Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV (1) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Mindset: a mental attitude or inclination, a fixed state of mind
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Four Levels of Mental Activity:
- Thoughts (selection)
- Imaginations
- High things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God
- Strongholds
High things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMPC (5) [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
If the enemy wants to shape the decisions that someone makes that is not a believer, then all he has to do is keep them away from the truth either from a Christian or in Church.
But how does he work in the life of a believer that is hearing the Word of God? How does he endeavor to affect the decisions that a believer is making who is consistently exposed to the truth of the Word of God?
The only way that he can have any influence on the decisions of a believer is to bring you a second word in a way that is deceptive or subtle enough to get you to believe the second word over the first Word from God.
Once a person has heard the Word, the only thing he can do is bring an alternative word that he convinces you to buy in to.
Genesis 3:1-6 NKJV (1) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (2) And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; (3) but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” (4) Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. (5) For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
God had already brought the first Word to Adam and Eve:
Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV (16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Satan manages to bring a second word that is subtle and cunning to produce the deception to Adam and Eve.
There are some earmarks that will be consistent with the second word when the enemy brings it to you:
- It always begins with a question.
Genesis 3:1 NKJV “…Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
To the extent that you truly know what God has said, you are vulnerable to the question marks that the second word will bring to you.
Eve misquoted what God said because it was a little fuzzy in Eve’s mind as she really was not sure what God had said (reflection on Adam).
- There will always be a direct contradiction in the second word.
Genesis 3:4 NKJV (4) Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
Along with the contradiction often times will be accompanied by a direct shot at the character of God.
Genesis 3:5 NKJV (5) For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Always appeals to the flesh.
Genesis 3:6 NKJV (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
The second word will often take the responsibility off of you for your actions and this appeals to the flesh (God could have allowed that situation to teach you something…).
1 Kings 13:1-24 NKJV And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. (2) Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’ ” (3) And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.” (4) So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself. (5) The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. (6) Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before. (7) Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” (8) But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. (9) For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’ ” (10) So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel. (11) Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. (12) And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah. (13) Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it, (14) and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. Then he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” (15) Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” (16) And he said, “I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. (17) For I have been told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ” (18) He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (He was lying to him.) (19) So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. (20) Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back; (21) and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, (22) but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ ” (23) So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. (24) When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse.
The second word will always cost you in life.
- The Word of God was questioned by the King and then by the Old Prophet.
- The Word of God was then contradicted by the Old Prophet when he said that the angel had appeared unto him to tell him the young man should some to his house and eat, but he was lying.
- He was tired and hungry and thirsty and therefore the invitation appealed to his flesh.
- The enemy is referred to as being like the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. When the young prophet gave heed to the second word, it opened the door to the devouring ability of the lion on the road.
- Most likely Satan is not going to come to you through a serpent. You are probably too smart for that and would not give in to that.
- But we do see something different here in that the enemy may use someone that you allow to speak into your life to bring you the second word.
What is the defense against the second word?
- Know beyond any shadow of doubt what the written Word of God has said for yourself. You must be grounded in the Word of God.
- Where the will of God is concerned that is not directly addressed by the written Word of God, you are to follow after the inward witness of God’s spirit in your heart.
- God never deals in second words. He always has the best idea the first time. You will know the voice of your Shepherd. (John 10)
- God always comes to you with a conviction and a knowing in your heart.