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Rick Renner Podcast (Audio)
Tuesday - Are You Taking the Bait?
00:28:30
Wrong thoughts lure you from safety into danger. Discover how the enemy baits your mind - and how to shut the door for good. Watch and break free!
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- [00:02]
Renner Ministries Announcer
This program is made possible by the giving of the God called partners of Renner Ministries. Get ready for a teaching that feeds your spirit and your mind, where the word is the anchor in uncertain times. And doctrine doesn't bend to culture. We keep it simple, but dive deep, revealing a truth that strengthens us, a love that emboldens, and a mission that touches world. Let's join Rick Renner.
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Rick Renner
Welcome to today's program, my friend. Today we're going to continue the series called getting a grip on your thought life. If you can get a grip on what's going on inside your head, you can maintain victory in your life. But the devil knows if he can inject thoughts into your mind and get you to think on them, he can stir you up, he can lead you down a wrong path. And we saw yesterday that's what happened to King David. He stood on his rooftop, looked over, saw Bathsheba and really began to think about how beautiful she was. And the tense says he looked and looked and looked at her. And as he looked at her, he was thinking about how much he wished he could have her. And he ended up having her. But it started with his thoughts. Thoughts are so very important for you to grab hold of and don't let them grab hold of you. And in fact, Denise and I are so emphatic about getting a grip on our thought life that when we watch TV now, Denise and I rarely watch tv, but when we do, we've noticed recently a lot of the commercials are about medications for all kinds of physical ailments. And those commercials are like insinuations. They're trying to inject thoughts into people. You need this. Maybe you have this problem. Maybe you have this. You know what Denise says? Mute it. I don't want to hear that. We are so careful about what goes into our minds. We don't want to jeopardize our health. We don't want to jeopardize our longevity by allowing wrong thoughts to come into our mind. We really believe that it is essential to get a grip on our thought life. If I run into a moment where I'm upset with somebody I know, if I don't get a grip on it in my mind, my thoughts are gonna run away with me. Many, many years ago, when I was a lot heavier than I am now, I can remember sitting in church. Church is not even over. And in my mind I begin to think about Burger King because there was a Burger King we always pass on the way home. And I could just see that big Whopper and those wonderful, salty fries. I don't really eat much salt, but I love the fries at Burger King. And I would just see it in my mind until I would find myself at Burger King after church. But it all began in my mind. Now I've lost a lot of weight and I don't do that anymore. But my friends, you have to take charge of what's going on inside your head or your head will run away with you. And today we're gonna see how to eliminate opportunities for mental and physical entrapment. If you can handle what's going on in your head and stop it, then you will not be mentally and physically entrapped. But this whole series is called what Jesus said about getting a grip on your mind. It's five parts, comes with a wonderful study guide. And I'm so excited to tell you about my book called Dress to Kill. It's a Christian classic on the subject of spiritual warfare and spiritual weaponry. And I really deal a lot in that book on the subject of how to deal with strongholds in your mind and to pull them down so that you can be freed from them. But if you want to know more about this series and that book, just go online or give us a call. We want to hear from you. And when you reach out to us, let us know how to pray for you. By the way, we're praying for you anyway. I prayed for you this morning before I ever got out of bed. I was asking the Lord to touch you with the teaching that I'm doing today. I really pray for you. But if you've got a special way that you need prayer, call the number that's on the screen or send us an email because we would just be thrilled to pray with you. But reach for your Bible. And we're going to return to our foundational verse this week, which is second Thessalonians 2:11. And Paul in this verse is talking about how the devil works. And in this verse he says, lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we're not ignorant of his devices. According to this verse, the devil has some devices and we should not be ignorant of it. But notice in this verse he calls the devil Satan, which is an official name, the Greek word satanas. He describes one who accuses, one who conspires against one who deceives, manipulates, schemes, and slanders. And by the way, all of those are activities that he launches against your thoughts. That's why you need to get a grip on your thought life. And he goes on to say, lest Satan should get an advantage of us. And that word advantage is a very unique Greek word which means to take advantage or to defraud. So you could translate it lest Satan should take advantage of us, lest the devil should defraud us. But it also means to outmaneuver or to outwit. So Paul realizes that if you're ignorant about how the devil works, he will outmaneuver you. He will outwit you. And then Paul goes on to say, for we're not ignorant of his devices. The word ignorant describes one that is uninformed. And my friends, when it comes to how the devil works, we do not need to be uninformed. We don't need to be ignorant of his devices. And the word devices, the Greek word noemata, we're going to cover this every day this week because it is so important. It is a derivative of the word nous. The word nous pictures the mind. But when the word nous becomes the word noemata, which here in the King James Version is translated as the word devices, it depicts the schemings of the mind, a twisted mind, a mind that is so confused it can no longer think straight. Or it depicts mind games. And here's what the devil wants to do. He wants to inject thoughts into your mind. He wants to get you to focus on wrong thoughts. Because he knows if he can really get you to focus on wrong thoughts, then he can use those thoughts to build a stronghold in your mind. And if he builds a stronghold in your mind and you begin to believe those wrong thoughts, eventually it's going to leave the thought realm, it's going to enter the real realm. And unfortunately, those wrong thoughts will take you captive and they're going to become a reality in your life. And that is why it is so essential that you get a grip on your thought life. I'm really trying to help you. Now I want to read to you from James 1:14 16. These verses are really important about getting a grip on your thought life. And in James 1:16, James says, but every man is tempted when he's drawn away of his own lust and enticed. I'm going to be going into these words. Verse 15. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Verse 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Now, these verses are so important that I want to teach you from the Riv of these verses. So I'm going to go to page 37 in the RIV, the render interpreted version of James, and Jude and I want to tell you what these verses mean. First of all, James says in verse 14, every man is tempted when he's drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Now, the Riv says it like this, but if you really want to know how evil and destruction finds their way into a person's life, that's a very good interpretation. Here it is every single person without exception. Now, why in the world do I translate it like that? Well, footnote 104 says the words every single person without exception, or a translation of the Greek word which means everyone with no one excluded, which means what James is describing is how this works for every single person. He says every single person without exception ends up in a place of breakdown and failure when he's lured away from a place of safety into a place of vulnerability. It all starts with him being lured out of that place by the pull of his own fleshly desires. It's similar to a fisherman who baits a hook and dangles it in front of a fish. The fish looks at it for so long that it eventually goes for the bait. And in the same way, fleshly temptation baits people and seductively entices them to go for it and to do what they shouldn't do. But Listen to footnote 105. The words breakdown and failure are an interpretation of a form of the Greek word pirazo. And this word pirazo describes a calculated test to bring about failure and release destruction in your life. And James says, every person experiences these calculated tests in life which really are designed to make them stumble and fall, but they don't have to fall prey to them. He goes on to say when he's lured from a place of safety into a place of vulnerability. And footnote number 106 explains the words lured from a place of safety into a place of vulnerability are from a form of the word meaning to attract, to draw out, to persuade, to pull, and pictures drawing one out from a place of safety into a place of endangerment, jeopardy, peril, or vulnerability. And as a compound, this Greek word means to lure out. As a fish hook is used by a fisherman, or as a trap is used by hunters. This word metaphorically pictures the act of luring prey from a place of safety and security out into the open where it can be captured or killed. And the devil uses thoughts to lure you out. That's what James is teaching in this verse, but it goes on to say it all starts with him being lured out from that place by the pool of his own fleshly desires. It's similar to a fisherman who baits a hook and dangles it in front of a fish. The fish looks at it for so long, that fish looks at that thing and thinks about it and thinks about it and thinks about it. And the riv says the fish looks at it for so long that it eventually goes for the bait. In the same way, fleshly temptations baits people and seductively entices them to go for it and to do what they shouldn't do. And footnote number 109 in the Riv says the words in the same way. Fleshly temptation baits people and seductively entices them are interpreted from the form of the Greek word, an old fishing and hunting term that meant to bait a hook or to set a trap with bait. It describes bait put on a hook to catch a fish. Or it was used to describe the setting of a trap to catch an animal. It conveys the idea of craftiness, cheating, cunning, trickery intended to entrap. And like a fisherman who carefully camouflages a hook with bait, or a hunter who sets a trap to lure an unsuspecting animal, if the person doesn't hold himself in check by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will be lured out to do what is unhealthy and what is wrong. And once the hook is set in the victim's mouth, the hook is pulled or the trap is dropped, and that person is regrettably, at least, momentarily taken captive. That is how the devil works. And that is why it is so very imperative that you understand the devil's trying to bait you with thoughts. That's why you need to get a grip on your thought life. But then verse 15 goes on to say in the King James Version, then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Well, the Riv is more expansive. And listen to how the Rivn translates it. And when that ill fated, unfading, unfettered desire has been entertained mentally for so long that a person conceives it and becomes pregnant with it, now that is really important. Listen to footnote number 1 12. It says the words conceives it and becomes pregnant with it are a translation of a Greek word which means to conceive or to become pregnant. If the initial temptation or thought was not resisted and put away, this conception would have never occurred. But just as conception occurs as a result of two people who are very close sexually, James warns that if a person takes a wrong thought too close to himself for too long that person will conceive it becoming pregnant with a wrongdoing which he has been tempted with. And it is important to make the connection that intimacy is required for conception. And by using this very imagery, James was telling us that if we entertain wrong thoughts in our mind, focusing and fixating on them, eventually we're going to become impregnated with them. And the way to avoid this horrible conception that eventually produces an evil, foul, death bringing situation is to live by the power of the Holy Spirit and to get a grip on our minds, my friends, that is really powerful. In fact, that footnote is worth this entire book. But here it is again, the Riv. And when that ill fated unfettered desires become entertained mentally for so long that a person conceives it and becomes impregnated with it, eventually that embryonic temptation becomes fully developed. And a moment comes when that person gives birth to behaviors that miss the mark of what is right and begins practicing acts that are wrong and sinful. And footnote number 113 says the words give birth are so very important in this verse. They are derived from a Greek word which means to beget or to give birth, just like a pregnant woman who gives birth to a baby. And here's what it means. If you conceive a wrong thought, if you meditate and meditate and fixate on that wrong thought, you're going to conceive just like a woman conceives seed. And eventually a time will come when it leaves the mental realm and you're going to give birth to it in your life. It's going to enter the real realm. And in fact the Riv goes on to say, you see, when the gestation for this destructive process is complete, and footnote number 116 says it like this, the word gestation process is complete. Our interpreter from a Greek word that pictures an embryo that's been fully developed and now is ready for birth. That's what happens when you continue to think a wrong thought. First of all, you conceive it. And as you continue to continue to think about it, that embryo is developing now it's in the gestation period. And the Riv continues to say the gestation for this destructive process is complete. Birth finally takes place. And footnote 117 says the words birth, birth takes place are translated from an ancient medical term that was used to describe the delivery of a baby. And it means if you conceive a wrong thought in your head and don't do something to stop it, eventually it's really going to give Birth to something disastrous in your life and what it gives birth to. This verse calls death. Death. And then when you come to verse 16, the King James Version very simply says, do not err, my beloved brethren. But the Riv says it like. And don't trick yourself into thinking you're exempt from this process I've just described. My dear brothers, whom I deeply and profoundly love. Please take note of this process so it won't happen. Now, I want to read all of it to you together so you get the full impact of the Riv. Listen to this. We're talking about getting a grip on your thought life. Listen to this. James 1:14 from the Riv. But if you really want to know how evil and destruction finds their way into a person's life, here it is. Every single person, without exception, ends up in a place of breakdown and failure when he's lured from a place of safety into a place. It all starts with him being lured out of that place by the pull of his own fleshly desires. It's similar to a fisherman who baits a hook and dangles it in front of a fish. The fish looks at it for so long that eventually it goes for the bait. In the same way, fleshly temptation baits people and seductively entices them to go for it and to do what they shouldn't do. Verse 15. And when that ill fated unfettered desire has been entertained mentally for so long that a person conceives it and becomes pregnant with it, eventually that embryonic temptation becomes fully developed. And a moment comes when that person gives birth to behaviors that miss the mark of what is right and begins practicing acts that are wrong and sinful. You see, when the gestation for this destructive process is complete, birth finally takes place. And what is brought forth is permeated with every kind of death. Verse 16. And don't trick yourself into thinking you're exempt from this process I've just described. My dear brothers, whom I dearly and profoundly love. Please take note of this process so it won't happen to you. That is fabulous. Do you see how important it is that you get a grip on your thought life? If you entertain what is wrong for long enough, you're going to conceive it. Then you're going to move into a gestation period. That embryonic thought's going to develop until finally you become so full of that thought you give birth to it and you actually begin to carry out what you're thinking about. That's how anger, mental anger, becomes rage. That's how sexual temptation becomes adultery. That's how thinking about overeating becomes gluttony. It all starts in the mind. So if you can stop it in the mind, then you can stop this process from being birthed in your life. And in James 1:16, James says, Do not err, my beloved brethren. Pay attention. If you'll do what I'm telling you, you can stop the process. That is the importance of getting a grip on your thoughts while they're in your mind so they don't leave your mind and enter into your real life. Isn't this helpful? Wow. I'll be back in just a moment and I'm going to pray for you. Someone has just asked a very important question. How do I deal with temptations in life? Well, temptations come, my friends. They're not sent by God. As long as you live in this world where the devil is at work, there's going to be all kinds of hardships and temptations. But let's use the example of a sexual temptation. How do you overcome a sexual temptation? Or maybe it's the temptation to overeat. Wow. How do you overcome that? Well, we have the answer in First Corinthians 10, verse 13. It says that when you're tempted, God will make a way for you, you to escape. Well, when you read this in Greek, we find it is the word ek bino. The word ek means out. It's where you get the word for an exit. And the word bino means to walk. When you put the two words together, the word escape means to use your feet to walk out of a situation, which means the answer to dealing with temptation is in your feet. Get out of there. If you're tempted to overeat, get away from where you're tempted to overeat. If you're tempted in some kind of a sexual way, walk out of that situation. Rather than pleading and praying for a miracle, Use your feet. You can walk out of that place just like you walked into that place. The answer is in your feet.
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Program Narrator
Sometimes your thoughts just run away with you and it really creates a mess in your life. The devil knows if he can inject wrong thoughts into into your mind, he can outmaneuver you. But you can stop him by taking your thoughts captive. In Rick Renner's series what Jesus said about getting a grip on your thought life, you will learn how you can master your thoughts rather than letting them master you. In these five programs, you'll find teachings about how the enemy injects thoughts to outwit you. How to shut the door to the enemy for good and more. It all begins in the mind. Available in digital or physical formats Starting at just $11, this series will help you find victory in your thought life. In addition to this teaching series, we are offering you the book Dressed to Kill. Considered by many to be a classic on the subject of spiritual warfare, Dress to Kill will show you how to pull down, move strongholds and get a grip on your thought life. This powerful book can be yours for just $25. Don't miss this special offer. The series what Jesus said about getting a grip on your thought life and the book Dressed to Kill. Call the number on your screen or scan the QR code to order, call or go online today.
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Rick Renner
This is Rick Renner and I want to say thank you to you partner for everything you do to help us take the teaching of the Bible to the ends of Proverbs 10:21 says the lips of the righteous feed many. And that's our task. We are to feed many the wonderful word of God. And I want to tell you that we have given away hundreds and thousands of my books and other resources. When people call us or they go online responding to an offer that we have made to them, my friends, that's a lot of material and I'm going to tell you it takes a lot of money to give away that many resources. But we're able to do it because of our partners. Because of what you give, we are able to take the life transforming truths of God's Word to people that are looking for answers. And what a privilege that people would come sit around our table and we would be able to feed them the wonderful truths of God. And you are a big part of that. So I wanted to say thank you. Thank you partner. And if you're listening today and you're not a partner yet, we need you and we ask you to become a part of the partner family so we can take the teaching of God's Word to people all over the world. And we receive you and we welcome you into our giving team. Well today we've been talking about how to stop the process of wrong thoughts. Now you can avoid wrong thoughts because the devil is trying to inject wrong thoughts into your mind all the time. But hey, it's your mind and you have authority over your own mind and you don't have to let your mind run away with you. You can stop the process. You can grab hold of those thoughts, you can pull down strongholds so they don't become a reality in your life. And that's why I'm teaching you this series called Getting a Grip on youn Thought Life. It's five parts, comes with a wonderful study guide. And of course, I'm thrilled to tell you about my book called Dress to Kill, which to a great degree deals with pulling down wrong thoughts in your mind so you walk free of them. The greater one lives in you. You have the authority to take control of your mind and your thoughts. If you don't, the devil's going to use your thoughts to take you captive. But hey, if you're interested in these resources, just go online or give us a call. And when you reach out to us, let us know how to pray for you. You can call us or you can send us an email. And I want to pray for you right now. So put your hand on your heart. If you're dealing with a thought that seems like it's growing, let's pray for it to be removed right now. Father, I pray for that wrong thought to be removed, that the process would be stopped. So that my friend does not give birth to something bad in their life, we put a halt to it. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Well, I pray this is helpful. I'm actually giving you something very important from my own life, but I'll see you tomorrow. But until then, I want you to remember Ecclesiastes 8:4 says, where the word of a king is, there really is power. If you've never received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, now is the time for you to experience a new life. Jesus has to give you. Pray this prayer with me right now. Lord, I repent of my sin and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Wash away my sin and make me completely new. I thank you that my spirit sin is removed and Satan no longer has any right to lay claim on me. I faithfully promise that I will serve you as my Lord for the rest of my life. Amen.
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Renner Ministries Announcer
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation with us, would you please let us know by going to renner.org salvation? We would love to connect with you. Renner Ministries is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through every available media avenue to the uttermost parts of the earth. Discover the many ways you can help us make a difference in lives around the world. With the Word of God, we invite you to partner with us in teaching, strengthening and rescuing lives for the glory, glory of God. Together, we can make a difference that will last throughout eternity.