Title / Subject: 6/2/13 The Unholy Trinity: Doubtful, Anxious, and Critical Minds (With inspiration from Joyce Myers book, Battlefield of the Mind) 1) A Doubtful and Unbelieving Mind Doubt and unbelief are similar, but distinct. Doubt in its original language meant “To stand in 2 ways” implying uncertainty about which way to go. Example: When we waiver between fear and hope. Unbelief is closely related to disobedience. It is a more willful doubt that leads us to believe against God’s plan, purpose, and word. Doubt comes in the form of thoughts that are in opposition to the Word of God. Check out how Abraham successfully fought against doubt. Rom. 4:18-21 (NLT) Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have! 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. I have an insert in your handouts that has a side by side comparison as to what doubt says vs what God says. For example: Doubt and logic might think, “It is impossible” but God says, “All things are possible to him that believes” You think, “I am afraid” God says “I have not given you the spirit of fear” I suggest you put that somewhere handy this week and see how often you can catch yourself and move from negative doubt - to positive faith in God. Many times, God places dreams and visions in the hearts of His people; they are little seeds. Just like Sarah had a seed in her womb, we become pregnant with something God has given us. During the pregnancy, the enemy wants to abort what God has given us – and doubt is the tool. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water during the stormy night on the Sea of Galalee, Jesus told him to step out of the boat and come to Him. As long as Peter looked at Jesus and acted in faith believing, he too walked on the water! Logical? No way. Mat. 14:29 (NLT) …Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Peter made the mistake of doubting what he had once stepped out in faith on. He should have kept His eyes on Jesus instead of looking at the circumstance. Doubt set in immediately. Notice vs 32: When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Many times the storms cease for us when we move back into our place of comfort and safety – but the miracle stopped too. When it comes to overcoming the traits in our life that are not good for us, we know victory begins in our thought life and carries into our actions. Jesus was merciful to sinners but brutal to religious people who were hypocrites. In Mat 21 Jesus road into Jerusalem when the crowds wanted to make him king and did what??? Cleared the temple – ran the religious hypocrites out. He was looking for some fruit in their lives and there was none – so he drove them out. Have you ever had someone make you mad and then something reminded you of that someone so you take it out on the something? This is why I hit a racquetball so hard – just kidding. Then next morning was hungry and found a fig tree – but the fig tree had no fruit just like those he threw out of the temple: Mat 21:18-22 (NLT) In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. 20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Faith is a gift of God (Rom. 12:3), but: Doubt is a choice Since we choose our own thoughts, when doubt comes, learn to recognize it and say, “No thanks”. When you start to feel like you will never overcome something in your life, make a choice to trust God’s transforming power for your hang-up and don’t doubt. 2) An Anxious and Worried Mind It is impossible to worry and live in peace at the same time. We know that Peace is a fruit of the Spirit – it is a gift to us. It happens when we “abide” in Jesus. When we “rest in God”. Peace is present with us as believers, but we much chose it over Anxiety and Worry. I have taught on this subject fairly recently so I will just give you cliff notes: Jesus taught us not to worry in Mat 6: 1. God feeds the little birds and you are of much more value than them (vs. 26) 2. You can’t fix anything by worrying about it (vs. 27) 3. Don’t be anxious – God will supply all you needs (vs. 28-31) 4. Seek God’s face and not His handouts – then He will take care of your needs. (vs. 32-33). 5. Take one day at a time – don’t worry about tomorrow (vs. 34) 6. 1 Peter 5:6-7 teaches us to drop all our care and worry on God. Heb. 13:5b (Amp) …Be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor relax My hold on you! [Assuredly not!] This is a great verse to use to encourage yourself when you have concern about whether or not God will come through and meet your needs. That’s a promise. 3) A Judgmental, Critical, and Suspicious Mind Mat 7:1-2 (NLT) Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging - is the standard by which you will be judged. Judgmental people often don’t recognize that their judgmental attitude is isolating them from others and making them lonely. A judgmental attitude (or mouth) destroys our influence over other people. When we bring a judgmental, critical, and suspicious mindset into a relationship, the relationship is doomed to misery and or failure. I was raised in a culture where everyone judged everyone else – quite harshly. We also had very little impact on anyone that was not in our small group of like-minded people. It was isolating. Worst of all, we celebrated being judgmental as evidence that we were followers of Jesus - while we failed to practice His teaching not to judge others. Judging defined: A decision passed on the faults of others. It is cross-referenced with the words “condemnation” and “sentence”. Track with me: God is the only one who has the right to condemn or sentence, therefore, when we pass judgment on another, we are, in a certain sense, setting ourselves up as God in his/her life. Jesus condemned the Pharisees saying, “You love to sit in Moses seat.” Jesus was referring to their love of judging others. Moses seat was a seat of judgment. He sat in the judgment seat at the entrance of the city and people brought their legal cases and he pronounced judgment – who was right and who was wrong. Jesus says when you love that seat of judgment you are a hypocrite. There is something seductive about judging others. Especially when you can judge then down so you can feel better about yourself. Have you ever engaged in people watching at the mall or Wal-Mart for that purpose? Who told you it was a good idea to wear that? Judging is a bad practice for at least 4 reasons: 1) It puts you in the place of God (the oldest temptation to sin in the book) 2) It is based in pride (I’m better than them) 3) Jesus said not to do it: Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 4) You are setting yourself for God to judge you harshly: For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. I heard of a pastor who, when he heard of others speaking badly or judgmental about him, said to himself, “Are they sowing or am I reaping?” Sometimes we are reaping for our previous harsh judgment. I knew an old preacher who had preached hard that you should trust God and not doctors for your healing. When she got old she was in horrible pain and God did not heal her – so she eventually went to the doctor and got help – but felt horrible about judging others so harshly all her life. When I was young and dumb and fit, I used to say, “There is no excuse for getting fat” I am convinced that my struggle with weight is connected to my reaping for my harsh judgment of others. Be careful how you judge. In Mat 7 Jesus went on to teach us to remove the long in our eye before trying to get the sawdust chip our of our brothers eye (vs 3-5). Have you ever notice how we can sometimes be supper critical of someone for something when we are blind to our own, larger fault? Then Jesus said: Mat 7:6 (NLT) Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. I read this verse 2 weeks ago and wondered how it fit in this passage with judging. As I prepared for this sermon I think I began to understand. Jesus called us to love one another. When we are standing in judgment of them we are not loving them. Period. When we stand in judgment, we take that holy thing (love) and cast it before dogs and hogs (demon spirits). We open the door for them to trample on holy things and turn and tear us to pieces. Be suspicious of suspicion 1 Cor. 13:7 (Amp) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person… Most of us have been hurt by others at some point in our life. In some cases, the wound was horrific. As a defense mechanism against being hurt again, some of adopt a way of thinking that goes, “If I trust people, I will be hurt or taken advantage of.” When we think like that, our relationships will never grow to their potential – and neither will we. Suspicion cripples and destroys relationships. We may be hurt by people again if we always believe the best in every person – but we may also be incredibly blessed. Some people think they have the gift of discernment when actually they are just suspicious. The gift of discernment will discern BOTH GOOD AND BAD. If all someone discerns is bad in others, they are not operating in their gift – but rather in fear. Amen. The true gift of discernment will provoke prayer rather than gossip. If want to live in victory over your thoughts, you must have a backbone and not just a wishbone! Col. 3:1-2 (NLT) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Many believers want to live a faith filled positive life - but we will only get there when we think about what we are thinking about – and re-set our mind. If you break your leg – you might have to get it re-set before they can put a cast on it and begin to heal. Our thought life is much the same. If it has been broken, we have to get it set right and then we can begin the healing process. The counter part to the unholy trinity is the mind of Christ. As we set our heart and minds on Him, as we trust His promises, victory is ours. The strongholds must fall.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:19:13 +0000
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