Blessing Blockers Part 2

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Sylvia Norman
5 years ago
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2 Blessing Blockers Part 2 VII. God knows how you are handling the battle because He sees your thoughts! A. Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved! How long shall your iniquitous and grossly offensive thoughts lodge within you? B. Isaiah 66: Those who [attempt to] sanctify themselves and cleanse themselves to enter [and sacrifice to idols] in the gardens, following after one in the midst, eating hog s flesh and the abomination [creeping things] and the [mouse their works and their thoughts] shall come to an end together, says the Lord. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts. And the time is coming when I will gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. 1. When you think about committing a sin, in God s eyes you already did. 2. Judgment for sin actually occurs in the thought phase. C. Luke 5:22 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts and questionings, answered them, Why do you question in your hearts? D. Luke 6:8 But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the midst. And he arose and stood there. E. Luke 9:37 But Jesus, as He perceived the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and put him at His side. VIII. Ephesians 4:22-5:6 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God s image, *Godlike+ in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. 26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. 27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. 28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or 2

3 worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God s favor) to those who hear it. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). 31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). 32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Chapter 5: 1 Therefore, be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as wellbeloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. 3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God s consecrated people). 4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. 5 For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain] for he [in effect] is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. A. Vs 24: Righteousness means to think and do like God. B. Vs 26 Anger itself is not sin, but it can lead to sin. a. When you are mad, zip your lip. CHILL OUT! b. Otherwise, you give the devil a foothold. C. Vs 27 Room = topas (geographical place). D. Vs 28 Work is a God-thing! Don t work, don t eat. E. Vs 29 If the devil can control your thoughts, he can control your mouth. 3

4 a. Think before you speak! Line up the thought with the Word first! b. There was instructor at Rhema Bible Training Center who got invited to lunch with Brother Kenneth E. Hagin and expected him to say a whole lot, but he kept quiet during the entire lunch. c. Silence is better than idle chatter it is wholesome talk! F. Vs 30 The Holy Spirit is grieved by unwholesome talk. a. Many folks speak too soon and release negative words. b. Nobody gets blessed by your negativity, and the Holy Spirit is grieved. c. Fathers do not like it when one child picks on another. d. We are all God s favorite! e. You do not always have to have the last word! G. Vs 31 All this evil junk starts with a thought. H. 5:3 Immorality occurs when impure sexual thoughts aren t taken captive. I. 5:6 Don t make excuses for unforgiveness. It is a weight that hinders. J. The whole purpose of the spiritual armor is to control your thought life. IX. A person s demeanor reveals what is going on inside their mind. A. Philippians 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! 5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]. 6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 For the rest, brethren, (think) whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take 4

5 account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. 1. Vs 4: Always includes in the middle of your trial! a. You can tell what a Christian s thought life is like by their facial expression. b. An overcoming thought life puts a smile on your face. c. A defeated mindset puts a frown on your face. 2. Vs 5: It should be evident to others that you are thinking victoriously. 3. Vs 6: No worries! 4. If you do Vs 6, then Vs 7 refers to you! a. You have peace in the midst of trials. b. There is now a guard around your mind. c. Fear cannot co-exist with faith. 5. Vs 8: It is your job to think on the right stuff. 6. Vs 9: Paul instructs the Philippians to follow the example that he had set. B. Acts 16:12; And from there [we came] to Philippi, which is the chief city of the district of Macedonia and a [Roman] colony. We stayed on in this place some days; 16 As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. 17 She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! 18 And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment. 19 But when her owners discovered that their hope of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the forum (marketplace), [where trials are held]. 20 And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion. 21 They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe! 22 The crowd [also] joined in the 5

24 He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks.

6 attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. 24 He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone s shackles were unfastened. 1. What the jailer saw Paul do was to take thoughts captive and offer up praise to God in the midst of a trial. 2. That Philippian jailer became the first pastor of the Philippian church. X. Unforgiveness: Another blessing blocker. A. Mark 11: Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings. B. Forgive others and never let those offenses into your thought life again. C. Bless those who have done you wrong. 6

Ephesians. A Four-Week Bible Study WEEK 3

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