Mind Poison
If you knew that your Enemy was trying to poison you, would you want to know it and would you stay far away from it? Duh...yes, right? Well, Satan (our enemy) has a poison in his arsenal that too many believers over the years have drunk from...to their spiritual destruction! Want to know what it is? It's mind poison. Mind poison in the form of thinking bad thoughts about someone else. False accusations brought against another brother or sister. Character assassinations...Bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts towards another in the Body of Christ. Truly, Satan's desire is to bring division and spread disunity amongst those within the church. Like me, you have probably been on both sides of these hurtful ordeals. Well, that's whats going on here in Acts 14...
God had been using Paul and Barnabas to bring many people to faith in Jesus! Here in Iconium, a great multitude of Jews and gentiles believed! They put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and were now a part of the Body of Christ! But, there was an enemy among them who wanted to poison their minds and shipwreck their faith. This time, he came in the form of some unbelieving Jews...seeking to discredit the character and work of the apostles, and thus, separate these new gentile converts from the other brethren.
Satan knows that if he can get us to turn against one another...especially those in leadership, then we will be isolated and alone...prone to attack and spiritual destruction. So, he seeks to poison our minds with accusations against one another! After all, we were made to live in community...made to live as a part of a spiritual family. And, if he can poison our minds against "the brethren"...then, the enemy has won!
One book that i am reading right now puts it this way..."If our primary identity is as persons in community, then our ability to thrive will be shaped by our involvement in a community. Life as it should be lived is life-in-community. Community is not merely an added benefit to me. It is an essential part of what it means to be human. And this means that the Christian community is essential to what it means to be a Christian."
So, we must be careful not to let the enemy poison our minds today! Yes, it can come in the form of TV and media...those are more obvious. But, be on guard for those more subtle forms of poison which are much more relational and come in the forms of bitterness towards a brother or sister in Christ. Or, in the form of questioning the character or work of a church leader. Or, in the form of unforgiveness or jealousy in your heart towards someone within the church. These forms of mind poison have always been an effective way in which the Enemy has taken believers out of the fellowship...and, even out of the race altogether!
So, next i begin to listen to the negative mind-chatter that accuses, questions or condemns another brother or sister...God help me remember that it just may be the Enemies poison...and, help me to run far away from it!
Created over 2 years ago
