Under The Influence

In the state of California, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level over .08%. 0.08% is equivalent to drinking 2-3 beers depending on the size of the driver. That does not sound like a substantial amount, but a couple of beers can impair driving. A little leaven leavens the whole lump- Galatians 5:9. There are many spiritual influences in and around us. Just like consuming alcohol over the legal limit, the wrong spiritual influences will impair making godly decisions and living a holy and victorious life.

The consensus is that indulging or entertaining forbidden pleasures has repercussions. The superfluity of drugs and alcohol daily results in addiction, but that doesn’t stop thousands from being under its influence. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve received instructions from God that they could eat of every tree in the garden except one. Genesis 2:17 says- but the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. They had a choice.

The consequences of death did not stop Adam and Eve. There have been numerous discussions in the church about why Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. They had everything that they needed in the garden. We seldom examine the power of influence. Eve, deceived by the serpent, ate from the tree. She then influenced Adam to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan was there in the beginning and was an influencer in the garden.

Satan is an evil spiritual influencer. There are many references to him in scripture. He is the father of lies; he roars around like a lion looking for whom he can devour. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. He’s known for being the ruler of this world. He is the author of confusion. He is a deceiver and accuser of the brethren. Beware, DO NOT be ignorant of his devices.

Years ago, I visited a small church by invitation of one of the pastors. During the service, my antennas went up. I looked around the sanctuary looking for facial expressions to match my disbelief of a confessional of deception proudly proclaimed as spiritual gift. Trying to be polite, I sat to the end of the service. At that point, I already determined it would be my last visit. My decision solidified during prayer.

A woman came up for prayer and the pastor said, “Watch this”, as though she was putting on a performance. She pointed her finger at the woman and the woman immediately dropped to the floor and began to scream. The pastor withdrew her hand and the woman stopped screaming. She did it several times until the woman was rolling on the floor all over the church.

Side note, Now, I have seen demons manifest and cast out. This was not the same. I began to realize that the woman rolling on the floor was under the power of witchcraft. That dark power came from the pastor.

I looked around again and noticed that the church was entertained and oblivious to the evil forces in operation. This is a VERY edited version of my experience but the scripture that comes to mind is, But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Corinthians 2:14.

The Lord put on my heart and through a series of dreams, just in case I forgot, to tell the pastor she needed to repent. She listened and confessed to what she was doing but continued. It was concerning to me that members sat quietly under her influence. I really didn’t want this post to be dark but we have to expose the darkness. Those forces are not of the flesh but spiritual. Ephesians 6:12- For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

We live in a society that indulges massively in social media. A world of opinions. They have been termed influencers. Now social media has created fact checkers to examine what people are saying. Satan is the author of confusion. Who is really telling us the truth?

There is only one true, fact checker, Jesus. He sent the Spirit of Truth to dwell with us and live in us. John 16:13-14 NKJV However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Every day we get up and are unaware of the spiritual world that is going on around us. We must test the spirit to see if it is of God. Some things we cannot see. We need to ask our Lord Jesus, by the way of the Holy Spirit to reveal the things that influence us. We must pray without ceasing to shut down the voices of this world orchestrated by the prince of the air. Jesus said, “My sheep hears My voice and I know them and they follow me.”

Today we need to make a decision. Two choice stands before you. You can be either under the influence of the Holy Spirit or the prince of this world, Satan. Choose ye this day whom you will serve. If you want to change your life, change your influence. There is evidence of those under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Please take time and meditate on the scriptures below.

Father, I pray that you will baptize and open the eyes and the hearts of those who desire the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Let the power of the Holy Spirit be our influence and guidance in Jesus Name Amen!

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit

Here’s the Truth:

Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Here’s the Truth:

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 NKJV

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Here’s the Truth:

Mark 16:16-18 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Here’s the Truth:

John 14:15-21 If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Here’s the Truth:

1 John 4: 4-9 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Here’s the Truth:

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Here’s the Truth:

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

And The Truth Will Set You FREE!!

Accept Jesus as your personal savior today:

Romans 10: 9-10 KJV- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.