I was watching the show “Magic for Humans,” and I was struck by a powerful spiritual lesson. Watch this video link and receive a lesson in influence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RksLFJ7A2M
“Fatal attraction, bad romance
Livin' for likes, I might die in this dance
Man, if we all influencers, bro, would that ruin us?
Why we chase followers only to lead them to stupid stuff?”
(Trip Lee, “All Mine”)
THE INFLUENCING PEOPLE
“But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” –Acts 14:2, NET
Watch out. One man can have incredible influence over another.
“Furthermore it was by the command of the Lord that I marched up against this place to destroy it. The Lord told me, ‘March up against this land and destroy it.’” –2 Kings 18:25, NET
In this passage, the chief advisor to the king of Assyria (v.19) asserted that he was under divine directive to march against Israel and destroy it. His words were chosen carefully in order to undermine the confidence of the people of Jerusalem (as Hezekiah’s advisors realized, see v.26). To the average listener, this news would be terrifying. If God Himself had told Assyria to march up against them, doom was certain. Yet to the one who listened carefully and shrewdly, it is obvious that this speaker was not able to distinguish between real and false gods (v.22). He was actually belittling God and exalting his king as more powerful (vv.33-35). He was a liar, and not to be trusted.
How often do we fail to listen with a discerning ear, are led to absorb lies, draw wrong conclusions, and are thus led astray? It takes but a drop of poison to kill. Conspiracies do exist, for men will conspire to do others harm (Psa 83:3-5), but we don’t have to be prey to the deception. Consider the Russian citizens who cheer on their dictator and his war because they believe the propaganda he espouses regarding Ukraine and its Jewish president needing to be “denazified.” Consider the power of our entertainment to intentionally normalize what was once taboo. Consider the financial interest of social media businesses whose monetary prosperity is dependent upon them keeping us engaged and scrolling within their virtual worlds. Consider how even the most “unbiased” news sources will sway opinion by their choices, by what they choose to present in their programming, and by what they choose to omit.
May we see our susceptibility to influence, and follow Christ’s leading to “not entrust” ourselves to anybody, for we know that in the end every man will be proven a liar, and God alone true (Rom 3:4). Instead, may we become wise as serpents (Mat 10:16), looking to THE Truth for all our answers (John 14:6). For it is by God’s true word that we are set apart (John 17:17).
And may we see that we are all influencers to others. May we be humbled by this and be intentional and strategic about our discipleship. We should avoid mere “instruction” (ex: 2Ti 3:7), “foolish controversies” (Tit 3:9), teaching that feeds our ego, and “myths” (2Ti 4:3-4). Rather, we should set our eyes upon the things above (Col 3:1), making sure we are leading others to a knowledge of the Truth (Tit 1:1).
THE INFLUENCING SPIRITS
“I did so for you in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).” –2 Corinthians 2:10-11, NET
In this portion of the letter to the Corinthian church, Paul is teaching about church discipline and the power of community forgiveness. But then he gives underlying protective reasoning behind its importance—“so that we may not be exploited by Satan.” Paul deems it necessary to be aware of Satan’s schemes, for he disguises himself as an angel of light” (2Co 11:14), causing many to “wander away” from the faith as they unwittingly “follow [this] adversary” (1Ti 5:15; ex: Luke 22:3-6) to their own destruction (2Pe 3:16; ex: Mat 27:5).
Consider the shrewdness of our enemy, the cleverest of creatures (Gen 3:1). His knowledge and power far exceed our own (Job 1:7; 1Pe 5:8; Rev 13:2). So if one man, by his words and careful thought-out plan, can orchestrate three people to unwittingly come to identical decisions (ref: video), what can such a great Adversary accomplish? He is able to strategically “deceive the world” (Rev 12:9).
Catch that? Deceive the WORLD.
To the ignorant, the whispers of demons and angels sound alike, all a cricket song in our conscience (1Ki 22:23; 1Jo 4:1). The Adversary taints truth with just enough deception (ex: Mat 4:3,6) to seem innocuous to the ignorant, if not more desirable (Gen 3:6). But one does not have to taste poison as it goes down in order for it to kill. The vial has been tipped in full display of our eyes. We are willfully deceived (Rom 1:21; Gen 3:4), and yet we will still justify our blatant disobedience by shifting blame to someone else (ex: Gen 3:12-13).
“They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.” –Ephesians 4:18-19, NET
Let us see the spiritual forces at work that seek to influence our flesh (1Co 3:3) through indulgence (Dan 5:2), fleshly desires (ex: 1Ki 11:3), and selfish passions (Jam 4:1). In these things we are led away by speechless idols (1Co 12:2). But there is a remedy for such spiritual blindness. There is a way for us to see and avoid the pitfalls our Adversary has laid in our path.
“The fear of the Lord is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.” –Proverbs 14:27, NET
This is our way out from falling prey to Satan’s influences: setting our hearts on fearing the Lord (Deu 10:12). For before we can “resist the devil” and his influences, we have to “submit [ourselves] to God” (Jam 4:7). Only those that believe the truth (John 14:6) will be able to avoid the “deluding influences” (2Th 2:9-12).
THE INFLUENCING GOD
And so we come to the ultimate conclusion that supersedes all others, and from which all others become truly inconsequential.
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.” –Isaiah 14:24, NET
If a man, with limited knowledge and abilities, can orchestrate an environment and a variety of free choices to guide three people to the same four-fold conclusion (ref: video); if our enemy Satan who is monstrously more powerful and influential is able to “deceive the world” (Rev 12:9); how much more is God, who created all things (Col 1:16), knows all things (Heb 4:13), is limitless in power (Isa 45:7) and unfathomable in wisdom (Rom 11:33), how much more is He sovereign over all things—even over our every “free” decision.
Let us be humbled by this glorious truth.
“But Joseph answered them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.’” –Genesis 50:19-20, NET
There are so many coincidental aspects of the story of Joseph that altered the brothers’ original desired course to murder him (Gen 37:20). Consider Reuben’s conscience (Gen 37:21-22), from the one who often did not have one (Gen 35:22) and as the firstborn had the most to lose by his father’s favoritism (Due 21:15-16). Consider Reuben’s later absence (Gen 37:29) that allowed for Joseph’s transport to Egypt (Gen 37:25) by Midianites that just happened to be passing. But chief among all these aspects, consider the instrumental role that the prophetic dreams themselves had in their own fulfillment (Gen 37:5-11). God gave the dreams to Joseph knowing he would reveal them to his brothers, who would then hate him enough to try and kill him—setting off a chain of events.
I find this staggering, especially as I reflect on a dream that I had personally, which brought about its own fulfillment. Perhaps this should cause us all to heed dreams and providence with great humility and awe. For God is no bumbling fool. His every move on the chessboard of life is intentional and strategic.
See how God influences the influencers, turning ears towards (ex: Gen 41:37) or away from advisors (2Sa 17:14). See how he guides the hearts of rulers to “turn wherever HE wills” (Pro 21:1). As difficult as it is to grasp, deluding influences and lying spirits ultimately come from the LORD as judgment (2Th 2:11; 2Ch 18:22; see also 2Sa 24:1 vs 1Ch 21:1).
“So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated—no one knows what lies ahead.” –Ecclesiastes 9:1, NET
No one knows what lies ahead. Not me, nor you, nor plotting powers, nor conspiring spirits. Only God. We may influence and conspire, but any success we gain is by the LORD’s hand (Jam 4:13-16). “There is no wisdom, counsel, or understanding against the Lord” (Pro 21:30). We all walk around in darkness (Psa 82:5), unable to see what lies ahead. There is only One that operates completely in the day—for He lives in unapproachable light (1Ti 6:16). He is the Light (John 8:12).
“'Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,’ says the Lord, ‘for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.’” –Isaiah 55:8-9, NET
So let us cease focusing on the influencers of the world, as if we could navigate through the lies on our own. Let us instead focus all our attention on THE Influencer who sits in the heavens and laughs at rebellious rulers and carnal conspirators (Psa 2:1-4). Let us seek simply to walk in His light and understand His glorious ways.
“O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.” –Isaiah 2:5, NET
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