Demonic Thinking
Everybody, even Christians, can easily fall into destruction if they do not discipline the mind. The mind is the piece of real estate in which the devil has the most interest. It is the key to a man’s lifestyle. It is the throttle to his decisions. It is the door to his ruin.
The Bible clearly teaches us that Satan himself wants to do our thinking for us. He is the thrower of flaming darts hoping to start a fire in our minds. He is always there with his hosts suggesting a different plan than God. A person can find himself under the influence of godly thinking one minute, and then, only moments later in weakness, he can find himself planning a devilish plot. It happened in the Bible with some of the greatest men that ever lived. The Apostle Peter is a prime example. In Matthew chapter 16, Peter and the other disciples were asked by Jesus to render an opinion of the Son of Man. In verse 13, Jesus asks them, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Peter eventually replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus marvels over Peter’s response and says to him in verse 17, “Blessed are you Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven.” God revealed to Peter that Jesus was indeed God in the flesh. Peter’s thoughts were filled with the supremacy of this God-man named Jesus. Peter’s mind was awakened to the presence of “Immanuel”, God with us. Peter’s heart and mind were aglow with the fact that this was not “the carpenter”, the “son of Mary”, or “just a prophet.” He realized for the first time that he had been casting nets with God Himself.
Peter’s success was short lived for in the very same conversation he gave his mind over to the devil. Jesus began to describe His own death and resurrection. Peter began to focus on the death of his Master, and not the life of his Master. In verse 22, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him saying, “This shall not happen to you.” Peter was rebuking God in the flesh; he was correcting perfection. Jesus simply looked at Peter and said, “Get behind me Satan…you savor the things of man and not the things of God.” In the matter of a single conversation Peter went from being inspired by God to being accused of being the devil himself. Jesus knew that Peter was not indeed Satan; but He knew that the devil was doing Peter’s thinking for him. God’s plan was to raise Jesus from the dead; but all Peter could think about was death. God wanted to grant all men eternal life; but all Peter could think about was the cruelty of the cross. This is what people are doing today: They allow their minds to convince them that the price is greater than the reward. Yes, it will cost you your own will to follow Christ. But the rewards are greater than the price. There is great freedom in knowing and living as the personal property of a wonderful Almighty Savior God. We must not allow our minds to forget.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
