Satan's guises? Left with fear and doubt

[Crown_of_Stars]

I’ve read in another thread that Satan “can look as anyone, even Jesus…” and that he can “appear as an angel of light.” This was a thread, from what I remember, on Marian apparitions. Having read this scared me, because I didn’t think Satan had that kind of power, that God wouldn’t allow someone to be deceived in that way. So how can we really trust and know what is good? If Jesus were to come to me in a dream, let’s say, if I asked Him for comfort, it would still leave me wondering if it really was Him or Satan? What an awful thing to have to wonder. Is there anything in Scripture at all, any words of the Lord or Jesus Himself which say how we are to really know that something is true and not a deception?

 

[MichaelHowling]

Matt7 “You will know them by their fruits”.

Mark 3:25 “A house divided against itself cannot stand”

Satan can only go as far as God permits.

 

[Praedicare]

We’re not really meant to ask for comfort in this present life. A sure sign of a false vision is one that eases your trials. The road of the Christian life is hard, and it is about self-sacrifice for love of God and neighbour. We must love: a passionate love for all.

You can be sure that Satan is at work when you are encouraged to give less service than formerly, if you hear that you are right and another doesn’t deserve to be forgiven; if you are told to focus on your own ambition, security, comfort, or pleasure above that of other people. Christ is always known in sacrifice: giving, throwing yourself away for love of the Other.

This is the genuine test: if the spirit you encounter praises Jesus Christ crucified, and you are strengthened to give yourself up for your brother, then it is of God.

Do not be afraid… God will not allow you to be tested beyond your endurance. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

[PeaceBeWithU]

Many of the saints had visions, or were tormented by demons. St. Padre Pio was said to converse with angels quite regularly, however there were times he mentioned that a demon in disguise would try to appear to him as an angel and give him advise.

He would typically test the angel by asking it to repeat “Praise be to Jesus Christ.” or a similar phrase.

The true angels would gladly praise the Lord. The imposters could never complete the phrase.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Praedicare

We’re not really meant to ask for comfort in this present life. A sure sign of a false vision is one that eases your trials. The road of the Christian life is hard, and it is about self-sacrifice for love of God and neighbour. We must love: a passionate love for all.

If this were true we’d be doing a disservice to those who are sick and suffering whom we pray for.

Did Jesus do a disservice to those he healed or would they have been better off suffering ?

The nun who persecuted St Bernadette had this attitude that one must suffer to gain heaven and she caused suffering to those around her and to herself, As a result, she didn’t grow spiritually and could not accept the visions Bernadette had.

St Theresa said that life has enough thorns of it’s own without having to add them. At the same time, there are simple pleasures in life that are gifts from God, be grateful for them, and don’t discard them because you believe the come from the devil.

Satan can only appear to those whom God allows, and those souls are generally advanced spiritually, like St Theresa or St Francis.

Those who turn to Jesus will not be deceived by the devil.

If this were the case Jesus words would be false when he said, "come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,* and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jim

 

[Praedicare]

Jim:

With regards to relieving others of their burdens and never lessening our own, I was referring strictly to comforts & ease offered to each one of us personally. We are never to reject those things for others who are sick & suffering. We are to be “for them”, and against our own self-will.

I had hoped that was implied under the idea of compassion that I tried to convey. Sorry I didn’t communicate my ideas with clarity.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Jim:

With regards to relieving others of their burdens and never lessening our own, I was referring strictly to comforts & ease offered to each one of us personally. We are never to reject those things for others who are sick & suffering. We are to be “for them”, and against our own self-will.

I had hoped that was implied under the idea of compassion that I tried to convey. Sorry I didn’t communicate my ideas with clarity.

We also pray for our own well being…

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

In the end, we ask that His will be done.

Jim

 

[ready]

Matt7 “You will know them by their fruits”.

Mark 3:25 “A house divided against itself cannot stand”

Satan can only go as far as God permits.

I haven’t read the other responses, but this is a very, very good one. God bless you.

 

[mdgspencer]

You should deal with this by holding to the Catholic faith. If satan did come to you in this way, just reject anything that is an offense to the Catholic faith. And too, pray.
People too, may seem good and wise, but speak words to lead you away from God, but the same thing holds. Hold fast to the Catholic faith. I think that it is men far more often that Satan appearing as an angel of light that try to deceive Christians, in ways, even, that will kill their souls. “Fear him who has power to cast into hell,” Jesus said (Luke 12:4). Jesus was saying to be careful more than to be afraid. If we hold fast to the Catholic faith, we will do well.

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

Those who turn to Jesus will not be deceived by the devil.

If this were the case Jesus words would be false when he said, "come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,* and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jim

I just don’t understand how such deceptions could be allowed to happen. But I feel it would be very important to pray that we are protected against such things. Sometimes I wonder if just dwelling on it too much can cause the mind to create it’s own deceptions? Maybe many of these things which happened to the saints were dreams, or rather, nightmares? You really just don’t know. The mind is a powerful thing. But, thankfully, we know that God is more powerful than Satan, and there is never any doubt of that.