Page 75 - Overcoming Addiction

Chapter 11 - Overcoming by Our Words

n the previous chapter we read of Israel’s great failure to trust Yahweh when He
Iinstructed them to go forth to take possession of the land of Canaan. What I
want to emphasize in this chapter is a matter of great importance that the Lord
has impressed upon me over the years. What the Spirit has declared to me could
be summarized in this way:

It is unavoidable that doubts and unbelief will attack our minds. We will
all be faced with trials and beset by fear. There are times when thoughts of
unbelief, fear and even rebellion will be present in our hearts, but the
transgression only arises as we give voice to these thoughts.

Yahweh would not have prohibited the Israelites from entering the land of
Canaan simply because they were troubled in their hearts by fear and unbelief. It
was when they allowed these thoughts to manifest in the form of speech that was
offensive to God that the transgression came in, and they incurred judgment.
Let me explain this matter more fully. The mind is one of the main
battlegrounds where our warfare is waged against sin. It is therefore unavoidable
that there will at times be many unworthy thoughts present in our mind. Satan
also has access to our minds, and he can suggest things to us that either stir up sin
in our members, or that are contrary to what God would have us to do and think.
It is not sin for us to have these thoughts present in our mind. It is only sin when
we entertain these thoughts when we should be casting them down. This sin is
further compounded when we allow these thoughts to manifest in words and
actions.

II Corinthians 10:3-5
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...

It was not sin for the Israelites to find that there were thoughts of fear and
unbelief in their minds. It became sin when they did not rule over these thoughts.
Instead, they embraced the fear and unbelief and then gave voice to it. When we
voice those thoughts that are contrary to the will and truth of God, then we have
set our course and have revealed that we prefer a lie to the truth. God will judge us
for preferring a lie over the truth.

II Thessalonians 2:10-12
Because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this
reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will
believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not
believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.