Filtering your Thoughts
III. ( page 4A )
None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who....deny the existence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are ignorant of their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their suggestions while they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of their own wisdom.[1]
Satan’s strategy is to introduce his thoughts and ideas into your mind and deceive you into believing they are yours. It happened to King David.[2]
I Chron 21 (v. 1) Now satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. (v. 2) So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.”
This was an act that God had forbidden, and David acted on satan’s idea. Did satan manifest himself to David and audibly say, “I want you to number Israel?” I doubt it. David was a godly man and he wouldn’t have obeyed satan.[3]
I Chron 21 (v. 5) Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword.... (v. 6) But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
What if satan slipped the idea into David’s mind in first-person singular? What if the thought came to David as, “I need to know how large my army is; I think I’ll count the troops?” These were David’s thoughts; at least he thought they were....[3]
I Chron 21 (v. 7) And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. (v. 8) So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
If satan can place a thought in your mind (and he can), it isn’t much more of a trick for him to make you think it is your idea. If you knew it was satan, you would reject the thought, wouldn’t you? When he disguises his suggestions as your thoughts and ideas, you are more likely to accept them. That is his primary deception.[3]
I doubt that Judas initially realized it was satan’s idea to betray Jesus, but scripture clearly reveals it was.[3]
John 13 (v. 2) And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.
Judas reasoned that if Jesus was to be crucified, the event must come to pass. His own act in betraying the Savior would not change the result. If Jesus was not to die, it would only force Him to deliver Himself. At all events, Judas would gain something....Judas did not however, believe that Christ would permit Himself to be arrested....But Judas knew not that he was giving Christ up to death.[4]
Matt 26 (v. 47) And while He was still speaking, behold Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude....came from the chief priests and elders of the people. (v. 49) Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. (v. 50) ....Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
If Jesus really was the Messiah, the people, for whom He had done so much, would rally about Him, and would proclaim Him king....Since He had escaped so many snares, thought Judas, He certainly would not now allow Himself to be taken....Judas would have the credit of having placed the king on David’s throne. And this act would secure to him the first position, next to Christ, in the new kingdom.[5]
Ananias and Sapphira might have thought it was their idea to withhold some of their offering while getting the strokes and attention from others who believed they had given everything. If they knew it was satan’s idea, they probably wouldn’t have done it, but scripture clearly reveals the source of their thoughts.[3]
Acts 5 (v. 3) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?”
If satan can get you to believe a lie, you can lose some element of control in your life....Therefore, if you fail to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, you may be allowing satan to influence your life in a negative direction....[6]
Satan has no authority or power over you except what you yield to him when you are deceived into believing his lies....Many christians are hearing voices in their minds, but they are afraid to tell anyone for fear others will think they are going crazy.[6]
So, how can we filter the thoughts that come to us and tell them apart?
Promptings can and should be brought to the test of the Word of God. However, there are times when a prompting is neither inherently right nor wrong.[7]
When there are no biblical principles involved against which to test the prompting, what can you do?
God can speak to us through impressions in our mind, from the Holy Spirit.
Isa 30 (v. 21) Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it....”
He speaks to us through our conscience, to help us make the right decision.
I Kings 19 (v. 9) ....and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Like any friend, the more we listen to His voice, the more recognizable it will become. One rule of thumb I use to test
a prompting is this: if the prompting asks me for self-denial....I can be comfortable following it.[8]
What are other ways to know when we are thinking carnally or spiritually?
If it puts the needs and feelings of others before my own, I can be comfortable following it. These traits are the opposite of the sinful nature, the flesh I was born with, and they are not the character traits of satan either.[8]
We need to understand, that the human mind is the only medium through which God can communicate with any of us. Those seeking to communicate with the Creator of the universe should shun anything that weakens the functions of the mind. Like our diet!
If we are honestly and sincerely wanting to do whatever God says, then it is God's responsibility to help us know what He wants us to do....The secret to hearing and understanding God's voice is being, committed and listening. You see, when a person is a born-again christian, when he's been cleansed, then he'll hear God's voice. He may not understand at first, but the more he listens, the more he will understand....Sometimes we have trouble understanding what God is saying because we're not willing to listen to His voice.[9]
God invites us to use the reasoning powers that He has endowed us with in the bible verse:
Isa 1 (v. 18) ...."Come now, and let us reason together”....
Oh my friends, it is not that we can't hear God's voice, but that we have trained ourselves to be unresponsive to Him. I call it selective hearing. This is what causes us to think that our lives are led without His guidance.[7]
Perhaps the largest hindrance to free and open communication with God is lack of exclusivity. God wants to go through every day with us as our constant companion. He wants us to talk with Him throughout the day, depending upon His wisdom for guidance....[10]
Psm 32 (v. 8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Back To: Page 4
References:
1. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.516, par.2
2. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.159
3. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.160
4. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.720, par.4
5. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.721, par.1
6. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.161
7. Jim Hohnberger, (2001). Escape to God, p.105
8. Jim Hohnberger, (2001). Escape to God, p.106
9. Doug Batchelor, (2001). To See the King, p.70-71
10. Jim Hohnberger, (2001). Escape to God, p.107
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