A CLINKING IN THE THINKING #2

Thoughts on the tremendous importance and dangers associated with what we think in our mind and heart was the subject of last week's blog. We saw that it is very possible to have a "clinking in our thinking" (as the young college student excused his failing grades), and we noted a good number of people are truly infected with that "ailment". Since Scripture asserts the fact that "For as a person THINKS within himself/herself, so is he/she", we must maintain a spiritual guard on both our mind and our heart. So, our purpose must be to seek to have the Mind of Christ govern our thoughts and mind-set. "Let this mind (way of thinking) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). (If you have not already read last week's blog, I encourage you to go back and read it first, for continuity.)

We are called to a life of manifesting the Mind of Christ! While this is our aim, desire and goal, it requires the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish. Our entire way of thinking must change, and our way of life must reflect that change. For you see, to master your mind is to master your life! In other words, we can only change our life by changing our mind! The Apostle Paul showed us four truths about this clearly, in Scripture.

First, the CARNAL MIND MUST BE CONVERTED! We read, ". . . in whom the god of this world (satan) has blinded the minds of them who do not believe (not having a personal relationship with Jesus through faith) (II Corinthians 4:4). Notice the word "blinded". In the Bible, that word is used metaphorically as a spiritual condition. It means a lack of spiritual understanding and insights, nearly always linked to disobedience to God and His Word, and to the committing of sin. It means to be opposed to grasping the spiritual truths, to be unaware of one's own spiritual poverty and need. In II Corinthians 4:4, it refers to those who are unsaved, non-believers in Jesus Christ. To them, truths about Jesus, godliness, God's inspired Word, salvation, eternal life and faith in Christ do not make a bit of sense. Why? Because they are spiritually blinded by the devil and their mind is Carnal! The word "carnal" means to be in a state of living that is dominated by a person's sinful nature rather than by the Spirit of God. It describes having a focus on worldly desires and physical appetites over spiritual concerns, The unconverted mind is spiritually blind and the person is in spiritual darkness. What utter darkness spiritually LOST people walk in every day! They have been blinded to spiritual truth by the god of this world. Their mind and thoughts, which control them, needs to be converted (changed by faith in Jesus). This is why Jesus said, "I tell you, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). The word "perish" means to be permanently separated from God forever, for eternity; having eternal residency in hell. The word "repent" means to "have a change of mind"! In other words, unless a person changes his mind about sin, disobedience, rebellion against God, salvation through Jesus and eternal life, he is going to perish! This change of mind means turning from sin and turning to God!

Second, the CONVERTED MIND CAN BE CORRUPTED! The Apostle Paul declared, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent (the devil disguised) deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray (corrupted) from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (II Corinthians 11:3). Paul is addressing followers of Jesus (genuine Christians) in this Scripture. Paul was apprehensive because he feared the same thing that had happened to Eve so long ago might happen to them also. We see the tools that the devil used very cleverly against Eve in Genesis, Chapter Three.

1) The tool of DOUBT. He asked Eve, probably in a sneering way, "Indeed, has God said

. . . . ?" (verse 1) Notice, he put a question mark in her mind where God had put a period! Watch carefully the devil's slick ways of getting into our mind.

2) The tool of DENIAL. The devil said, "You surely will not die." (verse 4)

3) The tool of DECEIT. The devil said, "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)

Through these three tools, the devil cleverly corrupted the thinking of Eve. She gave in to her corrupted thoughts and mind-set and disobeyed the command of God. Paul feared that the devil would take God's Word OUT and put his lying words IN! How?

Through their thoughts and mind-set! Be so very careful, because we the followers of Christ can have our mind, thoughts and mind-set corrupted! When your thoughts begin to drift toward DOUBT, DENIAL, or DECEIT, STOP, CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS and focus on "whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is of GOOD REPORT, if there is any EXCELLENCE and if anything WORTHY OF PRAISE, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8). This Scripture instructs us to practice a positive and virtuous mental focus, directing believers away from ALL that is detrimentally negative and to those thoughts that glorify God, His Word, His work in us and that align with His will. To do this effectively, I strongly encourage believers to focus on what I call AFFIRMATIONS OF FAITH. Here are a few examples using the Philippians 4:8 passage:

* I choose to think on the things that are True!

* I will think Honorably.

* I will focus my thoughts on what is Right.

* My mind-set is on what the Scripture says is Pure.

* I will discipline my thoughts and turn to the Lovely.

* I make the choice to think about what is of Good Report (what is reputed to be good)

* My mind is set on thinking about all that is Excellent.

* I choose to center my thoughts on Praise to the Lord!

* I will dwell in thoughts that honor God and build my personal faith, my courage and

my devotion to Jesus!

* I will not fall prey to thinking of doubts, denials or deceit!

Write each affirmation on a 3 x 5 card and put them in your pocket, wallet or purse, around the house, in your car, on your desk at work, etc. Keep them readily available! And avoid the "clinker in YOUR thinker"! The devil is tricky, deceptive and full of lies! The very best way to unravel his deceitful plans and schemes is to SATURATE our mind with God's Word.

Third, the CORRUPTED MIND CAN BE CONQUERED! "For though we walk in the flesh (our body), WE DO NOT war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (carnal), but are powerful through God for the destruction of strongholds. We are destroying speculations (imaginations) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every THOUGHT captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:3-5) Use this truth to make your own Affirmations of Faith! Let's break down some of the significant words used in this Scripture.

a) Imaginations: This word is translated from the same word where we get "logic" or "logistics." It refers to reasoning; picking and choosing. Do you realize that we can pick and choose our thoughts (what our mind picks up or dwells on), just as we can pick and choose the food we eat, the places we go, the friends we hang out with, the books we read, the entertainment we engage in, the internet we browse, etc.? If we could not pick and choose the things we think on, then why would God's Word tell us the following?

1) to cast down or destroy imaginations, thoughts that exalt themselves against the Word of God - II Corinthians 10:5

2) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

b) Strongholds: This word is translated from the Greek (Original language of the New Testament), meaning "to make firm." That is, the enemy of God and of you and me can be allowed to so entrench himself, become so embedded, in the minds of some that they have given up all together of ever being able to get him out. Take heart! We can get him out! We can pull down those strongholds! Let's consider some of the practical strongholds that the devil seeks to entrench in us to weaken and defeat us.

1) The strongholds of hate, anger, resentment, bitterness, refusal to forgive those who wrong us, jealousy, vengence, etc. These can actually become a way of life for us, until we cast them down!

2) The strongholds of worry, fret, anxiety, inner turmoil, unhappiness, uncertainty, second-guessing negatively our decisions (past or present), motives and choices, etc. Don't let these become a persistent occupant of your mind; rather destroy these strong-

holds!

3) The strongholds of overpowering concern about how we look, uncontrolled appetite, binge-eating, bulimia, anorexia, caving into phyiscal desires, etc. Let's be sure to destroy these strongholds before they master our life.

4) The strongholds of immorality, including adultery, sexual pervasion, pornography, lust, abuse, homosexuality, trans-gender manipulation, inordinate physical attraction, etc. These strongholds are infectious to the mind and are a parasite to our thinking. They must be and surely can be destroyed through God's help and His provision of power through the Hoy Spirit!

5) The stronghold of materialism can consume our mind-set and thought patterns. Continual shopping, seeking more and better; always looking and hoping for more money, a larger house, a newer car, etc. Never being satisfied or content with what God has blessed us with.

The devil can build these "strongholds" in the minds of people and even some believers in Jesus; they can become a way of thinking and then of practice for many! This continues to be an age of instant gratification. People have geared their thinking to fulfill every thought instantly. If you are one in whom the devil has been allowed to build a stronghold, you must first recognize it exists, and admit you have allowed it to happen. Then, with God's help and strength through His Holy Spirit, you can get rid of that stronghold! We can only be what God wants us to be when we change our way of thinking. He wants to help us in pulling every stronghold down! In doing so, we remove the "clinking in our thinking"!

In next week's blog we will conclude this mini series; join me next week.