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“…I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed unto him against that day…”
(2 Timothy 1:12 KJV).
*
When you are trying to persuade someone you are attempting to
convince them of something or are earnestly trying to win them over in an
effort to bring about a change of mind.
Apostle Paul used sincere persuasion to
win people to Christ. “…. We
understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God
knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too…” (2 Corinthians 5:11
NLT).
Apostle Paul used
sincere persuasion to evangelize and also to encourage believers. “…. I urge (persuade) you, brethren, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable
to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship…” (Romans 12:1 NASB).
Apostle Paul used
SINCERE persuasion in his WORK for the Lord. “….we
work hard to persuade others …”
(2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT).
Sincere persuasion is
motivated and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “… And all things are of God, who hath reconciled (or persuaded) us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation (or persuasion) …” (2 Corinthians 5:18 KJV).
“…God …works
in you TO WILL and TO ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). May God, “… EQUIP you with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…
may he
work in us what
is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
Sincere, gentle Godly
persuasion is about God’s love and benefitting the one being persuaded. “…Come to Me,
all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…”
(Matthew 11:28 NASB). “…I will restore… and I will heal thee of the wounds, saith the Lord…” (Jeremiah
30:17 KJV).
Sincere persuasion,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, has too often been replaced by deceptive
manipulation, which is empowered by the flesh. “…they
that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly …”
(Romans 16:18 KJV).
Sincere persuasion gently
urges one to make a CHOICE whereas deceptive manipulation forces or dictates
the CHOICE. “…Choose
you
this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “ … by good
words and fair speeches …[deceitful manipulators] … deceive the hearts of the simple…” (Romans 16:18 KJV).
Manipulation is WRONG. Apostle Paul said: “…
We were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery. For we speak as messengers approved by God
to be entrusted with the Good News. Our
purpose is to please God, not people (or ourselves).
He alone examines the motives of our hearts…”
(1 Thessalonian 2:3-5 NLT).
Sincere persuasion is
empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…God …
worketh in [you]… to do of his
good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
Deceptive manipulation
is empowered by the sinful flesh of men and women. "…Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel
over land and sea to win (persuade) a single convert,
and when you have succeeded, you make
them twice as much a child of hell as you are…”
(Matthew 23:15 NIV).
Deceptive manipulation,
big or small, takes away CHOICE and attempts to forcefully persuade or
influence someone to do or see what “they” want them to do or see by using
trickery, lies, exploitation, cunning, guilt, emotional abuse, or naivety. “… by good words and fair speeches … [deceitful
manipulators] … deceive
the hearts of the simple…”
(Romans 16:18 KJV). “…Don’t you realize that you become the slave of
whatever you choose to obey (listen to)? ….” (Romans 6:16 NLT).
“…
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind…” (Romans 14:5 KJV).
The
ONE who uses sincere, gentle, Godly persuasion aids in SAVING, TRANSFORMING or
EMPOWERING the life of another in a BENEFICIAL way. “… Many of the Jews and religious proselytes
followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to
continue in the grace of God…” (Acts
13:43 KJV).
Everyone
uses persuasion: husbands, wives, children, bosses, teachers, students,
politicians, advertisers, parents; everybody.
Godly,
gentle persuasion is needed in order to steward the responsibility of our
various roles in LIFE. “….we
work hard to persuade others …”
(2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT).
However, the motive for
trying to convince someone of something is either for “their” good or “your”
good.
Sincere persuasion is
for the good of another and deceptive manipulation is for selfish gain or
advantage.
Everyone
has used deceptive manipulation at one time or another: husbands, wives,
children, bosses, teachers, students, politicians, advertisers, parents;
everybody. “… by good
words and fair speeches … [deceitful manipulators] … deceive the hearts of the simple…” (Romans 16:18 KJV).
Deceptive
manipulation is ALWAYS about selfish gain or advantage and is used to forcibly
control or influence the WAY another person acts, or perceives something.
Deceptive
manipulators will even use the bible as a technique to control another person
for their own advantage.
Deceptive
manipulators will take scripture out of context in order to persuade another
person to act or believe what benefits their OWN selfish gain or advantage.
For
instance, in terms of reciprocity; sincere, gentle, Godly persuasion says: "…In
everything, therefore, TREAT people the
same way you want them to TREAT you
…”
(Matthew 7:12 NASB). “…Give, and it will be given to you. …”
(Luke 6:38 KJV). “…by
your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return…”
(Luke 6:38 KJV).
Sincere,
gentle, Godly persuasion attempts to influence CHOICE.
“…As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise…” (Luke 6:31 KJV).
Deceptive
manipulation behaves like this: “… But the man fell down before his master
and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he
released him and forgave his debt. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who
owed him a few thousand dollars. He
grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment …”
(Matthew 18:23-35 NLT). Deceptive manipulation aims to influence control and
takes away CHOICE. “You OWE me.”
All persuasion is an ACT of
influencing the mind of another person by presenting arguments or reasons that
convinces them or moves their thoughts or passions to make a CHOICE for either
their benefit or the persuader's.
Persuasion is the ACT of
influencing the thoughts, the passions, or the human will of another – to make
a particular CHOICE - through suggestions, fear, arguments, guilt, opinions,
rationale, beliefs, or convictions.
In GENESIS: “…The
serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he
asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the
trees in the garden?” “Of
course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we
are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you
do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat
it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The
woman was convinced (persuaded). She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious,
and she wanted
the wisdom it would give her …”
(Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
“…So she took some of the fruit and
ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with
her, and he ate it, too…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
Satan used deceptive manipulation to convince the
woman to do something, he wanted her to do, by
influencing her passions, her thoughts, and her human will. “…The
woman was convinced (persuaded). She saw that the tree was beautiful and
its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the
wisdom
it would give her. So she took
some of the fruit and ate it. …”
(Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
All believers are to
beware of deceitful manipulators by studying the scriptures like the Bereans
did. “… The people of Berea were more
open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s
message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth…” (Acts 17:11 NLT). “… these were more noble-minded than those in
Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so…”
(Acts 17:11 NASB).
God does send anointed men
and women to preach and teach his Word. “…the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake
as they were MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST…” (2
Peter 1:21 KJV).
However, deceitful
manipulation can ONLY occur if YOU do not search the scriptures for yourself
also. “…Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many….” (Matthew 24:11 NASB). “…They searched the
Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth…”
(Acts 17:11 NLT). “…they received the word … examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether
these things were so…” (Acts 17:11 NASB).
Therefore, “…Study this Book of
Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in
it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do…”
(Joshua 1:8 NLT).
“…Ezra
had set his
heart to study the
law of the Lord and to practice it…” (Ezra 7:10 NASB). “… I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways…”
(Psalms 119:15 NLT). “… Study to
shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth…” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).
Persuasion is a part of
LIFE. We are ALL influenced, to some degree, by people, advertisers, culture,
family members, or whatever; through our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes,
emotions, or passions.
However, before
accepting how, who, or what you allow yourself to be persuaded by, remember, the
word of God and the indwelling Spirit are the ultimate influencers for EVERY
CHOICE or DECISION. “…I
know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he
is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day…” (2
Timothy 1:12 KJV).
When God’s indwelling spirit persuades you
it will benefit your life. “…The
Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control….”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
When the flesh persuades you it will NOT
benefit your life. “ … the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these …”
(Galatians 5:20-22 NASB).
People are persuaded by
things they hear and see every day or routinely. “…they received the word … examining the Scriptures daily …”
(Acts 17:11 NASB). “…Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night …”
(Joshua 1:8 NLT).
People are persuaded when what they hear
and see applies specifically to their situation and circumstance. “…Study this
Book of Instruction continually …Only then will you prosper and
succeed in all you do…” (Joshua 1:8 NLT). God
says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB “…MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT
return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please,
and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing
whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…Not one of the good
promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
“…He has granted to [you]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB).
People are persuaded when their personal experiences matches that
of the one who is attempting to persuade them. “… But if you suffer for doing
good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God. To this you were called, because
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…”
(1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).
People are persuaded when the speaker’s experiences BACK up what
they say and do.“…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and POWER,
and …he went around doing
good and healing
all …”
(Acts 10:38 NIV). “…Stephen, a man full of God’s
grace and POWER,
performed great
wonders and signs among the people…”
(Acts 6:8 NIV). “…God did extraordinary MIRACLES (power) through Paul…” (Acts 19:11 NIV). “…the marks of a true
apostle, including signs, wonders and MIRACLES (power)…”
(2 Corinthians 12:12 NIV).
People are persuaded
when friends and family are or have also been influenced by what is said and
done. “… He did
what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his
father, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had
led Israel to commit…” (1 Kings 15:26 NLT).
People are persuaded by
how they are touched, moved, convicted, or empowered by what is said and done.“…Jesus Christ is in you…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell in you…”
(Romans 8:9 KJV). “…if Christ be in you… (Romans 8:10 KJV). “… But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you…” (Romans 8:11 KJV). “… I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”
(Galatians 2:20 KJV). “…until Christ be formed in you…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).
People are persuaded
when many, many others are influenced also by what is said and done. “… Many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand…”
(Acts 4:4 NASB). “… Praising God, and
having favour with all the people. And the
Lord added to the church daily
…” (Acts 2:47 KJV). “… They
that gladly received his word … and the
same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls…” (Acts 2:41
KJV).
People are persuaded by the credibility of
the Persuader. “…the things which are impossible with men
… are POSSIBLE with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
When people are
PERSUADED by the RIGHT PERSUASION
they can confidently make CHOICES accordingly. “…I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day…” (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV).
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