tHE GREAT SUGGESTER
1. It is For Freedom That Christ Has Set Us Free
Gal 3:14 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery
Matt 12:43-45 “an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Satan tricks and deceives people through suggestion in order to gain or regain an opportunity in peoples lives
Eph 4:27 nor give place (opportunity, door) to the devil.
Gen 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
2. Guarding Our Thought Life is the Key to Keeping the Victory
Jn 8:31-32 If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free If Satan can gain a place in our though life, he can get a place in us If you open the door to the devil in your thought life, it won’t be long before he will try to control your mind, and you’ll become obsessed with his thoughts
Js 4:7 submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Isa 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, (consistently) on you because he trusts in you.
Phil 4:8-9 whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
Our thoughts can be controlled - We don’t have to think Satan’s thoughts of fear, lust, and torment because you have a free will
The stronghold is the obsession that makes us feel we can’t stop
2 Cor 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
1 Jn 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.