BREAKING BONDAGES - SEDUCTION - PART 1
THE SEDUCTION OF REASON, PASSION, BEING GIVEN OVER
This is Part 1 of a 3 part series dealing with temptations, bondages, and demonic influence. The other two are:
- BREAKING BONDAGES "TAGGED"
- BREAKING BONDAGES "ENSLAVED"
Jesus' ministry had so many unique characteristics, and one was the casting out of devils. What relevance does that have with us today?
The following teaching does not deal with the casting out of devils, but rather some of the ways we can be exposed to the forces of darkness.
INDEX: - The Kingdom of Darkness and Open Doors
- Three Ways of Falling Under the Power of the Enemy:
1.The Seduction of Reason
a- Being disobedient, presumptuous (venturing in forbidden territory)
b- Rebellion and Self-exaltation
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23 This was the charge against King Saul through Samuel the Prophet. Both witchcraft and stubbornness leaves us open to demonic influence/control.
b- Rebellion and Self-exaltation
c- Harbouring sinful and deceitful ulterior motives and practices
d- Hating your brother
d- Hating your brother
e- Through ignorance and carelessness
f- Rejecting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior
2.The Seduction of Passion
3. Being Given Over
- Conclusion
The Kingdom of Darkness
and Open Doors
As we go about our daily lives, carrying out our responsibilities, and
bumping shoulders with the everyday concerns of not only our lives, but those
of the world around us, we must keep in mind certain things the Lord has taught
us from the Bible. Three of these are:
1 – NOT ALL ISSUES IN LIFE ARE ORGINATED BY PEOPLE
2 – WE ARE TO GUARD THE GATES OF OUR HEART AND MIND
3 – WE ARE TO BE SOBER AND VIGILANT, AND WATCH AND PRAY
In the midst of all things natural it is easy
to forget that we are in a spiritual battle, fighting with spiritual weapons,
against an enemy that is a spirit. The Bible further reveals to us the Kingdom
of God, the kingdom of darkness, as well as the kingdom of men, and everything that
goes on in this life involves at least one of them at any given time, and you
are in it, like it or not. One cannot say, “I want nothing to do with the
Kingdom of God, or the kingdom of the devil.” and is thereby excluded from the
battles. Like it or not, you are either a soldier, a pawn, or a victim. The
good news is that in Christ Jesus you get to be a soldier, and our weapons are
the Word of God (truth), prayer, righteousness, faith, and love. Ephesians 6:17-18, 2 Corinthians 6:7, Hebrews 11:33, Romans 12:21
The Lord has placed bounds, defenses, and restrictions against the works
of darkness for our sakes as people, and especially as Christians, so the devil
can do nothing through us but what we allow him to, “But Peter said to Ananias and Sapphira, ‘Why has Satan filled your
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…?’” Acts 5:3. In other words when we enter into agreement
with him we give him an open door into our heart and life to fulfill his will,
and God holds us completely responsible.
3 WAYS OF FALLING UNDER THE POWER
OF THE ENEMY
– Being seduced in our thinking and passions, losing control of ourselves, being given over.
– Being seduced in our thinking and passions, losing control of ourselves, being given over.
1 -THE SUDUCTION OF REASON
“That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight
of God.” Luke 16:15.
The worst time to discover what the end product of
something is, is in the wake of its destruction. Before embracing… an idea, a right,
a goal, a campaign, please check out its source, hidden motives, and destiny
before God.
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart form the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils…” 1 Timothy 4:1
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall the heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 3:3-4
As stated, the devil cannot do anything through us unless we
agree. That means he has to capture our thinking, and if he does, he has access to every aspect of our being. Remember what Jesus said
about the devil, that he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). We can be sure that the conclusion he brings us to is
deceptive. Now he is crafty and he knows how to appeal to our sense of
values and self-worth, as well as to our lusts. He also realizes that he has to jump the hurdles of our
moral defense. Let us look at how the serpent seduced Eve. First he led her into
doubt the Word of God, “Has God said…?”
then to disbelief “You shall not surely die.” Finally he
sold her the goods, appealing to her lust and pride “and you shall be as gods…” Genesis 3:1-6. She caved, opened the
door, the sin crept in, and death followed.
He will
use actual cases and situations in your life that are verifiable – “Look what
they did to you!” He even uses Scriptures
Matthew 4:6, but the motive and
conclusion is always in rebellion to God and for destruction, and not
necessarily only yours.
How did Jesus combat the devil’ lies?
He used the Scriptures of the
Bible in the appropriate application for each temptation; “It is written… It is written again… It is written…” Matthew 4:4,7,10
Now the devil is not always speaking to us
through our thoughts, but often through the ideas, thoughts, and reasoning of
others. Nor are they always coming through
a religious setting, but likely more often in a social, political, educational, or even an entertainment
setting where we would not so easily recognize him as the source, nor be on our guard.
REMEMBER – Not
all conclusions are true and right merely because they have a logical sequence
and are backed with 'apparent' corresponding evidence that claims to
substantiate the conclusion. When examined in the light of the
testimonies of the Lord, and the provable facts, not only the conclusions, but even the
so called evidence may be 100% contrary to reality.
“The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes. The fear of
the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also
than honey, and the honeycomb. Moreover
by them is your servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great
reward.” Psalm 19:7-11
If anyone’s conclusion defies any of these and condones any form of hate, malice, cruelty, enslaves, the taking the life of innocent human beings, sexual sin, drugs, witchcraft, idolatry (giving something the place that only God should be and draws you away from supreme loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ), you must flee from it! It is evil and demonic.
If anyone’s conclusion defies any of these and condones any form of hate, malice, cruelty, enslaves, the taking the life of innocent human beings, sexual sin, drugs, witchcraft, idolatry (giving something the place that only God should be and draws you away from supreme loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ), you must flee from it! It is evil and demonic.
HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE?
-Jesus said that you shall know them
by their fruits Matthew 7:16-20
-Jesus said that we shall know what is from God by how
obediently we respond to God’s will “If
any man do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak of Myself.” John 7:17
“To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20
The Old
Testament is the Law and the New Testament is the Testimony of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Whenever something or someone contradicts or attacks these it is an
immediate warning sign. Now the end product of our Biblical application should resemble or coincide with the
nature, character, person, and purpose of Jesus Christ, which is the plan of
God Almighty.
HOW DO WE GET INTO A POSITION OF BEING SUCEPTIBLE TO FALLING UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE/CONTROL?
a- Being
disobedient, presumptuous (venturing in forbidden territory)
b- Rebellion and Self-exaltation
c- Harbouring sinful and deceitful ulterior
motives and practices
d- Hating your brother
e- Through ignorance and carelessness
f- Rejecting Jesus Christ as your Lord
and Savior.
a –
King Saul disobeyed the Lord by taking it on to himself to exercise the role of priest which God did not permit - 1 Samuel 13:12-13. Soon afterwards he
did not follow the Lord’s instructions to completely carry the Lord's retribution on the Amalekites for
their ruthless attack on the Israelites when they were wondering in the desert. As
a result the Lord was severely displeased with him and His Spirit departed from him. Instead He sent an evil spirit to torment
him. When the evil spirit was on him he would have fits of anger and rage, and
become violent. 1 Samuel 16:14 This
event is peculiar though not the only time recorded in the Bible that the Lord had done such a thing in this manner to
someone. A messenger of Satan was sent to buffet Paul lest he would be overly exalted 2 Corinthians 12: 7. With King Saul, it clearly shows some of the behavior that a person tormented by an
evil spirit will display. He began to reason that David, his loyal servant, was out to get him. The difference between Paul and King Saul was that Paul was not afflicted as a result of disobedience and was thus able to manage the torments by faith which was actually for his benefit. On the other hand, Saul out of disobedience, was afflicted and therefore unable to resist anymore than when the devil had tempted him into presumption and disobedience in the first place. Here we can see who King Saul was more apt to obey when under pressure. With the example of King Saul we can have a glimpse of the possible danger of anyone venturing into forbidden territory and acting in disobedience because we are following another voice other than Christ's.
(The question of King Saul's eternal soul is not necessarily reflected in this account of his life. God is just and only He is capable to make such a judgment. This account is a here and now situation for our benefit.)
(The question of King Saul's eternal soul is not necessarily reflected in this account of his life. God is just and only He is capable to make such a judgment. This account is a here and now situation for our benefit.)
b – An extreme example of rebellion
by self-exaltation is in Numbers 16 when Korah, Dathan and Abiram, rose up
against Moses, “And they gathered
themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, ‘You
take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, everyone of them,
and the Lord is among them: why then do you lift up yourselves above the
congregation of the Lord?” Numbers 16:3
That sounds true, doesn’t it, even Scriptural?
But it was a form of pure rebellion against the established order of the Lord (God’s
order and authority are things the devil hates), and the Lord exposed the jealously of
their motives and their arrogance. Moses, by the Word of the Lord called them
wicked men (vs 26). They were
attacking the work of God and the work of the Holy Spirit Who was manifesting
Himself through the ministries of Moses and Aaron. From where do you think they
got their inspiration? Do you see the logic of their thinking? Was not their
conclusion a rational deduction from their reasoning, and it even sounded
Biblical? But what was their objective really aimed at? Were their
accusations just? Were their motives upright according to the will of God? The devil no
doubt helped feed their greed and pride, and through them tried to attack the
work of God. What a price they paid! King David prayed this, and so should we:
“Search
me O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 Rebellion and defiance are such dangerous undertakings. We must fear God and be quick to humble ourselves. The devil is right there to fuel all our attitudes and ambitions and we will feel so justified.
c – Judas harboured sinful and
deceitful practices, and ulterior motives. “’Why
was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?’ (again,
that sure sounds noble) This he said not
that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and
bare/pilfered what was put therein.” John 12:5-6.
When we harbour sinful practices we
will have ulterior motives and are already operating in the realm of deceit.
The devil will grasp the opportunity to persuade you to do something that you
think will give you what you want and that will justify your cause, but it is
always evil. And woe be to you if you succeed. There are things that are even a
stretch for the average sinner to do, but if we completely resolve to go ahead
and do it, look what happened with Judas, … “And
after the morsel (of dipped bread), Satan then entered into him (Judas).” John
13:26.
Have you ever wondered how people can do the things
they do even though the Lord holds them fully accountable? When you agree to do
something sinful/evil, guess who you are opening the door of your heart and
mind to? Others will be hurt and you will bear the guilt before God Almighty!
d – Hating your brother is another
open door for the devil to get a foothold into your life – “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother in in
darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light, and
there is no cause for stumbling in him...For this is the message which you have
heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain who was
of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him?
Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” 1 John 2:9-10,
3:11-12 NAS
We must never take lightly the thoughts we have against someone “Love thinks no evil” 1 Corinthians 13:5.
If we harbour hate in our heart, the devil will continually feed it with every
justifiable reason until you are ready to carry out his will. So many of our
thoughts and opinions are from an outside ‘inspiration’, and whatever their
objective is will become ours if we are in agreement, and consequently so will
our actions fulfill another’s agenda. Be assured, you will be judged and fully
accountable for what you do while you carry out their agenda. We must fear God
and walk in love, truth, and humility.
e – Ignorance and
carelessness are other avenues for an open door to demonic forces which rely
heavily on our ignorance or carelessness. A popular example of such thing is
when Peter tried to restrain the Lord regarding the cross, “Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Be it far from
You, Lord: this shall not be unto You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get
thee behind me Satan, for you are an offense unto me: for you savour not the
things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:22-23
We do not realize how such a statement was temptation
to Jesus “Who has been tempted in every
way, just as we are – yet was without sin” Hebrews 4:15. Doubtless, His
human side was struggling with anxiety and fears with regards to what He was
about face. Through his ignorance, Peter allowed the devil to attack Jesus. I
wonder how many times we have done similar things to people.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…My people ask counsel at
their stocks, and their staff declares unto them: for the spirit of whoredom
has caused them to err, and they have gone a-whoring from under their God.”
Hosea 4:6,10.
“But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice
to devils, and not to God, and I would not that you should have fellowship with
devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:20
Well-meaning people, perhaps in pursuit of
God, or maybe looking for adventure and
mystery have gone off course and become entangled with cults, the occult, or
idolatry. In so doing they have become seduced by devils. Another trick that the
devil uses on people who may want God but do not want to repent of their sin,
is that he will give them a religion that will impersonate their god and at the
same time allows for their sin. What they do not realize is that what they are
actually fellowshipping with and entertaining are devils, as the Scriptures warns.
f– Those that
reject the Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, are open targets for falling
into deception because they have forsaken the Truth, grace and deliverance that God had
provided for them. Furthermore, they not only had made a choice to renounce submission
to God, “Who has delivered us from the
power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.”
Colossians 1:13, but now they have absolutely no defense against the forces
of darkness, under which they, by default, have made an agreement with, and
furthermore made themselves God’s enemies.
“…even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them
that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be
saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but
had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
2 -THE SEDCUTION OF PASSION – WHEN WE LOSE CONTROL
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks
self-control.” Proverbs 25:28 NIV
“Be angry, and sin not,: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; Neither
give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
I previously mentioned that God has given us
built in defenses against the powers of darkness, and two of them are the
ability of free choice, and the ability to have control over our own behaviour.
That begins with parental training and disciplines, and in Christ Jesus, self-control is one
of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians
5:23). We are all weak in areas and the Lord holds us up in our integrity
as we earnestly desire to please Him by doing what is right, and this goes for
the unconverted as well - “And God said
unto him (Abimelech), “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart;
for I also withheld you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not allow you
to touch her (Abraham’s wife, Sarah).’”
Genesis 20:6,
“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.” Psalm 25:21
“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.” Psalm 25:21
If, however, we
give ourselves over to something without restraint, or willfully open ourselves
freely to something or someone, we are in danger of being taken over. Hypnotism
functions on this principle. It is equivalent to what the Scripture declares
about a city broken down and without walls. It is vulnerable to attack and
invasion by any enemy. This is another reason why the use of drugs and getting
stoned is not only sinful, but dangerous. In fact, by losing control in any
aspect of our lives we are in danger of demonic oppression or possibly possession.
By losing control in any area of our lives, like anger, lusts, greed, idolatry,
lying, and so on, we are giving way to the evil spirits behind it. Please be
warned, this is a most serious matter. I do not know of how prolonged
a time of being out of control is required before the devil takes over due to so many variables and the
type of behaviour involved, but be assured you are vulnerable.
“And
certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits, and infirmities, Mary
called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.” Luke 8:2
For whatever reason or reasons she apparently
gave herself over to that lifestyle, she also opened herself to the
corresponding spirits which then cruelly enslaved her.
You may have wondered why people seem
to lose control of their passions, and especially if they give themselves over
to something God calls sinful. I am not saying this is in every circumstance,
but the Scriptures do warn us regarding these dangers. A person can get to the
point where they unwittingly take on strange and perverse (contrary to the
natural order) behaviour. Yes, they likely have an evil spirit that binds them
to it and eventually will openly express itself through them. It literally becomes
a part of them and will seem normal in their eyes. Depending on the situation,
the only way out is if God grants them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth, or He sets them free through the ministry of deliverance. For an example take a look at the man possessed by the Legion Luke 8:26-39.
By far, the most important message about all
this is that we are to “fear God and keep
His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 Keep Jesus as Lord of your life!
3 – BEING GIVEN OVER
This area is somewhat of a
combination of the three areas, although I am leery about being so cut and dry in
categorizing. This teaching is not intended to be a kind of lecture, but a solemn
warning.
The Scriptures clearly illustrate in both the Old and New Testaments
how God had and will deliver His people into the hands of their enemies if
they will not cooperate with Him, but rather rebel against His Spirit, His
laws and commandments, and His grace. The nation of Israel has a history full
of these stories, beginning in the book of Judges right up until their captivity
into Babylon. The situation with King Saul, as previously mentioned, is more of
a personal example where the Lord delivered Saul into the hands of an evil
spirit to be tormented by it.
In the New Testament beginning in the
book of Romans chapter 1, the apostle
Paul describes how the Lord delivers those who are defiant and rebellious into
the hands of their own irrational lusts. The apostle Paul instructed the church
to deliver a man who had committed an act of gross sexual immorality, into the
hands of Satan “for the destruction of
the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1
Corinthians 5:5. He also did the same with Hymenaeus and Alexander so that
they would learn not to blaspheme 1
Timothy 1:20. In both the Old and New Testaments, the goal was to bring God’s
people back to Himself by allowing to eat the full fruit of their ways, with
the hopes that they would have enough of their sin and rebellion and turn back
to the Lord. The books of the Prophets as well as throughout the Old Testament are full of the
Lord’s admonitions and grievances of how He had to deliver them into the hands
of their enemies for them to see what it was like serving under other
gods and lords.
So if people are rebellious, defiant, unteachable,
stubborn, and incorrigible, they may be in line to be delivered into the hands
of the enemy of their soul so that they may eat the fruit of their own ways.
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may
recover themselves out of the snares of the devil who are taken captive by him
at his (to do his) will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26
CONCLUSION
Dear friends, this is in no way intended to bring
any kind of fear outside the wholesome fear of the Lord, but to awaken and
admonish you or anyone you know that it is so dangerous in many ways to give
yourself over to any indulgence, idol, or sinful passion, or following ideas and people who are contrary to Jesus and the Word of God. Nor are we to tempt the
Lord by playing games with His grace or His laws and commandments. Instead, He
has called us to a life of faith, love, and holiness. This life is full of His
joy and freedom. Please make every effort to abide in Him, and trust Him for everything
else. The next topic in this series is "TAGGED". .
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