you’ve spent more time consuming garbage
from television programs than meditating on
the Word? There is a good reason for the old
adage garbage in, garbage out. And no matter how well television programming tries to
cover up that which God says is unclean and
unrighteous, the truth remains. “But the Word
of the Lord will last forever.” (I Peter 1:25 NLV)
So, if your desire is to be a willing vessel that God can use to His Glory, then one
of the things worth examining is your favorite
television program and why it interests you?
Ask yourself if it is telling you some societal
norms are acceptable when deep down your
God spirit is troubled by the messaging that
contradicts what the Word says? Over time,
these subliminal messages saturate the inner
consciousness of your mind—which, of course,
is the intent. Professed Christians should be
selective about what they watch on television
even when it appears harmless.
How am I able to speak with such
authority? First, there is God’s Word which is
infallible. “God is not a man, that He should lie.
He is not a son of man, that He should be sorry
for what He has said. Has He said, and will He
not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not keep
His Word?” (Numbers 23:19 NLV)
Secondly, I am speaking from experience. You see, I am just as guilty as the next
person when it comes to being manipulated
by television programming. A few years ago,
I was completely mesmerized by a particular
crime scene investigative television program.
Initially, it just seemed like a well-written
storyline with enough truth infused to make
12 HimPower October 2015
it interesting and believable. There were no
steamy sex scenes, profane words or offensive remarks so it seemed innocent enough in
the beginning. Soon, I was watching re-runs
of re-runs and refused to miss an episode.
Yet, there was one character in the show that
troubled the God spirit in me. I tried convincing myself subconsciously that I wouldn’t
be swayed into thinking the character was
acceptable. I eagerly watched and relished
every line and mannerism episode after episode. After several seasons, my conscious
mind had come to accept the very thing I
knew was not of God. It was clearly demonic,
though cleverly disguised to make it cute and
appealing. The deceiver was winning—that is,
until the Holy Spirit admonished me. “Now the
Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times
some will turn away from the true faith; they will
follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come
from demons.” (I Timothy 4:1 NLT)
All praise to God for dispatching the
Holy Spirit to trouble my spirit until I listened.
My flesh was warring with my spirit, and the
Holy Spirit had to open my eyes to see that
my fixation on the program was taking me
to a place I didn’t need or want to go. At that
point, I had to make a choice. Remembering
who my Father is and that His Son, Jesus,
shed His precious blood to save me from my
sin (and myself), I turned the program off and
never watched another episode.
To the casual observer, this might seem
extreme. But what I have come to understand
is each time the deceiver is able to confuse
our minds, it makes it easier for him to con-
vince us the next time
that what we know to
be wrong is right and
vice versa. “The thief
does not come except
to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy. I have come
that they may have life,
and that they may have
it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10 NKJV)
If permitted to
dictate our thoughts,
the deceiver begins
chipping away at our
armor until our bodies and souls lay bare.
Without God’s armor, we have no defense
to stand against his many tactics disguised
as innocent and harmless to the natural eye.
We must see the truth through spiritual eyes
in order to understand what the Holy Spirit is
telling us. “For we are not fighting against fleshand-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against mighty
powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits
in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every
piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist
the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the
battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your
ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body
armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on
the peace that comes from the Good News so
that you will be fully prepared. In addition to
all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop
the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as
your helmet, and take
the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of
God.” (Ephesians 6:1217 NLT)
For years, I had
been asking God what
He wanted me to do,
what His plan was
for my life. And for
years He was silent,
as I tried to figure it
out on my own. What
I failed to grasp was
that I couldn’t figure
it out because I do
not know His mind,
nor would He reveal it to me as long as I was
allowing my mind to be influenced by carnality and worldly things. After I became more
focused on God, His Kingdom and how He
wants me to serve Him, the Holy Spirit began
revealing little nuggets of His plans for my life.
Television (and social media) has
become dominant forces in our lives and are
here to stay. Therefore, as Christians, we must
be ever prayerful and vigilant to prevent the
influence of worldly things from taking our
minds off the things of God. To do otherwise,
leaves us and the young people who look
to us for leadership vulnerable and prone to
demonic attack. “And 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.”
(Romans 12:2 NKJV)
www.pneupathforliving.com 13