These are the notes for the message that Wayne C Anderson discussed at The Shepherd’s House, in Albany, New York, on June 30, 2010. Watch the message live (7 PM EDT) or recorded video online at heismyshepherd.com Proverbs 23:6-7 “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies …For as he [...]
These are the notes for the message that Wayne C Anderson discussed at The Shepherd’s House, in Albany, New York, on June 30, 2010. Watch the message live (7 PM EDT) or recorded video online at heismyshepherd.com
Proverbs 23:6-7
“Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies …For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
The word ‘thinks’ in this scripture actually literally means: “sheep gate.” A sheep gate is a gate that can pivot in the middle so that it might swing both directions. The “sheep gate” represents a place of decision. Here’s the picture you need to grab hold of: the shepherd stands at the sheep gate, and as the sheep come through the gate, he examines them and pivots the gate for each individual sheep as he passes by to decide which area of the field, barn or whatever he will put each sheep in. The ‘place of decision’ is always there. Or, “as he thinks . . .”
There is an obvious tie between the heart and the mind that we must learn to deal with if we are to move into our destiny and overcome the poverty, sickness, and failure that bombards us.
Jesus revealed some very important principles of the heart, saying,
Matthew 12:34 NKJV
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
These “matters of the heart” are very important to the outcome of all that we do upon this earth. The heart becomes a kind of “catch all” for thoughts that we have not conquered. When we have accepted the thoughts and begin to take ownership of them, however evil they may be, our heart is tainted and we cannot operate with the substance of heaven. We then begin to use the forces of this world for our pleasures and fortresses of darkness are built up in our minds.
Mark 7:21 NKJV
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,”
Luke 6:45 NKJV
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
There is a battleground that is in the mind of every believer. This great battlefield is where most of our spiritual conflicts are either won or lost.
2 Corinthians 10:3 – 6 NKJV
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
It is a little known fact that you can think anything that you want to think. Most people never consider thinking something other than what comes automatically to their mind. Yet, we have a choice. So then, if you can think anything that you want to think, what do you want to think about? The apostle Paul adjured the Philippian Church to, “think (or meditate) on these things.”
Philippians 4:9 NKJV
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
It is time to prepare for the battle of the ages. Ready our minds with the great gospel of God’s grace and peace. Be prepared to stop any thought in its tracks and direct our minds toward the cross of Jesus Christ. “Taking every thought captive” is as easy as that. When a thought is found to be in error, think on the great obedience of Christ and how He obeyed to the extreme by being crucified on behalf of the sins of the entire world.
Prepare yourself for battle.
Meditate upon the gospel of Christ. Be ready to shift your mind off the worthless, and place it as an act of your effort and will upon the priceless works of Jesus Christ!
