A Few Thoughts About the Devil’s Agents Part A

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)

C2 Inside the Mind of a Narcissist

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.

Two styles of leadership

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.