We Must Cast...
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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One of the meanest things Satan does to us is use our thoughts against us. If you understand your thoughts are not yours, or that there is no such thing as an original thought, then you are half way to victory. That is the easy half and if you are not sure about it read what Paul says in II Corinthians. 10:1-5, he tells us to cast down all imaginations that do not line up with Christ, not the word of God, but with Christ. Christ is the Spirit of God in us. What Satan does is suggest little things and he makes it seem like it is something we would think so we do not question it. Then he adds or takes away from it to change it a little tiny bit at a time until he has transformed it into what he wants us to think. Satan does this constantly so we have to be on our guard 24/7.
Here is an example of what he was doing to me. I get irritated by false advertising. Some of which is very apparent and some is very subtle, but no matter it irritates me and I was going to build a site to list ads that were false. I even had justified how it would bless those who visited it and that it was the right thing to do because it would be revealing false ads (Lies) with the truth. It all sounds ok and actually even very good from a Christian point of view, but where the curse was in it for me was by getting into this I would have to judge, and become unforgiving. You may ask, "So, what is so bad about that? It is not people and it is lies that would be judged." But it IS people, and it is not lies that anyone should have to point out. We all should see them and know them for what they are. You see, I would have spent more and more time adding more and more ads that were false which, as I said, meant I would be judging and not forgiving.
So what is the big deal?
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
How Satan has divided us so far is by his thoughts that he has forced on us.
In Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus left no room open for interpretation about judging. It is either we judge or we do not, that means everything.
How will we know who is good or what is right if we do not judge?
That is why it is vital that we hear from God and let Him guide us in all things.
John 14:26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Again, Jesus left no room open for interpretation. John 14:26 is very simple and clear; we are to be taught all things, not some things, not just things of God, but all things by the Spirit, and we are to have remembrance of all things taught brought back to us as we need it.
2 Corinthians 10
1. Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2. But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The battle is for our minds and Satan takes little tiny things and uses them to force us into his way of thinking.
Think about it; we start off driving down the road promising ourselves that we will not judge the driver who flies by doing 20 mph faster than we are and then cuts us off. We have no idea of their situation. It could be he/she is rushing a pregnant person or an injured child or person to the hospital. Maybe they are just not thinking or did not see us when they cut us off, we have all done that. So the first time it happens we forgive and forget, or do we? Then another and another and before long we can no longer forgive and forget. Did we really forgive and forget if we are mad because others did it? That means we never forgot it, but by this time we are so mad it does not matter. As Satan gets us a little here and a little there in time it becomes more and more and more, until one day we no longer even care and no longer put up with it. Satan now has us falling away from God and is trying kill us when we try to speed up and catch that so and so who cut us off. Who knows, that person may have a gun, a tire may blow out, etc.
If you think I am pushing it a little or a lot, think again; think about the last time you thought or even said something to wonder where that came from. How about when you got mad at someone and said something very hurtful and afterward wondered where it came from and wish you could take it back.
If you do not wise up and realize that Satan is manipulating you (us) then you (we) are in HUGE trouble. Satan has been around for a long time and he has done this for a long time. Think about Peter; he denied knowing Jesus 3 times and the third time he even cursed the name of Jesus. Or how about Judas, how could anyone be in the presence of Jesus for 3 years and then betray Him for 30 silver pieces or about $1000 today. The list goes on and on. The reason Satan is so successful is because he is so subtle and we do not take the time to beware of our thoughts or what we think or our thoughts. It really makes me mad because he has used me for so long (and he has). If you think he has not used you and then laughed at you, you are either dead or got an ego the size of the grand canyon.
Here are a few things we must do to conquer Satan and be victorious in our thoughts and life.
1. Cast down all thoughts that are in anyway judging.
2. Cast down all thoughts that are unforgiving.
3. Cast down all thoughts that are not based in love of God.
4. While casting down these thoughts spend about 30 minutes a day listening for the inner voice of God.
You can hear from God if you ask to hear and then spend 30 minutes everyday in a place free of distractions and that is quiet, doing nothing but listening for His voice.
Then when you hear (no matter how long it takes, average is 2 months) ask one thing.
Did Jesus come in the flesh? (I John 4:1-3) If you hear yes be obedient and continue to listen and you are almost to victory.
2-25-04 H.O.M.E.