The devils wise distractions is another problem we face in this world we live in, by the way Will, do you know who the god of this world is? Paul says, “…if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost, in whom THE god (purposely in lowercase) OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not arise on them.” (2 Corin. 4:3-4) That is why the devil can go around looking for someone to take into captivity, so we must, “Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING SOMEONE HE MAY 1DEVOUR…” (1 Peter 5:8) 1katapinō: to swallow up and destroy. Remember what Jesus said about the devil, he: “…does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (devour). I have come that they may HAVE 2LIFE, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10) 2zōē: the ABSOLUTE FULNESS OF LIFE, which belongs to God. This is the life of a saved person! Along with this wonderful gift of God, Jesus tells us, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY…” (Luke 10:19)
Jesus prayed to the Father about us, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:15-16) The devil tries to get us to be like the world but Paul says, “…do not be 3conformed to this world, but be 4transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) 3suschēmatizō: to be formed or conformed to a mold or pattern. 4metamorphoō: to be CHANGED into another form. This is where the word “metamorphose” comes from. We can be like others if have a desire to “fit in” but we cannot transform ourselves, that’s a “God thing.” At the creation event “God said, “Let Us make man IN OUR IMAGE, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) We were created in the metamorphoō state but man disobeyed God and chose to temporally serve the devil. That’s when our sinful nature began.
So, Will, realize that too much fleshly, carnal, and worldly things make us weak in the spirit, and unable to discipline ourselves to become a person of faith and power. To actively cast down imaginations of the enemy, we must become a person of prayer and study of God’s Word. A praying person will be alert to spiritual things. We can’t cast down or fight off the enemy’s imaginations, if we don’t have God’s thoughts (vision, and images in us). It is the Word of God that strengthens and empowers us, and when SPOKEN from our lips, DEFEATS THE ENEMY. We must strengthen ourselves spiritually, by putting the Word of God IN US. Study it, read it, memorize it, quote it, and confess it as truth. Begin to fast and pray and pick up the Word of God, be in God’s presence.
Exalt the Word of God by praising God for its truth and manifestation. Once you have declared the Word of God above all the imaginations of the devil, then the battle is won. Your next step is to continue to exalt the Word of God and CAST DOWN EVERY IMAGINATION, until the full manifestation of the victory that we have in Jesus name is visible. “Don’t WORRY about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and THANK HIM for all He has done.” (Phil. 4:6)
-Bill Stockham
What’s next Will, I just love doing this!!!