Renewing the Mind: Overcoming Lies with Truth

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Positive Thinking

Our thoughts have a significant impact on our future and the direction we are headed. The power of our thoughts is so strong that it can shape our reality. If we believe we can achieve something, we are more likely to succeed. Conversely, if we think we can't, we are setting ourselves up for failure. [12:45]

Proverbs 23:7 - "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

Reflection: Reflect on your thought patterns today. Are they mostly positive or negative? How can you use God's Word to transform your thinking and align it with His promises?

Day 2: The Importance of Scripture Memorization

Knowing and memorizing scripture is crucial in our spiritual journey. It equips us to combat the enemy's lies and stand firm in our faith. Unfortunately, many Christians are not well-versed in scripture, leaving them vulnerable to the enemy's attacks. [32:10]

Psalm 119:11 - "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Reflection: How many Bible verses can you recite from memory? Choose a new verse today and commit to memorizing it.

Day 3: Recognizing the Enemy's Lies

The enemy often plants seeds of doubt and temptation in our minds, just as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden. We must be vigilant and discerning, not falling for his lies but staying focused on God's truth. [45:20]

2 Corinthians 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Reflection: What lies of the enemy have you believed in the past? How can you use God's Word to counteract these lies?

Day 4: The Power of Doubt

The enemy uses doubt to keep us from fulfilling our God-given purpose, as seen in the story of the spies in Numbers chapter 13. We must not let his lies influence us but instead trust in God's promises and abilities. [58:30]

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are allowing doubt to hold you back? How can you replace this doubt with faith in God's promises?

Day 5: Renewing the Mind

Renewing our minds is a crucial part of our spiritual growth. We must identify the lies that the enemy has planted in our minds and replace them with the truth of God's Word. This process involves actively combating the enemy's lies and immersing ourselves in God's truth. [1:10:15]

Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Reflection: What is one lie that you have believed about yourself? Find a scripture that contradicts this lie and commit it to memory.
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Sermon Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor expressing gratitude for the growth of the church and the support received during Pastor Appreciation Day. He then introduces the topic for the next five weeks, which is renewing the mind. The pastor emphasizes the importance of our thinking in determining our future and the direction we are headed. He quotes the saying, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." The series aims to equip the congregation with tools to change their thinking through the power of God's Word, enabling them to live a passionate and purpose-filled life.

The pastor acknowledges the presence of lies and negative thoughts that the enemy tries to plant in our minds, especially as we grow older. However, he claims the truth of God's word and declares that we should not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing our minds. The pastor then prays for believers to sort out their thoughts and encourages them to memorize Bible verses and participate in a YouVersion plan to win the war in their minds. He also addresses those who may not be believers and are struggling with their thoughts and lack of purpose, sharing the message of Jesus and offering forgiveness and a second chance for life.

The pastor then focuses on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, highlighting how the enemy knows when we are at our weakest and uses that moment to test and tempt us. He emphasizes the importance of exposing the enemy's lies and speaking the truth of God's word when faced with temptation. The pastor also highlights the importance of knowing and memorizing scripture, lamenting that many Christians do not even know 10 verses of scripture by memory, which leaves them ill-equipped to combat the enemy's lies.

The pastor addresses the lies that the enemy puts in our minds to deceive us, using the example of Eve being tempted by the fruit in the Garden of Eden to illustrate how the enemy plants seeds of doubt and temptation in our minds. He warns the congregation not to believe the lies of the enemy, such as "you can't live a Christian life" or "this won't work for you." He encourages them to renew their minds and stay focused on God's truth. The pastor concludes by emphasizing the power of lies and doubts that the enemy plants in our minds, referring to the story of the spies in Numbers chapter 13, where 10 of them were influenced by the enemy's lie and doubted their ability to conquer the land.

The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of renewing the mind and replacing lies with the truth. The congregation is encouraged to identify the lies that the enemy has planted in their minds and replace them with memorized truths. The pastor suggests a practical step for the next 30 days, which involves identifying the lies and replacing them with memorized scriptures. He also announces that in addition to the memory verse, the congregation will receive a YouVersion plan to read and study together each week.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

"Your thinking determines your future. Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. This series will give you tools to change by renewing your mind through the power of God's Word so that you can live a passionate, purpose-filled life and fulfill your destiny." [45:58]

"Thoughts form the thermostat which regulates what we accomplish in our life. If I feed it with doubt, worry, and discouragement, that is precisely the kind of day I will experience. If I adjust my thermostat forward to thoughts filled with vision, hope, and victory, I can count on that kind of day. You and I become what we think about." [46:52]

"If somebody tells you a lie, but you begin believing that, then you're going to accept it as a truth. If somebody comes along and says you'll never amount to anything, you'll never be anything, you'll never be able to start your own business, you're never going to be loved, you're never going to be friends, that's all a lie. But if you believe it, then it directs the direction of your life." [49:29]

"What seed has the enemy been planting in your mind? Some of you, he's saying things like this, you can't. You can't live a Christian life. You can't get victory over this." [55:29]

"But it's no more humorous and silly than the lies that the enemy's been telling you. That you'll never be able to be who God wants you to be. You'll never have a great marriage. You'll never be healed. You'll never walk into that ministry." [59:52]

"He'll tell you, you'll never do it. You're not smart enough. You're not good enough. You'll never do those. And then five is just uncertainty. You don't know what to do. You don't know what to do. So you say, look, I don't like where I am. So how do I, how do I get rid of this lie? I mean, I just can't say presto chango, get rid of this lie. How do I change my mind? Here's how you change your mind. You've got to identify the lie and replace it with the truth from God's word." [01:02:01]

"For 30 days, I'd like for you to really work on identifying that lie, identifying that thought that the enemy has put in your mind and replace it with a memorized truth." #!!01:07:55!!#

"The enemy knows when you're on your last nerve, when you feel weaker than you've ever felt before, when you feel like you can't please God, when you feel like that everything you believed in is not happening. He comes at that moment with some of his greatest testing." #!!01:04:47!!#

"If you want something great, get ready to be tested greatly. How do we, how do we do this? Well, we've got to replace it with the truth, with the truth." #!!01:05:44!!#

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