This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Josh. 1:8)
[With diligence you must think on the Word of God, and do what the Word says, in order to win at the game of life. For life is a thinking man’s game.]
Part 1: “God Has Placed the Good Life in Us, But Our Speech Governs How We Will Live."
Introduction
Good morning and Happy Sunday to All. Welcome to this new Series entitled, "Life Is a Thinking Man's Game!" The most important and urgent decision every person on earth needs to make, is who they will worship and serve to secure their eternal destiny.
God Almighty, creator of “All” urges that we make the decision to worship and serve Him. (Josh. 24:15-16, II Cor. 6:2, Matt. 6:24) The decision to serve God needs to be made today, as tomorrow is not promised to any person. Only through belief and trust in Jesus Christ can we come to God the Father and be saved. (John 14:6) The decision a person makes to believe in Jesus Christ and live for Him guarantees eternal life (an intimate relationship with God and Jesus Christ), escape from eternal damnation and the reward of heaven, and at the last day God will raise them up from the dead with a glorified body like unto the resurrected body of Jesus Christ. (Mark 16:15, John 3:16-18, 6:40, & Rom. 8:11) Moreover, Jesus has provided to us the criteria for following after Him—we must make the decision to give up all of ourselves to be His disciple. See Matthew 16:14, it reads as follows:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Yes, we all must make our election sure, whether to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and live eternally with Him, or reject Jesus and live in hell for all eternity.
As human beings, God created us as free-moral agents, having the right and responsibility to think and choose for ourselves the course of life we will take. Through Moses, God said these words to the children of Israel, as recorded at Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
What a wise "Thinker" you are, if you have listened and hearkened unto the Voice of Jesus Christ calling you into His sheep-fold, and accepted Him as Lord. If you have repented of your sins, received Jesus Christ into your heart, and received water baptism, you are born-again—a son of the Living God. And, as a son of God, God has given you the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.
(John 1:10-12 & Acts 2:38)
As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, you have received exceedingly great and precious promises, including everything that pertains unto “life and godliness” in your born-again heart. (I Pet.1:3) This is the abundant life Jesus Christ promised to all those who would believe in Him. Life to the full until it overflows; where there is nothing missing, lacking, nor broken in your life on earth, and in the new world which is to come. (John 10:10)
Therefore, in our present state, if we lack anything in the arena of the human experience, we have it in store in the Kingdom of God abiding within us to supply. (Luke 17: 21, Rom. 14:17 & Php. 4:19) The promise of abundant life in your regenerated heart, God not only wants you to see physically materialize, but for the people of this world to stand and take note of the blessing and favor of God on you and your family. (Matt. 5:16)
As born-again Christians, the high mark of reward of abundant life is to live a long satisfied life—to a good-old age, blessed in all things like Abraham. (Gen. 24:1) God’s highest ambition towards us is that we prosper and be in health, as we prosper in our thinking in the Word of God. (III John 2) Make no mistake about it, and let no person talk you out of it, God takes great pleasure in your prosperity. (Ps. 35:27) God does not want any of His children, sick, broke, busted or disgusted. For Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we might be made rich—abundantly supplied in all things. (II Cor. 8:9)
Nevertheless, what's going on between the two ears of the born-again Christian—how and what we think about—has everything to do with the quality of life we will live on earth. (Prov. 23:7) Put another way, whatever you love to think about, is what you will love to talk about, and what you love to talk about, is what you love and will have in life.
Longevity and Good Days Are Promised To Born-Again Christians Who Order Their Conversation Aright.
Now to launch this-Series, let's use this powerful Scripture, written by the Apostle Peter, at I Peter 3:10. Come on and read it with me:
“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him [refrain] his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”
The Apostle Peter makes it abundantly clear that speaking evil and guile affects the quality of life born-again Christians experience on earth. Wow, I wonder how many times and ways born-again Christians have spoken evil words over their lives, and the lives of others, that have set the course of life in the wrong direction. (James 3:5-6) So, I encourage you today with all diligence to watch over your words, by thinking and choosing them wisely before speaking. The saying goes, "loose lips sink ships." And I will add, “Not just your own ship, but the ships of others—even innocent ships passing in the night—can be sunken through wicked communications.”
The only one who can hinder and stop the promise of longevity and good days from coming to pass in your life, is you! You must choose either life and blessing from God, or death and cursing set forth in this world's system by Satan. Jesus shed His blood on the cross and delivered us all from the curse of Law of Moses, and it’s up to each individual to choose to live free of speaking and doing evil—so that the blessing of Abraham may manifest in our lives. (Gal. 3:6-9, 13-14)
We Should Live Free of Speaking Evil and Guile
Now, please remember the vitals from our last Sermon Series, "Its 2023: America, Help Is One Prayer Away." (Sermons dated Jan.1- Feb. 26, 2023) We are to live and walk in "Now God Faith," in unfeigned confidence that as Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, so are we in this world." (I John 4:17) We are to know, with all assurance, that we are "Christ in the earth." That God has made us heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ, having complete authority and power on earth equal to that of Jesus at the right hand throne of God. (Rom. 8:17) Glory be to God! This is called having “equality” with God, and you are to let this “mindset” be you, as it was also in Jesus Christ. For God has chosen to make you equal (complete) within Himself!” (Php. 2:5, I John 4:15, Gal. 3:28-31, Col. 2:9-10 & John 15:1-5)
Now let’s define speaking evil and guile. Speaking evil is saying anything that is "contrary to God's Word." Speaking words that oppose God’s Word is called the “carnal mind,” or “mind of the flesh.” (Rom. 8:6-10) Speaking evil is from the imagination of the heart of Satan, and brings forth bad things that lead to death and destruction. Evil is also described as "ill," "wrong doing," or “mischief. Let us also not leave out that evil speaking includes expressions of dislike, hatred, gossip, murmuring, and complaining.
Guile, also is from the imagery of Satan's heart, and conveys the meaning of “cunning,” “deceptive,” or “deceiving” in communications and practices. Evil speaking and guile played out in the theater of life results in the works of the flesh—that fulfill the determined will and intent of Satan to steal, kill, and destroy. (Gal. 5:19-21 & John 10:10)
What the Apostle Peter proffers to born-again Christians in I Peter 3:10, is the wisdom and knowledge of God. Since we are Christ in the earth and His Ambassadors, we should walk as Jesus Christ walked before all people of the earth. (Php.1:21) For consider that Jesus Christ did not sin and neither was guile found in his mouth. (I Pet. 2:21-22) Therefore, speaking evil and guile should not roll out of our mouths’ either. Don’t you agree? We have the power to refrain—hold back and control our tongues from wreck-less wagging and raging war.
If we are Christ in the earth, just as Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, then surely this should serve as ample motivation for us to bar all evil communications from the fountains of our mouths and tongues. Wow, in these truths, we just stumbled on to a mighty tool for refraining from speaking evil and guile—every time you think to speak evil, remember that you are Christ in the earth, just as Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand throne of God Almighty!
Let me also say, that while speaking evil and guile will not cause a born-again Christian to lose their salvation and go to hell, such communications can and will result in a diminished quality of life, bring forth many evil days, and premature death. Thus, as the Saints of God, our conversations must be ordered right to line-up with God’s way of thinking and speaking. (Ps. 50:23) God said be ye holy for I am holy—meaning have the same mind as God—therefore we should think, talk, and act like God. (I Pet.1:16)
There are Two Voices That Speak into the World: God's Voice and Satan’s Voice—Never Entertain the Second Voice!
There are only two voices that speak from the spiritual realm into human existence. We must choose to follow after the Voice of truth and that serves as a lamp unto our feet to obtain Life—the Voice of God Almighty, and not Satan’s voice, the father of lies. We must always deny Satan’s voice any place in our lives. (Eph. 4:27) Given that in our last Series, we talked about “The Sin” (practice of sin turned into iniquity) that sets us back from running our race to be like Jesus Christ, it’s safe to say that in points in time, we all have had our bouts where we have listened to the enemy, and said evil things and sinned. (Heb.12:2) Also, Peter would not have written that we should “refrain” from speaking evil and guile, if it had not been a problem for Christians before.
Daily, God seeks to transmit His thoughts to us through the Word of God and the Holy Ghost. (Luke 4:4, John 16:13 & Rom. 8:14) Mankind was made to live by every Word of God and those who accept Jesus as Lord, hear and know the Voice of the Great Shepherd. (John 10:27-28) Also, let’s highlight Jeremiah 29:11-13, which reinforces God's intentions toward us to speak health and prosperity to us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
God's thoughts always communicate life and peace to give to you an expected end, including your generations. As I said earlier, God’s expected end for your life is a long satisfied life, blessed in all good things. In Verse 11, the Hebrew word for "Peace" is, “Shalom” and conveys the meaning “harmony,” “wholeness,” “prosperity,” “welfare” and “tranquility.” There is no darkness nor evil in God and He cannot lie, so there is no mistaking His Voice for those who steadfastly abide in Him. Yes, this is all great, but we have to hang-out with God and be receptive and embrace His thoughts in order to live in Shalom. Everything God says to you is for your betterment to bring you into divine health and prosperity in your generations. If you will seek the Lord and talk with Him, and go the way of the Lord, you will abide in Peace.
For born-again Christians, the target of God's thoughts is your born-again heart. Remember that your heart has been made perfect (spirit, soul, and mind of the soul) and sealed by God until the day of redemption—the catching away of the Church. (Eph. 4:20 & Heb. 10:14, 16) Only God’s Word can be planted in the Kingdom of God within your spirit, and when properly nurtured in faith, will grow and multiply and produce great harvests in your life. (Mark 4:14-20)
On the other hand, Satan that great deceiver, seeks to speak evil thoughts into your life. He knows, along with every demon and devil of hell that God has made you a “Christ” in the earth—that as Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, so are you. He along with every demonic spirit fear and tremble at the Christ in you—the Anointed power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ.
But Satan comes, “as a roaring lion” seeking to devour, to tests to see if you know who you are, and what you possess in Christ. (I Pet. 5:8) This is why when the enemy comes to attack us with temptations—suggestive evil—we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and resist Satan with the Word of God, and he will flee. (James 4:7) Satan is pure evil and a fool, and he will only stop launching attacks against you, for a season, and then return.
The prime target of Satan’s attacks is the human brain. Satan wants to infiltrate and then dominate your thought life with evil thoughts, lies, deceptions, and accusations. (In our next Sermon, we will focus on what I call the “Complaint of Satan, which he strives to have every born-again Christian consume.) If permitted by you, he will put the whole house of hell in your brain, and then, if you will, wrap you up like a mummy, from head to toe, in spools of evil wicked linen and walk you around in life like a puppet on a string. Such that in name only you are a Christian, but in life you talk and behave like the devil.
Satan lodges his attacks on the human brain because he has no access to your eternal existence—your regenerated heart (spirit, soul, and mind of the soul)—which as I mentioned earlier has been sealed by God until the Lord’s return. However your human brain is the “control tower” of your life and is where the game of life in the human experience is played.
Your brain directly interfaces with the things of the natural and temporal world—a world’s system which is controlled by the god of this world, Satan (II Cor. 4:4)—and communicates with your five physical senses. Also, your brain interacts inwardly with your soul to send and receive communications, to and from, the inner-man (spirit) where God abides and speaks to you through the Holy Ghost.
While neither sinful thoughts, nor acts of sin, can ever penetrate the heart of born-again Christian, evil thoughts and speaking dwelled upon and practiced can and will form a coating or layer of rust or plaque on and around the regenerated heart of a Christian.
The practice of evil speaking and guile, which leads to the practice of sin, will adversely affect the Christian’s receptivity to the Word of God, their relationship and closeness to God, and willingness to obey His Commandments. Thereby, hindering and even blocking the blessing flow of the good life, and miracle working power of God in their lives.
Satan knows that death and life are in the power of the tongue. He knows if you think evil thoughts, you will speak evil, and then see the evil you have spoken manifest in your life and lives of others. In this way, he seeks to neutralize Christians, by naturalizing them, with speaking words and taking actions that oppose God’s Word. You see, he wants the Christians’ communications and behavior, before the people of this world, to look no different than the common sinner. So that the sinner man can conclude that Christianity is not worth following, and that any proclaimed god, or even no god at all, will satisfy the human intellect, and appetite for moral and mental accent.
Moreover, Satan has polluted this world’s system in every arena of human existence (e.g. education, medicine, science, law, politics, business, sports, and entertainment.) with thoughts contrary to the Word of God. Such, that everyone living in this world is subject to temptation; to thinking that is dominated by a carnally-minded world view. Many Christians have fashioned their thinking to follow after the world’s view too, rather than having a God-centered perspective on life, and they do error greatly. For example, many Christians now give a passing grade to things God has called iniquitous—fornication, abortion, adultery, homosexuality, same sex marriage, lying, stealing, idolatry, riotous living, and drunkenness to name a few. (I Cor. 6:9-12) Accept we diligently renew our thought-life with the Word of God, we will miss out on the good, acceptable, perfect will of God for our lives on earth. (Rom.12:1-2)
Closing Thoughts
As born-again Christians we must refrain from speaking evil and guile. We have God abiding on the inside of us, and although the enemy Satan will continually tempt us to think on, speak, and act out evil—we have been given the power to resist all evil and cast it away. We must refuse to accept evil communication, and the sin that follows, as an acceptable mode of living as Christ in the earth.
Just because we live under the grace of God, we should not abuse its privilege with speaking evil and guile. (Rom. 6:1-2) We can and should get to the place in our lives where we are sinless in our speech and actions, not by our own power and might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. (Zech. 4:6) Jesus Christ abiding in us is greater than the wicked one in this world, so we must come to a place where we put the enemy under our feet and keep him there! (I John 4:4)
We are not to be ignorant of the devices of Satan. (II Cor. 2:11) Rather, we should know the enemies tactics, be watchful and take necessary steps to overcome Him in every situation presented to us. We are to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the assaults of the enemy. (Eph. 6:10-18) Toward this end, in our next two Sessions, we will take a deeper dive into Satan and understand his motivation and goals in tempting us to communicate evil thoughts, and how we should respond so that we may enjoy the precious promises of God of longevity and good days on earth. Amen to the preaching of the Word of the Living God.
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