article series
"The
Devil Made Me Do It"
by Diane Hawkins
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The Devil Made Me Do It Series
The Devil Made Me Do It
“The devil made me do it,”
is a statement often used in a joking fashion to evade personal responsibility
for a particular unsavory deed. While few take it seriously, the expression
raises a legitimate question about just what Satan and his cohorts can do in
and through a person’s life. Some people are quick to attribute any ungodly
thought or action to him while others feel that he can only have an impact on
those he truly “possesses,” a condition usually relegated to pagan cultures.
An even more controversial issue is how much influence, if any, Satan can have
on a Christian. These are the issues I’ve chosen as a focus for the next few
issues of Prayer Matters.
Defining the nomenclature
related to this subject is probably the best place to start. Most versions of
the Bible translate the Greek word “daimonizomai” as “demon-possessed.” This
is unfortunate because the Greek word does not inherently carry the meaning of
“possession” at all. Therefore, many scholars today prefer to use the more
literal translation of “demonized” and feel that it applies to any degree of
demonic attachment or influence on a person, which can range along a broad
continuum.
The
first chapters of Job, as well as 2 Chronicles 18:18-21 and Ephesians 1:19-22,
leave no doubt concerning God’s ultimate sovereignty over Satan. Nevertheless,
God has allowed him to have a limited amount of power and authority (Eph. 2:2;
6:12) so that he can serve as a viable alternative object of devotion for
mankind (2 Cor. 11:2-3; James 4:4). The parameters within which he is allowed
to operate, however, have been precisely defined by specific spiritual
principles established by God. This means that Satan is confined to being a
strict legalist and can only exercise his own initiative within distinct
boundaries.
The
spiritual principles God has established in relationship to Satan actually
give man himself the ability to determine how great an influence Satan has on
his life. If man does “a,” then Satan has an open door to do “b.” On the other
hand, if man does “c,” then Satan must disengage himself from that
individual.
While Scripture describes a broad range of
possible demonic influence on man, it does not differentiate it into clearly
labeled “boxes.” Any categorization we do along this line is purely human in
derivation. Nevertheless, when one studies and works in this area, patterns
become evident. Therefore, for didactic purposes I would like to propose the
following types of relationships that can exist between evil spiritual beings
and mankind.
1.
True demon possession in which one or more specific demons are
able to suppress the person’s will and exert control over his/her actions.
This control can be constant (Mark 6:2-5) or intermittent (Luke 9:38-39).
2.
Demonic attachment in which one or more specific demons have a
legal right to be associated with a person and can affect that individual in
various ways but cannot actually take control of his/her actions
3.
Demonic assignment in which one or more demons are specifically
sent against a person to cause a particular effect for a particular purpose
desired by God, Satan, or other individuals
4.
Demonic contamination in which demons gain an opportunity to
“hang around” and affect a person because he/she has been in a place where
demons have been particularly prevalent
5.
Demonic influence in which demons with no legal right for
attachment are able to affect a person in various ways only because they are
not recognized and banished
We
will examine each of these in greater detail in the coming issues.
The Devil Made Me Do It
We are currently examining
the capabilities that the “devil” has to affect individuals’ lives. We pointed
out in our last issue that the
Greek word
“daimonizomai” is usually translated in Scripture as “demon-possessed” when,
in fact, it does not carry the meaning of “possession” at all. For this reason
many modern theologians believe that it may more accurately refer to a broad
continuum of varying degrees of influence by demons.
At
the extreme end of this continuum are the cases in which demons can actually
override the person’s will and take control of various aspects of his or her
life (2 Tim. 2:26). This control can be constant (Mark 5:2-5) or intermittent
(Luke 9:38-39). It may involve a single demon or a whole host of them. Many of
the examples of demonization described in the Gospels and Acts seem to fall at
this end of the continuum. In my last issue I consented to calling this level
of control “demon possession.” However, I think a better designation would
probably be “demonic control.”
Although Scripture does not reveal the
causative roots of this most extreme form of demonization, we can postulate
from the experience of those who have dealt with such cases that it may
involve a deliberate “contract” made by, or on behalf of, the person with
Satan or what may be perceived as other “deities” or ancestral spirits. When
this virtual “selling of one’s soul” to Satan occurs, demons seemingly can
gain such a degree of control that they can affect the person’s mental health,
physical health, behavior, and speech as well as endow the individual with
supernatural abilities.
The
two demon-possessed men of the Gaderenes (Mat. 8:28-34) provide the most vivid
example in Scripture of the mental effects demons can have on an individual.
These men were so “out of their minds” that they dwelt in caves away from
other people. They disdained wearing clothing (Luke 8:27)
and would scream and cut their bodies with
stones (Mark 5:5). In this case a whole “legion” of demons was involved (Luke
8:30). We know that the demons were causing these symptoms because when these
men were delivered of them, they were instantly restored to their right minds
and put on clothes (Luke 8:35). For this reason the possibility of
demonization must not be ruled out in people with mental illness today,
although it does not always seem to be involved.
Demons having the legal right to exert control in a person’s life can also
affect his or her physical health. Examples are given in Scripture of their
being able to block one or more of the physical senses of the body, thus
causing the individual to be blind, deaf, and/or mute (Mat. 9:32-33; 12:22;
Mark 9:17, 25; Luke 11:14). They can also cause crippling of the body (Luke
13:11). While those effects are generally exhibited in a constant fashion,
controlling demons can also intermittently
cause convulsions, accompanied by foaming at the mouth and grinding of the
teeth. They may even try to destroy the person by physically throwing the body
into water or fire (Mark
9:20-22). These intermittent episodes can be so intense that when they end,
the person’s body feels badly beaten and depleted of strength (Luke 9:39).
Demons can also speak
through a person when they are in a position of control. When Jesus approached
demonized individuals, the demons often
shouted out their recognition of Him as the Son of God. This was
sometimes followed by an expression of panic concerning what He might do to
them (Mark 1:23-24; 3:11; 5:7). In Acts 19:15 demons verbally interacted with
those trying to cast them out and revealed that they also knew who the Apostle
Paul was. The demons controlling the men of the Gadarenes revealed their name
when Jesus asked them for it and also implored Jesus regarding their fate when
he cast them out (Luke 8:30, 32).
The supernatural strength
that demons can manifest when they have control over a person must not be
underestimated. The demoniacs of the Gaderenes were so violent and
uncontrollable that others tried to bind them with chains but to no avail, as
they had the supernatural strength to break the chains (Mark 5:3-4). Acts
19:13-16 describes an incident in which unbelievers attempting to cast a demon
out of a man ended up being assaulted, overpowered, stripped, and wounded by
him. Demons can also enable an individual to tap into supernatural knowledge,
giving them “psychic abilities,” such as predicting the future (Acts 19:15; 1
John 4:1).
The purpose for this kind
of demonization is difficult to understand. Perhaps it is done to destroy the
image of God in a person’s life or to give people a sense of the reality and
power of Satan. In third world countries demonic manifestations such as these
seem to keep large populations of people in reverential awe of the spiritual
realm and the need to live in proper abeyance—and bondage—to it. Oh, that more
of God’s people would heed the call to bring the power of the Gospel into
their lives, for Jesus alone can set them free!
The Devil Made Me Do It
Sliding down the demonization continuum away from its most extreme end, which
depicts an almost total control by evil spirits, is a degree of demonic
influence that for lack of a better word I am calling “demonic attachment.”
In this case one or more specific demons have a particular legal right to
be associated with a person and can affect that individual in various ways but
cannot actually take control of his/her actions.
Some
of the same manifestations that occur in the more extreme form of demonization
that I’ve called “demonic control” can occur at this level as well but only
with some level of volitional compliance by the person or alter-identity
(if DID is present). These can include the more obvious actions of demonic
speech, violent behavior, self-injury, tearing off of clothing, etc. as well
as more subtle character traits, behavioral tendencies, and thought patterns.
The
minds of those afflicted at this level are exceptionally vulnerable to Satan’s
manipulation. His intent seems to be to implant lies, sear the conscience, and
decrease the spiritual discernment of these individuals, leaving them
susceptible to further deception and bondage.
Some
may become so affected that they adopt and even propagate false doctrines (2
Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-2). Because this spiritual deception comes about so
subtly, they may actually see themselves as true Christian leaders (2 Cor.
11:13-15). What they teach may sound godly to those without a firm grasp of
the Scriptures, but it really consists of cleverly sculpted lies designed by
Satan to turn people away from a true saving faith or to keep them focused on
a legalistic righteousness rather than coming into a genuine relationship with
the living Savior (Acts 13:6-11; 1 Tim. 4:1-3). Paul aptly described such
individuals as having been taken captive by Satan to do his will. (2 Tim.
2:24-26).
Another potential effect of a seared conscience caused by demonic “attachment”
is an increasing desensitization to sin. Christians unknowingly under this
influence may justify their actions by emphasizing the inevitability of sin
and the promise of God’s grace (Rom 6:1). Many, however, spiral downward into
a lifestyle of lawlessness and moral degradation in which the flesh is more or
less given free reign (Rom. 6:19; Gal. 5:19-21; 2 Peter 3:17).
The
legal grounds providing the right of “attachment” for demonization at this
level usually involve the person’s overt participation in occult activity or
in certain habitual, ungodly behavior patterns. Generational inheritance is
also a possibility (Ex. 20:5), however, and even Christians can be susceptible
through this means. Since demonic activity at this level is dependent on the
person’s volitional consent, the effects in a Christian’s life may be greatly
diminished. However, because these “inheritances” often go unrecognized,
consent may be unknowingly given for subtle effects to take place without the
person being aware of their demonic origin.
The
Devil Made Me Do It
In our current study of
the potential effects of various degrees of demonization, we started with the
most severe level that enables demons to take full control of a
person’s mind and behavior on either a consistent or intermittent basis. We
then progressed to describe a slightly less intense degree of domination which
I labeled demonic “attachment.” In this case, demons have a specific legal
right to be consistently associated, or “attached,” to the person but can only
act with the compliance of some part of the person.
Our focus in this issue is
on demonic “assignments.” This level of demonization is quite distinct from
the previous two levels in that it is not based on specific legal grounds
given by the afflicted individual. Instead, it occurs by the direction of God,
Satan, or another individual and is designed to accomplish a specific, usually
short-term, purpose in a person’s life. Christians are not immune to such
assignments. However, the example of Job indicates that Satanic plots against
the godly can seemingly only be executed with God’s permission and within
explicit bounds set by Him.
Job was an extremely
wealthy and prominent man who exhibited exemplary godliness and integrity.
When Satan claimed that this was only because of the spiritual protection and
abundant blessings God had granted him, God allowed Satan to test his claim.
He gave Satan permission to destroy Job’s possessions, his children, and
eventually his health, but he could not take his life.
When released by God,
Satan had the ability to direct the actions of foreigners as well as the
forces of nature to destroy Job’s livestock, herdsmen, and children and
finally to smite his flesh with severe boils (Job 1:1-2:8ff). Through all of
these adversities Job’s faith in God never wavered. In the end God rewarded
Job’s endurance through this massive, undeserved attack by giving him double
of all he lost (Job 42:10).
We usually think of evil
spirits serving the purposes of Satan. However, as seen in Job’s case, they
are never exempt from the higher authority of God’s sovereignty and ultimately
answer to Him. In fact, they seemingly appear before Him on a regular basis
(Job 1:6; 2 Chron. 18:18) and can be sent on assignments that God initiates to
fulfill His own will.
Second Chronicles 18
reveals such a scene with God specifically soliciting an evil spirit from
among the “hosts of heaven” to entice King Ahab into a fatal battle. The
spirit that volunteered for this assignment said that it would cause Ahab’s
prophets to speak falsely about Ahab’s success in the battle. God approved
this tactic and commissioned the spirit to do this, bringing the outcome God
desired.
Although the purpose is
not quite as clear, God also sent an evil spirit to “terrorize” King Saul when
the Holy Spirit (and God’s favor) departed from him. When it came
intermittently upon him, it caused him to rave like a mad man and inspired
violent and murderous behavior within him, particularly against David (1 Sam.
16: 14-23; 18:10-11; 19:9-10).
God
also sent an evil spirit to fulfill a curse that Jotham uttered against
Abimelech and the Shechemites, who had conspired together to kill all the sons
of Jerubbaal (Gideon), proclaiming Abimelech as king over them. Jotham, the
only half-brother to escape, retaliated by uttering a curse that Abimelech and
the Shechemites would destroy each other. God stood behind Jotham in this and
sent an evil spirit to stir up animosity and inspire treacherous actions
between them, leading to their destruction (Judges 9).
Thus far we have seen that
demons “on assignment” have the ability to affect a person’s speech, actions,
and health as well as the forces of nature. They can also be commissioned to
carry out curses and acts of divine punishment by the order of God. In our
next issue we will continue to examine demonic assignments within the context
of the New Testament.
The Devil Made Me Do It
with Jesus’ Life and
Death
In our present series
examining the extent of Satan’s power to affect human life, we are continuing
to look at the nature of demonic “assignments,” focusing this time on the New
Testament. Here we see that even Jesus was not immune from Satanic assignments
directed by God. At the beginning of His earthly ministry He was led
by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by Satan himself.
Satan’s intent was to derail Jesus’ earthly mission while God’s purpose was
for Jesus to prove His sinless character and worthiness to be the Savior for
all mankind. One of Satan’s capabilities demonstrated during this assignment
was his ability to lead Jesus in an experience of extra-dimensional transport
to the “pinnacle of the temple” and to a “very high mountain” from which He
was able to see the “kingdoms of the world” (Mat. 4:1-11).
Jesus’ triumphant victory
over Satan in this wilderness experience did not deter Satan from instigating
further attempts to divert Jesus from His primary mission. As Jesus approached
His final months of ministry, Satan’s schemes seemed to focus on using Peter,
one of Jesus’ closest disciples. Just as we saw in the Old Testament, however,
with the godly man Job, Satan first had to gain permission from God to put his
plan into action. God granted that permission but, again, not without putting
a “safety net” around Peter. This “net” consisted of the powerful prayers of
Jesus Himself that Peter’s faith would not fail during this time of being
“sifted like wheat” by Satan. God also grasped the opportunity to bring good
out of Satan’s actions. Not only did He expect Peter to be spiritually
strengthened through this time of testing, but He also envisioned the impact
Peter could have in strengthening other believers (Luke 22:31-32).
When given permission by
God, Satan was seemingly able to permeate Peter’s thoughts, words, emotions,
and actions, disconnecting him from the intentions of his heart. The first
recorded incident occurred when Jesus began telling his disciples about His
coming suffering and death. Peter quickly declared, “God
forbid it, Lord! This shall never
happen
to You.” Jesus immediately recognized the Satanic origin of these words.
Looking squarely at Peter but speaking to Satan, Jesus ordered Satan behind
Him, declaring him to be a stumbling block to His cause (Mat. 16:21-23; NASB).
Satan’s impact on Peter
was also seen the night that Jesus was arrested. Peter had vowed only hours
earlier that he would die with Jesus rather than desert him. His eagerness to
stand with Jesus was demonstrated when he attacked the high priest’s servant
as the Roman soldiers arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane to take Jesus. He
was also one of the only disciples to follow Jesus to His arraignment before
the high priest. There in the courtyard, however, fear gripped his heart so
strongly that he ended up denying even knowing the Lord three times, exactly
as Jesus had foretold him. Recognizing how greatly he had failed and succumbed
to the evil one, Peter went out and “wept bitterly” (Mat. 26:31-35; 56, 58,
69-75; Luke 22:50-51; John 18:15).
Of
course, Satan used Judas in an even more drastic manner that night. Scripture
does not mention Satan seeking approval from God to work through this
disciple’s life, but we know that Judas’ act of betrayal was in accordance
with God’s pre-ordained plan (Psalm 41:9; Acts 1:16). If Judas wasn’t a true
“believer,” or Satan was “on assignment” for God in his use of Judas,
permission was perhaps not needed.
With
Judas, too, Satan was able to penetrate his inner being and put within his
heart a desire to betray Jesus. As Judas nurtured this thought and eventually
acquiesced his will to it, I believe it opened the door for Satan to “enter”
him and carry out his reprehensible act (John 13:2, 21-27).
Satan actually “entering”
a person was seemingly without precedent, and yet the nature of the act
performed was in keeping with Satan himself doing it, just as it was Satan
himself who was involved in the wilderness temptations. While Satan used both
Peter and Judas in his plots against Jesus, there was a drastic difference in
the culpability of the two men. As Jesus washed Peter’s feet in the Upper
Room, He assured Peter that he was “clean,” but not Judas. Jesus also earlier
referred to Judas as a “devil” (John 6:70). Perhaps these are indications that
Judas was not a true “believer” as Peter was.
In both of these cases,
however, Satan was able to lead these men into actions they probably would
never have done on their own accord. This is borne out by the intense reaction
of both of them when Satan departed and they recognized the nature of what
they had done. The degree of remorse shown is also in keeping with the
significance of the offense (Mat. 26:75; 27:3-5).
All of these examples
reveal a deep, but temporary, penetration of the person’s being by Satan for a
specific purpose. We see Satan being able to affect man’s heart, and thus his
actions, as well as impart an extra-dimensional experience of travel and
vision. In our next issue we will continue to look at the nature of other
demonic assignments in the New Testament that did not involve Jesus.
The Devil Made Me Do It
in the New Testament
In our current study of
the abilities that Satan and his forces have to affect the lives of humans, we
are continuing to examine instances in the New Testament in which evil
spiritual beings were involved in carrying out “assignments” in people’s
lives. In our last issue we focused on assignments directly involving the life
and death of Jesus Christ. We will now broaden that focus.
The
vulnerability of godly men and women to demonic assignments is further
illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul. Here again, however, Satan was
used to serve the purpose of God. In view of the extraordinary revelations
Paul had experienced, God did not want pride or arrogance to hinder the
effectiveness of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Therefore, He had Satan send
a demonic affliction to “torment” him. Many debates have taken place over the
nature of this “thorn in the flesh.” Whatever it was, it was apparently
something that caused an almost constant irritation or “torment” in Paul’s
life and gave him some sense of physical weakness. Interestingly, God’s will
was for Paul never to be delivered from this demonic affliction but to trust
in God’s sufficient grace and the power that He would provide in Paul’s
life in spite of it (2 Cor. 12:7-9).
The Apostle Paul himself dictated a demonic
assignment against the man who had committed the grievous sin of having an
incestuous relationship with his father’s wife. In this case Paul instructed
the church body to deliver this man to Satan for the “destruction of the
flesh” so that his spirit would be saved on the “day of the Lord.” Since Satan
would certainly not be involved in destroying the fleshly sin nature, this
assignment most likely entailed bringing the physical destruction of this
man’s body. Whether this would be a wasting illness or death itself is
unclear, but in spite of this severe punishment at Satan’s hand, this man
would seemingly not lose his salvation (1 Cor. 5:1-5).
Although we don’t know the compelling details, Paul launched another demonic
assignment against Hymenaeus and Alexander. In this case he “handed them over
to Satan” so that they would learn not to blaspheme (1 Tim. 1:20). This was
probably not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as that would have been an
unpardonable sin (Mat. 12:31; Mark 3:28), and the purpose of the discipline
here seems to be remedial in nature. Therefore, this assignment seemingly
involved bringing some kind of demonically afflicted suffering on these men. A
quick recall of the misery Satan brought upon Job assures us that Satan is
well equipped to do this.
In
summary, a “demonic assignment” involves a usually temporary negative effect
brought upon a person by evil spiritual beings for a specific purpose.
Although we often hear of people involved in witchcraft and other occult
practices sending curses and demonic attacks against people, Scripture
seemingly gives no example of this. Instead, it records many accounts of
demonic assignments being initiated by God to serve His purposes as
well as a few being directed by Satan or godly people. Believing Christians
are not exempt from such assignments, but any attack launched by Satan against
a believer must seemingly gain God’s approval first.
When
“on assignment,” Satan’s forces can negatively impact a person’s physical,
mental, and/or spiritual health. They are seemingly capable of influencing
one’s thoughts, words, emotions, and actions to such an extent that the person
may even do things that are contrary to the intentions of his heart. In Job’s
case they were also able to direct the forces of nature and bring death to his
children. With Jesus in the wilderness, Satan seemingly enabled Him to
experience extra-dimensional travel and vision.
Satan’s capabilities must certainly not be underestimated, but neither should
we be intimidated by his bulging “tool kit.” How comforting it is to know that
God is still sovereign over him! He holds the reins and is lovingly protective
of His children!
The Devil Made Me Do It
In our study of the
various degrees to which Satan is able to affect a person’s life, we have
covered demonic control, demonic attachment, and demonic assignment. We come
now to demonic “contamination.” This refers to the opportunity that demons
have to “hang around” and affect a person because he/she has been in a place
where demons are particularly prevalent.
Scripture is much more vague in its allusions to this type of demonic
affliction. However, Zechariah 13:2 indicates that a spiritual contamination
of the land seemingly occurs when idols or false gods are worshiped in a
country, possibly taking the form of a “spirit of impurity” establishing a
stronghold there. While not stated directly, the implication seems to be that
this evil spiritual heritage may have an effect on the people living there and
possibly on those who may enter such a place as well.
In
Isaiah 52:11 the prophet instructed the Israelites to leave Babylon, touching
nothing unclean, and to purify themselves, seemingly from the
contamination with evil they had experienced in that place. We can’t be sure,
but possibly all of the Old Testament laws concerning purity were meant to
serve as a metaphor in some way for the concept of spiritual contamination as
well.
Interestingly, 2
Corinthians 6:17 quotes from this passage in Isaiah and instructs New
Testament believers to come out from the midst of those who are associated
with the kingdom of darkness, mentioning that we, too, are “not to touch what
is unclean.” The implication seems to be that even a Christian will be
adversely affected by being in the evil spiritual “climate” associated with
these people and things.
Experience seems to
indicate that if a person intentionally or unintentionally enters a “den of
iniquity” or even a seemingly innocent place, such as a motel room, where evil
activity has been carried out in the past, he not only may open himself to
demonic harassment while in this place but may also emerge with demons
following him and continuing to harass him. This “carry-over” effect can also
seemingly be experienced at times by individuals ministering to, or doing
deliverance with, another person.
Because Scripture is much
more vague in its allusions to this avenue of demonic affliction, the nature
and extent of Satan’s capabilities to affect a person through this means is
more difficult to ascertain. The influence of a spirit of impurity, as
mentioned in Zechariah 13:2, would perhaps have a negative effect on the
morality of the people. Individuals who have seemingly experienced demonic
contamination today report a general oppression or mental/emotional/spiritual
“discomfort.” Sometimes the spiritual origin of this is not recognized but may
be identified by someone more gifted in spiritual discernment who comes into
their presence.
When
a person has done nothing to give legal grounds for demonic “attachment” to
occur, “contaminating” demons are generally easy to dispel once they are
recognized. If you sense demonic harassment on property that you own or are
renting (even for a night), you need only remind the demonic forces that you
are a child of God and have a legal right to take spiritual authority over the
place while you are there. If you have deliberately entered a spiritually
“contaminated” place for a godly purpose, you need only assert that you are an
Ambassador for the Kingdom of God and are on the King’s business in this place
and command all evil beings to leave you alone.
If
you have in any way succumbed to your fleshly nature and willfully entered
into an evil environment, then confession is necessary, followed by a request
for cleansing by the blood of Jesus. Sometimes a direct request for the
banishment of any lingering evil beings in the name of Jesus may be necessary.
The Devil Made Me Do It
We have
been describing the broad continuum of effects that evil spiritual beings can
have on man, starting with the most severe. I arbitrarily labeled various levels
within this range as “demonic control,” “demonic attachment,” “demonic
assignment,” “demonic contamination,” and “demonic influence.” Our discussion
now turns to the latter.
By
“demonic influence” I am referring to the effects that demons with no legal
right for attachment can have on us just because we are human and caught in the
spiritual battle of the cosmos. This would include what some call “demonic
harassment” as well as the evil spiritual influence that comes through the flesh
and the world system (Eph. 2:2-3). In this segment we will focus on the flesh,
or “sin nature.”
The
flesh is a powerful internal avenue through which Satan can exert his influence
in man’s life. His victory in the Garden of Eden gave him access to this aspect
of the soul that is integrally connected to man’s inner drives and passions and
enabled him to leave his imprint on the very nature and character of man. This
is when man’s heart became “desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9 KJV). This is not how
God created it but how Satan corrupted it (Gen. 1:31; Rom. 7:18, 21).
The
descriptions of the flesh in Scripture leave no doubt concerning its Satanic
affiliation. Its hostility towards God, its inability to subject itself to the
law of God, its unwavering allegiance to the law of sin, its opposition to the
Holy Spirit, and the destination of corruption and death to which it leads man
do not reflect the inalienable freedom of choice given to man but the
incorrigible nature of Satan, the enemy of our souls (Rom. 7:25; 8:6-7, 13; Gal.
5:17; 6:8).
The
extent to which the flesh influences a person’s life, whether he is a believer
or unbeliever, is seemingly determined by the mind. This is where man’s free
will comes in. While the mind can be perverted to follow the corrupt desires of
the flesh, it can also be changed (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23), whereas the flesh
cannot.
After
salvation the mind that has been naturally bent towards the flesh must be
deliberately trained to bring it in line with the will of God and His
righteousness, thus transforming the person’s life (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:22-24).
The process of “renewing” the mind’s focus, motivations, and priorities occurs
as the individual studies the Word, communes with God through prayer,
fellowships with other godly Christians, and learns how to tune into the Holy
Spirit, who now indwells his life.
The
gift of the Holy Spirit to every believer (Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14) is a powerful
asset in overcoming the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). While man is virtually
enslaved to the internal pulsations of the flesh before salvation (Rom. 6:6,
16-17, 20), the entrance of the Holy Spirit provides an alternative inner
drumbeat with which he can synchronize his life. Even with this tremendous
advantage, however, he must still choose which drumbeat to follow. He can set
his mind on either the flesh or the Spirit, with drastically different results
in his life (Rom. 8:5-7; Gal. 5:16, 19-23).
When
the flesh is allowed to direct a person’s life, it will lure him to indulge in
self-centered, sensual pleasures and sexual improprieties, to engage in lawless
behavior; to pursue occult interests; and to instigate divisive actions among
his fellowman (Rom. 6:19; Gal. 5:19-21). In one sense a person can say, “The
devil made me do it” when he succumbs to these kinds of behaviors because Satan
truly is the instigator of the deeds of the flesh, but the person is still
responsible for his own actions, as his mind is free to choose whether or not to
follow the desires of the flesh.
Satan never gives up his efforts to turn man’s
mind towards the flesh and lead him into these patterns of sin. Only through
Jesus Christ can the daily battle for the mind be won, and only through Him will
we finally be delivered from the “body of this death” and its alliance with the
flesh, which is enslaved to Satan and sin (Rom. 7:21-25).
The Devil Made Me Do It
In our
study of the various ways in which Satan is able to affect man’s life, we are
currently focusing on the least binding but perhaps most broadly pervasive area,
which I have labeled “Satanic influence.” This refers to the effects Satan and
his forces are able to have on man as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, which gave
Satan dominion over the flesh and the world system of government (Acts 26:18;
Col. 1:13). While his association with the flesh provides Satan with an internal
influence on man (Rom. 8:7-8; Gal. 5:17), his temporary authority over the world
system (John 12:31; Eph. 2:2; 1 John 5:19) enables him to saturate man’s
environment with alluring pleasures craftily designed to appeal to the flesh and
entice man away from devotion to God. This external influence that Satan exerts
on man through the “world” is the focus of this issue.
Scripture describes the world as corrupt, defiled, and full of lust, pride, and
evil deeds (John 7:7; 2 Peter 1:4; 2;20; 1 John 2:16). Many fall headlong into
the clutches of its evil tentacles. Others slide slowly into its grasp through
seemingly small and innocent compromises with its pervasive intrusion into their
lives. Still others are deceptively ensnared by its subtle system of false
knowledge, philosophy, and religiosity (1 Tim. 6:20; Col. 2:8, 20-23).
In
whatever form it takes, the world is marked by a hatred towards God and His
children (John 15:18). Scripture strongly emphasizes that we cannot love both
the world and God, likening anyone who finds enjoyment in the pleasures of the
world to an adulteress. The seriousness of this betrayal can only be understood
when one recognizes the role of Satan behind the entire world system (James 4:4;
1 John 2:15). For this reason God clearly instructs us not to love the world, be
conformed to it, or be stained by it (1 John 2:15; Rom. 12:2; James 1:27).
While
we cannot extricate ourselves completely from the world, we do well to examine
our lives on a regular basis regarding the source of our pleasures. If we
are entertaining ourselves with that which has its derivation in the world
system or patterning our lifestyle in any way after the world, we are succumbing
to Satan’s influence. We dare not think that we can dabble in worldly activities
and not be affected by them. Even if we could, we must recognize how this
“flirtation” grieves the heart of our heavenly Father.
God has
graciously equipped every believer with the capacity to overcome the temptations
of the world. The foundation for this victory lies in Jesus Christ’s defeat of
Satan on the Cross and our participation in it through faith (Gal. 1:4; 1 John
5:4-5). The internal enablement for this victory comes through the Holy Spirit,
whose power greatly surpasses that by which Satan attempts to lure us into the
self-gratifying pleasures of the world (1 John 4:4).
Attaining this victory requires a deliberate effort on our part, however.
Ultimately, we must train our minds to receive our pleasures from the hand of
God rather than the hand of Satan (Rom. 12:2). When we make God the center of
our delight, we will discover how fully He satisfies the deepest desires of our
hearts (Ps. 37:4). Anything that Satan offers through the world system is but a
flimsy and fleeting substitute for the true and lasting pleasures that originate
from the hand of our heavenly Father (Ps. 16:11; Mat. 7:11). When we draw near
to His heart, we will find joy in its truest and fullest measure (John 15:11;
16:24).
The Devil Made Me Do It
Spiritual Birth and Growth
In our study of the various
effects demons can have on a person’s life, we are currently in the area which
is least binding but most prevalent. This is what I am calling “demonic
influence.” In this case demons have no legal right for attachment but are able
to affect a person in various ways only because they are not recognized and
banished.
We have already looked at
the powerful ways that Satan can influence our lives through the flesh and the
world system, which he gained control of in the Garden of Eden. Now we will look
at other avenues of influence he exerts on the general public without any right
of attachment.
One of Satan’s primary goals
seems to be to hinder unbelievers from coming to salvation and believers from
attaining spiritual growth that would enhance the Kingdom of God. To accomplish
his agenda with unbelievers, Satan is able to blind their minds so they are
incapable of comprehending the truth of the Gospel (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-4).
He can also “snatch it away” from lingering in their minds lest, upon further
reflection, they grasp its meaning and the seed sown takes root and sprouts into
new spiritual life (Mat. 13:19).
This is why praying for the
unsaved involves spiritual warfare. While we can’t ask God to change their
wills, we can request that He remove the spiritual blindness affecting their
ability to understand the Gospel. We can also pray that when they do hear it,
Satan will not be allowed to “snatch it away” before it has a chance to
germinate.
Even when a person has heard
the Gospel, understood its meaning, and expressed a personal faith in Jesus
Christ, Satan seems to have a brief window of opportunity to stamp out the life
of the new seedling before its roots are firmly implanted. If he can bring a
rapid onslaught of affliction or persecution, he may cause a tentative believer
to question God’s love and reality and thus to relinquish the embryonic faith
that might otherwise have taken root in his life (Mat. 13:21). For this reason
our prayers must diligently continue even after an individual makes an initial
gesture of faith.
The person whose faith
remains steadfast through whatever adversity Satan may initially throw at him
has developed a firmly implanted root system. Satan will never be able to pluck
up or destroy the spiritual life of this new “plant” (John 10:27-29). He will
still attack the believer, but his efforts are now directed at keeping him from
maturing and becoming an effective warrior in God’s kingdom.
Again, he will be most
effective if he acts quickly while the new believer is less educated in the Word
and just learning to listen for the new, inner drumbeat of the Holy Spirit in
his life. During this time Satan may increase the tantalizing pull of the world,
the flesh, and the “deceitfulness of riches” that previously governed his life.
If he is able to keep the believer ensnared by these false sources of
satisfaction, he has successfully halted his spiritual growth. While the
individual does not lose his salvation, he becomes unfruitful in the Kingdom of
God, which is Satan’s intent (Mat. 13:22; 19:23; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 2:1-3).
Another, more deceptive,
strategy he may employ to derail young Christians, especially those committed to
overcoming worldly lifestyles, is to lead them astray through false teachers. To
the uneducated and undiscerning, these individuals may seem to advocate godly
practices, but in reality they are led by “deceitful spirits” (1 Tim. 4:1).
The Devil Made Me Do It
In our extended study of
Satan’s ability to affect a person’s life, we are looking at the least binding
level of involvement, which I am calling “demonic influence.” Our last issue
focused on the ways in which Satan tries to keep people from salvation or to
stamp out the spiritual growth of new believers so they are ineffective in the
Kingdom of God. I noted his use of the world and the “deceitfulness of riches”
to choke out the development of fruit in a new believer’s life (Mat. 13:22).
Although my stated intention was to move on in this issue to look at Satan’s use
of false teachers to misdirect some who are “babes in Christ.” I have felt led
instead to examine more closely how he uses the “deceitfulness of riches” to
derail the spiritual lives of both new and old believers.
The possession of monetary
assets is not evil in itself. However, what we do with our money and our
attitude towards it can be greatly influenced by Satan.
We’ll look first at what we
do with our money. When we use it to indulge the desires of our flesh and
strengthen our bonds to the world, we are most obviously succumbing to Satan’s
enticements, whether we are new believers or not. Admittedly, a new Christian
who has been indulging in this ungodly use of money before salvation may be
particularly vulnerable to Satan’s endeavors to keep him caught in this
stranglehold that will surely impede his spiritual growth and usefulness in
God’s kingdom.
A less obvious way in which
Satan can influence our use of money is in encouraging us to store it up for
ourselves. Scripture indicates that stockpiling our assets to assure that our
needs for the future are secure is putting our trust in fallible money rather
than in our unfailing God (Mat. 6:19-20, 34; Luke 12:16-21; Prov. 23:4-5). It is
serving self and building a treasure in the world rather than in the Kingdom of
God. While letting go of this self-centered mindset takes tremendous faith, God
promises that if we pursue a righteous life in His Kingdom, He will surely take
care of not only our basic needs but all we need for true joy ( Mat. 6:31-33,
Luke 12:27-31; Phil. 4:19; 1 Tim. 6:17).
What God wants us to do with
the money He allows us to have in addition to that necessary for meeting our
essential needs is to use it for Kingdom purposes and the benefit of the poor
(Luke 12:33; Acts 2:44-45). This sacrifice, which is pleasing in God’s
sight, is again coupled with the promise of His supplying all our need (Phil.
4:18-19).
While taking this step may
be difficult for many, practicing a life of self-denial for the sake of the
Kingdom of God increases the riches we will enjoy in the place God is preparing
for us in heaven (Mat 6:20; Luke 12:33; John 14:6; 1 Tim. 6:18-19). Being
unwilling to part with their money in this manner keeps many, like the rich
young ruler, from salvation (Mat. 19:16-24; Luke 16:19-31). Others will
reach heaven’s gates but find themselves woefully bereft of the prosperity God
desired them to have there—all because they chose to live in luxury during their
brief sojourn on earth and failed to deposit money into their eternal
“accounts.”
The advantage that Satan
gains in encouraging this “all for me” use of money lies not only in keeping
some from salvation but also in depriving Kingdom ministries of the resources
they need to extend their effectiveness and outreach. If believers who have been
blessed with significant financial resources would put their extra money in this
direction, these critical ministries would be freed from the time-consuming
burden of fund-raising and be free to expend their energies doing that for which
God truly called and equipped them.
Given this perspective, each
of us does well to evaluate whose purposes our money is serving—God’s or
Satan’s. Old Testament believers were required to give a tithe of their
possessions towards God’s work. I believe God holds up an even higher standard
for New Testament believers.
The Devil Made Me Do It
In our last issue we
addressed how Satan tries to influence man in the use of his money,
getting him to spend it on worldly pleasures or to hoard it up selfishly for
himself rather than using it to benefit the poor and God’s eternal kingdom (Mat.
6:19-21; 19:21; Luke 12:16-21, 33; 1 Tim. 6:17-19). Now we will go deeper and
examine how Satan tries to influence our underlying attitude towards
money, which can affect even those who have few financial resources
themselves.
The world eagerly seeks
after money for the pleasures, status, and security they hope it will provide.
When we enter the family of God, our Heavenly Father is committed to supplying
these things in an infinitely superior manner. Satan works hard, however, to
keep man living under the bondage of a money-directed mindset. Using the same
tactic he did in the Garden of Eden, he will often try to implant doubts and
questions in a believer’s mind concerning God’s desire or ability to be his
all-sufficient source of joy and material provision.
By getting us to continue to
trust in money for these things instead of God, Satan sets up a shrine of
idolatry in our hearts. While this may seem like strong language, Scripture
distinctly labels greed and covetousness as “idolatry” (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). It
also declares that serving mammon, or wealth, is mutually exclusive to serving
God (Mat. 6:24), inferring again that the drive for personal, financial gain is
entwined with an evil spiritual source.
Those caught in this subtle
web of satanic influence put their spiritual lives in jeopardy of serious
shipwreck. What begins as a seemingly innocent accumulation of material assets
or a mere dabbling in worldly pleasures places one on a path of increasing
temptation, activating foolish and harmful desires, which will eventually plunge
him into misery, grief, ruin, and destruction (James 5:1-3; 1 Tim. 6:9). This is
the “deceitfulness of riches” that Satan uses to render believers ineffective in
God’s Kingdom (Mat. 13:22).
By diverting man’s attention
to material things, Satan also succeeds in blinding him to the spiritual
treasures that God desires to deposit in his life, which are the true key to
abundant living and effective ministry (John 10:10; 1 Tim. 6:19). Not only is
the person deprived of significant spiritual enrichments in this life, but in
the end he will find that his selfish, materialistic focus in life has
bankrupted his eternal inheritance in the heavenlies (Mat. 19:21; Luke 12:33;
18:22).
So the decision is ours.
Will we serve God or mammon? While this is seemingly an easy question for
Christians to answer, it becomes harder when it is asked in more specific terms.
What we must really decide is if we are going to trust in money or God for our
security (Mat. 6:31-33; Phil. 4:19), if we are going to seek our pleasure from
that which worldly wealth provides or at our Father’s right hand (Ps. 16:11; 1
Tim. 6:17), and whether we desire to be known as successful, rich, but mere, men
(Luke 16:19; 18:18-25) or to shine as children of the living God in this life (1
John 3:1-2). The decisions we make in regard to these things will indicate where
our hearts are (Mat. 6:21).
As long as we are looking to
money as a means to provide our pleasure, security, or status, we are serving
the spirit of mammon, not God. God desires us to be content having food and
raiment (1 Tim. 6:8; Heb. 13:5) and to set our hearts on the true and eternal
riches of His kingdom (Mat. 6:33). This does not necessarily mean that He
expects all of us to live as paupers but to manage whatever material assets come
into our lives wisely with a focus of using them, not for ourselves, but for the
Kingdom of God. What a difference this would make in the funding of Christian
ministries and the advancement of the Gospel throughout the world!
The Devil Made Me Do It
Part 13: Demonic
Influence through
As we continue to study Satan’s ability to affect people’s
lives, we are considering the lowest, but perhaps most prevalent, level of
involvement, which I am calling “demonic influence.” This includes the many ways
we are exposed to Satan’s efforts to ensnare us just because we are Christians.
Most recently we looked at how he tries to use the “deceitfulness of riches”
(Mat. 13:22) to destroy a believer’s fruitfulness in the
Kingdom of God and to deprive
Christian ministries of the financial support they need. In this issue we will
look briefly at his use of false teachers to deceive and misdirect believers.
With the same hypocrisy he used to entice Eve in the Garden
of Eden, Satan continues his efforts to lure others to follow “deceitful spirits
and doctrines of demons,” shrewdly orchestrating them to come from the mouths of
individuals wearing sheep’s clothing (Mat. 7:15; 2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-2).
Once again his intent is to prevent the growth of God’s kingdom, and his primary
target seems to be those who are immature in their faith and relationship with
God (Gal. 1:6-8; Eph.
4:14; 2 Peter 2:14; 3:16).
The Bible is full of
warnings about false teachers (Acts 20:29-30; Rom. 16:17-18; Phil. 3:2; 2 Peter
2:1-3; Jude 4). In most cases these are individuals whom Satan has led astray
and then coaxed into positions of leadership by tapping into their fleshly
desires for self-glorification or worldly gain (1 Tim. 1:7; 4:3-5; 6:3-5; Titus
1:10-11; 2 Peter 2:3, 14; Jude 11, 17). Eventually they become so entwined with
their self-designed or Satan-directed heresies that their consciences are
“seared,” and they lose whatever sensitivity they once had to discern truth from
error and good from evil (1 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:15). At this point they have
become almost hopelessly blinded to the error of their ways. 123
The tactics, or modi
operandi, of false teachers can take a number of forms. Perhaps most difficult
to recognize are those that put a strong emphasis on a supposedly godly manner
of living. The diabolical twist that marks false teachers using this approach is
that the “righteousness” they espouse is derived from the strict observance of a
legalistic set of rules rather than from the inner, transforming work of the
Holy Spirit (Acts 15:1-21; Gal. 2:4; 4:9-10, 5:1-10; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Peter
2:19).
Other seemingly Christian teachers draw believers away from
the central message of the Word by leading them into fruitless discussions and
quarrels about the meaning of certain obscure words in Scripture as well as
other controversial issues and matters of speculation (1 Tim. 1:6; 4:3; 6:3-5;
6:20-21; 2 Tim. 2:14; 2 Peter 2:23). Some may try to lead them even further
astray by focusing on myths, genealogies, and various commandments and
philosophies originating in men rather than God (Mat. 15:9; Col. 2:8, 20-23; 1
Tim. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; Titus 1:14).
Another variety of false
teachers takes a completely different tack by appealing to man’s fleshly
desires, sensuality, and greed, grossly adulterating the law of grace (Phil.
3:19; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:2, 12-15, 18-19; Jude 4, 18-19). This
self-centered approach attracts those who want a semblance of Christianity while
keeping their feet planted in the world. Although their ungodly lifestyle is
more apt to expose the error of their ways, astute believers will recognize all
false teachers by the lack of true fruit in their lives (Titus 1:16; Jude
12-13).
The Devil Made Me Do It
Part 14: Satan’s
Influence through
In our last issue we looked at how Satan uses false teachers
to draw people away from truth by leading them into a legalistically-based
righteousness, arguments about controversial issues, or a sensual manner of life
that exploits the law of grace. Our focus this time will be on false teachings
concerning end-time events.
Even as far back as the first century, the Thessalonian
Christians were troubled by messages designed to convince them that the “day of
the Lord” had already come. The false teachers in this case were so brazenly
deceptive that they signed Paul’s name to a letter they sent to these believers.
This was very disconcerting to them, as this new “teaching” seemed to contradict
what Paul had taught them about believers being raptured before this final day
of judgment came upon the earth (1 Thes. 1:10; 2 Thes. 2:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1). To
ease their distress and correct this false teaching, Paul explained the events
that must precede the coming of the Lord to set up His kingdom, including the
apostasy, the removal of the restraint of lawlessness, and the revelation of the
Anti-Christ (Mark 13:24-26; 2 Thes. 2:1-10).
Both Jesus and Paul warned that the deception from false
teachers concerning end-time events would escalate in the latter days as the
struggle between the
Kingdom
of God and the Kingdom of Satan moves towards its climax. Key elements of
Scriptural truth will be abandoned by individuals still appearing to be cloaked
with the vestiges of Christianity (Mat. 24:11; Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim.
4:3-4).
As the centuries pass with no evidence of the Lord’s return,
mockers will increasingly deride the belief in His second coming (2 Peter 3:3-4;
Jude 18). Others will deny the deity of Christ. John refers to this latter group
of false teachers as “antichrists” and explains that many of them are already in
the world. They will become even more prolific, however, as we approach the
end-times. Startlingly, many will be “counterfeit Christians” coming out of the
Church (1 John 2:18-19,
22; 4:3; 2 John 7).
The most extreme deception will come during the Tribulation
period when the opposite will occur and many will arise and claim to be
Christ, the coming Messiah. Jesus warned that these individuals will be cleverly
disguised as servants of righteousness, trying to fool even the elect. Some will
even be able to perform miraculous signs, mimicking those that Jesus performed
when He walked the earth (Mat. 24:24; Mark 13:6, 21-22; cf. 2 Cor. 11:14-15). To
prepare His disciples for the deception of this second type of “antichrists,”
Jesus emphasized that His return would not be something done secretly in some
corner of the world, like His birth was, but an event that the whole world will
see. It will leave no confusion at all that it is He (Mat. 24:25-27; Mark 13:23,
26-27).
The era of these false “christs” will come to a climax when
the Antichrist arises and exalts himself above all other so-called
deities, taking his seat in the temple of God and demanding to be worshipped as
“God” (Dan. 11:31, 36; Mat. 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:5-8, 12).
Empowered by Satan, this person will be a master of deceit, performing great
signs and wonders to attest the validity of his claims (2 Thes. 2:8-10; Rev.
8:25; 13:13-14) and will make war with all who do not believe in him (Dan. 7:25;
Rev. 13:7). He will be allowed to exert his influence on the world for 42
months, after which his “reign” will come to a swift and mighty end by the
return of the true Lord Jesus Christ, who will slay him with the breath of His
mouth (Dan. 7:25-27; 8: 23-25; 2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:11-21). Hallelujah!
The Devil Made Me Do It
through False Teachers
I would like to follow up our examination of the avenue of
influence Satan can have in our lives through false teachers by looking at the
instructions God has given to help us recognize these often cleverly disguised
individuals so that we don’t get misled by them. I have heard that the experts
in identifying counterfeit currency in our country study the real thing, not the
false thing. In other words, they try to become so familiar with the real thing
that they can easily catch whatever deviates from that standard.
I believe the same principle is
true in recognizing false teachers. We must be so familiar with the person of
God, the Word of God, and our own heart’s resonance with the Spirit of God that
we can easily discern what is not in accord with these. In his scholarly way,
Paul explained that as believers grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ towards
full spiritual maturity, they will be much less likely to be led astray by false
teachers (Eph. 4:13-14). John, in his more tender language of the heart, wrote
that when we are truly bonded to our Shepherd, we become so thoroughly familiar
with His distinct “sound,” or ambiance, that we will easily recognize and shun
anyone who might come in the garb of a shepherd but without this “sound” (John
10:4-5).
Later, in his epistles John
gave further criteria by which to identify false teachers. Perhaps the biggest
red flag, which even the most immature believer should recognize, is the denial
of the deity of Christ. We must keep in mind, however, that when these deluded
individuals put on their sheep’s clothing, this belief may not be readily
apparent. It may only be reflected in slight nuances of speech that could easily
sail past nominal Christians. An astute believer, however, may pick up on these
and be prompted to probe deeper with skillfully-directed questions that succeed
in revealing the sacrilegious garb of this servant of Satan (1 John 2:23-24;
4:1-2; 2 John 7; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; cf. 2 Peter 2:1; Rev. 2:2).
Another flag should go up if
this person does not accept the established doctrines of the Church or delight
in listening to proven servants of God. Those within whom God has implanted His
Spirit usually feel a longing to be with other men and women of faith and to sit
under the teaching of more mature believers, whereas false teachers will
generally shun these opportunities and are more apt to operate independently (1
John 2:23-24; 4:1-6; 2 John 7-9; 3 John 9).
During His earthly ministry,
Jesus emphasized the importance of evaluating all teachers, prophets, and
spiritual leaders by the nature of the fruit manifested in their lives. Through
a parable He indicated that seed sown by Satan in the very fields in which He is
“growing” His own disciples would be difficult to distinguish at first. Only as
the plants came to fruition could the difference be recognized, but even then
His servants were not to root out those that didn’t belong there lest in the
process they reject some that truly were children of God (Mat. 7:15-20;
13:24-30).
When Jesus spoke of fruit,
He made it clear that He was not speaking of the performance of great “signs and
wonders.” He carefully warned that not all who prophesy, cast out demons, and
perform miracles in His name are truly of His kingdom (Mat. 7:21-23). The
quality of what comes out of a man’s heart is far more important in
distinguishing a true servant of God, with love for one another being the
single, most distinctive mark (John 13:35).
In his epistles, John taught
that the servants of God and the servants of Satan could ultimately be
distinguished by their demonstration of true righteousness and love (1 John
2:9-11; 3:10; 4:8; 3 John 11). Paul listed love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as a broader list of fruit
that give evidence of the Holy Spirit truly abiding in a person’s life (Gal.
5:22-23).
The Devil Made Me Do It
Part 16: Satanic Influence
through Temptation
We have been looking at the various ways in which Satan and
his forces can affect man’s actions and are currently focusing on the least
binding way, which I am calling “Satanic influence.” In this case no long-term,
binding connection exists with the evil beings involved, but they are
nevertheless able to affect man in various ways as he lives in a fallen world.
We have examined this influence as it comes through the flesh, the world,
riches, and false teachers. While these are all agents through which Satan
exerts his influence to lure, or “tempt,” man away from his devotion to God, we
will look more closely in this issue at times when Satan’s temptation occurs in
a more direct and targeted manner.
The two primary examples of this in Scripture are his
temptation of Eve in the Garden of
Eden and of Jesus in the
wilderness before the beginning of His earthly ministry. In these instances his
tactics included challenging the Word of God and appealing to the allurement of
the senses, physical appetite, and desire for personal gain, power, or glory.
Eve, of course, succumbed while Jesus did not falter, countering Satan’s futile
efforts with His own astute use of Scripture.
While operating more behind the scenes, Satan also
deliberately targeted Job in an effort to lure him away from his devotion to
God. This time Satan’s tactics were totally different as he inflicted great
suffering on Job by stripping his life of every aspect of pleasure and
fulfillment he once enjoyed, including his health. Much to Satan’s dismay, Job’s
faith triumphed and Satan was handed a humiliating defeat.
Satan’s efforts of temptation were also seen in a more direct
way as Jesus moved towards His last days on earth. Not only did he enter Judas
and bring about his betrayal of Jesus (Luke 22:3), but he also received
permission to put Peter through great temptation, “sifting him as wheat” (Luke
22:31). While we don’t
know how he exerted this temptation or however else it may have affected Peter,
we do know that his faith and loyalty to God faltered to the point of denying
three times that he even knew Jesus after Jesus was taken into custody (Luke
22:31-34). Peter was also among the whole group of disciples that yielded to
temptation in the Garden of Gethsemane. After being warned by Jesus to watch and
pray with Him during these crucial hours, Satan was able to draw them into
sleep, stripping Jesus of the support He desired at this most critical juncture
of His life (Luke 22:40-46).
Satan undoubtedly has many other tactics to use in his
behind-the-scenes efforts to test our devotion to God, and we are all
susceptible to his devious schemes at virtually any time (1 Peter 5:8).
Scripture points out certain situations, however, when one’s ability to
withstand temptation may be weakened. These include going through times of
affliction (1 Thes. 1:3-5) or incidents in which anger, pride, or jealousy is
incited (Gen. 4:6-7; 1 Cor. 10:12; Eph. 4:26-27); becoming caught up with the
desire for wealth (1 Tim. 6:9); abstaining from marital intimacy for too long a
period (1 Cor. 7:5); and confronting a fellow-believer regarding a sin in his
life (Gal. 6:1). Scripture also indicates that those who have recently come to
faith in Christ (Luke
8:13; 1 Tim.
3:6) and those who are leaders in the church (1 Tim. 3:7) may be particular
targets of Satan in his desire to halt the growth of God’s Kingdom.
God has not left us defenseless against Satan’s temptations.
Our primary means of protection is undoubtedly meant to come through consistent
prayer and the diligent application of the character traits represented by the
spiritual armor (Luke 11:4; Eph.
6:10-18). We also have the
security of knowing that God, at least in some cases, requires Satan to seek
permission from Him before unleashing extraordinary temptation on man (Job
1:8-12; 2:3-6; Luke 22:31). He also sets limits on the extent to which Satan is
allowed to go and promises in every situation to provide a way of escape for us
(as He did quite remarkably with Lot). His absolute faithfulness in these
regards leaves us with no excuse for yielding to temptation in any situation
(Job 1:12; 2:6; 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Peter 2:7-9).
The Devil
Made Me Do It
Since our study of the
various ways in which Satan and his forces can impact our lives as humans has
spanned several years, I thought it would be good to summarize the various
degrees of attachment they can have and the effects they can reap in our lives
through each one. Even this will take two issues.
1. Demonic
control/possession
In these cases demons can
override the person’s will and take control of various aspects of his life (2
Tim. 2:26). This control can be constant (Mark 5:2-5) or intermittent (Luke
9:38-39); involve a single demon or host of them.
Possible Causes:
-
Deliberate “contract” with
Satan or a part of his domain
-
Dedication of a child to
Satan by parents
-
Inter-generational
bequeathing of a spirit onto a child
Possible Effects:
-
Can affect physical health
(Mat. 9:32-33; 12:22; Mark 9:17, 25; Luke 11:14)
-
Can affect mental health
(Mark 5:2-13)
-
Can exert self-destructive
behavior (Mark 5:5; 9:20-22)
-
Can control speech: use of
obscenities (Mark 1:23-24; 3:11; 5:7-9; Acts 19:15)
-
Can bestow supernatural
abilities: strength, magic, divination (Mark 5:2-4; Acts 8:9-11; 16:16;
19:13-16)
2. Demonic attachment
In this somewhat less
extreme case one or more demons have a specific legal right to be associated
with, and affect, a person but (at least in the case of Christians) cannot take
control of his/her actions without some level of compliance by the person or
alter (in DID).
Possible Causes
-
Overt participation in
occult activity
-
Certain habitual, ungodly
behavior patterns (Rom. 6:12-13, 16; Eph. 6:26-27; 1 Tim. 5:14-15)
-
Generational inheritance
(Ex. 20:5)
Possible Effects
-
Control of voice and
behavior, if assent is given
-
Tainting of character,
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