The Power Of Suggestion
Genesis 3:1-4
Have you ever changed your mind due to what someone has said to you?
Whether you would like to admit it or not our lives have been influenced by other people’s suggestions.
Spouses have said, Honey your not going to wear that are you?
I have watched people let an Interior Decorator influence them and they never like it.
But it is not you!
Why would you let someone tell you what you like?
On the same note I have had co-workers start talking about certain foods and find myself eating that food before the day is out.
I think one of the greatest effects of suggestions on our lives is found in advertising.
TV Commercials especially! (Elaborate About Recent Ones That Have The Biggest Impact)
They want you to believe that you are missing out on something.
That was the same thought that Satan planted in Eves mind. That this fruit that was forbidden must have been the most delicious of all that was in the garden.
He wanted her to think that something good was being withheld.
This is the first step in temptation, the step that involves our thoughts, the thoughts of suggestion.
The suggested thought is that we are missing something that looks good, feels good, and tastes good or that perhaps God’s Word is causing us to miss something that is delicious.
We are victims of suggestion!
Our difficulty today is not knowing what is right but rather accepting that which is right.
Let me for the next few minutes share with you what Satan will try to suggest or influence you with.
I. Satan Will Suggest That There No Such Thing As Sin.
He wants you to believe that you are being deprived of pleasure if you don’t do as you please.
Do whatever makes you happy you can do no wrong!
It is only bad to the older generation, if it is so wrong why did they do it then and still do it every now and then.
John 8:11 (KJV) ”And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
Jesus challenged, but warned: "Go, and sin no more." Stop your sinning—make a clean break—do it no more. The warning is clear: repentance is essential for forgiveness.
1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 6:12 (KJV)12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
He must not let sin reign (basileuetô PWS: 3220): have authority, rule, control, occupy, hold sway, prevail over him. The present tense is used, so the idea is a continuous attitude and behavior. The believer is always to keep his mind off sin. He is to keep his mind under control.
The believer is not to let sin dominate, control, and reign in his mortal body.
Sin is not to dominate his thoughts and life.
He is to resist sin by standing against it and by rebuking and fighting against it.
He is to oppose sin with all his might.
II. Satan Will Suggest That There Is More That One Way To Get Saved.
He will suggest…
that all is required is for you to do your best or
that if you will be faithful to church or
that because your family is Christian, you are in.
God said…
John 3:3 (KJV) 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV)3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
John 14:6 (KJV)6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
III. Satan Will Suggest For You To Wait Until Tomorrow To Get Saved.
Acts 24:24-25 (KJV) 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Felix trembled under conviction. The word "trembled" means to be terrified and frightened. Felix was living a life diametrically opposed to what God demanded. He was under conviction, for if Paul was right—if Jesus was truly the Son of God—then he, Felix, was condemned and doomed.
Tragically, Felix postponed making a decision for Christ. Again he delayed making the right choice. He did what so many do simply put the decision off for some other time.
If Satan can get you to put off making a decision about salvation even if in your mind it is only just one day, your are one day closer to hell.
The bible tells us in Romans 13:11 (KJV) 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Don’t be influenced by the suggestive power of Satan!
Don’t be like Felix!
Don’t be like King Aggripa and say, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Jesus died on the cross and paid the price for your sin!
Nothing left owed!
You can be save today!
IV. Satan Will Suggest That Salvation Is All That Required.
He wants you to live a relaxed and uninvolved life.
He did not want you to get saved but since you have let me have your ear for just a minute did you know that you don’t really have to serve the Lord!
He will tell you that someone else will do the job.
He will tell you that you know that you don’t have the time.
He will tell you that you don’t have the talents needed to do the job.
He will try to keep you from being an active witness.
He will try to keep you from reading your Bible.
He will suggest to you that you don’t need Sunday School.
Or that you are spiritual enough that Sunday Morning Worship is all that you need.
Acts 1:8 (KJV) 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Luke 14:23 (KJV) 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
John 15:16 (KJV) 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Conclusion
Not one person is exempt from what I am saying.
We are all subject to the suggestive attacks of Satan!
Don’t let him convince you that you are okay like you are!!!
