What Are You Giving Life To?

Romans 12:1-2

 

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

Those in the area of personal development are well aware of the concept about what you take in through your ears and your eyes flood into your mind and becomes the primary mode of your thinking. Well God knew this more than anyone else and teaches us this concept in the Bible (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth). What is so surprising is that many in the body of Christ do not give it much thought in their walk with Christ in every aspect of life. In every area of your life, you are to focus on moving forward in Christ and the old man is dead. But how much of your old man are you still living with? The things you deem as harmless, the media has just proved how harmless they are not. For example, a twelve year old Milwaukee girl and her friend stabbed another because it was seen as an initiation on some horror website. The authorities are doing an extensive psychological evaluation on the young girl. The parents are wondering if they missed any warning signs. What is the main issue? Why is a twelve year old girl engaging in some horror website? Horror websites, movies, etc focus on demonic forces, etc. They are not harmful you say? Well many of the very demonic forces represented in horror films are the very things God says we are to guard against engaging in. Please reference Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Leviticus 19:26 and 1Samuel 15:23. Do you know when you open your eyes and ears to such things that you have given a doorway to demonic forces in your life? The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6 that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness.  Let's break this down. What is the definition of spirit? The Greek word for spirit is pneuma. It refers to breathe or in religious context as spirit. In Hebrew the word is ruach which literally means wind or breath as stated in the NKJ Study Bible. The Merriam-Webster's Dictionary gives the Latin word spiritus. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines spirit as a life-giving force, also the animating principle: soul. There are several other definitions but the main focus is the first definition. So a spirit is a life-giving force. So basically a spirit is force by itself. Remember the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, the mother of Jesus. Genesis 1:2 first speaks of the Spirit of God. Now let's look at the other side, Jesus cast what out of people? Demonic spirits. So a spirit is a life-giving force. The Holy Spirit gives life to holiness and godliness, what is true and righteous. The demonic spirits give life to things evil and unholy. Remember, a spirit doesn't have to touch your natural man, it can enter through a window. The windows are your ears and eyes.  If you or your child are taking in demonic films and shows, then you have given a window to your mind which is part of your spirit. This is why we are to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." You and I are to pay close attention to what we absorb. You and I are to focus on what is in Christ and what is beautiful in Him that it may transcend in and through you. The apostle Paul said in 1Corinthians 6 that all things are permissible but not beneficial. What that young girl absorbed she acted out. Harmless isn't so harmless when lives are at stake. You just never stop to realize that those watching are also putting their spiritual lives at stake. What are you giving life to within you?