Under the Influence
Everyone is either under the influence of God or under the influence of the
devil. Jesus says “he that is not with Me, is against Me, and he that gathers not
(does not help) with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). Influence is to sway
or effect, to lead and or control. Romans 6:16 says “know you not, that to whom
you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey,
whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:15-19 “see then that you walk circumspectly,
not as fools but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil.
Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled (controlled) with the
Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. Alcohol beverages are also
called spirits, the spirit you get from alcoholic beverages is not the Holy Spirit; it
is spirits that will cloud your mind, distraught your view of things (Proverbs 20:1)
“wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is
not wise”. Isaiah 5:11 says “woe to them that rise up early in the morning, that
they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them”; and
Isaiah 28:7 says “they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink
are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink,
they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they
err in vision, they stumble in judgment”.
The Bible warns that drunkenness will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of
heaven (Galatians 5:21) “envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such
like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. Paul writes to the
church of Corinth “now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one no not to eat”.
The Bible is supposed to be our main influence (Romans 15:4) “for whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”. We have to be careful
about what we allow to form our opinions. The Bible is the only standard of
truth; so we have to evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings. Who we
listen to can have long lasting effects on our lives. I Corinthians 15:3 says “be
not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners”. Movies and
Television are striving to influence you into their ways, television is telling their
vision, and often portraying their ideas of what morals means to them. You ever
wondered why companies pay so much for advertisement? Advertisement can
be so able to influence, that even a ten second spot on a primetime show, that it
can cost big bucks.
We are to be filled with the Spirit, as I read before in Ephesians 5:18; and on the
day of Pentacost the people in Jerusalem thought that the apostles were drunk,
“but Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, you
men of Judaea and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and
hearken to my words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is
but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel. And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of My
Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” ( Acts 2:14-
17).
We are to be led by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:18). We are told in
Ephesians 5:1-8 “be you therefore followers of God and dear children. And walk
in love, as Christ also has loved us and has given Himself for us an offering and
a sacrifice of God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all
uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not
convenient, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no
whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you
with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience. Be not you therefore partakers with them. For you
were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of
light”.
As we walk as salt and light, we are to influence others to seek the Lord. Jesus
said “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). All of us have influence,
and our influence followers us everywhere we go. We need to examine if our
influence is negative or positive.
We are to beware of negative influence because influence on others will be
judged by God. Zechariah was an evil king because he encouraged Israel to sin
by worshiping idols. Sin in our life is serious. But it is even more serious to
encourage others to disobey God. We are responsible for the way we influence
others. Beware of double sins, one that not only hurt you, but also hurt others
by encouraging them to sin. Jesus warns in Mark 9:42 “and whosoever shall
offend one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better for him that a
millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea”. II Peter 2:
1 says “but there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 26, 2008
Everyone is either under the influence of God or under the influence of the
devil. Jesus says “he that is not with Me, is against Me, and he that gathers not
(does not help) with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). Influence is to sway
or effect, to lead and or control. Romans 6:16 says “know you not, that to whom
you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey,
whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:15-19 “see then that you walk circumspectly,
not as fools but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil.
Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled (controlled) with the
Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. Alcohol beverages are also
called spirits, the spirit you get from alcoholic beverages is not the Holy Spirit; it
is spirits that will cloud your mind, distraught your view of things (Proverbs 20:1)
“wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is
not wise”. Isaiah 5:11 says “woe to them that rise up early in the morning, that
they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them”; and
Isaiah 28:7 says “they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink
are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink,
they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they
err in vision, they stumble in judgment”.
The Bible warns that drunkenness will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of
heaven (Galatians 5:21) “envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such
like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. Paul writes to the
church of Corinth “now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one no not to eat”.
The Bible is supposed to be our main influence (Romans 15:4) “for whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”. We have to be careful
about what we allow to form our opinions. The Bible is the only standard of
truth; so we have to evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings. Who we
listen to can have long lasting effects on our lives. I Corinthians 15:3 says “be
not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners”. Movies and
Television are striving to influence you into their ways, television is telling their
vision, and often portraying their ideas of what morals means to them. You ever
wondered why companies pay so much for advertisement? Advertisement can
be so able to influence, that even a ten second spot on a primetime show, that it
can cost big bucks.
We are to be filled with the Spirit, as I read before in Ephesians 5:18; and on the
day of Pentacost the people in Jerusalem thought that the apostles were drunk,
“but Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, you
men of Judaea and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and
hearken to my words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is
but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel. And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of My
Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” ( Acts 2:14-
17).
We are to be led by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:18). We are told in
Ephesians 5:1-8 “be you therefore followers of God and dear children. And walk
in love, as Christ also has loved us and has given Himself for us an offering and
a sacrifice of God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all
uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not
convenient, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no
whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you
with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience. Be not you therefore partakers with them. For you
were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of
light”.
As we walk as salt and light, we are to influence others to seek the Lord. Jesus
said “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). All of us have influence,
and our influence followers us everywhere we go. We need to examine if our
influence is negative or positive.
We are to beware of negative influence because influence on others will be
judged by God. Zechariah was an evil king because he encouraged Israel to sin
by worshiping idols. Sin in our life is serious. But it is even more serious to
encourage others to disobey God. We are responsible for the way we influence
others. Beware of double sins, one that not only hurt you, but also hurt others
by encouraging them to sin. Jesus warns in Mark 9:42 “and whosoever shall
offend one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better for him that a
millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea”. II Peter 2:
1 says “but there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 26, 2008
