The Silent But Deadly TrioSample

Products From The World System

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans spoke of life and death and linked both to the mind. While our spirit man is alive and saved when Jesus comes into our hearts at salvation the mind is still our responsibility; the war for the believer is won or lost in the mind. It is amazing that what we act out in life begins in our thoughts. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6 – 8 NIV). The word flesh in this scripture refers to, “mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence.” So whenever we speak of the flesh, we are talking about the thoughts not rooted in righteousness, or have any God kind of influence. 

I have heard the saying often while growing up, “You can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair.” – Martin Luther. The enemy may shoot thoughts into our minds, but we need not keep those thoughts and make them our own. The believer now must discern which thoughts are God thoughts and which are from the enemy. The Apostle James explains how sin is conceived by man’s own evil desires when he spends time pondering those desires constantly - (James 1:13- 16 NIV). You see because Jesus paid the price for us on the cross and he redeemed us from the curse of sin and death. Now we have the power to grow healthy fruits in our lives based on the choice to have our thoughts governed by the Holy Spirit and God’s word by meditating on it daily.

When we give into thoughts that are not godly, we feed those thoughts until they become desires, and then we act out those desires which often leads us to sin. A mind not governed by the word of God, worship, prayer, praise, fellowship with other believers and accountability is a mind very susceptible to the enemy’s lies that will eventually destroy. The Apostle Paul used very strong language when warning the saints about evil desires, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5 NIV)

Clearly, we can see from Paul’s warning we are responsible for killing those evil desires that will seek to raise its head in our everyday life because it eventually produces idolatry in our lives. It is often said, “We become what we worship” and if our minds are not being governed by the Spirit of God, then we are giving place to idols in our hearts. Nothing good can come from a mind that gives in to every desire. Therefore, understand that the products of the world system will always lead to death while the products of the Spirit will lead to life.

Holy Spirit, give me discernment to identify which thoughts are from you and which are from the enemy. Help me to meditate on your thoughts today.