Dear brothers and sisters, Below we have shared a short page from a very powerful book on living Victory in the Christian life. And it is our prayer that these words will inspire and strengthen you, as we each seek to oneness with Christ !
“The light (transparent, window) of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (clear); thy whole body shall be full of Light . . . . But if thine eye be evil (opaque, darkened), thy whole body shall be filled with darkness. . . !” Matthew 6:22-23
“God does not allow Satan (the accuser) to have unlimited access to our minds. He (Satan) and his fallen angels (demons, devils, evil spirits) can reach us only through our senses. These are sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. God has given to each of us the ability (through Christ), to control the use of these senses !
They are the avenues (path ways) to our souls, and each of us chooses what travels over these avenues. This power of choice . . . ?
quote: “Sin can triumph only by enslaving the mind. Christ came to our world to break the power of Satan, and emancipate the will of man. He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives,” to “undo the heavy burdens,” and to “let the oppressed go free;” and He calls upon us to cooperate with Him by entering His service, wearing His yoke, and lifting His burdens . . . . And, if we consent, He can and will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity with His will, that when obeying Him (the Word of God), we shall but carry out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service . . . !” – Special Testimonies, November 19, 1896
We must maintain a faithful guard over all the senses if we expect to control our minds and prevent vain and corrupting thoughts from contaminating our souls. If we would avoid falling prey to Satan’s temptations, we must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing anything which suggests impure or unholy thoughts !
If God’s Word is faithfully observed, It will serve as a wall of protection. “Finally my brethren, whatsoever things are True, whatsoever things are just (righteous), whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report . . . if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Think on these things . . . !” Philippians 4:8
If with God’s grace and help, for we cannot do it without His help — we would honestly and consistently practice this instruction, what a difference it would make in our personal lives in our homes ! And it would be a very frustrating experience for Satan . . . .
quote: “The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled (guarded), or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness.
“Gird up the loins of your mind,” Peter wrote, “be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace* that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; . . . not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I Am holy.” – Acts of the Apostles p.518
We all know that that very little of what now appears on the television or in popular music screen is lovely (acceptable to Jehovah), pure or of good report. And little of it is either True or honest. And almost none of it has any virtue (integrity) . . . . And that raises an important question:
How can a Christian, one who is “decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God,” sincerely ask God to keep them from temptation, while intentionally exposing themselves, their eyes and ears to so much evil, and in so doing, deliberately invite Satan’s enticements ?”
– section taken from the book – “Victory on the Battlefield !” by pastor Vaugh Allen
http://www.teachservices.com/victory-on-the-battlefield-allen-vaughn/
We encourage all of our brothers and sisters in the LORD to seek His strength and power in this, and to put away everything which would lead us from the straight and narrow path of righteousness ! and let us pray with David the prayer of Psalm 101:1-4 ! May He bless and keep you this week !
your friends,
“God does not allow Satan (the accuser) to have unlimited access to our minds. He (Satan) and his fallen angels (demons, devils, evil spirits) can reach us only through our senses. These are sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. God has given to each of us the ability (through Christ), to control the use of these senses !
They are the avenues (path ways) to our souls, and each of us chooses what travels over these avenues. This power of choice . . . ?
quote: “Sin can triumph only by enslaving the mind. Christ came to our world to break the power of Satan, and emancipate the will of man. He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives,” to “undo the heavy burdens,” and to “let the oppressed go free;” and He calls upon us to cooperate with Him by entering His service, wearing His yoke, and lifting His burdens . . . . And, if we consent, He can and will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity with His will, that when obeying Him (the Word of God), we shall but carry out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service . . . !” – Special Testimonies, November 19, 1896
We must maintain a faithful guard over all the senses if we expect to control our minds and prevent vain and corrupting thoughts from contaminating our souls. If we would avoid falling prey to Satan’s temptations, we must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing anything which suggests impure or unholy thoughts !
If God’s Word is faithfully observed, It will serve as a wall of protection. “Finally my brethren, whatsoever things are True, whatsoever things are just (righteous), whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report . . . if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Think on these things . . . !” Philippians 4:8
If with God’s grace and help, for we cannot do it without His help — we would honestly and consistently practice this instruction, what a difference it would make in our personal lives in our homes ! And it would be a very frustrating experience for Satan . . . .
quote: “The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled (guarded), or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness.
“Gird up the loins of your mind,” Peter wrote, “be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace* that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; . . . not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I Am holy.” – Acts of the Apostles p.518
We all know that that very little of what now appears on the television or in popular music screen is lovely (acceptable to Jehovah), pure or of good report. And little of it is either True or honest. And almost none of it has any virtue (integrity) . . . . And that raises an important question:
How can a Christian, one who is “decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God,” sincerely ask God to keep them from temptation, while intentionally exposing themselves, their eyes and ears to so much evil, and in so doing, deliberately invite Satan’s enticements ?”
– section taken from the book – “Victory on the Battlefield !” by pastor Vaugh Allen
http://www.teachservices.com/victory-on-the-battlefield-allen-vaughn/
We encourage all of our brothers and sisters in the LORD to seek His strength and power in this, and to put away everything which would lead us from the straight and narrow path of righteousness ! and let us pray with David the prayer of Psalm 101:1-4 ! May He bless and keep you this week !
your friends,
Eric & Sarah Wilson and family – Isaiah Ministries