2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

From the book All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon:

I have heard someone say, “I am tormented with horrible thoughts. Wherever I go, blasphemies steal in upon me. Frequently at my work a dreadful suggestion forces itself upon me, and even on my bed I am startled from my sleep by whispers of the evil one. I cannot get away from this horrible temptation.”

Friend, I know what you mean, for I have myself been hunted by this wolf. A man might as well hope to fight a swarm of flies with a sword as to master his own thoughts when they are set on by the devil.

I do not wonder you feel that you are without strength to stop these hideous and abominable thoughts which Satan pours into your soul; but yet I would remind you of the scripture, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

Jesus saw that we could not overcome the prince of the power of the air; He knew that we should be greatly worried by him; but even then, when He saw us in that condition, Christ died for the ungodly. Cast the anchor of your faith upon this. The devil himself cannot tell you that you are not ungodly; believe then that Jesus died for you. – end of quote

Lately, I have seen comments on YouTube of people suffering from unwanted, intrusive, blasphemous, and spiritual-attack thoughts. Some seem to worry that they either must not be truly saved or have committed the ‘unpardonable sin.’ For about 5 years now, I too have suffered from such spiritual attacks and have learned since then that scripture is our greatest weapon and defense!

It is a comfort to know that even the ‘Prince of Preachers’ endured such battles during his time here as well. Throughout this article, I will share excerpts of what the great Charles Spurgeon had to say concerning this ‘daunting issue’ among Believers.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

When these intrusive and blasphemous thoughts started happening, I remember being upset, mortified, and worried that there was something ‘spiritually wrong’ with me! There were times I would confess these thoughts to others in tears because I never want to be displeasing to my Lord Jesus Christ! After doing extensive Christian Research on this topic, I came to realize that Prayer and God’s Word truly help to dispel these attacks; even if the attacks inevitably came back, still, it worked for that day or hour!

First off, if these are ‘unwanted thoughts,’ acknowledge that they are ‘not your thoughts’! Second, Pray “I submit unto You Lord God and resist the devil; please make all evil flee!” It also helps to ‘reinforce your stance’ to rebuke, renounce, and reject all blasphemous, evil, and spiritual-attack thoughts in Jesus Christ’s Name! Also, to ‘acknowledge your allegiance’ to Almighty God and to emphasize your ‘all-out spurious rejection’ of any adherence or allegiance to the enemy!

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

From the book, All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon: 

These thoughts, if you hate them, are none of yours, but are injections of the Devil, for which he is responsible, and not you. If you strive against them, they are no more yours than are the cursings and falsehoods of rioters in the street. It is by means of these thoughts that the Devil would drive you to despair, or at least keep you from trusting Jesus. The poor diseased woman could not come to Jesus for the press, and you are in much the same condition because of the rush and throng of these dreadful thoughts. Still, she put forth her finger and touched the fringe of the Lord’s garment, and she was healed. Do you the same.

Jesus died for those who are guilty of “all manner of sin and blasphemy,” and therefore I am sure He will not refuse those who are unwillingly the captives of evil thoughts. Cast yourself upon Him, thoughts and all, and see if He be not mighty to save. He can still those horrible whisperings of the fiend, or He can enable you to see them in their true light so that you may not be worried by them. In His own way He can and will save you, and at length give you perfect peace. Only trust Him for this and everything else. – end of quote

From gotquestions.org: Intrusive Thoughts

Question: “Are intrusive thoughts sin? Are spontaneous violent, sexual, or blasphemous thoughts sin?”

Answer: Nearly everyone, at some point or another, has been subject to intrusive thoughts. These involuntary, unwanted images, phrases, or impulses are extremely common. Spontaneous and intrusive thoughts of violence to children or animals, inappropriate sexual contact, and blasphemy can be extremely disturbing and even cause some to question their salvation. But are they even sin?

God has given us tools to fight intrusive thoughts. Psalm 139:23-24 encourages us to submit our hearts and thoughts to God. He can determine if there is anything harmful in us that needs to be dealt with. If the thoughts truly are unbidden and spontaneous, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 explains what to do next:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Blasphemous, harmful, and deviant thoughts and inclinations are part of spiritual warfare, and we need God’s help to fight them. By studying Scripture, reaffirming the truth in our minds, and Bible memorization, we can greatly diminish or even vanquish intrusive thoughts — “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19). – Source

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Although the spiritual attacks do not seem to fully go away, they have become more manageable the more I have grown in Christ. His Word is like a ‘healing balm and a rock of defense’ to the worn out and weary.  Sometimes the attacks come in the middle of the night, sometimes as soon as I wake up, sometimes even during a normal conversation with another person. The devil is relentless and will throw his ‘fiery darts’ upon us at will. That is why it is so important to perpetually have on our Full Armor of God at all times!

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

We do this through Prayer! Remember, like Paul said, we are to Pray without ceasing! Praying at all times means not only to Pray, but to also ‘keep our minds fully on Christ and His Word’ as much as possible! This can be done by listening to sound preaching from True Ministers of Truth, or by singing Praise Songs and Hymns, or by talking to others about the things of God. Let all we do be for Him and His Glory!

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

From the book, All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon:

Personally, I could never have overcome my own sinfulness. I tried and failed. My evil propensities were too many for me, till, in the belief that Christ died for me, I cast my guilty soul on Him, and then I received a conquering principle by which I overcame my sinful self. The doctrine of the cross can be used to slay sin, even as the old warriors used their huge two-handed swords, and mowed down their foes at every stroke. There is nothing like faith in the sinner’s Friend: it overcomes all evil. If Christ has died for me, ungodly as I am, without strength as I am, then I cannot live in sin any longer, but must arouse myself to love and serve Him who hath redeemed me. I cannot trifle with the evil which slew my best Friend. I must be holy for His sake. How can I live in sin when He has died to save me from it? – end of quote

Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Our God is a God like no other! He is mighty to save; He is our Rock and Redeemer! Christ died for the ungodly; there is no greater love than this! He is our Hiding Place! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah to the Lord God Almighty! All Honor, Glory, Power, and Praise to our Deliverer!

Trust fully in Jesus Christ; Yahweh; Emmanuel; Adonai; Elohim; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; our Lord; God; King; and Savior! Thank You, Lord, that at the ‘Powerful Name of Jesus’ all evil must bow and flee!

Philippians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”

Acts 16:18 “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Luke 10:17 “The seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”

The final admonition for those suffering from this battle is that we are not to talk directly to the demons. Instead, we are to Pray (James 4:7), submitting unto God and resisting the devil by asking God to make all evil flee in Jesus Christ’s Name! By fighting this war in this manner, you will find ‘relief and deliverance’ for your mind through the Name of Jesus!

Until next time… Maranatha!

(JESUS = THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE!)

Jesus Will Come!

 

An Exposition

Luke 11:1-4: “Points to Consider in Prayer”

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘LORD, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples.’ ² So, He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On Earth as it is in heaven.
³ Give us day by day our daily bread,
⁴ And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one” (Luke 11:1-4, NKJV).

What does Scripture in its entirety say to us about the privilege the Sovereign LORD gives to us in that we can come to Him and have, in essence, a conversation with Him at any time and in any place? How much time do we waste in not coming to Him with a need, a problem, a time of gratitude, or that of sorrow and grief? How long has it been since you have spoken with Him?

I would hope that this lesson would reignite your desire to commune with Him, and if you are not a believer, it is my desire that in reading this lesson, that your mind and heart would be open to casting your doubts and attitude aside and be honest with Him. He’s big enough to take it, and He will hear you out; but realize that in talking to the Creator of the Universe and the redeemer of your soul, you’ll have to come to grips with the fact that you will have to submit to His direction and guidance from that moment on. Are you ready?

Prayer can be quick and sometimes hurried (Luke 23:42). It can be done in secret (Matt. 6:6), or together as a family (Acts 10:2, 30). You can be part of a group come together to pray for each other and for God’s direction (Matt. 18:20). We pray together as part of the church fellowship (1 Cor. 14:14-17) when we meet regularly.

For a lot of people, especially new believers, prayer can be something they find formidable and often difficult. After all, how do you approach the God of the universe?

There have been a lot of teachers and preachers who tell us that we come to God as we would a friend, or with an attitude of reverence and dread due to His holy nature, or just as we are in need of refining and maturity in our development as followers of Christ. All these approaches are good and are worthy of study. One pattern that I believe would be of help and one that I find is probably the easiest to use is to first approach the LORD in an attitude of adoration (Daniel 4:34-35). Take the time to praise and glorify Him for His goodness, mercy, and grace. He already knows what you are going to say concerning your needs or other concerns. Take the time to bask in His presence and try not to hurry through anything.

After a time of adoration, spend time confessing your sins and feelings to the LORD. He made you, knows how you operate, and nothing surprises or shocks Him in terms of the mistakes you make or the sins you commit (Romans 3:23).

I heard a preacher say one time that you do not get cleaned up to take a bath, and you do not try to make things right in your own abilities before approaching God. He is the One who has cleansed you through the sinless blood of Jesus Christ, who will continue to forgive and renew you when you do fall into sin (1 John 1:9).

When you have taken the time to honestly confess all wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness and renewal, then take the time to ask Him for your needs, for counsel, and to intercede for your brethren, the lost, your family and friends, and those in authority (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-5). Take time to thank Him for all that He has provided you, and know that He is always there, ready to hear from you. This pattern presented above is in line with the model prayer given by the Lord Jesus in verse 1-4. In studying the LORD’s presentation, I want to share with you some insights that I believe will be of benefit to you as you either learn to pray or improve your prayer life.

The model prayer is founded upon the holiness of God (v.2a). Our holy, reverent, almighty Creator loves us as a Father loves His own. He is to be revered, respected, and rightfully given worship because He is righteous and wonderful (Isaiah 6:1-8). His kingdom will be established here on earth as well as heaven because of the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus.

This prayer shows that we are to be subject to the will of the LORD and what pleases Him (2b). One of the top questions asked by Christians is that of the will of God for their lives. In my years as a pastor and teacher, I have studied this topic, and the answer is quite simple:

He wants you to be saved from sin (Romans 10:9-10).

He wants you to live a godly life (John 17:17-19).

He wants you to serve Him (1 John 3:22).

He wants you to look to Jesus as the example of obedience and commitment (Luke 22:42).

This prayer shows that our Father can supply our needs (v.3). Look at what Jesus did with the loaves and fishes in feeding the people (9:10-11). He evens tells us not to worry about our needs (Matt.6:25-33; Phil. 4:19). He is not going to run short of supplies or ration anything or run to the store to pick up extras. He has all things under His control and at His command, despite what you see going on around the world.

This prayer demands forgiveness by us and demonstrates forgiveness from the Father (v.4a). Forgiveness is to be done before the LORD will hear you (Mark 11:25). It is to be continual (Luke 17:4) and is the prime characteristic of a child of God (Eph.4:32). Jesus demonstrated forgiveness while suffering on the cross (Luke 23;24) and undergoing humiliation, derision, blasphemous comments, and horrid pain, both physical and spiritual. This is God in the flesh dying for our sins so that we could have fellowship with the Father eternally, free from sin and pain and with the joys of heaven before us. Just remember this if nothing else. He did not have to do it. This was an act of love that is incomprehensible, so who are you to dismiss or demean it?

The final portion of this prayer tells us that the devil is a conquered and defeated enemy. Even with his minions and human followers doing unspeakable things, it is doing nothing more than throwing a cosmic temper tantrum, which will end when they are all banished to the eternal Lake of Fire at the great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:1-15) and forever declare that Jesus is Lord, as well as their Judge (Phil. 2:9-11). We will never see or hear from them again. The memory of our lost family and friends will be taken away from us as we are comforted by the LORD (Rev. 21:4). We will be with our redeemed loved ones and the Lord Jesus forever in the new heaven and earth.

That day is approaching (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-21). If you are not sure where you stand with the LORD, I implore you to get that settled today (2 Cor. 6:2). Ask Him to forgive and save you now, and when we gather around His throne, we will see Him face to face and have all eternity to talk with Him. It is going to be great.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

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