As A Man Thinks
In his book, "Unleashing The Power of Faith", Pastor David Cho from Seoul, South Korea, relates a very powerful story. He writes "There was an American tourist who came to look at Niagara Falls. He went down to the foot of the falls and drank some water. Feeling refreshed from the water, he stood up to see a small sign that stood beside the water. Suddenly, he clutched his chest and contorted. With the help of those around him, he was taken to the hospital.
The sign he saw had one word written on it, "POISON!" It was quite obvious why he was taken to a hospital.
As soon as the man saw a doctor at the hospital, he shouted 'I drank water from Niagara Falls. There was a sign next to the water saying "POISON". Please, I need an antidote right away. I can feel the poison spreading throughout my body already.'
When the doctor heard what the man said, he laughed out loud.
'Stop all the ruckus and get up sir. The sign you saw did not say "POISON". The word used is actually a French word "POISSON", with one more 's' than the word "POISON". The French word "POISSON" means 'fish'. Therefore, the sign was giving notice that the water was reserved for the protection of fish."
The sign he saw had one word written on it, "POISON!" It was quite obvious why he was taken to a hospital.
As soon as the man saw a doctor at the hospital, he shouted 'I drank water from Niagara Falls. There was a sign next to the water saying "POISON". Please, I need an antidote right away. I can feel the poison spreading throughout my body already.'
When the doctor heard what the man said, he laughed out loud.
'Stop all the ruckus and get up sir. The sign you saw did not say "POISON". The word used is actually a French word "POISSON", with one more 's' than the word "POISON". The French word "POISSON" means 'fish'. Therefore, the sign was giving notice that the water was reserved for the protection of fish."
Fear or Faith; You Can Think Your Way To Both
Your mind can have a devastating effect on your attitude as you go through life. Proverbs 23:7 states, "As a man thinks in his heart so is he". Your thought process can lead you into faith or fear just as powerfully and just as quickly.
The man who thought the word on the sign was the word "POISON", had no problem whatsoever developing faith. It was a negative faith based on fear, but it was a form of faith nevertheless.
He didn't have to work it up. He didn't have to drum it up. He immediately went into fear.
The faith seed of thought is one of the most powerful of the faith seeds. With thought you can believe all things are possible. With the thought seed, you can believe nothing is possible.
The seed of thought can prosper the other seeds or it can stifle and choke off the other seeds. Just think about how devastating the thought seed can be when used incorrectly.
Adam and Eve listened to the serpent's words and through the incorrect use of the thought seed, they believed they needed to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This resulted in devastating effects for the world and mankind. It also caused the Son of God to be scarred for life.
Then there's Job. He was attacked mightily by Satan. Job lost his wealth and his family. In Job 3:25, are recorded the words of Job regarding his plight. "For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me. Job had apparently thought about losing all he had and his family. His thinking about that led him into fear. Then that fear led him to verbalizing his fears. So, Satan knew exactly where to attack Job.
The man who thought the word on the sign was the word "POISON", had no problem whatsoever developing faith. It was a negative faith based on fear, but it was a form of faith nevertheless.
He didn't have to work it up. He didn't have to drum it up. He immediately went into fear.
The faith seed of thought is one of the most powerful of the faith seeds. With thought you can believe all things are possible. With the thought seed, you can believe nothing is possible.
The seed of thought can prosper the other seeds or it can stifle and choke off the other seeds. Just think about how devastating the thought seed can be when used incorrectly.
Adam and Eve listened to the serpent's words and through the incorrect use of the thought seed, they believed they needed to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This resulted in devastating effects for the world and mankind. It also caused the Son of God to be scarred for life.
Then there's Job. He was attacked mightily by Satan. Job lost his wealth and his family. In Job 3:25, are recorded the words of Job regarding his plight. "For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me. Job had apparently thought about losing all he had and his family. His thinking about that led him into fear. Then that fear led him to verbalizing his fears. So, Satan knew exactly where to attack Job.
Focus Matters
Where you focus your thoughts plays a huge role as to whether you move into the realm of faith or the realm of fear. Let's take a look at two key examples as to how this works.
First, we have Adam and Eve. They had an intimate relationship with God. In fact, the scriptures tell us they walked with God in the cool of the day.
Really pay attention to this part. After creating them God did something that was simply amazing! Now, remember, as opposed to the other creatures God had created, He created Adam and Eve in His image (Genesis 1:27)..That would be a tremendous blessing in and of itself. To be able to think, create, imagine, have emotions, reason and love just like God.
But, after that, God did something else He hadn't done for any other part of His creation, including the other creatures. He pronounced a blessing over them. There is tremendous power in blessings. There was no shortage of power in the blessing God pronounced on Adam and Eve.
What a blessing Adam and Eve received. The blessing God pronounced had several parts to it. First, God blessed them to be fruitful and increase in number. God went so far as to declare a blessing over them that they would fill the earth and subdue it.
Next, God blessed them to rule and have authority. "Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (Genesis 1:28). So, by this time, God had given them a blessing to multiply, fill the earth and to have rule an authority over all the creatures on the ground, in the air or in the seas.
And if that wasn't enough of a blessing, God blessed them with provision. He gave them all the seed bearing plants over all the earth and every tree that that had fruit with seed in it. He said that all of those will be for Adam and Eve for food.
How would you react if that kind of blessing was pronounced over you?
Then, they would face a test. Remember, Adam and Eve were free to eat of from ANY tree in the garden. Any tree, except for one. God told them they couldn't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He went on to say that the day they ate of that tree, they would die.
Then in chapter 3 of Genesis, we see recorded the most tragic even in all of history. Satan, speaking through the serpent, confronted Adam and Eve regarding what God had told them. He asked her, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"
With that one question, Eve had lost her focus on the blessings she and Adam had received from God. You and I know she lost her focus because of her response to the serpent's question. She said "You may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die'".
God never said they must not touch it. He only told them not to eat of it. After a further lie about what God said, the scripture says that "when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye".
She had totally lost her focus. Her focus was no longer on the blessings God had given them, but on what they might be lacking, because the serpent had lied to her by saying "You will not surely die. ...For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
So her and Adam's focus went from the blessings God gave them to the fact God had knowledge, He hadn't given them. So, they could be like God by eating of the fruit. Their focus changed from the blessings God gave them to being concerned they were lacking in knowledge.
That lack, which was based in nothing more than fear, lead them to actions that would have detrimental effect on the whole world for the rest of history and would even affect the Son of God.
First, we have Adam and Eve. They had an intimate relationship with God. In fact, the scriptures tell us they walked with God in the cool of the day.
Really pay attention to this part. After creating them God did something that was simply amazing! Now, remember, as opposed to the other creatures God had created, He created Adam and Eve in His image (Genesis 1:27)..That would be a tremendous blessing in and of itself. To be able to think, create, imagine, have emotions, reason and love just like God.
But, after that, God did something else He hadn't done for any other part of His creation, including the other creatures. He pronounced a blessing over them. There is tremendous power in blessings. There was no shortage of power in the blessing God pronounced on Adam and Eve.
What a blessing Adam and Eve received. The blessing God pronounced had several parts to it. First, God blessed them to be fruitful and increase in number. God went so far as to declare a blessing over them that they would fill the earth and subdue it.
Next, God blessed them to rule and have authority. "Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (Genesis 1:28). So, by this time, God had given them a blessing to multiply, fill the earth and to have rule an authority over all the creatures on the ground, in the air or in the seas.
And if that wasn't enough of a blessing, God blessed them with provision. He gave them all the seed bearing plants over all the earth and every tree that that had fruit with seed in it. He said that all of those will be for Adam and Eve for food.
How would you react if that kind of blessing was pronounced over you?
Then, they would face a test. Remember, Adam and Eve were free to eat of from ANY tree in the garden. Any tree, except for one. God told them they couldn't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He went on to say that the day they ate of that tree, they would die.
Then in chapter 3 of Genesis, we see recorded the most tragic even in all of history. Satan, speaking through the serpent, confronted Adam and Eve regarding what God had told them. He asked her, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"
With that one question, Eve had lost her focus on the blessings she and Adam had received from God. You and I know she lost her focus because of her response to the serpent's question. She said "You may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die'".
God never said they must not touch it. He only told them not to eat of it. After a further lie about what God said, the scripture says that "when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye".
She had totally lost her focus. Her focus was no longer on the blessings God had given them, but on what they might be lacking, because the serpent had lied to her by saying "You will not surely die. ...For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
So her and Adam's focus went from the blessings God gave them to the fact God had knowledge, He hadn't given them. So, they could be like God by eating of the fruit. Their focus changed from the blessings God gave them to being concerned they were lacking in knowledge.
That lack, which was based in nothing more than fear, lead them to actions that would have detrimental effect on the whole world for the rest of history and would even affect the Son of God.
Then in Luke 4:1-9, is another story of Satan tempting someone. Jesus has been baptized and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and nights, being tempted by the devil.
The story tells us Satan led Jesus up to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan, then told Jesus, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been give to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to".
Think of that. Jesus had been in the wilderness for forty days and nights. He had eaten nothing during that time. Can you imagine going 40 days with no food in your system? I sometimes can't even imagine three hours.
Since Adam and Eve gave in to Satan's temptations in the garden, the authority and rulership, God had blessed Adam and Eve with, was given to Satan, being they gave in to his lies. In other words, their authority and rulership was transferred over to Satan.
Though Adam and Eve were given rulership and authority over all the creatures of earth, they gave in to temptation by Satan speaking through one of those creatures (the serpent), instead of exercising authority over him. They put themselves in submission to him. As a result, they abdicated their rule and authority. So Satan was able to tell Jesus he could give the authority of the kingdoms of the earth to anyone he chose to.
So, he told Jesus "if you worship me, it will all be yours". So, what did Jesus say? Adam and Eve had access to all food and weren't hungry, but gave in to Satan's lies. Jesus had denied Himself food. But, in the midst of severe hunger He said, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only'".
What a difference! Adam and Eve lost their focus to focus on things other than God. Jesus maintained His focus on God. Adam and Eve's lack of focus, caused worldwide devastation and catastrophe. Jesus maintained His focus on God and brought forth the authority, rule and blessings Adam and Eve forfeited.
What you focus on matters!
The story tells us Satan led Jesus up to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan, then told Jesus, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been give to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to".
Think of that. Jesus had been in the wilderness for forty days and nights. He had eaten nothing during that time. Can you imagine going 40 days with no food in your system? I sometimes can't even imagine three hours.
Since Adam and Eve gave in to Satan's temptations in the garden, the authority and rulership, God had blessed Adam and Eve with, was given to Satan, being they gave in to his lies. In other words, their authority and rulership was transferred over to Satan.
Though Adam and Eve were given rulership and authority over all the creatures of earth, they gave in to temptation by Satan speaking through one of those creatures (the serpent), instead of exercising authority over him. They put themselves in submission to him. As a result, they abdicated their rule and authority. So Satan was able to tell Jesus he could give the authority of the kingdoms of the earth to anyone he chose to.
So, he told Jesus "if you worship me, it will all be yours". So, what did Jesus say? Adam and Eve had access to all food and weren't hungry, but gave in to Satan's lies. Jesus had denied Himself food. But, in the midst of severe hunger He said, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only'".
What a difference! Adam and Eve lost their focus to focus on things other than God. Jesus maintained His focus on God. Adam and Eve's lack of focus, caused worldwide devastation and catastrophe. Jesus maintained His focus on God and brought forth the authority, rule and blessings Adam and Eve forfeited.
What you focus on matters!
Earthly Or Spiritually Minded?
You can think with your flesh, or you can think with your spirit. The scriptures tell us it's much more important for us to dwell on spiritual thinking rather than worldly thinking.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:5-7, very clearly the dangers of the wrong thinking. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires (earthly thinking); but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man (earthly thinking) is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit (Spiritual thinking) is life and peace."
The faith seed of thought is very powerful. What you think about and where you maintain your focus, will determine the degree in which you move and live in faith, rather than fear.
Earthly think will naturally produce fear, because the "sinful mind is hostile to God" and it cannot please God. Earthly thinking and focus will never please God. In fact, it'll find you in opposition to God. This is what Adam and Eve sensed, when after they had fallen for Satan's temptation, God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and Eve hid from God among the trees because they were afraid.
But "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6)
What we focus on becomes what we think about. Adam and Eve focused on information Satan told them God had withheld from them. Jesus focused on the fact that man should serve and worship God and Him only.
What we think about becomes what we are. Again, Proverbs 23:7 tells us that "as a man thinks in his heart so is he".
Then our actions in life are direct result of who we are (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Colossians 3:2 says to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things".
Watch your thinking and your focus. What you focus on expands and grows. Your earthly thinking and focus can't please God and in fact will be in opposition to God, leading you into fear.
But, your spiritual thinking and focus will serve as a powerful faith seed, leading you into greater faith.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:5-7, very clearly the dangers of the wrong thinking. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires (earthly thinking); but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man (earthly thinking) is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit (Spiritual thinking) is life and peace."
The faith seed of thought is very powerful. What you think about and where you maintain your focus, will determine the degree in which you move and live in faith, rather than fear.
Earthly think will naturally produce fear, because the "sinful mind is hostile to God" and it cannot please God. Earthly thinking and focus will never please God. In fact, it'll find you in opposition to God. This is what Adam and Eve sensed, when after they had fallen for Satan's temptation, God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and Eve hid from God among the trees because they were afraid.
But "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6)
What we focus on becomes what we think about. Adam and Eve focused on information Satan told them God had withheld from them. Jesus focused on the fact that man should serve and worship God and Him only.
What we think about becomes what we are. Again, Proverbs 23:7 tells us that "as a man thinks in his heart so is he".
Then our actions in life are direct result of who we are (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Colossians 3:2 says to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things".
Watch your thinking and your focus. What you focus on expands and grows. Your earthly thinking and focus can't please God and in fact will be in opposition to God, leading you into fear.
But, your spiritual thinking and focus will serve as a powerful faith seed, leading you into greater faith.
