Reprogram your thoughts to come in agreement with God’s Word concerning you Proverb 23:7
The word translated “thinks” in Proverb 23:7a can also be translate as reason out/reckon/estimate, but the explanation in a Hebrew words search is to act as a gatekeeper. Meaning that the way we thinks of ourselves is a security barrier that determined whether we need to be reprogrammed.
Reprogramming is therefore required when there was a security breach that need to be rectified by replacing the lies with biblical truths, in order to become what God intended from the beginning of creation.
In Ephesians 2:10 we see God’s reprogramming solution for the fallen man, to recreate us through His Son Jesus Christ to enable us to do the good work that God intended for us from the beginning. [AKJ] Paul explained it in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Jesus however gave us a warning, indicating that there is a virus at work within the recreated life. The enemy is constantly trying to convince us that the victory of Christ is not all sufficient and that we have failed God purpose for us. Paul tried to remind us that the promise of God, though trustworthy, the enemy will used any area of doubt to open a door for false promises that is in conflict with the promise of God. [AKJ]Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
The solution is found in verse 30. Nevertheless what said the scripture? Cast out the female slave and her son: for the son of the female slave shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
The answer is to cast out the false promise and arguments to enable the true promise to come to maturity, and bear fruit according to the promise.
The first step, phase 1 is to decide who do you believe.
This reprogramming is taking place within our own mind and though patterns. We need to understand that we are in a spiritual battle, and the main battlefield is in our mind.
As with Abraham we need to consider who do we believe, and then we need to mix the Word/promise with faith/trust in God and His Son Jesus Christ and His ability to do according to His promise. [WEB] Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end: while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” Psa.95:7-8
Jesus said in John 8:31-32 “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”. God’s perfect Word is the only source of truth that have the ability to set us free from the lies of the enemy, but we must choose to believe it.
The enemy, aware of the fact that if we realize who we are in Christ we will no longer live an inferior live, but be victorious in Christ. The enemy will use disinformation to prevent you from realizing your God given purpose. Therefore Paul warned us to take heed as in [AKJ] Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The First step, phase 2 based on who you belief, think it.
Meditate on the truth of God’s Word, and let the way you reckon yourself in Christ be a gatekeeper in the spirit. Remember the battlefield is in the mind.
The enemy use deception to keep us in the dark about who we really are IN CHRIST. The enemy knows our past and fear our future in Christ, therefore he continuously reminds us of our past without Christ. We must break free from that lie, based on the guidelines we received in God’s Word. [AKJ] James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The mentioned scripture call on us to listen to God and and His promises in the knowledge that God’s Word is perfect and true, and call on us as believers in Christ resist the enemy and his lies.
We do it by recalling God’s promises, as we act in faith based on the promise, believing it to come to fulfilment in Christ Jesus. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we should be walking by faith and not by sight. Faith is action word, it requiring an action, therefore we should not be intimidated by man, or the fear of man. Remember Hebrews 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard”.(WEB) Bringing us to the second phase of reprogramming – speaking/proclaiming that what we believe to be true.
The second step, phase 2 is to confess what you believe to be true.
Luke 6:45 “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”, that what you are full off will be revealed when you speak.
Jesus said to the women at the well in John 4:14 that if we drink of the water He willingly give, we will not first but our hearts will be like a spring of living water unto eternal life. Jesus said in John 17:3 that eternal life is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ. When we allow the truth to be released through us, confessing that the truth of God’s Word, we come in agreement with God’s Word and the enemy will flee.
If we speak in faith what we believe God called us to be in Christ Jesus it will produce fruit accordingly. This is however not based on a false gospel called “name it and claim it”. This is not based on possessions but on a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:17 say that faith comes by the Word of God and by hearing God’s Word. As we read/speak God’s Word out in faith, the Spirit of the Living God, Living within us, hear these Word’s and help us to stand in faith. The bible say that the joy of the Lord is our strength, again as we read and speaks God’s Word out loud the Spirit rejoice from within strengthening us to walk by faith, overcoming our emotional feeling of inferiority and fear. This is the basis of the new covenant that God promised in Jeremiah 31:32
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. When we start speaking God’s perfect Word in faith, we build a faith based foundation within us. The more you speak God’s promises over our lives, the more it manifest in your live. Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If you therefore consider your heart to be a garden receiving the seed sow through your mouth, the fruit will be evident of what come out of your mouth, faith in the promise or fear in the flesh. If the Word of God, Jesus Christ is active within your life that Word will be your first respond. Jesus when tempted, said it is written quoting the Word of God as His defence.
Remember the words of James 1:22-25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” NKJV
The third step, phase 2 is to act according to the promise.
To live it, is the most difficult task, but Peter is the example. He is in no way perfect making bold statement that he could not keep within his own inability, he however also was the one when Jesus said throw your net out on the other side, he expressed his own inability but speak in faith that on account of the Word spoken by Jesus he will do it. Likewise it was Peter who dared to put his life in Jesus hands when he climb out of the boat in a storm because Jesus called him.
To live it is an expression of faith, as Peter got out of the boat, he walked on the water. There is a lot of talk about his faith failing, but I believe that he walked on the water and the only reason he took his eyes from Jesus is because those sitting in the boat called out that he must be careful of the waves. Those in the boat did not have the faith of Peter, to call unto Jesus, maybe they though the boat was a safe place.
There is a saying “practice what you preach”, this is based on the fact that we do not always do according to what we say, it would be better to alter the mentioned to “preach what you practice” indicating that we do and then preach accordingly.
Conclusion
Expect the promise of God to be released through you, based not on your own inability but God’s ability to do what He promise.
As you reckon yourself to be dead in Christ. Do you consider what men say about you, or do you consider what God said about you. Do you consider the child of the promise or the child of the flesh. If we believe and trust in the truth of God’s Word, we no longer live but Christ live within us and the power from within will be released as we act upon the promise. Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so be it done to you. And his servant was healed in the same hour.
Faith speak of action that is consistent with what we believe to be true. If you trust in God to give what we asked in Jesus name, do you take a raincoat to a prayer meeting for rain? “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 NKJV