Changing Deceptive Thinking

As we’re discovering when we read the Word, we need to translate it into what we work out in our lives each day. It’s what I call making the Word practical—because it is when we follow it. And, the more you are in the Word on a regular basis, the more you’ll find your thinking and believing changes. That’s good because otherwise we’re not really renewing our minds with God’s liberating truth.

To go another step, this is where our renewed thinking must step in and change not only our words but our thoughts. When we think about things long enough, we give them voice which gives them power in our lives. If you’re continually fed a diet of ‘I better do more, give more, pray more’, you’re always going to feel like you’re behind the eight ball and any minute you’ll come up short. Wait! You’ve been free from condemnation and guilt (which we’ll discuss later), because Jesus paid it all. What is left is for you to believe what He says about you, and what He provided for you—ALL of God’s blessings.

EW Kenyon reminds us that our words carry the power of what we believe and speak. Jesus spoke the words of His Father, and now He has given us His Words. As New Covenant Believers, we can use His Words now. His words in our lips will perform the same kind of miracles that the Father’s words did on His lips. Let His Words on your lips give LIFE. That takes place as you renew your thinking in His finished work, you discover how God sees you and what Jesus says about you. Then you can recognize what you believe about yourself only defines the experiences you have in this earthly life. Experiences aren’t the definition of WHO you are.

Again, this is where many people and believers get snagged. That’s why it is necessary to have a firm foundation in your identity IN Christ. We get into trouble in our thinking when we forget who we are.

The same is true in thinking about what Jesus accomplished for us. We should not forget His finished work on the Cross because that is where our power lies. As we said, you are no longer under the law because the law couldn’t give you what Jesus did. Jesus fulfilled the law and provides a better way.

It is deceptive thinking to say what Jesus did wasn’t enough. And when you add your requirements of doing certain things/works into this, it still comes up short boldly agreeing what Jesus did wasn’t enough. It was more than enough. God accepted His sacrifice for you, and when you receive it, you’re set free from the penalties of sin because Jesus stood in for you. To say otherwise is deceptive thinking. Don’t follow it.

Let’s not forget WHO WE ARE.

TRUTH: Paul gives us guidance in Colossians 2:6-8, NIV: “⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught…⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

What is deceptive philosophy—the opinions of others regarding life, God, and you. Notice that Paul says these deceptive opinions do not depend on Christ. They’re solely dependent on soulish things—worldly things, things touching our emotions and making a declaration. Paul says don’t be taken captive; in other words, don’t get sucked into believing or thinking like that.

Following deceptive thinking takes you right down the hallway to deceptive believing. Yes, you have a choice to believe what you want. BUT when you’re already a child of God, your believing shouldn’t be deceptive.

Jesus made it plain to His disciples—and us—in John 14:20 NIV: “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” Your life is IN Christ, not in this shaky, changeable and unreliable world. It’s not in ‘half’ a gospel—your life is in the ‘full’ gospel of the finished work.

Paul reminds us once again, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2, NIV. Changing the way you think changes the way you act or behave and what you do.

You can’t change your bad actions if you still believe they’re right. Align your thinking to the power of Christ working in you, in His finished work. Anything that doesn’t line up with what Jesus accomplished on the Cross, throw it out. It is unreliable and deceptive.

APPLICATION: Daily we’re challenged. What will you believe? What will you think? Don’t let deceptive thinking snag you. It can sound good at first, but by its very nature, it deceives you into thinking and believing something else—a lie.

You’ve been raised to a new level of life—IN CHRIST JESUS. You are more than a conqueror through Him. Don’t stoop back down and believe and give voice to the lies. You know WHO you ARE. You KNOW WHO your God IS.

The more you meditate and read the Word, the stronger and more fortified you’ll be. You’ll have the arsenal of the Word to throw at the enemy when he tries to attack you with deceptive thinking/believing. You’ll know the truth and the truth will set you free. Jesus pointed this truth out to the Jews who believed him and Paul follows it up with the freedom for all believers.

Spend time in these verses. Them them dwell in you. Let the Holy Spirit minister His truth to you.

John 8:31-32 NASB – “³¹So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Make It Personal: I make a decision to continue in God’s Word, letting the Word of truth bring me continual freedom because of what Jesus did for me.

Romans 8:1-2, NIV – “¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Make It Personal:  I am no longer condemned because I am IN Christ Jesus; therefore, I won’t condemn myself because I’ve been set free.

Colossians 2:6-8 NIV – “⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught…⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Make It Personal: I will continue to build and strengthen myself in what Jesus has done for me, and I won’t let anything contrary to His finished work captivate my thoughts.

John 14:20, NIV – “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

Make It Personal: Jesus is in Me, and I am in Him.

Romans 12:2 NIV – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Make It Personal: I will copy Jesus in how I behave and what I think so I can demonstrate God’s transforming power in my life.

John 8:31-32 NASB – “³¹So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Make It Personal: I will continue to read and study the Word and be set free.

ASK YOURSELF:

How are you keeping yourself from deceptive thinking and believing?

How are you putting into practice Romans 12:2?

In what way(s) has your thinking changed since you received God’s love and Jesus’ finished work?

What verse or verses have exploded in your thinking and understanding? How are you living them out?