Sermon Central
-
Set Free In Our Minds
Contributed by Mike Hullah on Mar 11, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: In today's world we find that more and more people including Christians are becoming enslaved to "prisons of thinking". Here is a sermon that will set you on the road to freedom.
Psalm 124:1-8 If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now say—if the LORD had not been on our side when people rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive because of their burning anger against us. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Blessed be the LORD, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth.
Lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap, be ensnared, be caught by
bait.
Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (“Scandal”); a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figurative cause of displeasure or sin):- occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling block.
Proverbs 23:7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.
Francis Frangipane said “bondage is a house of thoughts”
John 19:17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, Jesus died on a place that looks like a skull; the cross was placed on the hill or top of the skull. Why? Jesus came to redeem our minds. We are never set free until our minds are set free. Salvation is an event and a process; it is a walk, inch by inch, thought by thought.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
a. There is a spiritual realm
b. There is a war going on
c. The weapons are thoughts, arguments and false conclusions.
Adam and Eve – Satan and Jesus
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
John 8:30-32 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
In order for us to be set free, our minds must be renewed and transformed. Jesus came as the Truth to deliver us from Satan’s dominion of darkness. Jesus taught that opening our minds to His Word was essential for freedom and victory. Many of the strongholds in our lives can be traced back to our thoughts. Whoever controls our thinking controls us and everything we do. We must examine the nature and source of our thinking and be willing to allow God to change us if we are going to be set free and stay free.
THE DOOR TO THE MIND
“...from within, out of the heart… proceed evil thoughts….” Mark 7:21
Nephesh = figurative sense (bodily or mental):-- Kardia = prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).
What is the heart? The heart is the soul or mind of man. It is the foundation of our thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors.
Our heart is the door of our thoughts.
Our heart is where our values and standards are stored that control what we think. We can’t blame it on anyone or anything else.
Matt. 12:35 “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. “
WE ARE THE DOORKEEPERS OF OUR HEARTS AND EVERY THOUGHT THAT STAYS IN AND SETS US FREE OR HOLDS US IN BONDAGE IS OUR CHOICE.
TRUTHS ABOUT OUR THOUGHT LIFE
1. OUR THOUGHTS DIRECT OUR FUTURE.
Proverbs 23:7 - “For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”
2. OUR THOUGHTS ARE A BATTLEFIELD THAT DECIDES WHETHER GOOD OR EVIL PREVAILS IN OUR LIVES. 2 Cor.10:3-5 -“…bringing every thought captive….”
IF OUR THOUGHT LIFE ISN’T SUBMITTED TO GOD, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT ELSE IS.
EVERY DAY, SATAN IS TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS OR KEEP ACCESS INTO OUR MINDS THROUGH THE MEDIA, FRIENDS, INNER THOUGHTS AND OTHER MEANS OF DECEPTION.
James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
3. OUR THOUGHTS DETERMINE HOW AND IF WE MATURE AS BELIEVERS.
