Everyday we are bombarded by secular news reminding us we are in a spiritual battle for the souls of mankind. There is much concern about the economy, jobs, housing prices, mortgage foreclosures, declining morals, attacks against family values, the war in Iraq, and the upcoming presidential election. It seems the war against our minds has increased, offering plenty of opportunity to leave the realm of faith in Christ and enter the quagmire of worry.
I am reminded of the apostle paul’s statement “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” I love the power to imagine “all things possible to him that believeth.” Don’t you? Often, however, we have to battle the negative thoughts that war against our minds first. This brings me to the testimony of Viktor Frankl, a Nazi prison camp survivor. In his autobiography, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” he pens an inspirational testimony of humanity’s potential for greatness, whatever the circumstances. He wrote, “Our generation is realistic, for we have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord’s Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips.” Frankl stated that no matter the mistreatment by his demonic oppressors they could never take away his choice of how he responded to them.
God gave you freedom to choose how you respond to every circumstance in life, every thought that attacks your mind and every bad report that contradicts God’s plan for your life. Like Frankl, you have complete control over your thought life. All of us have thoughts. They can be good or bad, but thoughts are ingredients we use to make decisions. If your thoughts are carnal, cast them down. If they are positive, feed them. Your imagination can only incubate what you linger on, good or bad. The Word teaches of a man with an unclean spirit that lived in a cemetery. When he saw Jesus, he ran to Him, bowed and worshipped (Mark 5). If a legion of devils could not stop him from coming to Christ, then no devil, demonic thought or evil report can stop you from the abundant life in Christ Jesus.
The world has always been filled with doubt, unbelief and evil reports. THE good news is that you, the born-again believer, are no longer part of that kingdom. Christ has redeemed you and given you great and precious promises. Take control of your life and choose to respond to every circumstance of life according to the truth found in the Word of God.
In this issue of The Voice magazine, we’ll explore the realm of prophetic imaginations while also exploring the state of the church and the state of the economy. And don’t miss our exclusive interview with Jack “Iraq” Harris.
Your partner,
Jonas Clark
P.S.: Download the Current Issue | Subscribe to The Voice magazine
There are millions who wish they could get this kind of teaching. I believe that with the Holy Spirit’s help, these teachings have given people a new mindset…a new way of thinking and doing things in the godly walk that we’re required to do. The revelations given by the Holy Spirit on things like the one-man paradigm and the bless-me-only mentality have given us renewed insight on how to fight and win in this deadly game against satan in righteousness and holiness…pulling down those strongholds of false imaginations!
I believe that these tribulations of imaginations that we suffer through can be conquered and defeated if we would stop being selfish and get some more spiritual backbone! God’s word does not lie. He is not a man that He should lie. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Looks like we believe this for a moment, then when things get a little tough, we forget He ever said it. He also said for us to “fear NOT”. Yes, things might scare us sometimes, but that’s when we should immediately remember to start operating & praying in the “spiritual realm” of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND, not a weak, mind.
May I suggest that when we personally start to pity ourselves, feel depressed, or become sad, let’s try to remember to pray for “somebody else” who is in trouble. I know we might need the immediate help; but by praying for someone else, it takes our minds off of our own troubles. And if “everybody” we know is “straight”, with no problems, let’s then pray with our understanding and also in the spirit for any other sister or brother in Christ who we don’t know and for whatever problems they may be experiencing… that their way may be made well. Let’s stop being glad when we hear the word, then when the temptations of the world attack us, we allow satan to steal our joy and hope, and to fill our minds with all kinds of imaginations. Much of that stuff is not true anyway, a lot of it is what we think and believe. We must love one another, & pray for one another. This is what God wants us to do. We must TRUST in God rather than man. Then, do you think we will prove that we are made in His image? Will the world then know that we are