How to Triumph Over Sin

I heard a question, asked on the radio which was related to my last couple of posts, dealing with sin. The question was more or less, "Does Satan have the ability to insert thoughts into our minds which can be used to tempt us?"

If I were to state my opinion to answer that question, I believe that there would be many Bible students and scholars to give different answers that would conflict with mine. What matters, is what the Bible has to say, and I can't think of a single passage which says that Satan can directly insert thoughts into our minds. That isn't to say that his every intent is not to influence us for evil in whatever way that he can, and he does have a multitude of ways with which press that agenda. It is certainly true that he is the ruler of this world, meaning those who are unsaved.

"3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

While he rules the unsaved, in that they are enslaved to sin without Christ, his general focus seems to be on testings, through which he practices to deceive people at every turn. His tactics don't seem to have changed since the deception in the garden of Eden. Ephesians 6:16 talks about "the fiery darts of the wicked one", and I'm not completely sure of exactly what that is referring to. It certainly shows intent, but it may only be speaking about the external efforts that Satan uses to influence our thought processes, by what is out there to see, to read and to listen to, and to do.

Certainly I have been enjoying the day, (even in church), and had a thought and wondered, "Where did that come from?" I'm sure that has happened to all of us. The thing to do though, is to put our focus right back on Jesus and His truth, fully arming ourselves with His shield of faith.

It may be possible that at those times, the demon hosts of the evil one are acting on our minds. John 13:2 might be a passage in support of that, but the Bible doesn't tell us exactly how, or by what means, Satan put the plan into Judas' heart to betray the Lord. Did he just 'put' it in his heart, or was that moment the culmination of influence from only external measures used to tempt Judas by affecting his thinking? This much is sure, Judas failed respond to Jesus and truly believe in Him. We're told in John 13:27 that Satan entered Judas, but that takes place after John 13:2.

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." James 1:14 makes it clear that we are all responsible for our own sin, and that the temptation to do so comes from our own sinful nature. Satan and his formidable ability to influence our sin nature does not make him responsible for what we do. Ultimately, the choices we make are ours, and ours alone. Satan may be a "roaring lion" seeking to devour whomever he can, but Jesus pulled his teeth and claws out at the cross, if only we put our faith in Him.

"7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:7-8