This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by going back to the passage we have been studying. The Apostle Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 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.” (2 Cor 10:3-5 KJV). Today I am going to focus in on the words, “Every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Satan is very crafty. He has a myriad of ways to attempt to derail you, but one of his most successful is by providing you thoughts contrary to God and His Word.
Let’s use the first deception, what happened in the Garden of Eden, as an example. The Bible says, “The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” The woman answered the snake, “No, we can eat fruit from the trees in the garden. But there is one tree we must not eat from. God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch that tree, or you will die.’” But the snake said to the woman, “You will not die.” (Genesis 3:1-4).
I will focus on two main issues in that passage. First, Eve did not really know, for herself, what God said. She added something to God’s instruction. God said they would die if they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. She thought He said they would die if they even touched it. So when she touched the fruit and nothing happened, she thought nothing would happen if she ate it. This is why you must know FOR YOURSELF what God said and you should never ADD anything to the His instruction. Second, Satan said, “You will NOT die.” Satan spoke against God and His instruction. Satan blatantly contradicted God, Eve fell for it, and Adam followed-suit. What was the result? They were both kicked out of the Garden of Eden.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
- The Bible teaches you to meditate God’s Word day and night (see Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1,2). The more you get God’s Word down in your heart, the better positioned you will be to reject contrary thoughts from satan.
- God never designed you to live your life based on second-hand information. Trusting the words of your Pastors/leaders is great, but it is paramount that you read God’s Word for yourself and that you hear from Him directly as you live your life.
- When you know what God said and you hide His Word in your heart, you are equipped to withstand the barrage of wayward thoughts from the enemy.
- The battle is for your thoughts. The prize is your focus. If God or satan can get your focus, they will have access to the power within you to impact this world.
- If you want to have Godly focus, you must get God’s Word down in your heart. The more Word you know, the better equipped you are to stay on the path God planned for you before the world began.
- If you don’t know what God said (back then), it is going to be hard for you to hear what He is saying to you today.
- The purpose of studying what God said is so that you can hear what He is saying. You are not to live by natural bread alone. God designed you to live by every LIVING Word that proceeds from His mouth.
- God and satan are both talking to you. If you know God’s Word, you will know which messages to receive and which ones to reject.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. In order for me to properly focus on the assignment You have laid out for me, I need to be able to hear from You. My mind is constantly flooded with thoughts from You, satan, myself and this world. I must know which ones to receive and which ones to reject. In order to know, I study Your Word. I study what You SAID, so I am better equipped to hear what You are SAYING. I learn to discern Your voice. I study the way You think so I can recognize You when You come to me. The more Word I get down in my heart, the better equipped I am to hear the words You are speaking to me every day. This shall be the best year of my life, because this year I do not live by natural bread alone. I live by every WORD that proceeds from out of Your mouth. My mind is focused on You, Your Word, and Your will for my life. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
