Come, let us reason together
In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1:21-22
They searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:11
Who At My Door Is Standing?
Preface
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! --- But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. --- He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. --- The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. --- Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. --- For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalms one.
We all are faced with an avalanche of Satan’s temptations each and every day, but we must look at and examine these temptations and recognize then as tools of the enemy of our souls, the very adversary of God, Satan himself. So when Satan tries to enter your thoughts in an attempt to seduce you into his ways, there is that heavenly hope you have to draw on and not concede defeat. God has given some practical applications we might use to confront these tasty morsels of temptation by what I would like to call; “A spiritual belt-tightening”. In Eph. 6:14 we find these words; --- “Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," To continue along these lines, there are at least three applications one might seriously contemplate in overcoming evil thoughts.
Lesson
1. Reject guilt feelings for sinful thoughts:
Whoa! Here it is 2-3 o’clock in the morning and someone’s pounding at my door. What do I do? How would you react? Well, foremost, I would hope you would look through a window or peephole to try and identify this potential intruder before you open the door. But if it were a neighbor or some family member, of course you would let them in. But then on the other side of the coin, if you see some guy wearing a ski mask and holding a sawed-off shotgun in his hand, if you are wise you would reject any attempt of him entering your home.
Let me ask you; if you thought for a New York minute that this guy had intentions to harm you and or your family, would you have feelings of guilt? Would you think; “What wrong have I done that would make this person want to harm me?” Obviously, you would not feel guilty, and would run to the phone and call 911 for help, wouldn’t you? The point being; we are not always responsible for the harmful thoughts that come knocking on the doors of our minds. But then again, when we began allowing outside motivations such as certain TV programs, reading material, or internet sites to fill our minds, these can incite thoughts of immorality or greed. We are not always to blame for the initial impact of these ideas. However the faithful child of God would always combat against wrong or sinful thoughts. Even though stranded on a deserted island, you should still battle against wrong thoughts.
Why do I say that? --- Let’s go back and observe our Lord’s experience in the account of Luke as we read in Lk. 4:3-13. You might recall where Jesus was in the very early part of His ministry, having just been baptized by John, not for the forgiveness of sin, for He knew no sin, but to fulfill all righteousness. He was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where for forty days He fasted and had become hungry and obviously very weak physically. It was as though Jesus was indeed on some desolate island for all practical purposes. So beginning in vs. 3 we read where Jesus was sorely tempted by thoughts of discontent, greediness and pride; --- “And the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ --- Satan reasons, “Since God has kept back what you need for survival, why don’t you just turn this stone into bread?”
The Lord comes right back in vs. 4, by going to the authority of the Scriptures; --- “It is written, `MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.” --- Satan keeps on coming at Jesus; “And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. --- And the devil said to Him, ‘I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. --- Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” --- In essence, Satan is saying, “You don’t need to wait to reign over the kingdoms of the world; they can be yours now if you are willing to worship me.” --- But once again Jesus points to the Scriptures, --- “It is written, `YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.”
So finally, the old snake led Jesus to the pinnacle, or highest observation point of the temple in Jerusalem and attempted to test Jesus once again by saying in vs. 9; --- “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; --- for it is written, `HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU, --- and, `ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.” --- Satan might well have said, “You don’t need to follow God’s agenda. Reveal you are the Messiah now! Put on a spiritual spectacle to make it obvious to all you are the Son of God.”
So it was at this point Jesus said to him in vs. 12; --- “It is said, `YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.” So it was at this time the evil one figured he was in a losing battle, so vs. 13 tells us that; --- “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”
Where did these thoughts originate? Nowhere in the biblical account of Jesus’ temptation does Luke record that the devil actually appeared to Jesus. Perhaps, Satan spoke to the Lord the same way he often communicates with us: through the mind. Yet did these ungodly thoughts make Jesus a sinner? Of course not! He remained the perfect Lamb of God whose incorruptibility qualified Him to be the Savior of the world. If you and I are going to win the mind games, we need to first stop feeling guilty by virtue of the fact evil thoughts may plague our lives and, instead, learn how to deal with those unwelcome intrusions.
2. Refuse to allow sinful thoughts to linger:
If we harbor or exaggerate wrong thoughts for any period of time, those ideas have a way of transforming into obsessions. These, in turn, result in blatant actions or attitudes of disobedience. By way of demonstration, try to think of it thusly. The early thoughts the devil sends to us may be just a toehold the first time we entertain those thoughts and dwell on them or fantasize about them. But the longer we entertain the thoughts, however, the more likely we are to start making mental plans about how we might act on them. It is then the toehold of an idea becomes a foothold. The more we develop plans for acting on a sinful idea or temptation, the more we find that the foothold has become a stronghold. (The proverbial vicious circle in other words). We then come to the place where we feel compelled to try out the idea in our behavior. We come to the place where we want to act on that idea more than we want to banish the idea, and when we reach that point, we are in serious trouble.
At this point we might take a good look at what the psalmist, David had to say in Psalms 1:1-2; --- “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! --- But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” --- Please observe the progressive nature of temptation in this brief statement. First, we simply “walk” with error or unrighteousness. Secondly, we “stand” with it for a time, giving it a while to soak in. Thirdly, we “sit” with it; in other words, we commune with it, rather than doing our best to move away from it. Another way of viewing this is; “walking” becomes the toehold, “standing” would be the foothold, and “sitting” with it becomes the stronghold.
The wise Solomon gives some timely advice in Prov. 4:14-15; --- “Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not proceed in the way of evil men. --- Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.” How much plainer can one get than that?
The apostle Paul, having previously reminded the Christians in Corinth in 2 Cor. 6:16-18; --- “For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. --- Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,’ says the Lord. ‘AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. --- ‘And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.” --- The inspired writer continues on in 7:1; --- “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” --- We are strongly advised by the great apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 2:11; --- “to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul/”
The writer James makes all this to perfectly come together in Js. 4:1-8; --- “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. --- You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. --- You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. --- Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us’?--- But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." --- Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Just as he did from Jesus) --- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Beloved, God’s word has made plain the schemes and trickery of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11); and how he blinds the minds of those who disbelieve; --- “that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,--“ (2 Cor. 4:4). This is what the enemy of God lives for, and thrives on. --- This is why we should strive to the utmost to “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Rom. 12:9) When we are faced by one of Satan’s evil tricks such as temptation, we must automatically be repulsed by it and run the other way. --- Paul advises you and me in Gal. 5:16; --- “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” And when we are walking by the Spirit, we will flourish everyday by bearing the precious fruit of the Spirit. Vs. 22-23; --- “But the fruit of the Sprit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
In Js. 1:13-15 James writes; --- "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. --- But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. --- Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." --- So how can we prevent our thoughts from turning into strongholds for the devil?
3. Recognize and replace erroneous thoughts with God’s thoughts:
The analogy concerning a burglar attempting entry into your home is flawed in one respect. While we may be successful in preventing an intruder from coming into our home, we cannot keep unwanted thoughts out of our minds. The fact that we are thinking about something means that the evil idea has already gained entry. Case in point: Jesus taught that looking at a woman (outside of marriage) with lust in one’s heart is equal to committing adultery. (Mt. 5:28)
On the other hand, we do not need to allow the impostor to sit down in our favorite chair, engage us in an extended conversation, and announce that since he has been so welcomed, he is taking up residence in our spare bedroom! Instead, we need to follow the apostle Paul’s counsel for dealing with such an undesirable guest, in 2 Cor. 10:5; --- “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Remembering the words of Christ and His apostles, be aware of them at all times and substitute God’s thoughts will help you seize control over incorrect thoughts. Use the questions we discussed previously to help recognize whether or not a thought could have satanic origin. --- Is this thought true? --- Does this thought motivate me to fear more or to trust God more? --- Does this thought disagree with God’s Word?
But know that simply labeling a thought as harmful and attempting to dismiss it from your mind is not enough. In fact, the more you try to reject an unwanted thought, the more you will find yourself being preoccupied over it. To dismiss Satan’s thoughts we must replace them with God’s thoughts, just as Jesus did in our previous analogy.
When Satan attempted to plant seeds of discontent, Jesus responded by quoting a verse from the Old Testament. “Man shall not live on bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
When Satan enticed the Lord with thoughts of power and riches, Jesus recited God’s greatest commandment: “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Luke 4:8).
When Satan tempted Jesus to act independently from God, the Lord quoted: “You shall not put the lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12).
Jesus understood that the best way to dismiss an undesirable thought is to replace it with another, more-powerful thought. The best way to dispel darkness (Satan), is to confront it with light (God’s word)! When fearful thoughts try to seize control of your life, you can replace those thoughts with, “God has not given us the spirit of timidity, but of power, and of love, and discipline (or sound judgment).” (2 Timothy 1:7).
When you are tempted with thoughts of discontent, you can replace those thoughts with, “We have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. --- And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:7-8).
When you are tempted by fantasies of sex with someone other than your Scriptural husband or wife, you can replace those thoughts with, “The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; he who would destroy himself does it” (Prov. 6:32).
I believe it is this process Paul has in mind when he encourages us to gird our loins with truth (Eph. 6:14). Our success in spiritual battle depends on confronting any loose thoughts with the truth of God’s Word, always.
We often sing that wonderful old hymn, “Who At My Door Is Standing”. Why don’t you sing it with me?
Who at my door is standing, Patiently drawing near, Entrance within demanding? Whose is the voice I hear? Lonely without He’s staying, Lonely within am I; While I am still delaying, I am condemned to die! Door of my heart I hasten! Thee will I open wide; Tho He rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide. Sweetly the tones are falling; - Open the door for Me! If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.
Submitted in His abiding love,
Earl Wilburn
Questions and comments more than welcomed: ewilburn@austin.rr.com Please don't delete this from your files, as who knows that while you may not at this time be moved by these scriptures, but perhaps in time you might want to refer back to this and come to know better the love of the Lord. --- EW
