THESIS: To offer a remedy for the 3-D attack of the Devil: Doubt, Depression and Discouragement.
INTRO:
A. "MIND CONTROL": The concept is frightening. We remember the horror of "Brainwashing" in Korea. We hear terrible tales of "Thought control" in the cults. It is true that WHATEVER CONTROLS YOUR MIND CONTROLS YOU. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7
ILLUS: Think of your favorite food. Imagine a tropical vacation. Now think of a moment of deep sorrow in your life. Focus back to this service and the Script., hymns, the weather, your sleep last nite... What you think about can raise or lower your blood pressure, create an ulcer, start, promote or aggravate heart disease and now some Drs. even relate cancer to stress.
B. Worse than brainwashing or thought control is Satanic control of our mind. The mind is the devil's playground or better, battleground. The unguarded mind is easy prey for Satan. He knows the Lord has put us in charge of our thoughts. Nowhere are we told to ask God to control our minds. That is up to us. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" in not a promise, but a command. A command implies obedience or disobedience. Thru our minds Satan will attempt to pull down our defenses or weaken our foundations. 👉There are 3 major areas where he seems to be most successful; you could say he works in "3-D": DOUBT, DEPRESSION and DISCOURAGEMENT...
I. DOUBT:
A. It's All In Your Mind:
1. If you dwell on anti-scriptural thoughts you will soon doubt the foundational truths of God's Word: "Yea, hath God said?" 2. God has placed His revelation, including assurance of salvation, His precious promises to His children, prophetic events, etc. in writing; an objective revelation.
ILLUS: This is the danger of operating in the sphere of emotions, feelings, etc. which are very subjective. We can't trust our feelings, instincts, or others' pronouncements, we must have chapter and verse from God. Those who deny the doctrine of eternal security are on a spiritual roller coaster, with no "SURE Word of prophecy."
a. Salvation is not logical, i.e. it is not based on human reasoning or subject to scientific investigation. b. God's revelation originates with a Being and Intelligence so far beyond mere man's that man cannot be expected to "figure it out".
ILLUS: The doctrine of Creation must be taken by faith (whether you are a Creationist or an Evolutionist); the doctrine of the Virgin Birth cannot be repeated so is beyond scientific testing and is "biologically impossible." Don't doubt in unbelief what you accepted in faith. Don't untie in doubt what you secured in faith.
B. Belief = The Opposite of Doubt
1. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin!" 2. Doubt removes us from the source of power.
ILLUS: A plug one inch from the receptacle is just as powerless as one 100ft. away. 💫Our source of power is the Book of God because He "cannot lie." 💫Belief in what God says gives us the power to live for Him. When we doubt we become ineffective. (text v.5) ✔It is not how far into sin we have gone but whether we have gone into sin, period! ✔Backsliding doesn't start when you begin doing bad, but when you stop trusting Him. ✔If you are not where you should be you are just as backslidden as if you were where you should not be. ✔Some of the "best backsliders" never do drugs, etc, they just spend more time with the TV than with TB (The Book), they live by sight, not by faith. ✔The child who is obedient and doesn't eat the potato chips or drink the soda, but also doesn't eat his meal will still be undernourished!
3. Carnal weapons will lose the battle for "MIND CONTROL." (v.4)
ILLUS: The weapons of the 👨🎓world are learning, personal influence, impressive credentials, rhetoric, etc., while the weapons of the 🙏believer are His Word, prayer, trust in His promises and dependence upon His provision.
4. Satanic control of our minds causes doubt, we must seize control of our thought life and bring them into captivity to Christ.
II. DEPRESSION:
A. Hopelessness Breeds Helplessness:
1. When we ignore or give up on the promises of God we become hopeless and when we become hopeless we become helpless and go into depression. 2. There are three main causes for depression among Christians:
a. Physical causes: exhaustion, overwork (Elijah). b. Emotional causes: stress, strain (Moses). c. Satanic causes: fiery darts.
1) He reminds us of our past failures and sins. 2) He gets us to focus on self instead of Christ. 3) He loads us with guilt and despair. (Remember it's all in your mind!)
ILLUS: You withdraw, you pity yourself and then you punish yourself for whatever you are now focusing on. the final step can be self-destruction. The remedy for depression is found in the Psalms. Several have 3 parts: ⭐TEARS, ⭐TRUST and ⭐TRIUMPH. When the Psalmist looks at himself and others he becomes discouraged. Then he looks away from circumstances to the Lord and his trials and tears are turned into triumph. His sighing becomes singing.
3. Christians should never become depressed:
a. They have a God who loves them. b. They have a Savior who died for them. c. They have the fellowship of God's people. d. They have a Book with all the answers to life's problems. e. They have a Pastor and people who care about them. f. They have a guaranteed place in an eternal heaven.
ILLUS: In his own words this man FAILED in business, was DEFEATED for the legislature, again FAILED in business, his sweetheart DIED, he had a NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, was DEFEATED for speaker and elector, was DEFEATED for Congress twice, DEFEATED for the Senate, DEFEATED for Vice Pres., DEFEATED for the Senate again, but was finally elected as PRESIDENT: who was he? Abraham Lincoln. Someone said "If you want a place in the sun , you have to expect some blisters."
1. Every time you fail, the devil whispers, "See you can't really do anything for God. You're a failure. God can't use you." 2. If you believe that God can't use you - you will be a failure - but remember it's all in your mind - planted there by Satan. 3. You need to learn MIND CONTROL:
a. Set a trap for Satan: recognize the source of sinful thoughts; and when you catch him in the act, take authority over him and command him to leave: "Resist the devil and he will flee..." Jas.4:7 b. Practice Christ's presence: the more you are with a person the more his thinking infiltrates yours...He is a real WET BLANKET when it comes to sin; realize He is with you all the time. c. Renew your mind: "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind"
1) See yourself as God says you are, not as the devil wants to portray you. 2) Believe you are cleansed (you are!), believe God loves you (He does), reckon (see yourself) as God sees you, dead to sin (dead men don't respond)
B. Faithfulness is the Cure for Discouragement: "Don't Quit!"
ILLUS: 💥If anyone had a reason to be discouraged, Joseph did! Pampered by his father, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison (because HE REFUSED TO SIN!), forgotten and apparently forsaken! 💥But instead of quitting, he kept believing God and trusting Him for deliverance. Most of us hardly remember his brothers, but everyone knows Joseph. Don't pity poor Joseph, pity his poorer brothers.
CONCL: 💥When Satan attempts to control your thoughts, practice MIND CONTROL. 💥When the Devil acts in 3-D(Doubt, Depression and Discouragement) in your life, remember "IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND" - planted there by Satan. It is in your imagination - it is not reality. 💥The reality is that Christ loves you and promises you heaven later and to take care of you now. 💥Get the victory the same place you became fearful - in you mind "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."