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Dealing with Bad Thoughts

A temptation is a solicitation to do wrong. It comes from a desire to perform something that we know is against God’s expectation of us. Understanding how we go from a temptation to sin is important to comprehend in order to stop the process by taking the way of escape before we work out the desire from the temptation. In the book of James, we find the process by which we are solicited and how that temptation works out to sin.

Let no one say when tempted, “I am being tempted from God”. For the God is without temptation of wrong and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his own strong desire while being drawn out and baited. Then the strong desire after being conceived, births sin. And the sin, when it is finished, brings forth death – James 1:13-15.

We are first presented with a strong desire to do wrong by one of our three enemies: the sin nature, Satan, or the world system. This temptation has no impact on us until we accept the desire as our own and then choose to perform it. Conception is the combination of a wrong desire and the determination to do it. This is a trespass and always happens within the mind, resulting in a person being in a state of unrighteousness, although sin has not yet happened. Conception does not guarantee birth, but unless it is interrupted it will always result in sin. Once a temptation has become a desire within us that we have determined to fulfill, if we do not apply the truth, the faith, or reject what the world wants, this determination will work out to sin when we perform the […]

Dealing with Bad Thoughts2023-12-14T08:11:01-08:00

Demonology Lesson 5

Putting On the Armor of God

Girding the Loins with Truth

Referring to the Thoughts – What goes through the mind, 1 Peter 1:13

Combats Lying and Gossip

Breastplate of Righteousness

We Are Righteous Because We Are In Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21

By His Stripe We are Healed, 1 Peter 2:24

Defends Against Independence from God and Pride

Feet Prepared with the Gospel of Peace

This is the Message for Salvation, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

It is a Gospel of Peace, Romans 5:1

Defends against Stealing, Laziness in Spiritual things, and Bitterness

The Shield of Faith, Ephesians 6:16

Fiery darts of the malignantly evil one

Doubting is when you do something that you think is against the standards God has set for your life.

The Helmet of Salvation, Ephesians 6:17

Our Salvation in Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Defends Against Disappointment, Discouragement, Cowardice in Spiritual Things, Unforgiving (not gracious) Spirit

Disappointment, Job 3:1-26

Discouragement, Job 10:1-22

Cowardice in Spiritual Things, Luke 22:31-32

Stand as Men, 1 Corinthians 16:13

Unforgiving (Not Gracious) Spirit, 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

The Sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:17

This is the Utterances of God

Used to Defend Against Any Attack that Makes it Through the Other Parts of the Armor

Defensive, Not Offensive

The sword is used for all other types of attacks that get through the other parts of the armor. It is defensive still, not striking out, but destroying the attempts by Satan to negatively influence our thoughts by using specific statements from God’s […]

Demonology Lesson 52023-12-14T08:26:50-08:00

The Letter to the Ephesians

The letter to the Ephesian saints was written by Paul, the apostle and the steward of the dispensation of grace, in 62 A.D. from Rome to reveal to the Church the mystery of God, which He kept hidden until now, and give instruction on how to live the Christian life, including how to overcome an attack from Satan.

Ephesians Translation

1.1 Paul, an apostle belonging to Jesus Christ through God’s desirous will, to the saints, the ones in Ephesus, even faithful in Christ Jesus. 1.2 Grace and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 1.3 The God even Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is well spoken of, the One speaking well of us in all spiritual eulogizing in the heavens in Christ, 1.4 just as He has chosen us in Him before a foundation of [the] world for us to be set apart and blameless before Him in love, 1.5 having marked off our bounds unto the placement of sons[1] through Jesus Christ unto Himself according to the good pleasure of His desirous will, 1.6 unto praise[2] of a proper opinion of His grace which He graciously gave to us in the Beloved, 1.7 in Whom we have the full redemption through His blood, the sending away of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 1.8 which He abounded unto us in all wisdom and prudence[3], 1.9 having made known to us the mystery of His desirous will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him 1.10 unto a dispensation of the fullness of times to bring together all things in the Christ: the things in the heavens and the things […]

The Letter to the Ephesians2017-07-15T05:39:32-07:00

The Battle for the Mind

The Battle is for the Mind, it is not a Physical Battle

… because we do not wrestle against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of darkness of this age, against spiritual malignant evil in the heavens, Ephesians 6:12

Satan’s methodologies:

  • Independence from God, 1 Corinthians 10:31
  • Disappointment, Job 3:1-13
  • Discouragement, Job 19:1-19
  • Bitterness, Job 7:11; 10:1
  • Doubt, Romans 14:23
  • Spiritual Cowardice, John 18:17,25,27
  • Lying, Acts 5:1-4
  • Pride, 1 Timothy 6:4
  • An Unforgiving spirit, 2 Corinthians 2:10,11
  • Stealing, Ephesians 4:27-30
  • Corrupt Communication, Ephesians 4:27-30
  • Spiritual laziness, 1 Timothy 5:11-15
  • Gossip, 1 Timothy 5:11-15
  • Busybody, 1 Timothy 5:11-15.

Our Defense – The Armor from God

The whole armor from God needs to be put on only when under attack, Ephesians 6:13.

  1. Protect the sensitive parts of your mind with the truth, Ephesians 6:14; 1 Peter 1:13.
  2. Breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14; Philippians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
  3. Feet made ready with the Gospel of Peace, Ephesians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
  4. The shield of faith – taking God at His Word, Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:1.
  5. The helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:17; Ephesians 2:8.
  6. The sword belonging to the Spirit, Ephesians 6:17; 2 Peter 3:2.

Putting on the Armor from God is a mental process by which we take elements from our position in Christ and our salvation and use them in defense against a mindset that is manipulated by Satan or his demons. Satan casts thoughts at the Christian in an attempt for that saint to accept Satan’s desires as his or her own. In addition, Satan can manipulate circumstance to allow for a better mental condition in which the saint is more likely to accept one of his desires as his or her own […]

The Battle for the Mind2023-12-14T11:22:06-08:00

Definition of Sin

The Definition of Sin

The definition of sin has become so elusive today that there are so called “sins” in many churches that cannot be found in Scripture. How do you know what a sin is? True, we see very well defined sins in Scripture such as adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, murder, etc., but what about the things that are not revealed in Scripture. Is it a sin not to give ten percent of your wages to the Church? Is it a sin for a husband to ignore his wife? What about which movies you watch, what you wear, what friends you hang out with, going to a party…, how do we know if they are sins?

“Missing the mark” as a definition of sin is very predominate in teachings today. However, there is a problem with this definition. First of all, what mark are we missing? When we start asking this question we will find that the answer is a moving target. Secondly, this definition is so generic it allows for really anything to be put in as the mark missed. The mark could be, not living up to God’s glory; having a ruined character; not abiding by God’s law; and they go on and on. Lastly, where this definition comes from is an issue. In the book of Judges the word normally translated as “sin” from the Hebrew is used to describe men who are so good with a sling that they do not miss their targets. The meaning “missing the mark” comes off of a miss understanding of how this word is used in this passage and also requires ignoring other passages of Scripture that specifically define sin. These men are so good […]

Definition of Sin2018-10-28T13:29:20-07:00
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