POSITIVE THINKING ERROR - NYOBS 70.02

POSITIVE THINKING ERROR

Life & Death are in the power of the tongue - As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

First Word

·         In 1983 I became aware of the “New Age Movement” and the “Word of Faith Movement”; of which both were pushing “SELF” as a way of fulfilling your needs.

·         The New Age Movement teaches that the power of the mind through “IMAGING” combined with what you believe or have faith in, will change your life and change the world.

·          This Word of Faith movement has its roots in “Positive Confession”; we must speak to our circumstances - Decree it & Declare it - Confess it and Possess it - Name it and Claim it – Blab it and Grab it – This pretty much says that the only thing standing in the way of us and our desires is our thoughts, which when properly controlled will produce changes in our circumstances and will bring prosperity and healing. – NYOBS 14.14 – NEW AGE MOVEMENT

·         I was caught up in the Word of Faith movement of “Positive Confession”.   I told a friend that “MY headache was just killing me”; he told me to quit confessing and claiming that the headache was mine and that I was dying, this was negative confessions. – Today I still find myself restraining from saying; MY arthritis and MY backache as if to imply that I don’t own these things, I just have them.

·         This study recognizes that well-chosen positive or negative words spoken can paint pictures that lift up as well as tear down. – Out of the abundance of the heart is what the mouth will speak. – This study looks at the “theology” that YOUR THOUGHTS WILL CHANGE YOUR FUTURE.

Luke 6:45 - Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks
⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (ESV)

Side Bar

·         A man had two sons which he asked to go work in the vineyard for the day;

1.     One had a Positive Confession and said he would go, but did not. 

2.     The Other had a Negative Confession; said he would NOT go, but changed his mind & went

·         One had the correct Confession and the other had the correct Action. – The commendation in this parable was NOT to commend the Positive Confession, but rather to commend the eventual obedience; the Positive Action. – It’s not what you confess, it’s what you do. – Remember what your momma said; “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”

·         The following scripture is used to teach Positive Confession - ”Whatever is true and honorable, whatever is just and pure, whatever is lovely and commendable, if there is any excellence or anything worthy of praise Think on these things.

·         This is not Positive Confession, these are THOUGHTS THAT SHOULD COME ALIVE IN PRACTICE.

Matthew 21:28-31 – Positive confession is not Positive action
²⁸ What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, GO AND WORK IN THE VINEYARD TODAY.’
²⁹ And he answered, ‘I WILL NOT,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.
³⁰ And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I GO, SIR,’ but did not go.
³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” (ESV)

PMA

·         Thinking positively is certainly a good thing, it’s when we think there is supernatural power in positive thinking that gives us pause.  This New Age error is a human idea masquerading as truth; this watered down theology states that people can change the outcome of their future events by thinking them into existence. – The theology is confidence of faith in yourself. – It operates under the premise of the “Law of Attraction”, similar to the law of gravity.

·         PMA; Positive Mental Attitude became a buzz word in the early  50’s through the efforts of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, founder of Guide Post which has inspired millions upon millions to make their lives better through “The Power of Positive Thinking”;  a book he published in 1952.

·         Peale wrote; “When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a “law of attraction” brings the best to you.” – PMA is a false version of Faith and Hope; a flawed theory; an unbiblical notion that is not based on truth. – It emerges from the “Self-Help” movement that says you can create your own reality simply through forming the correct mental IMAGES and by your own willpower.

·         Phil Donahue in a 1984 interview; Dr. Peale said: “It’s not necessary to be born again. You have your way to God; I have mine. I found eternal peace in a Shinto shrine. … I’ve been to the Shinto shrines, and God is everywhere.” Donahue shocked, said, “But you’re a Christian minister; you’re supposed to tell me that CHRIST IS THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, aren’t you?” Peale replied, “Christ is ONE OF THE WAYS! God is everywhere.”

·         Peale said; “Who is God?  Some theological being?  He is so much greater than theology.  God is Vitality.  God is Life.  God is Energy.  As you breathe God in, as you VISUALIZE His energy, you will be re-energized.” – His book “Positive Imaging” teaches an activity of the mind that he calls IMAGING where you get an image in your mind of a desired thing or goal and hold it there until it sinks into your sub-conscious and then with prayer, give thanks for it before it is received.

·         Sure sounds good to me, but there is a difference between CREATING an outcome with a positive mental attitude and PERFORMING with a positive mental attitude. -  Doesn’t this teaching make Christianity man-centered instead of God-centered?  Doesn’t it reduce God to just an energy force? – God does not necessarily want us to “climb” every mountain, sometimes He chooses to lead us “around” the mountain.

·         The things that we receive come down from God, not from positive thinking. – He gives us the Holy Spirit who guides our steps. – Beware of any teaching that puts the burden of performance on YOU rather than on God. – Does the teaching lead you to become more and more dependent on yourself or on God? – Submit to God all of your thoughts and ask Him to search your heart and take away all the anxiety.

James 1:17 - Our gifts come down from the Father
¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

(ESV)

Luke 11:13 – God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us
¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

(ESV)

Galatians 5:16 - Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

(NLT)

Psalm 139:23 - Test me and know my anxious thoughts
²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (NLT)

A Little Yeast

·         The Bible says a little yeast leavens the whole loaf of bread.

·         Peale, a very gifted communicator merged Worldliness and Godliness into a self-confidence theology and philosophy.  His first church started with only 40 members and grew to 900; his second church grew from 52 members to some 5,000. – People want to hear positive messages that make them feel better about life and themselves.  Hellfire and Brimstone, Repent and be Saved have really become “Downers” to preach.  

·         The inspiration of Peale has been very wide and appealing to the multitudes. The  Church’s that just preached “inspirational messages” grew to be mega churches;

·         Robert H. Schuller of The Crystal Cathedral taught “POSSIBILITY THINKING”; “The only place where YOUR dreams become impossible is in YOUR own thinking”. 

·         Joel Osteen; “Do all you can to make YOUR dreams come true” – “When you demand riches, all of heaven comes to fulfill your material desires.”

·         Joyce Meyer – God’s people are not taking their proper places. – You are little gods. –

--- You can also see Peale’s influence on celebrities. ---

·         Oprah Winfrey; “The more you praise and celebrate YOUR life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Oprah started a new church that points to no specific god and embraces no particular theological commitments. 

·         The BOOK says; “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” – “To whom much is given, much will be required.” - At the judgment, ALL of us will be responsibility for the souls that we have caused to be led away from Christ that will spend eternity separated from God. – SAD -

·         Regardless of how positive our thoughts are on the inside of ourselves, salvation must come from the outside.  The Bible says we have an alienated and hostile mind and are DEAD in our sins and furthermore, apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing about it.

Galatians 5:9 – A little yeast will permeate the entire loaf
⁹ And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast… to permeate an entire loaf of bread.

(MSG)

Colossians 1:21-22 – Apart; we have an alienated & hostile mind
²¹ you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

(ESV)

Ephesians 2:1-2 - Without Jesus we are dead in or sins
¹  And you were DEAD in the trespasses and sins
²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

(ESV)

John 15:5 - Apart from Jesus Christ you can do nothing
⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (ESV)

John 14:6 - No one can come to the Father except through me
⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (NLT)

Luke 12:48 - To whom much is given, much will be required
⁴⁸ …. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)

James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers
¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (ESV)

Donald Trump

·         Fred Trump and his family attended Marble Collegiate Church where Peale was head pastor, his son Donald Trump and his sisters were all married there as well as funeral services were held there for his parents, Fred and Mary.

·         President Trump frequently mentioned Peale’s influence on him durning his 2016 Presidential campaign, saying that it gave him his optimistic attitude.  He stated; “I refused to give in to the negative circumstances and never lost faith in myself.”

·         Words are used to control, guide and manipulate people to think in a specific way in order to obtain a desirable outcome. – In an election, you can use positive words to elevate yourself in the eyes of the people.  You can also elevate yourself by using negative words about your opponent. – The words spoken are about SELF. – WORDS MANIPULATE THINKING -

·         Listen for these key Positive Words that Trump uses about his own efforts; - Successful -Win – Amazing – Hugh – Tremendous – Terrific – Smart – Leader – Strong – Important.

·         His key Negative Words about his opponents – Idiot - Stupid – Zero – Weak – Loser – Bad – Moron – Dangerous – Lightweight – Out of Control – Horrible – Terrible – Disgusting – Disaster – Unqualified.

·         Having a positive confession is a wonderful thing and it is great to be around people that speak positive things, but it crosses the line when you believe that your THOUGHTS will CREATE A DESIRED OUTCOME.

·         If anyone thinks he is religious and DOES NOT BRIDLE HIS TONGUE, but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless – “The tongue is set on fire by hell itself, from the same mouth come blessing and cursing, these things ought not to be so” – It’s in the Book - 

James 3:6 - The tongue set on fire by hell itself
⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (ESV)

James 1:26 – The tongue must be controlled; bridled
²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. (ESV)

James 3:9-10 – The tongue can bless and curse
⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (ESV)

Power of Words

·         Proverbs teaches the power of words showing how words can stir up anger or squelch it.  The Word of Faith movement takes scripture out of context and make it appear to be addressing the power of “Positive Confession”. -  Here are FOUR of the big ones;

1.   As a man thinks in his heart, so is he – Speaking here is; that what’s ALREADY in a man’s heart is who he really is. – This scripture does not say “as A MAN” thinks, it says; as “HE” thinks; Proverbs 23:1-7 is addressing a specific man in scripture who appears to be friendly and generous on the outside, but is stingy and selfish on the inside. – READ THE WHOLE THING

2.   Death and life are in the power of the tongue – This is addressing the fact that there should be wisdom in your words, not foolishness.  You should choose your words when you speak, knowing their impact. - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - The lips of the righteous feed many – The mouth of a godless man destroys his neighbor - Rash words are like sword thrusts - A good word makes a man’s heart glad - Words are a honeycomb, health to the body – Flattering Words could be a trap.

3.   Calls things which do not exist as though they did – STOP - READ THE WHOLE SCRIPTURE; GOD, WHO GIVES LIFE to the dead AND calls those things which do not exist as though they did.  This is talking about the Power of God, who alone speaks things into existence, not Abraham.  - Abraham’s job was just to Believe and have Faith in God. – There is NO record of Abraham calling forth anything into existence.  The only thing he CONFESSED was that he was a stranger and a pilgrim.

4.   Whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes WHAT HE SAYS; will come to pass.  – This is the most commonly used passage for “SPEAKING TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES”.

·         “Speaking” is synonymous with “Prayer” as you will see in the very next verse.  – The mountain is a hyperbole; not intended to be taken literally; it is just saying we can overcome any hurdle even if it is as big as a mountain.  Sometimes God’s plan is not to climb the mountain, but to guide us around it. – The emphasis is not on “speaking” but “believing” and trusting God.

·         We read Positive Confession into this scripture only because of the pervading influence of the New Age Word of Faith movement. – Go back and look at the Disciples; when they were arrested, they did NOT literally speak to their circumstances, but they all went to God in PRAYER to plead their case. – THE PRACTICE of the Disciples was to gather together in prayer. There is not ONE INSTANCE in the Bible of any Disciple speaking a “Positive Confession” to a situation to make it change; what we see is actually the opposite.

·         Negative Confession; Jesus said “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”. The disciples said “we are unworthy servants”. – Job said; “The thing that I feared has come upon me” Proverbs says “our words are snares in our mouth”. -  How about these; A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

·         It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, it’s the words that come out; it’s an unclean heart

Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he
⁷ For as HE thinks in his heart, so is he

(NKJV)

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue
²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, (ESV)

Romans 4:17 - Calls things which do not exist as though they did
¹⁷ (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom HE BELIEVED--GOD, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; (NKJV)

Proverbs 23:1-7 – Man pretends to be generous, but is stingy
¹ When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you;
² And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite.
³ Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.
⁴ Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!
⁵ Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
⁶ Do not eat the bread of A MISER, Nor desire his delicacies;
⁷ For AS HE THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you. (NKJV)

Hebrews 11:13 – Abraham confessed that he was a pilgrim
¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and CONFESSED that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth. (NKJV)

Proverbs 6:2 - Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth
² Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. (KJV)

Proverbs 18:6-8 – A fools lips and mouth is his ruin
⁶ A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
⁸ The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. (ESV)

Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath
¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (ESV)

Proverbs 10:21 - The lips of the righteous feed many
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. (ESV)

Proverbs 11:9 - Mouth of a godless man destroys his neighbor
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:18 - Rash words are like sword thrusts,
¹⁸  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:25 - A good word makes a man’s heart glad
²⁵  Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:24 - Words are a honeycomb, health to the body
²⁴ Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (ESV)

Proverbs 29:5 – Flattering Words sets a trap
⁵ A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

(ESV)

Mark 11:22-24 – What He says will come to pass
²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
²³ Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that WHAT HE SAYS will come to pass, it will be done for him.
²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever YOU ASK IN PRAYER, believe that

you have received it, and it will be yours. (ESV)

Acts 4:23-31 – Prayed to God – Did not speak to circumstances
²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
²⁶ The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
³¹ And WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled WITH the Holy Spirit and continued to SPEAK THE WORD of God with boldness. (ESV)

Acts 12:12 – Practice was to gather together in prayer
¹²  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were PRAYING. (ESV)

Matthew 26:38 - My soul is very sorrowful, even to death
³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (ESV)

Luke 17:10 - We are unworthy servants
¹⁰ So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (ESV)

Job 3:25 - The thing that I feared has come upon me
²⁵ For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. (ESV)

Matthew 15:11 – It’s the words a man speaks that defiles him
¹¹ it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (ESV)

Philippians 4:8 – Think on good so you can put it into practice
⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV)

Rabbit Trail

·         Some of the best known PMA leaders are; Kenneth & Gloria Copeland – Pat Robertson – Joel Osteen - Paul & Jan Crouch – Bishop T.D. Jakes - Benny Hinn - Fredrick Price - Joseph Prince - Creflo Dollar – Bishop Earl Paulk – Robert Tilton – Kenneth Hagan – Joyce Meyer – Paula White – Charles Capps – John Avanzini -   

·         Along with Positive Confession Theology comes the first False Teaching in the Bible which was taught by Satan himself in the Garden of Eden; that you TOO can be like God.  Today, that is being espoused by many of the mega-church pastors.  Their teaching is “I am a little god”, and they give scripture that is miss-quoted; taken out of context to back it all up.

·         Paula White – “You are a little Elohim; a little god”.

·         Joyce Meyer – “God’s people are not taking their proper places. – You are little gods.”

·         The Apostle Paul says; I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE that you have been taught; AVOID THEM.  - False Teachers will secretly bring in destructive heresies. -  This subject is a Word Study into its own self, but just watch for the “little god” teaching and AVOID IT.

Genesis 3:5 - First False teaching; you will be like God
⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil.”

(ESV)

2 Peter 2:1 - They will secretly bring in destructive heresies
¹ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (ESV)

Romans 16:17 – Avoid those who teach contrary doctrine
¹⁷ I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; AVOID THEM. (ESV)

Mind over Tongue

·         We should not confuse HOPE; speaking positive words or positive thinking with FAITH.

·         Hope is optimism, it is something you hope for. – Hope is positive thoughts in your mind. – The Word of Faith movement has Positive thinking focusing on “CONJURING UP” something that does not yet exist. - This is of the occult.

·         Faith is focusing on FACT; what has already been promised - It is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

·          If you will read Hebrews chapter 11 you will see that Faith is “NOT WHAT YOU THINK”, it’s “WHAT YOU DO”.

·         The Bible is full of positive thoughts.  It commands us to have thoughts that dwell on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable and anything that is excellent or praiseworthy, to PUT THESE THOUGHTS INTO ACTION - It pretty much says that when your THOUGHTS are on His WORD, day and night, you will have good success and your way will be prosperous.  – It’s in the Book - 

1 John 4:1 – Do not believe every teacher of the Word
¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
¹ Now FAITH is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

 Philippians 4:8 – Think on things noble, right, pure, lovely
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV2011)

Romans 12:2 – Thoughts on what is good, acceptable & perfect
² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Psalm 1:2 - Meditates on God’s word day and night
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV)

Psalm 119:148 - Awake early to meditate on His promises
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. (ESV)

Joshua 1:8 – Meditate – Your way will be prosperous; successful
⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Giving thanks IN all circumstances
¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:1-3 - Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
² For by it the people of old received their commendation.
³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight
⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 10:5 - Take every thought captive to obey Christ
⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

John 15:7-8 – Abide in His words and He abides in you
⁷ IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

(ESV)

Matthew 6:33 – Seek the kingdom first and all the rest will come
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Last Thoughts

·         Today the line of truth is continually being blurred between right and wrong; it now has become 50 shades of gray. – It’s all about SELF – Be all you can be -

·         Positive thinking for the Christian is rooted in what we believe about God. – Positive thoughts about God activates our faith to think on the endless possibilities of His Grace. – It releases the power of God to discipline our thinking.

·         The way we control our lives is to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may discern the will of God.

·         When a scripture is quoted, we must consider carefully the original meaning intended based on the “understanding” of the hearers, their culture, upbringing and religious background. - Different cultures, words and expressions change meaning over time. All of us pull, stretch and twist a scripture to get a specific point across, but in doing so, sometimes the TWIST is repeated as a new truth when it was actually just a hyperbole; something not intended to be taken literally.

·         Positive Thinking and Positive Confession used to manipulate situations in your life is heresy.  It puts the burden of performance on YOU rather than on God.

·         When the Bible is rightly handled; it does not teach Positive Thinking nor Positive Confession as a means to manipulate future events in our lives. - It is NOT by OUR might, nor by OUR power, but BY THE SPIRIT, says the LORD of hosts.  We are to rely on what God has already given us through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is…… THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Romans 12:1-2 - Be transformed by the renewal of your mind
¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(ESV)

2 Peter 3:16 – Twist scripture to their own destruction
¹⁶ as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable TWIST TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION, as they do the other Scriptures.

(ESV)

Zechariah 4:6 – It’s not your power, it’s Gods Spirit
⁶ Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:16 – Rely on the Holy Spirit within us
¹⁶ For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.

(ESV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted and made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney