Kill the Lies

 

Does anyone know what it’s like to get in a mood and because of that mood your whole day is ruined? Be honest. You know what I mean, I know you do!

I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve let my thoughts dictate my mood which then determines the way I spend the hours in my day and my attitude and outlook on life. No, I’m not proud of it, and it’s a daily struggle, but it’s a common one. And I know I’m not alone in this.

Whether it’s true or not, we all have the ability to lose an entire day’s joy over a thought. It happens. It’s not fun, it’s not admirable or desirable, but it happens.

We wake up one morning and a thought comes into our mind, and before we know it, we begin to believe the lie that’s whirling around in our head, and it sets in motion a myriad of thoughts that sends us into a spiral and what could have been a good day, is now ruined. All because of a thought. And can I suggest to you, all because of a lie.

It might sound something like this: God doesn’t care about me. If he did, I wouldn’t be in this financial mess. If God cared about me, my child wouldn’t be sick. Or maybe it goes like this: Does anyone even care about building God’s Kingdom, or is everyone just in it for themselves? Does anyone even care about studying God’s Word, or have believers become so apathetic that they’re not interested? Or what about thoughts that say, Does anyone really want to be in my life or do they only care about me for what they can get from me?

And then these thoughts spiral down into really untrue and crazy thoughts like, my dog doesn’t even like me because he didn’t come running out to greet me, or, my friend must be mad at me because she didn’t answer my text within 5 seconds.

Sounds dumb, doesn’t it? But isn’t it true sometimes?

Now maybe you don’t have quite so many thoughts that are not true that rattle around in your head, and that’s great. But if you’re being honest, you know, that we all struggle with lies we tell ourselves.

Why do you think it is that God places so much emphasis on the mind and our thoughts in the Word of God?

When we begin to believe the lies, we can be left feeling sick and depressed and miserable. And we can lose a whole day of joy that God wants us to have, all because we let our thoughts control us and we believed a lie.

When we have these thoughts, we really need someone to take us by the shoulders, shake us and ask us, is it true? I know, in the moment, the truth doesn’t seem important. We mumble, that’s not the point. But it is.

We are reminded in the Word of God that our thoughts determine our actions.

Proverbs 23:7a KJV - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

That word heart in that verse has to do with our soul, our mind, the seat of our emotions and passions.

When we begin to believe things that are not true, they can begin to affect our life as if they are true.

I don’t think I need to give you examples here. You know what it’s like to believe a lie and it changes the way you view something or someone or some activity.

Do you remember who it is that is the father of lies?

The Bible tells us in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

And again, in John 8:44 we are reminded of Satan’s character traits. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan wants to steal your joy, he wants to kill your purpose, he wants to kill your relationships, he wants to destroy God’s Kingdom.

Steal. Kill. Destroy. They are really aggressive words in this verse, but they are there to make a point. We see the stark contrast between Satan and an Almighty God. Satan wants to destroy; God wants to bring life.

So, Satan, the father of lies, is super pleased when you wake up believing a lie. He is happy when you begin to spiral in your thoughts and your day is ruined. He knows that you won’t be any use to God on that day. You’ll have a bad attitude, you might snap at those around you, you probably won’t read your Bible or pray, you’ll be miserable and make everyone around you miserable in the process.

Lies are a very important tool in Satan’s toolbox and he knows how to wield that particular tool with expert skill.

He loves to bombard you with lies like, you’re not good enough, your situation will never change, nobody cares about you, no one appreciates all you do and on and on they go.

If you struggle with believing lies on a regular basis, it’s time to KILL THE LIES!

It’s time to stop believing the wrong things and start believing the right things!

 “A lie believed as truth, can affect your life as if it were actually true!”  

This is why it’s so dangerous for us to let these lies take root and stay in our minds and hearts.

Lies will cause us to live differently, even when the thoughts we have are not true!

We all have them. We all have thoughts that grow into feelings and create moods that steal our joy.

So, how do we kill the lies?

Thankfully, God has the answer to this question.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV - 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;

This verse has always seemed a little confusing to me. I know what it means, but when I try to explain it, I don’t do a great job at it. But here goes anyway.

In the King James Version, we read that we are to cast down imaginations. This casting down translates as destroy, demolish, pull down, throw down with the use of force. So, once again, aggressive use of words here.

It can also be translated as ‘destroying arguments’. We need to use divine weapons to bring down arguments or speculations and reasonings that are against the knowledge of God.

This knowledge of God is what is revealed to us in Scripture about God himself and it is contrary to these thoughts and imaginations that need casting out.

So, Paul is reminding us to get rid of these lies and replace them with truth. This casting down is not a tame toppling over of the thoughts that threaten to derail us. NO! This is a forceful getting rid of. A demolition of the lies.

Now, what about these imaginations? This is not talking about visions of unicorns jumping over rainbows. This word imaginations is our thoughts, our reasonings, our decisions. So, we are to cast down these thoughts that don’t line up with God’s thoughts and plans for us and we are to bring them into captivity in obedience to Christ.

We have to realise that we are in a spiritual battle every day. It’s not a flesh and blood battle we face, but a spiritual one. We have a battle to fight in our minds every day. This is where the battle is the hottest and the strongest and the hardest. The Devil knows this, and this is why he works so hard warring against you when you choose to think right.

Outlook determines outcome. If he can get you to believe lies, you will make wrong choices every time.

So how do we kill the lies in the practical sense?

Firstly, we need to pray for God’s power. We can’t do it on our own. We need God’s help. We have to pray for God’s power to work in our lives and we have to ask him to help us identify the lies we are believing then give us the power to demolish them, destroy them and cast them out.

James 4:2 and 3 remind us that we don’t have what we need because we don’t ask for it.

We have to pray for God’s power in order to take our thoughts captive.

Secondly, we need to get into God’s Word. We need to become serious fact checkers.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This well-known verse in Hebrews tells us some things about the Word of God and what it does. If you’ve read very much of your Bible, you’ll know how important it is to be in the Word and learning from it.

If you are not in the Word, you won’t know what God has to say about your life, about who you are and more importantly, about who he is.

You have to be in the Word to know truth from error.

You have to fact check your feelings.

Yes, your feelings are real, but they are not always right. Our feelings can be real, but not true.

You can feel sad. That is real. You can feel depressed. That is real. You can feel like you’re not enough. That is real. But is it true?

We have to fact check our feelings against God’s Word. If we take our very real feelings, and line them up against God’s Word and they don’t agree, then our feelings, our thoughts, are lies.

We need to identify them and then demolish them. Take them captive and replace them with truth.

What does this look like?

Let’s say you are believing the lie that tells you God doesn’t care. When you’re going through a difficult time it may very well feel as if the lie is truth. Maybe you have a sick child that is not getting better despite hours of prayer and intercession being made, or maybe you’re struggling financially and can’t get on top of it, and it just seems God doesn’t care.

It feels real, but is it true? Does it line up with Scripture?

Let’s look at John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Does that sound like a God that doesn’t care? He gave his only Son to die a cruel death on a cross, just so that we could have salvation and live with him forever in Heaven. That doesn’t sound like someone who doesn’t care.

And then we read in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Once again, we read that God cares for us.

God’s Word wins over our thoughts and feelings any day.

We feel like he doesn’t care, but when we fact check it against God’s Word, we see that it is a lie. So, we throw out the lie, and replace it with truth.

But, we have to be in the Word to know what it says so that we can do something about it.

And thirdly, we need to get into God’s house. We need to be in fellowship with other Christians. We not only need a healthy, thriving relationship with God, but we also need genuine, caring and loving fellowship with believers.

You can’t be a sneak in, sneak out Christian. Do you know what I mean? Come in late, leave early, talk to no one, Christian.

We are to fellowship with others in order to encourage and worship together. We go to church for instruction and direction and encouragement. We need to be serving, giving, praying and worshipping together.

If you just sneak in and sneak out, not only do you not encourage anyone in their walk with the Lord, but you don’t give anyone else the chance to encourage you. And we need it. All of us!

We’ve got to start killing the lies and believing the truth!

Our minds and our thoughts are very powerful, and they will set the mood for the day. If we don’t proactively work at keeping them in check, we will not live a life of joy. We will give Satan the victory as he steals and kills and destroys.

Christ came that we would have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Let’s take our thoughts captive and live that abundant life that God has for us!

 

Romans 12:2 KJV - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

“What is the one thought that can successfully interrupt every negative thought pattern? It’s this: I have a choice. That’s it. The singular, interrupting thought is this one: I have a choice. If you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you have the power of God in you to choose! You have a God-given, God-empowered, God-redeemed ability to choose what you think about.”
Jennie Allen

 

 

 

 

 

Is it evident that you’ve been with Jesus?

 

Over the past few days, I’ve been pondering a verse found in the book of Acts and I’ve been doing some soul searching in regard to a phrase we find there.

Acts 4:13 KJV - Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

This verse comes just after Peter and John were arrested by the hands of people not happy with the preaching and proclaiming of the gospel.

Acts 4:1-3, 13 KJV - And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Peter and John, through God’s empowerment, had seen a lame man made whole, who then went walking and leaping and praising God, to the amazement of the onlookers.

But what stood out to me was not only the boldness of Peter and John, but it was the fact that others could see that they had been with Jesus.

After they were brought before the rulers, elders, scribes and high priest, Peter preached a short and powerful message which had these wicked men scratching their heads.

These men marvelled at the fact that Peter and John could preach so boldly and eloquently and powerfully with no formal education or training. They were not scholars or great theologians, but simply men who had been with Jesus.

It wasn’t their education, their training, their heritage, but the fact that they had been with Jesus. And it was so evident that others could see it and sense it.

When you spend time out in the sun for any length of time, no matter how good your sun protection is, it will be evident that you have been in the sun. You can see it on your skin. It’s obvious.

So, what happens when you spend time with the SON? S-O-N. The Son of God.

Peter and John had spent so much time with Jesus in his time on earth, that their ‘accent’ proved it. The way they talked and the way they acted was obvious to others that they had spent time with Jesus. And not just a casual acquaintance.

Reading this passage got me thinking about how I am seen of by others.

Do I have the accent of Jesus? Have I spent time with Jesus so often that I sound like him, act like him, imitate him?

If you spend very much time with someone of a different nationality, or maybe live in another country for a period of time, you are going to come away with possibly a slight accent or find yourself using phrases only used in that particular culture. Maybe you’ll carry yourself a little differently or eat differently or talk differently.

When we worked with indigenous youth for the first 5 years of our life here in the Northern Territory, having them in our home, playing with our girls, teaching them at Youth Group and Sunday School, we found ourselves talking like them and using Kriol words instead of English words and using phrases our other family members didn’t understand because the phrases were native to our part of the country.

Now, we didn’t go about trying to imitate them, but by being around them so often, we naturally began to talk like them.

That’s why it’s so important we are discerning about who we choose to spend the bulk of our time with. If we surround ourselves with friends who use bad language, crude humour and coarse jokes, it’s going to rub off.

It is crucial that we spend time with Jesus.

If we saturate our souls with the Word of God and fill our hearts and minds with heavenly things and thoughts of Christ and his love, taking time to read and pray and meditate on his Word, fellowshipping with other believers, we will begin to have the accent of Jesus.

In the book of Matthew, we read the sad story of Peter’s denial of Christ before his crucifixion. We see Peter warming his hands at the fire, standing at a distance from Christ in the high priest’s palace and it is there that we read of his denial.

As he stands there, a first time and then a second time he is asked whether he was with Jesus, and finally, a third time, a young girl comes to him and states plainly that he was with Christ Jesus of Nazareth and we read of Peter swearing and cursing.

But just before that something interesting is said.

Matthew 26:73 KJV – And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Did you see that the people come to the conclusion that he is one of Christ’s because his speech gives him away?

His speech betrayed who he belonged to. It revealed who he had spent time with. It was evident that he had spent time with Jesus.

Peter couldn’t hide his identity even when he wanted to. It was so ingrained in him.

Thankfully, it is not the end of the story, because our passage in Acts proves that and we see Peter once again boldly preaching the gospel. Praise God that we serve a God of second chances. He is patient and gives us another chance after we fail him.

So, the question is, do you have the accent of Christ? Do others know that you have been with him? Have you spent so much time alone with God that the accent of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness naturally flow from your life?

Are you around Christ so much that you sound like him? Act like him? Can the world tell that you have been with Christ?

If all that people know of you is what you do on a Sunday and where you go to church, then you’re in trouble.

People should know that you’re a Christian before they know your schedule.

They should see it in your walk, your talk, your actions, your honesty, your loyalty, your faithfulness, your kindness, your love.

They might not know that it is Jesus they are seeing, but they should see and sense something different about you.

The world needs to see that we have been with Jesus. They need to see a visual, tangible picture of Christ in our lives.

We need to radiate God’s love to the lost world.

When we meet together as Christians, in our church services, at our Bible studies, in our prayer meetings, we should see in each other the evidence of time spent with God.

We should see growth in each other’s lives. Others should hear it in our conversation, they should sense it in our attitudes toward them, they should see it in our service to Christ.

We need to become a people who spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus, just as Mary did (Luke 10:39), choosing the better part. We should long to study our Bibles, digging into its depths, seeking out the treasures it holds, applying what we’re learning to our lives, growing more and more like Christ each day.

We are, as Christians, in fact, in the very name, to be ‘little Christs’.

The first time the disciples were called Christians was in Antioch (Acts 11:26) and it was used as more of a derogatory term. In Latin the ending ‘ian’ means ‘party of’, so Christian meant ‘of the party of Jesus’. It was like saying ‘Jesus-ites’ or ‘Jesus people’.

What those first mockers saw as insulting, we should find it a compliment. If we are a reflection of Christ and we are ‘of the party of Jesus’, little Christs, then it should be a joy to be called a name associated with Jesus. We need to imitate Christ and walk as he walked, living as he lived, loving as he loved.

So how can we spend time with Jesus?

We can spend time with him by reading the Bible. Meditate on God’s Word and apply what you learn. Get to know him better by learning more about who he is.

We can spend time with God in prayer. It involves both listening and speaking. Talk with God in conversation and pour your heart out to him and listen for his answer.

We can spend time with God through praise and worship. God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). When we come to him with a heart of worship and praise, God shows up!

We can understand that God is with us all day long. He walks beside us. We can talk with him anytime, night or day. We can memorize scripture so that we can bring to mind God’s Words as we go through the ups and downs of life.  

When you consistently spend time with the Lord, with a sincere heart and a teachable spirit, people will be able to see it. They will know that you have been with Jesus.

You won’t be able to hide it. Just as Moses was unable to hide the glow on his face from being with God, your heart will overflow, and it will be evident in your face and your speech and your actions.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

 

Let your light shine and let it be evident that you’ve spent time with Jesus!