So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
We need to feed our faith daily on the Word! Faith is the victory that overcomes the attacks that come against you in a fallen world. Hear Jesus say to you today: If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.
Right now in the circumstances of my life my faith is either pulling me towards or unbelief is pushing me away from: healing in some part of my body, financial supply, change in a grueling circumstance, a better job position, or daily ministry to the unsaved.
Time spent building up your faith today by meditating in the Word will ensure that you’ll have the needed faith when a crisis arises in your life or with some family member. Don’t wait until you need it to get faith. Plan ahead and build it up now. I take time every day to meditate on scripture and build up my faith. In the end, it’s what I can believe that determines what I receive from the Lord.
Don’t be like the people in Jesus’ home town who limited Him by their unbelief. Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching (Mark 6:5-6).Give Jesus the ability to live big in you and minister strongly through you by keeping your faith fed on the word of God every day.
I’ll leave you with these familiar passages for meditating on to build up your faith in the Word:
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19) My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips (Psalm 89:34). Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Matthew 24:35). For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:23-24).
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Keep Your Faith Strong
Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 4:12 AM by Pastor Mitch
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Pray Daily for Government Leaders
Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 11:12 AM by Pastor Mitch
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:1-2). The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).
A daily part of your personal prayer life should be praying for our president and those in authority over us. The office of king or in our case president is a God ordained position. You may not agree with the person in the office, but we are commanded to pray for them. In doing so, God can intervene and bring needed change.
This praying for leaders command is even more important in the election season we’re in right now. Two different ideologies are contesting for public office. Two different ways of seeing the world and of dealing with social, financial, and international problems.
Our nation is in a precarious place with financial difficulty, shifting cultural mores, and international challenges unprecedented in scope. We need a leader who depends on a higher wisdom. As a nation we need to bow our knee to the Almighty and ask for mercy and grace.
Scholars of eschatology (the study of end-time events) have long mentioned that the US is not mentioned in bible prophecy relating to end-time events. This could be because of the rapture of the church and the ensuing chaos it leaves behind. Or it could be because some event erases decades of world leadership and catapults us to a lesser position on the world scene.
This is a time of preparation and prayer. The world is heading towards tribulation and then the second coming of Christ. The church is headed toward heaven. We must rise up in this hour and win souls, taking as many people as we can with us. People are desperate for the hope we have.
Let’s let our light shine brightly. Engage in the political process by first of all praying and then voting. Become involved in daily personal evangelism. This is the hour for us to shine! Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:1-3).
A daily part of your personal prayer life should be praying for our president and those in authority over us. The office of king or in our case president is a God ordained position. You may not agree with the person in the office, but we are commanded to pray for them. In doing so, God can intervene and bring needed change.
This praying for leaders command is even more important in the election season we’re in right now. Two different ideologies are contesting for public office. Two different ways of seeing the world and of dealing with social, financial, and international problems.
Our nation is in a precarious place with financial difficulty, shifting cultural mores, and international challenges unprecedented in scope. We need a leader who depends on a higher wisdom. As a nation we need to bow our knee to the Almighty and ask for mercy and grace.
Scholars of eschatology (the study of end-time events) have long mentioned that the US is not mentioned in bible prophecy relating to end-time events. This could be because of the rapture of the church and the ensuing chaos it leaves behind. Or it could be because some event erases decades of world leadership and catapults us to a lesser position on the world scene.
This is a time of preparation and prayer. The world is heading towards tribulation and then the second coming of Christ. The church is headed toward heaven. We must rise up in this hour and win souls, taking as many people as we can with us. People are desperate for the hope we have.
Let’s let our light shine brightly. Engage in the political process by first of all praying and then voting. Become involved in daily personal evangelism. This is the hour for us to shine! Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:1-3).
Friday, August 29, 2008
Signs of Spiritual Attack
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008 at 6:44 AM by Pastor Mitch
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 the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:12-13).
In these days, the enemy is looking for a weakness in your flesh. In the days just before the rapture, the enemy has a plan to snare the believer and bring spiritual impotence. So to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Here are some telltale sign of spiritual attack. The enemy will seek to pull you back into things that once held your attention and bound your flesh. The sensual gaze, the fantasy world where the things of the flesh seem so appealing is a major snare the enemy will use. Today, movies, the internet, magazines, and the airwaves in general are filled with the risqué and the tawdry appeal of sex without marriage. This is a common attack and easily snares the unaware.
Phillips Translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 give a clear warning for our generation: God’s plan is to make you holy, and that means a clean cut with sexual immorality. Every one of you should learn to control his body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect, and never allowing it to fall victim to lust, as do pagans with no knowledge of God. You cannot break this rule without cheating your fellow men. Indeed God will punish all who do offend in this matter, as we have plainly told you and warned you. The calling of God is not to impurity but to the most thorough purity, and anyone who makes light of the matter is not making light of man’s ruling but of God’s command. It is not for nothing that the Spirit that God gives us is called the Holy Spirit
Mammon is another tool in the enemy’s arsenal of weapons to hinder spiritual life. The craving desire for more; more money, more possessions and the prestige they bring. Paul’s admonition fits well here: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:7-10).
Strife and divisiveness are another common strategy of the evil one. Spiritual life fails when strife, selfish ambitions, un-forgiveness, malice, and un-controlled anger rule. One of the signs of the last days mentioned by Jesus is a lack of love. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity (Matthew 24:12 – Amplified).
Paul encourages us along these lines: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32).
We could go on and on in unmasking Satan’s tactics. The cure for of his ploys is for us to keep that “first love” relationship with Jesus ablaze in our hearts. Because I love Him more than anything the world, the flesh, or the devil offer, I choose to keep myself from the temptations that allure. That is the heart drive that should guide our day.
Do you love him enough to say no when the tempter comes? Hear Jesus speaking today: Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20 – New Living Translation).
In these days, the enemy is looking for a weakness in your flesh. In the days just before the rapture, the enemy has a plan to snare the believer and bring spiritual impotence. So to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Here are some telltale sign of spiritual attack. The enemy will seek to pull you back into things that once held your attention and bound your flesh. The sensual gaze, the fantasy world where the things of the flesh seem so appealing is a major snare the enemy will use. Today, movies, the internet, magazines, and the airwaves in general are filled with the risqué and the tawdry appeal of sex without marriage. This is a common attack and easily snares the unaware.
Phillips Translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 give a clear warning for our generation: God’s plan is to make you holy, and that means a clean cut with sexual immorality. Every one of you should learn to control his body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect, and never allowing it to fall victim to lust, as do pagans with no knowledge of God. You cannot break this rule without cheating your fellow men. Indeed God will punish all who do offend in this matter, as we have plainly told you and warned you. The calling of God is not to impurity but to the most thorough purity, and anyone who makes light of the matter is not making light of man’s ruling but of God’s command. It is not for nothing that the Spirit that God gives us is called the Holy Spirit
Mammon is another tool in the enemy’s arsenal of weapons to hinder spiritual life. The craving desire for more; more money, more possessions and the prestige they bring. Paul’s admonition fits well here: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:7-10).
Strife and divisiveness are another common strategy of the evil one. Spiritual life fails when strife, selfish ambitions, un-forgiveness, malice, and un-controlled anger rule. One of the signs of the last days mentioned by Jesus is a lack of love. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity (Matthew 24:12 – Amplified).
Paul encourages us along these lines: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32).
We could go on and on in unmasking Satan’s tactics. The cure for of his ploys is for us to keep that “first love” relationship with Jesus ablaze in our hearts. Because I love Him more than anything the world, the flesh, or the devil offer, I choose to keep myself from the temptations that allure. That is the heart drive that should guide our day.
Do you love him enough to say no when the tempter comes? Hear Jesus speaking today: Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20 – New Living Translation).
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Grace
Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 5:32 AM by Pastor Mitch
But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me. So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength) (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Marion Zirkle Wright and her husband Clarence were with us in service last night. They are missionaries in Guatemala. Marion spoke about the grace of God and reminded us all of how God’s grace enables us in life.
Grace is unmerited favor. Another definition of grace that I came across years ago is God’s ability to help you do what you can’t do yourself. Grace helps your inability and your weakness. We’re helpless to save ourselves from our sins so God’s gives us His grace through faith and we enter the family of God and or sins are cleansed.
Faith changes things and circumstances as we exercise it and stand in the tough times. But grace is directed towards us personally. Faith changes things but grace changes people.
Grace helps me in every small detail of life. Grace quickens, empowers, motives, and changes me. Jesus by the grace of God took our sins and freed us from its wages. When I come to the end of myself and feel whipped, defeated, and powerless, grace enters lifts me up, and enables me in the impossible circumstance.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us that God’s throne is a throne of grace. We can approach it with boldness to find the necessary strength to face every challenge that life brings our way. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it] (Hebrews 4:16 - Amplified).
Grace is accessed by prayer. Jesus obtained the grace in the garden of Gethsemane during a time of prayer to go to the cross and become our sin.
Today, grace is available for every challenge you face. Divine ability is waiting for you to tap into it to help you in family matters, in tense relationships on the job, in situation with your children, or to enable you to conquer a life dominating habit. Let’s approach the throne of grace early today and obtain the necessary grace for this day’s challenges. We are never alone. The Father’s ability, strength, wisdom, guidance, life, power, and nature are ours today. It’s called GRACE. Spend some knee time accessing it!
Marion Zirkle Wright and her husband Clarence were with us in service last night. They are missionaries in Guatemala. Marion spoke about the grace of God and reminded us all of how God’s grace enables us in life.
Grace is unmerited favor. Another definition of grace that I came across years ago is God’s ability to help you do what you can’t do yourself. Grace helps your inability and your weakness. We’re helpless to save ourselves from our sins so God’s gives us His grace through faith and we enter the family of God and or sins are cleansed.
Faith changes things and circumstances as we exercise it and stand in the tough times. But grace is directed towards us personally. Faith changes things but grace changes people.
Grace helps me in every small detail of life. Grace quickens, empowers, motives, and changes me. Jesus by the grace of God took our sins and freed us from its wages. When I come to the end of myself and feel whipped, defeated, and powerless, grace enters lifts me up, and enables me in the impossible circumstance.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us that God’s throne is a throne of grace. We can approach it with boldness to find the necessary strength to face every challenge that life brings our way. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it] (Hebrews 4:16 - Amplified).
Grace is accessed by prayer. Jesus obtained the grace in the garden of Gethsemane during a time of prayer to go to the cross and become our sin.
Today, grace is available for every challenge you face. Divine ability is waiting for you to tap into it to help you in family matters, in tense relationships on the job, in situation with your children, or to enable you to conquer a life dominating habit. Let’s approach the throne of grace early today and obtain the necessary grace for this day’s challenges. We are never alone. The Father’s ability, strength, wisdom, guidance, life, power, and nature are ours today. It’s called GRACE. Spend some knee time accessing it!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Faith and Relationships
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 5:53 AM by Pastor Mitch
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24).
Yesterday, a person asked me a question regarding how standing in faith works with respect to being in relationship to others. One of the values that we hold at Victory fellowship is relationships. The person mentioned to me that when I talk about walking by faith and believing that I receive from the Lord, I usually don’t tell others that I’m in a battle. I usually just act on the word, believe that I receive the answer to my prayer, and act as though I have the answer. The question was, how do you relate closely to others when believing you receive if you don’t talk to them about it?
Faith is believing God’s word in the face of physical contradiction. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance (literally- the title deed) of the things we hope for and the evidence (that which supports the existence of something) of things not seen. Faith takes the place of what you don’t physically have until it shows up! Faith is the guarantee that what you are believing for exists, and if you continue to believe it will sooner or later manifest in the physical realm.
Another aspect of faith is that it is released with words. Hebrews 11:3 reveals: By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Faith and words go hand in hand. So, if I’m really standing in faith and not doubting God’s word to me, then I have a confident expectation that what God promised me belongs to me right now! And if I have the expectation that what God promised me belongs to me right now, then I’m going to reflect that confidence in what I say! You could say it this way, if I’m not talking by faith, then I’m not walking by faith!
So how do I relate to others when I’m believing I receive and still struggling with circumstances that are grueling and tough and still look and feel terrible? Here’s what separates the men from the boys. If I really believe that I receive what I’m believing for, then I’m really excited inside about it eventually manifesting. And every day there is an expectation that what I’m believing God for will manifest that day!
If it’s obvious to those that I closely relate to that I haven’t received the manifestation of what I believe and they ask me about it, I respond: Yes, it may look that way, but according to God’s word I have believed that I receive the answer to my prayer of faith. And I believe that my faith is giving substance to what I’ve hoped for. One day you’ll see that I have what I asked for! Please agree with me in faith as I stand, will you?
Of course, if a person is struggling to stand in faith, and they are having a hard time with the circumstance, then close relationships with folk that will assist then in faith can be a great encouragement.
If you are struggling to stand in faith, take the struggle to the Lord and pour your heart out to Him and tell Him in detail what you think and feel. But don’t just stop there. Go to His Word, and meditate on His Word that promises you an answer. Then go to a person who will stand in faith with you, and have them agree with you in prayer. We can be a great strength to each other when facing a crisis.
Let me mention here to make sure that you go to a person who will encourage you in faith and not drag you down further into the circumstance by siding with your doubts! Some people will never hear from me if I’m standing in faith and need encouragement, because I know they will only be pessimistic and not help me! So find a believer, a person who will encourage you and let them agree with you in faith. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities (Hebrews 10:24).
Yesterday, a person asked me a question regarding how standing in faith works with respect to being in relationship to others. One of the values that we hold at Victory fellowship is relationships. The person mentioned to me that when I talk about walking by faith and believing that I receive from the Lord, I usually don’t tell others that I’m in a battle. I usually just act on the word, believe that I receive the answer to my prayer, and act as though I have the answer. The question was, how do you relate closely to others when believing you receive if you don’t talk to them about it?
Faith is believing God’s word in the face of physical contradiction. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance (literally- the title deed) of the things we hope for and the evidence (that which supports the existence of something) of things not seen. Faith takes the place of what you don’t physically have until it shows up! Faith is the guarantee that what you are believing for exists, and if you continue to believe it will sooner or later manifest in the physical realm.
Another aspect of faith is that it is released with words. Hebrews 11:3 reveals: By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Faith and words go hand in hand. So, if I’m really standing in faith and not doubting God’s word to me, then I have a confident expectation that what God promised me belongs to me right now! And if I have the expectation that what God promised me belongs to me right now, then I’m going to reflect that confidence in what I say! You could say it this way, if I’m not talking by faith, then I’m not walking by faith!
So how do I relate to others when I’m believing I receive and still struggling with circumstances that are grueling and tough and still look and feel terrible? Here’s what separates the men from the boys. If I really believe that I receive what I’m believing for, then I’m really excited inside about it eventually manifesting. And every day there is an expectation that what I’m believing God for will manifest that day!
If it’s obvious to those that I closely relate to that I haven’t received the manifestation of what I believe and they ask me about it, I respond: Yes, it may look that way, but according to God’s word I have believed that I receive the answer to my prayer of faith. And I believe that my faith is giving substance to what I’ve hoped for. One day you’ll see that I have what I asked for! Please agree with me in faith as I stand, will you?
Of course, if a person is struggling to stand in faith, and they are having a hard time with the circumstance, then close relationships with folk that will assist then in faith can be a great encouragement.
If you are struggling to stand in faith, take the struggle to the Lord and pour your heart out to Him and tell Him in detail what you think and feel. But don’t just stop there. Go to His Word, and meditate on His Word that promises you an answer. Then go to a person who will stand in faith with you, and have them agree with you in prayer. We can be a great strength to each other when facing a crisis.
Let me mention here to make sure that you go to a person who will encourage you in faith and not drag you down further into the circumstance by siding with your doubts! Some people will never hear from me if I’m standing in faith and need encouragement, because I know they will only be pessimistic and not help me! So find a believer, a person who will encourage you and let them agree with you in faith. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities (Hebrews 10:24).
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thought Control
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 6:18 AM by Pastor Mitch
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8).
For us to experience the best that God has for us in this life, we must take control of our thought life. Most people allow their thought to meander unbridled throughout the day. Thought association occurs in a millisecond. You hear a song, you smell something, you see something, and your mind associates the present event with something in your past.
When I first came to the Lord, I found this happening to me every day. It was as though my mind was trying to hijack my relationship with the Lord. At the time I was going to college and working in a grocery store stocking shelves. It doesn’t take a lot of thought to put a can on a shelf, and I had a lot of time for my mind to wander.
I would allow my mind to wander for several hours before I recognized what was happening. The new birth changed my spirit; old things pass away and all things became new. But my mind was largely unaffected. It was still filled with the debris from my old sinful life. Left alone, my mind would seek to pull me away from God back into familiar paths of thought. Emotions and thoughts go hand in hand, and I would feel spiritually away from God after these episodes.
I decided that if I was going to be a committed believer I must also commit My mind to the Lord. So I began to assert control over my thought life. To begin with I tried to make negative thinking leave by praying, by commanding Satan to leave in the name of Jesus, or by praising God. None of this worked.
I decided to take a scripture a day, place it on a note card, and when I had idle mental time I would pull that note card out and look at the scripture. Once I had it memorized, I would force myself to think on it. I found that I could make my mind think on what I wanted it to think on! This revolutionized my life.
I was so undisciplined mentally that my mind would wander for hours and I didn’t realize it. As I kept reigning it in by catching myself thinking on wrong things, I found that the time of out of control thinking lessened over time. Now, over thirty years later, I catch myself almost immediate when my thoughts stray.
I would use the above scripture written on a note card to challenge my thoughts. Make a decision today to assert control over your mind. Don’t allow it to wander off into negative things. Think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous or positive, and praiseworthy. Your life change, and Jesus will become real to you!
For us to experience the best that God has for us in this life, we must take control of our thought life. Most people allow their thought to meander unbridled throughout the day. Thought association occurs in a millisecond. You hear a song, you smell something, you see something, and your mind associates the present event with something in your past.
When I first came to the Lord, I found this happening to me every day. It was as though my mind was trying to hijack my relationship with the Lord. At the time I was going to college and working in a grocery store stocking shelves. It doesn’t take a lot of thought to put a can on a shelf, and I had a lot of time for my mind to wander.
I would allow my mind to wander for several hours before I recognized what was happening. The new birth changed my spirit; old things pass away and all things became new. But my mind was largely unaffected. It was still filled with the debris from my old sinful life. Left alone, my mind would seek to pull me away from God back into familiar paths of thought. Emotions and thoughts go hand in hand, and I would feel spiritually away from God after these episodes.
I decided that if I was going to be a committed believer I must also commit My mind to the Lord. So I began to assert control over my thought life. To begin with I tried to make negative thinking leave by praying, by commanding Satan to leave in the name of Jesus, or by praising God. None of this worked.
I decided to take a scripture a day, place it on a note card, and when I had idle mental time I would pull that note card out and look at the scripture. Once I had it memorized, I would force myself to think on it. I found that I could make my mind think on what I wanted it to think on! This revolutionized my life.
I was so undisciplined mentally that my mind would wander for hours and I didn’t realize it. As I kept reigning it in by catching myself thinking on wrong things, I found that the time of out of control thinking lessened over time. Now, over thirty years later, I catch myself almost immediate when my thoughts stray.
I would use the above scripture written on a note card to challenge my thoughts. Make a decision today to assert control over your mind. Don’t allow it to wander off into negative things. Think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous or positive, and praiseworthy. Your life change, and Jesus will become real to you!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Be Mentally Self-Controlled
Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 7:44 AM by Pastor Mitch
Satan works in the realm of thoughts and feelings. He has the ability to place thoughts in our minds. He can manipulate the senses and make us feel certain things. That’s the reason that we must walk by faith and not by sight!
Satan’s first line of attack is in our thoughts. Notice 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The Greek word for sober could be translated be mentally self controlled, or be free from mental intoxicants. He seeks to plant a thought of fear or doubt in our mind and then get us to act on it so that he can in some way steal, kill, and destroy. So it’s important that we guard our thoughts carefully. The word vigilant in this verse means to be ever on your guard.
Ephesians 6:11 reads: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The word wiles here is from the Greek word methodia. Methodia is a compound word taken from the Greek words meta (with) and hodos (road). Together they mean with a road, revealing that Satan has a route or a road that he travels on when attacking you. That road is your thought life.
2 Corinthians 2:11 reveals: Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. The word devices in the Greek is noema and refers to the thoughts. You could translate the latter part of this verse: for we are not ignorant of his mind games! Satan seeks to use your own thoughts against you.
Then notice 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Our fight is to keep our thoughts free from the negatives, doubt, fear, and impurity that Satan brings. Our battle is in the realm of thinking. Spiritual warfare occurs between our ears!
Lastly, let me refer you to what I call the Christians “think list.” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.(Philippians 4:8- KJV). The quality of your Christian life is directly related to the quality of your thoughts.
As you go through your day today, compare your thought life to the list. Are your thoughts, true honest, just, pure, lovely, positive, and worthy of praise? If not, change them! Your peace, joy, and success in God today will be directly related to what you do with your idle mental time! Keep them clean and positive and allow the Father to work in you and through you. Put up a roadblock on the road Satan wants to travel to gain entrance into your life. Be mentally self-controlled! Don’t play Satan’s mind games!
Satan’s first line of attack is in our thoughts. Notice 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The Greek word for sober could be translated be mentally self controlled, or be free from mental intoxicants. He seeks to plant a thought of fear or doubt in our mind and then get us to act on it so that he can in some way steal, kill, and destroy. So it’s important that we guard our thoughts carefully. The word vigilant in this verse means to be ever on your guard.
Ephesians 6:11 reads: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The word wiles here is from the Greek word methodia. Methodia is a compound word taken from the Greek words meta (with) and hodos (road). Together they mean with a road, revealing that Satan has a route or a road that he travels on when attacking you. That road is your thought life.
2 Corinthians 2:11 reveals: Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. The word devices in the Greek is noema and refers to the thoughts. You could translate the latter part of this verse: for we are not ignorant of his mind games! Satan seeks to use your own thoughts against you.
Then notice 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Our fight is to keep our thoughts free from the negatives, doubt, fear, and impurity that Satan brings. Our battle is in the realm of thinking. Spiritual warfare occurs between our ears!
Lastly, let me refer you to what I call the Christians “think list.” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.(Philippians 4:8- KJV). The quality of your Christian life is directly related to the quality of your thoughts.
As you go through your day today, compare your thought life to the list. Are your thoughts, true honest, just, pure, lovely, positive, and worthy of praise? If not, change them! Your peace, joy, and success in God today will be directly related to what you do with your idle mental time! Keep them clean and positive and allow the Father to work in you and through you. Put up a roadblock on the road Satan wants to travel to gain entrance into your life. Be mentally self-controlled! Don’t play Satan’s mind games!
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