Psalm 124:1-8 If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now say—if the LORD had not been on our side when people rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive because of their burning anger against us. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Blessed be the LORD, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth.
Lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap, be ensnared, be caught by
bait.
Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (“Scandal”); a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figurative cause of displeasure or sin):- occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling block.
Proverbs 23:7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.
Francis Frangipane said “bondage is a house of thoughts”
John 19:17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, Jesus died on a place that looks like a skull; the cross was placed on the hill or top of the skull. Why? Jesus came to redeem our minds. We are never set free until our minds are set free. Salvation is an event and a process; it is a walk, inch by inch, thought by thought.
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,
a. There is a spiritual realm
b. There is a war going on
c. The weapons are thoughts, arguments and false conclusions.
Adam and Eve – Satan and Jesus
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
John 8:30-32 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
In order for us to be set free, our minds must be renewed and transformed. Jesus came as the Truth to deliver us from Satan’s dominion of darkness. Jesus taught that opening our minds to His Word was essential for freedom and victory. Many of the strongholds in our lives can be traced back to our thoughts. Whoever controls our thinking controls us and everything we do. We must examine the nature and source of our thinking and be willing to allow God to change us if we are going to be set free and stay free.
THE DOOR TO THE MIND
“...from within, out of the heart… proceed evil thoughts….” Mark 7:21
Nephesh = figurative sense (bodily or mental):-- Kardia = prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).
What is the heart? The heart is the soul or mind of man. It is the foundation of our thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors.
Our heart is the door of our thoughts.
Our heart is where our values and standards are stored that control what we think. We can’t blame it on anyone or anything else.
Matt. 12:35 “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. “
WE ARE THE DOORKEEPERS OF OUR HEARTS AND EVERY THOUGHT THAT STAYS IN AND SETS US FREE OR HOLDS US IN BONDAGE IS OUR CHOICE.
TRUTHS ABOUT OUR THOUGHT LIFE
1. OUR THOUGHTS DIRECT OUR FUTURE.
Proverbs 23:7 - “For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”
2. OUR THOUGHTS ARE A BATTLEFIELD THAT DECIDES WHETHER GOOD OR EVIL PREVAILS IN OUR LIVES. 2 Cor.10:3-5 -“…bringing every thought captive….”
IF OUR THOUGHT LIFE ISN’T SUBMITTED TO GOD, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT ELSE IS.
EVERY DAY, SATAN IS TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS OR KEEP ACCESS INTO OUR MINDS THROUGH THE MEDIA, FRIENDS, INNER THOUGHTS AND OTHER MEANS OF DECEPTION.
James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
3. OUR THOUGHTS DETERMINE HOW AND IF WE MATURE AS BELIEVERS.
Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Saved thoughts).
If I’m already saved, why do I have to put on salvation daily? - Because salvation isn’t just an event, it’s a process. - Phil. 2:12b; 13 - “. . . for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.”
IF I AM GOING TO MATURE IN CHRIST, I MUST HAVE A RIGHTEOUS THOUGHT LIFE.
4. OUR THOUGHTS ARE THE DOORWAY FOR EITHER THE POWER OF GOD OR SATAN.
Romans 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Mindset determines flesh or spirit, death or life.
ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR THOUGHT LIFE, WE MUST REALIZE THAT:
a. God gave us the Bible to redeem and transform our minds for freedom and blessing.
b. Success is possible only if the Word of God is received and believed in our minds. (John 8) Satan wants to keep you away from the Word.
HOW THE WORD OF GOD SETS OUR MIND FREE AND KEEPS IT FREE.
1. THE WORD IS OUR SOURCE Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
2. THE WORD IS OUR SWORD Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3. THE WORD IS OUR SEED Mark 4:3-20
Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Thoughts dictate our Beliefs which affect our Behavior which determines our Bondage or Blessing.
Psalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
God’s promise to those who walk in His Will. They Will be Planted . . . roots . . . source . . . stability
They Will be Productive . . . fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
They Will be Prosperous . . . God's blessing . . . promise - powerful promises for the one who meditates on God’s Word.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
THREE STEPS TO FREEDOM OF THE MIND
Isaiah 55:7-13 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The Mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
1. REPENT OF YOUR UNRIGHTEOUS THOUGHTS.
2. RETURN YOUR LIFE TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
3. RECEIVE AND ACT UPON GOD’S WORD.
Where you struggle in your mind, is a place, that you struggle with in your life!
