown down.
