IT’S ALL ABOUT WORDS AND THOUGHTS
Many times I have quoted king David’s words in Psalm 19:14 NKJV in a prayer before I have preached, and heard many other Preachers pray these words too.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
PASSION So may the words of my mouth, my meditation-thoughts,
and every movement of my heart be always pure and pleasing,
acceptable before your eyes,
my only Redeemer, my Protector-God.
MESSAGE These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
I am reminded of King David’s words in Psalm 141:3 NKJV Set a guard, (a watchman) O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips. We have all I guess received some very hurtful words from others, that have left an emotional mark on us, may we ever be aware of the importance of watching what comes out of our mouth, and by the grace of God let it always be edifying, pure and holy. I think it is a constant requirement that we work hard at what comes out of our mouth, and like king David ask the Lord to help us by giving us a guard/watchman to help us.
King David realised it is not only what comes out of our mouth, but we need to also work hard on what we think about and meditate on, not only can our thoughts cause us to personally sin, but can also influence the words that come out of our mouth and hurt other peooke..
We all know the saying, YOU CAN’T STOP THE BIRDS FLYING AROUND YOUR HEAD, BUT YOU CAN STOP THEM NESTING IN YOUR HAIR. Only this morning I read 2 Cor. 10:4-5 KJV (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) CASTING down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into CAPTIVITY every thought to the obedience of Christ;
PASSION Instead, OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS ARE ENERGISED WITH DIVINE POWER to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We CAPTURE, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.
N.L.T. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to DESTROY false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
MESSAGE The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for DEMOLISHING that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for SMASHING warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
In just a few weeks I have been born again for 70 years, and I am still coming to realise and understand and appreciate the keys, the tools, the weapons to deal with every attack, that are part of the BELIEVERS INHERITANCE NOW, all purchased for us through the death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are part of God’s SO GREAT SALVATION planned for us in eternity past.
I have highlighted some key words in these various translations, let me encourage you to meditate on these words and verses, and making use of the weapons such as USING THE NAME OF JESUS AGAINST WRONG THOUGHTS, USING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE RHEMA WORD OF GOD, AND CAST DOWN AND DEMOLISH EVERY THOUGHT THAT IS CONTARY TO THE WORD OF GOD.
Because of our sinful nature, and the attacks of the evil one (even though he has been defeated) this is a constant challenge we face every day, and cannot relax for a minute, we must do as Paul encouraged the Philippians in his letter (Phil. 4:8 NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are NOBLE, whatever things are JUST, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of , if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
We must learn TO CAST DOWN those sinful thoughts, and fill our mind with all those things Paul mentions in Phil 4:8 and not just think about them BUT MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.
PASSION So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
N.L.T. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
MESSAGE Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
If this becomes a lifestyle, we will move to a deeper intimacy with the Lord.
