INSIDE JOB

by Marsha Burns

Proverbs 23:7 …as he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.

We are what we think, and we become what we think.

The problem comes when we believe what we think or say to ourselves inside more than we believe the Word of God.

So, we need to pay attention to our inside chatter and then bring every thought into captivity:

2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

What is your inside chatter? You have to pay attention to what you are saying to yourself inside. Pay attention to your thoughts. And, if they don’t line up with the will and Word of God, they need to be cast down.

God is dealing with our core issues right now … the things that go on deep inside of us.
I heard the Lord say that the mind is the “clearinghouse” – the place where we process information.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

The heart is where we sow seeds that grow up and produce a harvest.

Matthew 13:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
19 This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares [thoughts] of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

We have to be careful what is being sown in our hearts (souls) through our thoughts and inside chatter or self-talk. It can be either positive or negative.

We all have negative thoughts that come from time to time, but unless we dwell on and really believe these thoughts and allow them to take root in the heart, they will not bear fruit.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

We need to be careful of our inner chatter so that we don’t begin to speak unbelief, fear, and lies because they can grow up and become our harvest.

James 3:
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Mark 11:23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Thoughts position us to gain receive God’s promises and gain the victory or go down in defeat.

Mark 7:
20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Defile is defined as pollute or make unclean.

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Double-minded means wavering or uncertain.

I thought can translate as unbelief. Remember the guy that asked Jesus to help his unbelief?
That’s because of weak faith from what he experienced before he asked Jesus to heal his son.

Our faith comes from pure thoughts and belief in the Jesus … the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Faith is established when our inner chatter reaffirms the truth of the Word instead of allowing fear to cause us to be double-minded.

Romans 2:
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them

Philippians 4:8 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 good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

We can choose to allow our self-talk to be either holy or defiling. It’s up to us, and our future depends on it.

Amen!

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com