Evil Thoughts

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EVIL THOUGHTS

Where do they come from?
How can they be controlled?

What are "Evil Thoughts"?

        1. Matt. 9:4        evil = wrong in doctrine
        2. Matt. 15:16-20 evil = immoral, impure
        3. Mark 7:18-23
        4. James 2:4 judge motives and intent of others
                See article, "Oh Sure!"

        Catagories that trouble us the most are:

        A. Lustful thoughts
                1. Col. 3:5                2. I Peter 4:3
                3. I John 2:15-17        4. Matt. 5:28
                5. Mark 4:19                6. Rom. 6:12
                7. Gal. 5:16, 17        8. Gal. 5:24
                9. Eph. 2:3                10. Eph. 4:22
                11. II Tim. 4:3        12. Titus 2:12

        B. Hatred, envy, jealousy
                1. I Cor. 13:4                2. I Tim. 6:4
                3. James 4:5                4. I Pet. 2:1

                NOTE: Three observations:

Feelings are not right or wrong. They are neutral. Feelings is not the problem. How they are expressed or acted upon is the problem.
Envy = want what another has
Jealousy = desiring to keep what you have

        C. Anger, unforgiving
                1. Eph. 4:26-27        2. James 1:19

                NOTE: Anger is not sinful. Anger is an emotion. see number one above. Jesus got angry. (Mark 3:5) But, Jesus did not sin. (Heb. 4:15; I Pet. 2:22)
                Ther are two kinds of anger. In KJV, usually, "anger" = quick, explosive, sometimes violent temper. "Wrath" = slow burn, lasts longer, harder to overcome.

        D. Doubt
                1. Matt. 14:31                2. Matt. 21:21
                3. Matt. 28:17                4. Mark 11:23
                5. Rom. 14:1                6. Rom. 14:23
                7. I Tim. 2:8                8. James 1:6
                9. Jude 22                10. John 20:27

                Remember, from the cross, Jesus asked, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

                NOTE: Doubt can be good or bad!
                Good if it drives you to study, pray, examine life
                Bad if it leads you away from God, prayer, etc.

Where do they come from?

        1. Matt. 15:16-20
        2. Mark 7:18-23
                Not what goes in the mouth --
                but what comes out of the heart --

How can we control them?

        1. Know who is in charge of your life.
        2. Do not allow the thoughts to:
                A. Remain, dwell in your mind
                B. Be acted upon
                C. Be believed
        3. Learn the source of the thoughts:
                A. God?                        B. Satan?
                C. Self?                        D. Others?
                Is it the situation or the person? Are we angry at the dog so we kick the cat? Is it God that has wronged us or is it God to whom we turn to solve the problem? What if the problem does not go away the way we think it should? Do we lose sight of the "REAL" problem and focus on the fact that God has not worked the way we thought He should?

What should we do when these thoughts come to us?

        A. Honestly examine them.
                1. What is their source?
                2. Are they true? Is this how I really feel?
                3. How are they affecting me?

        B. Determine to fight the "real enemy". Get in focus who is really the source of the problem.
                1. Self
                2. Others
                3. Satan

        C. Focus on the good things in life.
                1. Count your blessings instead of your troubles.
                2. Think on these things: (Phil. 4:6-9)
                        a. Do not worry about anything.
                        b. Pray about everything.
                        c. Let peace of God keep your mind.
                        d. Think on these things- (v.8)
                        e. DO what you have learned.
                         NOTE: Idle mind = devils workshop.