ATTACKING CONFUSION by Larry W. Peebles October 5, 2018 18.28
The battle for the mind was about to begin. When my wife and I started our ministry in the Juvenile Justice system in the Florida County where we lived, we quickly saw we were dealing with a group of confused young people. This confusion had built up over a period of time, and had to be addressed. While each case is different, it could be generally said that the confusion in and among the young people was the result of a dysfunctional home. With one or both parents missing from the home situation, these people in Juvenile Justice had received repeated negative messages they began to believe. These messages in turn led to destructive behaviors resulting in their arrest and detention.
More specifically, these young people were told they were no good, unwanted problems. They were told they were bad, had no potential, and would not amount to anything. They had no hope, and would not make it in the world. They were repeatedly pummeled by verbal abuse, including expressions of hatred and rage. Some heard the ultimate- “I wish you had never been born.” This is only a sample of the hurtful things they heard, and there is no way I could begin to compile a list of the names they had been called. Over time they believed the lies, and acted them out with a “who cares” attitude. Constant badgering by the only authority figure in their lives produced disrespect for authority, and ultimately disrespect for the law. Many in fact were encouraged to break the law as a way to get their hands on some fast cash. Their time in Juvenile Justice provided an opportunity for my wife and me to begin to break the cycle of lies and bring clarity to their confused minds and lives. Our weapon to combat those lies was the truth—the Word of God.
God is not a God of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 makes it clear that God does not promote or author confusion. His character does not change from day to day, and His Word is the truth forever. He is God Almighty, and He is not confused. God and His word were something the young people could use as their anchor. We do not have to be detained in Juvenile Justice to benefit from the plan to attack confusion. Many of us are hearing confusing messages in our lives today, and may find a battle plan helpful. Many of us have heard and believed the lie that comes from the voice in our head-the voice that will not go away.
Here is the plan that worked for those young people, and still works today:
- Determine who is speaking to you. We are not talking about the person who may have said the actual words. The words may not be external and audible. They may be internal thoughts that seem real. In either case, we want to identify the spiritual source of the words. There are only two choices. The first is God, who can only speak the truth. Jesus said in John 14:6 –“I AM the way the truth and the life.” He did not say He would tell the truth, although He does, He said I AM the truth. He can only tell the truth, and everything He says is the truth. He cannot lie. The second is the devil, who can only lie. He is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him at all according to John 8:44. This scripture says that lies are the native tongue of the devil. The words, voices or thoughts have one of two spiritual sources-they are either of God, or of the devil.
- The Bible tells us we can know and recognize the source. In John 10:14, Jesus said “I AM the good shepherd.” Then in verse 27 He said- “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” We are the sheep, He is the shepherd. He knows us, and we can know His voice and follow Him. If we do not recognize the words as the voice of the Good Shepherd, then the father of lies must be speaking. Consider these examples: a) If the voice says “you are worthless and no good” it must be a lie, because the Bible says you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. The source is the father of lies, and the voice speaks a lie. The truth is we have a unique and special purpose and destiny, and are of infinite worth. b) If the voice says “you will never amount to anything/your future is a dead-end” it must be a lie, because the Bible says “we are children of God”, and heirs to the kingdom. Galatians 3:26. The source is the father of lies, and the voice speaks a lie. Jeremiah 29:11 says- “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This Scripture is a beautiful example of the way God speaks the truth to us. Only the devil would lie by saying we have no hope or future. c) When the voice says “you cannot do this”, it must be a lie because the Bible says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13. The Bible also says “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. The voice has lied, and the truth will silence it. d) If the voice says “everyone hates you, no one loves you”, it must be a lie because the Bible says “God loves the whole world.” John 3:16. God’s word is eternal, and must be recognized as truth from the Shepherd. The voice in the head is a lie. e) If the voice says “you are going to die”, the truth (the Bible-the Word of God) says Jesus is the Creator and giver of life, and is (I AM) life. Jesus says in John 11:25-26- “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” We understand we will all die eventually. Our bodies will grow old and wear down. Our spirit, the essence of who we are, will live forever. But when we hear the threat of immediate death, we can know the voice is attempting to cause one to fear and be intimidated through lies. Jesus not only gives life, He is life.
- When we determine who is speaking and recognize the source of the messages, we can begin to attack the confusion. We can counter the lies with the truth from the Word of God, just as Jesus did when He confronted the devil at the beginning of His ministry in Matthew Chapter 4. Jesus was tempted three times by lies of the devil. Each time He quoted scripture as His answer. This sets a strong example of how to battle the father of lies. After the third attempt, and Jesus’ third response from Scripture, the Bible says in Matthew 4:11- “the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.” The battle was over. Truth defeated the lies. ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”- John 8:32. Truth from the Word of God sets us free from the torment of lies in the mind. Ephesians 6: 11-17 also tells us how to “stand against the wiles of the devil.” This Scripture is where we receive instruction on the use of the “armor of God”, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. God has given us these tools to defend against the lies and attacks of the devil.
- The victory is ours if we resist the devil. James 4:7- “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We do not have to fight in hand-to-hand combat. The battle belongs to the Lord. When we submit to God, we say “I cannot win this battle with my strength or tactics. I will submit to You O God, and do this Your way.” Our part is to remain persistent, courageous and have faith in the Lord. Truth that is believed through faith deflects lies. We must also pray. The Word of God applied to counter every lie is one of our most effective tactics. From Ephesians 6:17 above, the Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit”, and is depicted as an offensive weapon for our fight because it consists of pure truth.
When these tactics are applied, the battle for the mind turns in our favor. Victory may not come instantly, although certainly it can. Sometimes ground is taken back from the enemy “little by little” (Exodus 23:30), but each step of resistance is a step backward for the enemy. As sure as light pierces the dark, truth overcomes the lie, and good defeats evil, we surely will win. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), but Jesus has come “that we may have life, and that more abundantly.”
One by one, the voices will be quieted by these tactics. The lies and torment will stop. The mind and the inner man will begin to hear and believe the truth of the voice of the Shepherd. The mind and emotions will heal. Confusion will go. Peace will return. Actions and behaviors will begin to line up with the truth. The devil is defeated. Victory is ours. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Kings, is still undefeated on the battle field, including the battle for the mind.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
