People Have Issues
Some might say, “It’s a mad world, and people have issues.” In fact, it is often said, “He has issues,” or “She has issues.” Of course, it would be easy to associate these statements with the family dynamics of youth. However, there are many external influences that affect a person’s view of reality. This seems particularly true when individuals get swayed into group think, even to the point they seem incapable of critical thinking. That can be detrimental on many levels.
Unfortunately, Christians have also found themselves caught up into this phenomenon, and become double-minded without realizing it. At least, on some occasions. If we’re honest, each of us have probably talked out of both sides of our mouths, so to speak. Meaning, we said something contrary to Scripture, while professing to stand on the Word.
When discussing current events with others, it would be easy to address them in the same fashion as the world. Perhaps, thinking in terms of fear and self-preservation in some cases, or perhaps anger and revenge in others. If one were to allow himself to continue in this fashion, he might also find it more difficult to display the fruit of the Spirit, because of entering the realm of carnal thinking.
Furthermore, group-think can lead to group-behavior, which can have an adverse effect on the way a person lives life, to include the bondage of slave-mentality. How many times have we seen believers act like non-believers as a result. Instead walking by faith; they walk in fear. The reality is they followed another spirit; instead of Holy Spirit. It can affect all areas of life, starting with the spiritual. Which in turn, influences mental and physical health, relationships and finances. It creates a state of instability, even outright chaos. Not a good place to be!
Guard Your Heart and Mind
Proverbs 4:20-27 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth (a deceitful mouth), and perverse lips (devious speech) put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
The Holy Spirit enables us to properly discern what is being presented to us. But that requires submission on our part. In addition, He uses the Word of God to protect us from deception. It renews our mind to conform our way of think to His, which is in stark contrast to that of the world’s. It’s an obvious reason for reading your Bible.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Pay attention to sources of information. More specifically, the spirit behind that information. Every spirit has an agenda. Evil spirits use factual material in such a way to manipulate people. They will obviously misuse Scripture to deceive their victims. Even the devil tried it on Jesus, when trying to tempt Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1-13).
By the way, a false prophet can prophesy something that will come to pass, but he uses the prophesy to lead people astray.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Spirits are not always obvious, especially if you don’t think in terms of them influencing society. One example is a political spirit, which has been very pervasive lately. Its agenda is simple: divide and conquer. It is bent on destruction. How many families and friends been affected by it to the point where individuals cannot even talk with each other? Another example is a religious spirit that works overtime to divide the Church. Even certain churches have group-think, and will discount other believers as Christians, because they don’t view Scripture exactly as they do. Is Christ divided?
If you want to guard your heart and protect your mind, submit to Holy Spirit, immerse yourself in the Word of God, and walk in love.
