The Lies We Think

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (A stronghold is a prison of lies).  

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

How do we change the way we think?

Jesus left us with His Spirit, His Word, and His small group to help us over come the enemy's lies.  

The world is much louder than the Holy Spirit.  He speaks in whispers (1 Kings 19:12).  

If you're not reading God's word, you'll be overcome by the world's lies.   To uncover a lie, go to where the lie was first mentioned in God's Word.   

Genesis 3:4-6  (NKJV)

4 Then the serpent said to the woman (Eve), “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was[a]pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband (Adam) with her, and he ate.

They wanted to be more like God, but they became more like the devil because they believed his lie.  The enemy wants to keep you from growing closer to  God.  

Proverbs 4:23  (NLT)

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

1. My thoughts control my life. 

Proverbs 23:7  (NKJV)

⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Why don't we get rid of the thoughts that contradict God's word.  It's because we like them.  If you don't know where you're going, your thoughts will control you.  

2. My mind is the battleground for sin.   

Romans 7:22-23 (NKJV)

22 For I (the Apostle Paul) delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity (a stronghold) to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Satan can't control our thoughts.  God won't control our thoughts.  It is a choice that we have to make.  

God will always ask you to do more than you can do, so you will depend upon Him.  

Here's the solution:

1.  I must feed my mind God's truth.

Every book you read.  The Bible reads you.  

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

8 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.

2. I must take my thoughts captive.  

Wherever you go.  Your thoughts go with you.  A hummingbird spends his life looking from something sweet, and he finds it.  A vulture spends his life looking for death, and he finds it.

   

3. I must remember how amazing God's will for me is.  

You can go to heaven if you want to.  Tell Jesus, forgive my past.  I surrender my future to you.  Take control and save me.  Amen.   

Romans 10:13  (NKJV)

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Rick Bezet, New Life Church
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-lies-we-think

Highway to Heaven

Isaiah 35:8-10 NKJV

8 A highway (To God) shall be there, and a road,And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.

The unclean shall not pass over it,But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool (Anyone can come) ,Shall not go astray. 

9 No lion shall be there,Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;It shall not be found there. But the redeemed (We get on the road through Jesus)shall walk there, 

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,And come to Zion with singing,With everlasting joy on their heads.They shall obtain joy and gladness,And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

1. Jesus is our Street to Grace

Condemnation is not from the Lord.  It is from the enemy (Romans 8:1).  

Acts 10:14-15 NKJV

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common (unclean).”  (God can make the unclean clean). 

Acts 10:28 NKJV

28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 15:8-9 NKJV

8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith (God cleans our heart by faith).

John 14:4-6 NKJV

4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way (Jesus is the way to God), the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2. Jesus is our Street to Safety

Don't wander off the road of safety.     

Isaiah 35:9 NKJV

9 No lion shall be there,Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;

It shall not be found there.  But the redeemed shall walk there,

Psalms 91:13 NKJV

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Luke 10:19 NKJV

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

II Timothy 4:17-18 NKJV

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 

18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

3. Jesus is our Street to Joy

Isaiah 35:10 NKJV

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,And come to Zion with singing,With everlasting joy on their heads.

They shall obtain joy and gladness,And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 51:11 KJV

11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Luke 15:6 NKJV

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

Jesus loves to see the lost saved!  He spends His time looking for them.  

Luke 15:9 NKJV

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’  

You can go to heaven if you want to.  Call out to Jesus.  Lord, forgive my past.  I surrender to you my future.  I give you my life.  

You don't find favor with God by good works.  You find favor with God by getting on God's way to Him.  Jesus.   

Ask, What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?

Robert Morris, Gateway Church

Don't Drift on Purpose

2 Samuel 11:1 (NLT)

In the spring of the year,[a] when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight....  However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

We must not be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This is how David's problem with adultery and murder began.   

He was supposed to lead his army into battle, but he allocated his responsibility to Joab.  David laid down his purpose.  He took time off.  We aren't made for the sidelines.  

Our lack of prayer limit God.  Prayer is the key to our Spiritual passion.  We must not run from darkness, but run to it.  After all, we are the light of the world. 

Psalm 144:1-2 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1 Praise the Lord, who is my rock.
    He trains my hands for war
    and gives my fingers skill for battle.
2 He is my loving ally and my fortress,
    my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.

    He makes the nations submit to me. 

    

If you don't know how to pray, pray.  It's our on the job training.  We must not delegate our prayers and purpose to others.  

We must not delegate our purpose this summer. We must pray.  The enemy wants to limit our prayers because he knows that our prayers limit him. 

Brian Bagwell, Church of the Highlands