A Woman s Thought Life Laurie McIntyre

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1 A Woman s Thought Life Laurie McIntyre Introduction: We face three formidable foes: Satan for which we need a Protected Mind System of the World for which we need a Renewed Mind Sinful Self for which we need a Disciplined Mind I. The Force of Satan must be met with a Protected Mind A. Satan s Objectives 1. Doubt the Word of God 2. Distracts us from spiritual things 3. Disable us in the Lord s service 4. Destroy us physically B. Sample Characteristics and Resulting Problems SATAN: CHARACTERISTICS a. Is the accuser of the brethren Revelation 12:10 b. Walks about as a roaring lion I Pet. 5:6-9 c. Masquerades as an angel of light - counterfeit II Cor. 11:14 d. Tempts a person to disobey God s word Luke 4:1-13 e. Ruler of the kingdom of the air Prince of this world RESULTING PROBLEMS Source of gossip and discord Gets a person to concentrate on surface problems Source of false righteousness and distortion of truth He redefines scripture. It sounds logical but its meaning is twisted by a play on words. Controls the world system. C. Satan s Strategy - Deception: Beguilement 1. Beguilement Defined literally: to deceive by false reasoning practically: believing something to be true based on insufficient evidence or false information The mind is quick to take a partial fact, believe it as the whole truth, and act on it accordingly. 1

2 2. Beguilement Described - Gen. 2:16; 3:1-7 SATAN S STRATEGY SCRIPTURE EVE S RESPONSE He twisted God s command (Smuggles in the assumption that God's word is subject to our judgment) Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden? Gen. 3:1 She repeated God s command but was challenged to doubt God s fairness and over corrects, "You must not touch it" Magnifying God's strictness. He turned the truth into a lie. (First doctrine to be denied is judgment.) He said to her You will not surely die. Gen. 3:4 (A lie big enough to reinterpret life.) She focused on the seriousness of the consequences for disobeying rather than the commandment of God. NOTE: Beguilement resulted here when Eve focused on a secondary issue rather than the basic truth upon which she should have built all the other conclusions. He created doubts about God s motives and the trustworthiness of His Word. (God is seen as the enemy.) He implied that God was trying to withhold something from her to which she had a right. He convinced her that real intellectual honesty is to know the good and bad. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Gen. 3:5 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. Gen. 3:6 She responded to her physical needs (for food), it was appealing (sensual) and the benefit of being smarter (desired to make one wise). Gen. 3:6 She was intellectually, emotionally and physically hooked. 3. Beguilement Today: A woman takes a partial truth, convinces herself it is true through her intuitiveness and draws false conclusions. She, in turn, stimulates her imagination and she gets emotionally involved to the point where her feelings control her reasoning. If this continues for a prolonged period of time, she can lose her perspective and objectivity. 2

3 ILLUSTRATION Fact A: A young couple s baby girl fell and injured her head. Fact B: A friend s son fell and injured his head. Fact C: At first there didn t appear to be any serious injury to either child. Fact D: The friend s son begins having serious pains that result in the boy having to take medication the rest of his life to control the pain. Fact E: BEGUILEMENT: The mother begins to imagine the same thing will happen to her daughter. The worry and anxiety continued to mount until she realized how Satan had beguiled her. ILLUSTRATION Fact A: A boyfriend calls his girlfriend and says he will pick her up at 6:30 P.M. sharp. Fact B: At 7:00 P.M. he has not arrived. Fact C: BEGUILEMENT: She begins to imagine that he is probably at work talking to someone. He s not that concerned about me. Maybe he s not interested in me anymore. He could have at least called. She gets very upset. Fact D: He finally arrives at 7:45 P.M. and explains he had a flat tire and apologizes that his cell phone was not working. Fact E: Even though his explanation was legitimate and beyond his control, she was upset the rest of the evening. Her emotions had wiped her out in spite of the facts. ILLUSTRATION Fact A: A woman s most basic need is to sense she belongs to her husband and is important to him. Fact B: Her husband has been impersonal and insensitive to her. Fact C: BEGUILEMENT: She takes it personally and begins to imagine why. Fact D: She listens to other wives' problems, watches T.V. soaps and talk shows, reads magazines, mulls it over for days. Fact E: She finally BELIEVES, He doesn t care or love me! and tells him. He is surprised; he didn t know there was a problem. He has been overburdened with problems on the job and his priorities were out of order. NOTE: When a woman is beguiled, she often times doesn t listen to the explanation of others, and she will go right back to explaining or talking as though she never heard what was said. D. Our Strategy: A Protected Mind 1. Armor up - Eph. 6: Put each piece on by faith (Charles Stanley) a. The girdle of truth protects us from Satan's deception. The only place to find truth is in God's Word. Ask God to work His truth into your heart by meditating on and memorizing His Word. 3

4 Truth equips the saint of God for the spiritual battle. (Jesus - Jn. 14:60) b. The breastplate of righteousness protects our emotions and helps us counter the temptations of Satan with the truth of God. Our feelings constantly change. By asking God to substitute His truth for our feelings, we see things from His infinite viewpoint. We realize who we are in Christ and the power we have in His name over the shifting tides of emotion and circumstance. (Jesus - I Cor. 1:30) c. The sandals of peace enable us to become peacemakers for God. The Bible says: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Ask God to help you recognize the value of receiving and extending peace by faith daily. As ambassadors for Christ, we share His message of reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ. A peacemaker resolves conflicts, not creates them. (Jesus - Eph. 2:14) d. The shield of faith covers us from the fiery attacks of the enemy. The shield Paul described completely covered the warrior. No matter how ferocious the attack, the shield of faith provides safe cover for the child of God. The shield of faith defuses two of Satan's most deadly weapons--unbelief and doubt. (Jesus - Gen. 15:1; Ps. 28:7) e. The helmet of salvation protects our minds, Satan's primary target. As we put on the helmet of salvation and ask the Lord to make His thoughts our thoughts, we respond with the mind of Christ to the enemy's attacks. (Jesus- Ps. 27:1; II Tim. 2:19) f. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is the only weapon that can be used offensively and defensively. Find a particular passage of Scripture that pertains to your need, claim its promises, and stand firm in the faith. (Jesus - Heb. 4:12) g. Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ - Rom. 13:14 h. Sample prayer by Warren Wiersbe After I have given God my body, mind, and will, I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me, and then by faith I put on the pieces of the armor. I pray something like this: Father, thank you for the provision you have made for victory over Satan. Now, by Faith, I put on the girdle of truth. May my life today be motivated by truth. Help me to maintain integrity. By faith, I put on the breastplate of righteousness. May my heart love that which is righteous and refuse what is sinful. Thank you for the imputed righteousness of Christ. By faith, I put on the shoes of peace. Help me to be a peacemaker and not a troublemaker. By faith, I take the shield of faith. May I trust your Word today and not add fuel to any of Satan's darts. Thank you that I can go into this day without fear. By faith, I put on the helmet of salvation. May I remember today that Jesus is coming again. Help me to live today in the future tense. Protect my mind from discouragement and despair. By faith, I take the sword of the Spirit. Help me to remember your Word and to use it today. Father, by faith I have put on the armor. May this day be a day of victory." 4

5 2. Rally the Troops: Rom. 8:11; 8:15; Gal. 3:3; Call upon the Holy Spirit. 3. Capture Thoughts: II Cor. 10:5 4. Conquer Lies With Truth - Jn. 3:19-21 a. Recognize beguilement as a direct attack of Satan b. Identify your weaknesses c. Say no to the lie d. Replace the lie with immediate truth, known truth or wait for complete truth e. Take action to discover the truth f. Distract yourself 5. Claim the Word - Jn. 17:15-17; Prov. 4:20-27 a. Self-image: Ps. 139; (Neil Anderson s In Christ, attached) b. Loneliness: Ps. 23; 25; I Jn. 4:16b-18 c. Temptation: James 1:12-18; Heb. 4:14-16 d. Financial worries: I Tim. 6:6-10; Heb. 13:5-6; Mt. 6: Declare Victory in Jesus blood - Heb. 9; I Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5 E. A Project: Building a Library of Insights Into Beguilement The following chart will help you record illustrations that you or others have experienced. This is excellent preparation for gaining insights into thought problems. Fill in the right hand column with insights from God s Word. Beguilement Situation of partial facts Health Depression Temptation Self-worth Authority Offended Guilt Sex Serving God Social problems Want to be a leader Want respect Want prosperity Intuitive conclusion Going to die Give up Tears me down Tries to be like others Get out from under authority Get even Cover up the sin If you love me, you ll prove it The ministry is first Change laws Usurp authority Demand rights Hold on to what I have Continue to add to this list. God s point of view 5

6 II. The System of the World Must be Met with a Renewed Mind A. The Downward Spiral - Rom. 1: Intelligence (v ) a. Suppress the truth b. Refused to glorify God c. Ingratitude 2. Ignorance (v ) a. Thinking becomes futile b. Reduced to foolishness c. Hearts darkened d. Exchanged living God for man-made gods 3. Indulgence (v ) a. Exchanged truth for a lie b. Immorality c. Depraved mind 4. Impertinence (v ) a. Approve evil b. Applaud evil B. Our Strategy: A Renewed Mind 1. Surrender yourself to God - Rom. 12:1. 2. See it as a process - Rom. 12:2. 3. Submit your mind to the surgery of the cross. 4. Steep your mind in the Word of God - Prov. 4:20-22 C. The Results: You will be 1. Receptive to God s ways - Heb. 10: Discerning of the world s ways - I Cor. 2: Enlightened to spiritual truth - Eph. 1: Transformed to the mind of Christ - I Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2: At peace - Rom. 8:5-7. III. Our Sinful Self must be met with a disciplined mind. A. The Danger: To believe that our minds are free from God s laws. B. Our Strategy: A Disciplined Mind 1. Put Off and Put On - Eph. 4: a. Build a dam b. Redirect the flow 2. Know the Boundaries - Phil. 4:8-9 a. Whatever is TRUE That which is in accordance with the facts. b. Whatever is NOBLE That which is honorable, dignified, honest, excellent, meriting honor, reverent. 6

7 c. Whatever is RIGHT That which is just, equitable, involving duty, responsibility and satisfying obligations. d. Whatever is PURE That which is without contamination, clean, spotless, unblemished in motives, actions and morality. e. Whatever is LOVELY That which demonstrates characteristics of I Cor. 13, winsome things that elicit admiration and affection, not bitterness and hostility. f. Whatever is ADMIRABLE That which is worthy of praise, in good taste, refined, of a good reputation. 3. Be On Your Guard a. Watch what you read. b. Watch what you see. c. Watch what you hear. C. A Project: Memorize: Philippians 4:8: Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Which areas of your thought life seem to give you the most difficulty? Try to prioritize them by difficulty, with #1 being the most difficult to control. Psalm 26:2 says: Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind. Worrying about the future. Non-productive daydreaming. Imaginings out of control. Gossipy thoughts about others. Negative thinking about others. Prejudicial thinking about others. Ask the Lord in the days ahead to examine your heart and mind, and to make you more aware of the areas where you have difficulty thinking correctly. Particularly focus on the ones you ve identified as #1 and #2, the ones that give you the most problems, and pray daily for his power to be able to defeat that wrong thinking in your life and bring those thoughts into captivity. D. Our Feelings 1. Our Emotions React 2. Our Intellects (minds) Evaluate 3. Our Wills Choose Conclusion: When we do our part, God can release His power in order to accomplish His purpose. Original materials used by permission from Laurie McIntyre 7

8 IN CHRIST I AM ACCEPTED: John 1:12 John 15:15 Rom. 5:1 I Cor. 6:17 Him. I Cor. 6:19,20 I Cor. 12:27 Eph. 1:1 Eph. 1:5 Eph. 2:18 Col. 1:14 Col. 2:10 I am God's child. I am Christ's friend. I have been justified. I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. I am a member of Christ's body. I am a saint. I have been adopted as God's child. I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. I am complete in Christ. I AM SECURE: Rom. 8:1,2 I am free forever from condemnation. Rom. 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good. Rom. 8:31f I am free from any condemning charges against me. Rom. 8:35f I cannot be separated from the love of God. 2 Cor. 1:21, 22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God. Col. 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God. Phil. 1:6 I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected. Phil. 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven. 2 Tim. 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Heb. 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need. I Jn. 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. I AM SIGNIFICANT: Matt. 5:13, 14 I am the salt and light of the earth. John 15:1,5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life. John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ's. I Cor. 3:16 I am God's temple. 2 Cor. 5:17f I am a minister of reconciliation for God. 2 Cor. 6:1 I am God's coworker (I Cor. 3:9). Eph. 2:6 I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. Eph. 2:10 I am God's workmanship. Eph. 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Adapted from Living Free in Christ by Neil T. Anderson 8

9 A Woman s Thought Life Reflection Questions Part I: 1) In what ways are you like Eve when it comes to being deceived? 2) In what area of your life are you most likely to be beguiled? 3) What part of the armor of God do you most need to put on? 4) Identify a thought(s) that need(s) to be taken captive in your life right now. Share it only if appropriate. 5) Choose one area of beguilement listed under the Building a Library and complete it as a group. Part II: 1) Where in your own mind have you been subtlety or not so subtlety lulled into the world s way of thinking? 2) What areas of your thought life need renewing? 3) Identify any sins that you have allowed to go unrestrained in your mind. If appropriate, share briefly. 4) What in your thinking must be put off and what should be put on in its place? 5) Which boundaries found in Philippians 4:8-9 do you most need to apply? 9