Firewalls of the Thoughts (Part Two)

If we are quick to install a computer firewall to protect our computer files from infiltration, why are we often reluctant to take preventative measures to protect the mind? Just as we want our computer to function to its maximum capacity, keeping our data secure, so the Lord wants His servants to be uncorrupted and to function unhindered to the benefit of the Kingdom.

If we are corrupted with self and sin, we may have a ‘form of godliness’, but we do not have the power and authority the Lord intended for us (2 Timothy 3:5). We read in John 15:2 that Father God cuts off people who are not fruitful and He prunes those who are fruitful so they could be even more so. What does He prune away? Everything that is not of God! Have you ever paused and considered the consequences of these words.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” Do you think He meant what He said? Wouldn’t the devil love to see this happening?

This is why the Holy Spirit said through Peter: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your

enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” (1 Peter 5:8). If we just float through life from Sunday to Sunday, being religious yet living like we want to, without considering what the Lord wants and allowing the devil to deceive us, are we then alert and self-controlled? No, we need to make a consistent effort to protect ourselves.

This is the basis of a firewall for the mind. We need to submit to God (James 4:7a: “Submit yourselves, then, to God”). Submitting to God means we do what He likes, not what we like. Then we need to resist the devil (James 4:7b: “Resist the devil,”). The devil will not stop. He has his machine gun trained on your mind and feeds the ammunition belt of temptations relentlessly. So resisting him means constantly submitting to God (doing His will) so that His favour on you scares the devil and he flees (James 4:7c: “and he will flee from you”).

The Word is our firewall. It cleans us (John 15:3: “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you”) and covers us: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it,” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  We are soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3-4: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer”) and we need to fight to be fruitful. I will share examples of how one can use God’s Word to combat temptation in the next message.

Thank you, Lord, for being true to your Word. Please help us to live according to it.

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