Tag: Submission

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP DEMON INFLUENCES

Do you wonder why you or your loved ones are struggling? Why do you or others sometimes feel hopeless about doing what is right? In my first post about Jesus’s perspective on the spirit world, I said Christians could unwittingly invite evil spirits into their hearts to oppress them. You will learn how to recognize the schemes of the devil to deceive you and how to stop them. The devil works in your mind to deceive and tempt you. 2Corinthians 11:3 explains, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” In this post, we will look at three examples of temptations, the results, and how to stop the temptation before you sin and invite the devil to occupy your heart and mind. 

In the last post, I explained how to successfully fight against the devil’s attacks. I will expand on that. 2Corinthians 2:11, Paul said, “So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Put on the full armor of God so you are not outwitted by Satan’s schemes or designs. The devil’s number one scheme is temptation to get you to disobey God and sin so you will be separated from Him (Is. 59:2). If Satan can separate you from God, then he can oppress you and cause all kinds of troubles in your life. Repentance is the only solution to defeat Satan if he does tempt you to sin. 1Jonn 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Remember, Jesus is your advocate (1John 2:1-2).  

Temptation of Judas Iscariot 

One sad example is when Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus, was tempted by Satan to betray Jesus for money. Judas followed Jesus for three years and believed He was the Son of God. Luke 22:3-4 tells us, “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4) He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.” The Apostle John wrote in John 13:2 that “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” And in John 13:27, he says, “Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”  

Because Judas opened himself up to Satan to sin, he then tempted Judas to kill himself.  Matthew 27:3-5 states, “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ 5) And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.” If Judas had repented, then Jesus would have forgiven him. Satan is the thief that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life (John 10:10). 

Observation: Satan first put it into Judas’s mind to betray Jesus. Then Judas acts on the temptation and seeks a way to betray Jesus. He still had a chance to take that thought captive and rebuked the enemy as Jesus did when He was tempted. In the Gospel of John, he said that the devil put it into Judas’s heart to betray Jesus, which involves feelings. Then, when Jesus pointed out Judas at the last supper, Satan entered into him. Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray him. God knew Judas’s heart, that he valued money more than Jesus and would do the will of the devil. Judas kept the moneybags, and he would keep some of the money given that was to take care of the poor (John 12:6). 

Interpretation: We all have weaknesses that the devil will use to lure us to sin. For Judas, that was money. He never repented of his sin of stealing, which was why the devil was able to enter him. James 1:13-15 states, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” 

Application: All temptation begins in the mind, so when you are tempted, take the thought captive (2Cor. 10:3-5) and verbally put it out of your mind, then put into your mind the truth found in God’s word. So, putting on the armor of God and reading your Bible each day will help you know the truth and speak the truth into Satan’s lies and temptations. 

Jesus Overcomes the Devil’s Temptations 

Jesus is your example for how to overcome the devil’s attempt to destroy your life. Read Matthew 4:1-10 about how Satan tempted Jesus and how He responded to Satan using God’s word, the truth. Jesus told Satan to be gone, and you can do that also. The only way to overcome the temptations and deceptions of the devil is to humbly submit to do God’s will and speak the Word of God.  

Satan tempted Ananias and Sapphira 

Other believers who were tempted to sin were Ananias and Sapphira. You learn about them in Acts 5:1-11. Again, the temptation involved money. 1Timothy 6:10 states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” The Apostle Peter said that Satan filled Ananias’s heart to lie. The followers of Jesus were selling their property and donating the proceeds to help those in need. The consequence of lying to God was devastating.  

1) But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  

3) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?  

4) While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”  

5) When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.  

Observation: When Ananias gave the money to Peter, he made it appear that he gave the whole amount. Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, knew in his heart that Ananias did not give all the proceeds from the sale. The consequence was being struck dead by God, which caused all who saw it to fear God and not do evil and sin. The same thing happened to Ananias’s wife. 

Interpretation: When you are tempted, Satan fills your heart with deception to justify your sin. He will make you believe it is okay and nothing bad will happen. It is never good to sin. It breaks trust with God and with others, and there is always consequences. 

Application: When you are tempted, ask God to help you do what is right, not what you feel like doing, which may be Satan working in your heart. Make no provision for your fleshly desires (Rom. 13:14). Ephesians 2:1-3 explains, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Evil spirits work in those who disobey God by following the passions of their flesh and not walking in righteousness.  

Conclusion 

Temptation is inevitable, and it begins in your mind. When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, He included the line, “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one.” Jesus included that line because He knew we would be tempted by the devil as He was. Jesus successfully defeated all the devil’s attempts to get Him to sin by using scriptural truths against him. That is what we must do when we are tempted by the devil. My book, Fighting Unseen Battles, identifies Satan’s deceptions and lures and the Scriptural truths to defeat him.

The Apostle Paul was concerned that those in Thessalonica who believed would be tempted to sin and to turn away from the faith. 1Thessalonians 3:5 states, “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church in Corinthians10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

We have hope because Jesus suffered when tempted and now helps us when we are tempted (Hebrews2:18). All you need to do is recognize that you are being tempted to go your own way and do what feels good to you, and not go God’s way. If you have God’s armor on, you will recognize when you are being tempted and can call out to Jesus to help you do what is right. Hebrews 4:15-16 states, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The only way to stop the devil’s destructive work in your life is to humbly submit to God’s will, put on God’s armor, and speak the Word of God to overcome the temptations and deceptions of the devil. 

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright-protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website. 

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.  

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts. 

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and the truths behind them. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.  

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request. 

14—GOD PROMISES TO LEAD US AND BE WITH US

Have you ever wondered where you should live, who you should marry, what job to take, and so on? I have good news, God promises to lead you, “but how,” you might be thinking. Before God can lead you, you need to be sensitive to His leading. When you submit to someone, you are willing to be led by that person. What do you still need to submit to God?

The following scripture reassures us that God leads us:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ̶ Proverbs 3:5-6

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. ̶ Psalm 32:8

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; 24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. ̶ Psalm 37:23-24

It is one thing to hear from God; it is another thing to obey His leading. Be prepared to obey, even if you don’t understand or can’t see why. You are not alone. Abraham did not know why, but he obeyed God’s voice, and God blessed him. Moses heeded the voice of God even though he had no confidence in his ability to speak, so God spoke to Aaron, his brother, to be the voice of Moses. Exodus 4:12 states, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Gideon did not understand why he was chosen to deliver the people from the hand of their enemy, but he obeyed, and God gave Him the victory. Why did God choose these imperfect Bible heroes to be examples of His greatness? Because God wants the glory.

God wants to choose you; will you obey? What will happen if you do not obey God? Psalm 81:11-12 states, “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.” Do not lean on your understanding but obey so all will be in God’s will. Jeremiah 7:23 states, “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’”

I was facing a layoff and did not have another job lined up. I asked God, what I was to do, and He said, “Write a book.” “What, I don’t know how to write, and I have no idea what to write.” After about two months of waiting on God to know what He wanted me to write about, He said I had already written it. “What????” I pondered what I had already written. The only thing I wrote was a series of Bible studies for the inmates at the county jail. God said that is it. The book was so large that I had to break it into two books. I published the first book, Fighting Unseen Battles” and will soon publish the second book “Breaking Mental Strongholds.”

God directs our steps in many ways. Here are a few biblical examples.

God Will Speak to You Personally

Genesis 12:1 states, “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” The Bible has about 275 verses describing how God (the LORD) spoke to people directly but be careful to test the spirits (James 4:1). God would never tell you to do anything that is not in the Bible. For example, God would not tell you to divorce your spouse.

I was driving, and God clearly spoke to me and said I was to go to Radio Shack. I didn’t know why and didn’t have any reason to go to Radio Shack, so I drove by. God spoke to me again, telling me to go to Radio Shack. So I turned around and went to the store. I didn’t know why God told me to go to Radio Shack, so I began talking with the salespeople when a customer came up and said he needed a UNIX programmer to do some work for him. I happened to know UNIX, and I happened to need trade experience to finish getting my degree to teach computer science/data processing. There you have it, God knew that man would be in the store at that time, and He directed my steps.

God May Use Someone to Tell You

Maybe even an angel will speak to you, as with Abraham, Daniel, Zachariah, Mary, and Joseph. The English Standard Bible (e-sword) records 63 instances of an angel speaking to someone. God used prophets to speak to people. The ESV Bible had approximately 56 verses when a prophet spoke God’s message. The Bible has many examples of when God led people to talk to someone. Abigail came to my mind when she went to David to dissuade him from killing her husband (1Samuel 25).

When I became a single mother and didn’t have a job, I asked God what I was to do to support myself. My heart’s desire was to be a stay-at-home mother. My friend suggested that I become a seamstress and do sewing for people. I advertised and had no trouble getting enough customers to pay my bills and keep my children at home with me. I believe God spoke through my friend.

He May Speak to You in a Vision or a Dream

Genesis 15:1 states, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Also, Numbers 12:6 states, “And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.” And Job 33:14-15 states, “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds.” Pay attention to dreams, especially dreams you remember. Keep a notebook by your bed so you can record them.

He Directs Us Through Circumstances

God used many different circumstances in Jesus’s life to fulfill prophetic scriptures. God also used many events to get me where I am. God used Joseph’s brothers to sell him to traders, who then sold him as an enslaved person. He then ended up in jail for several years because an evil woman lied. In prison, he meets two men who had dreams, and he interprets the dreams. He interpreted dreams for Pharaoh, who then made him second in command. All those circumstances prepared Joseph for his purpose, which was to save his family. He had to endure many hardships to get to where God wanted him to be. We, too, will have to go through problems. We will never know the impact on our lives and the lives of others because of the decisions other people, or we make.

When we follow God’s leading, we will be in His will, though we may have to go through tough times to grow in our faith. Isaiah 43:2 states, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” And Isaiah 41:10 states, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Conclusion

Are you willing to submit to God’s leading and obey His commands? Be ready to hear God speak to you directly, through someone else, or in your dreams. Be willing to allow the situations in your life, even difficult circumstances to move you in the direction God wants you to go. Both times I was laid off, I wrote a book. I don’t know why, and I don’t know how God will use them, but it is all for His glory.

RECOMMENDED POSTS

Pt. 2: Why You Can and Cannot Trust God?

Trust God to Keep His Promises

POSTS about God’s Promises

All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website. 

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.  

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts. 

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.  

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.