Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies;
20 These are the things which defile a man…..
One of the easiest ways for the Christian to gauge if his or her heart is in the right place, is to check what they naturally dwell upon when speaking freely, for apart from one’s work, school, or business matters, etcetera, our conversation almost, always naturally reverts back to what we dwell upon internally.
There is a saying that goes like this, garbage in, and garbage out, meaning that if persons allow perverse suggestions to enter, and remain for any length of time in the mind, the person will eventually end up spewing out of the mouth, those things that were cherished in the heart.
Now, it is true that we are bombarded constantly with a barrage of evil suggestions, which for some reason seem to be proliferating more and more, as the day for Christ’s return looms larger and larger on the horizon.
Forces of darkness have indeed succeeded in their efforts to penetrate every segment of society with some form of evil, whether it be some suggestions, ideologies, philosophy, or mal-practice.
Most advertisements carry some trace of evil, as do most political rallies, news paper articles, billboard ads, and the multitude of pop ups that appear when surfing the internet. If it’s not lying, false accusation or character assassination of another, it’s the subtle misrepresentation of truth, or a blatant alternative to facts.
Even when looking for scriptures, there are times when suggestions and imagery that are opposed to what is written, would just appear without warning, and if our minds are not stayed on Christ, those suggestions can change the tenor of our thoughts.
Again, nature shows and documentaries are for the most part tainted in some way with evil, for if it is not evolution that is peddled, it is the omission of God from nature, as can be observed when animals and plants are credited with genius and wisdom, as though they can do what they do without God.
It's yet a mystery how anyone can do an hour-long presentation on nature, without once mentioning nature’s God. And thus, by the elimination of God from documentaries, which are otherwise good, the forces of evil draw the mind away from the Creator to the creature.
In one particular nature video, the Ibex is featured as a fearless climber on some of the most difficult, and breath-taking heights. As the Ibex families rout the steep cliffs and ledges, thousands of feet into the air, their soft cloven feet are credited with the ability to navigate such mind-boggling terrain.
But the God of heaven is never ever mentioned as being The One who has endowed the Ibex with their singular abilities. Thus, the creature is subtly exalted above the Creator, and in most cases, persons are none the wiser. Let’s read:
Job 39: Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they bring forth?
Psalms 104: 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
Again, many video games are overloaded with much violence and criminal practice, and the curse words and mixed-up attitudes and gestures are paraded as something to be admired and emulated. Very much of the crime we now witness in our day, is the result of persons feeding on video games, and movies.
The Bible teaches us that by beholding we become changed, a principle that works for both good and evil. Even though defilement comes from within a man, what we behold can play a major role in what comes out, for if evil is allowed to enter the mind, and is cherished and cultivated, it will inevitably be manifested in what comes out.
However, for all of the evil with which we are being surrounded, we are not more gullible than persons in former years and the fact of the matter is that we can still live unspotted in an evil world. That is what He was explaining in our first passage as He declares evil defilement to come forth from within, not from without.
Thus, in our study today, we will dwell in large part on the ways and means that are given in scripture to purify, and keep unsullied the well-springs of our thoughts, for if our mental cogitations are right, the inevitable good actions and words will follow.
One’s purity of heart and mind does not happen by accident; it takes diligent, well directed effort under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, to keep our minds from wandering upon forbidden themes.
Like with anything else in the spiritual realm, any study of growth in grace, and the maintaining of a person’s equilibrium, as it pertains to keeping one’s mind pure, must begin and must continue with the presence and power of The Holy Spirit.
The presence and power of The Holy Ghost enables persons to sift through the bombardment of evils that keep coming our way every day, and He helps us to distinguish clearly between the pure and true, and those low, trifling thoughts which too are often allowed to occupy valuable real estate space in the “brainosphere”.
God is preparing a people to stand upright, during the most difficult and trying days of earth’s history, and He is seeking to purify our thoughts so that the things which do matter would be foremost on the mind’s agenda. Let’s read:
John 15: 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.
John 16: 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you, things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things.
Secular modes of thought are often infused into our minds under the guises of having some benefit, and before you know it, those values, perspectives, and mal-practices follow unerringly, wherever they are dwelt upon for any length of time.
Therefore, we would begin with the counsel that is given in the book of Philippians in which the apostle Paul tells us of the ways and means to be employed as we, through our choices, try to cooperate with God in keeping our minds pure. Let’s read:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The words Paul uses in the preceding verses would virtually eliminate most of the mental material and the information persons feed on. For instance, Paul uses words such as “Honest” and of “Good report”, words that can potentially eliminate most political rallies.
If politicians and candidates for public office would only speak the truth what a very different world this would be. But truth is so manipulated, and distorted into meaning whatsoever the hearers desire, that the public trust in elected officials has been severely eroded.
Blatant falsehoods from political candidates are not only expected and mandated in too many instances, they have become the norm, and outright lying is now considered fair game in today’s world. When asked about the malpractice of falsehoods in those instances where one is knowingly peddling lies, the response is often “What’s wrong with that”.
As a direct and inevitable result, democracy as we know it will come to an end one day, as the book of Revelation declares will be the case. An autocratic form of government would one day overspread the land, and it will be the result of persons persistently and deliberately manipulating facts and truth, so as to serve their own purposes.
When this is the case, persons will inevitably follow in the footsteps of their invisible leader who has not only perfected the malpractice of deliberate lying, but has now permanently occupied the top echelon of the totem pole, by actually believing falsehoods he peddles, and as a direct result, the permanent state of delusionary thought and action becomes one’s way of life.
Then Paul uses the words “True” and “Pure” which will eliminate most movies, and fictitious materials, since movies are for the most part, actors depicting figments of the imagination of man’s heart. One of the main reasons why folks get hooked on movies is because they do have the tendency to fascinate and fire up the imagination.
Often, the mind is removed from reality, and when the habit is formed of imbibing such performances, persons are led to cultivate perspectives that were based solely on the imagination. And in doing so the mind becomes poisoned after a while, and unfits it to grasp the truths, and realities that are presented in the scriptures.
Many folks now prefer to watch the movie versions of Biblical renditions such as Noah’s ark, Passion of the Christ, and the Rapture, rather than reading the scriptural versions of these events. That is because the mind, in most instances, has become hooked on drama, and thus, one’s relish for the plain word of God becomes blunted.
In fact, as a general rule of thumb, any person who habitually visits the movie theater, feeding on the imaginary, will inevitably develop a distaste for the Bible, and spiritual things, some more, some less. It is just another one of those “Good” temptations we keep referring to.
Those high energy actions, and dramatic displays of the theater stand in marked contrast to the tranquil pleasure of the study of the Scriptures, and thus, it’s becoming more and more difficult to keep the mind and the attention of the young and restless focused on the word of God, if there is no drama included. Let’s read:
[Christian Education pp 35] Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, and is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality.
Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination, and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.
There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use.
Again, Paul uses the phrase: “Whatsoever things are pure” and he lists virtue and praise as determining factors as to what folks should choose to have their minds dwell upon. In other words, what Paul says to us can be summed up in the following words: “If it does not push you up, it will pull you down”.
Now that we have read and heard that which needs to be avoided, let us turn to the positives, whereby the tenor of our thoughts can be trained to dwell on that which is good and acceptable in God’s sight.
We do not wish to sound like a broken record, but it is a fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for us to maintain and cultivate the pure and honorable without a regular study of the word of God, which is acts like an inoculation against the viruses of evils that are now being transmitted at an alarming rate.
During the recent pandemic, and even currently, it was recommended that persons not only receive a shot, against the original strain of the Corona virus, but it was stated that individuals needed to get all additional boosters in order to fend off the variants and strains that keep ever evolving.
The same is true with the study of the word of God, for it is not enough to get a shot once a week during Divine hour; additional boosters would be needed throughout the week, as the different strains, and subvariants of evil keep on evolving each and every day.
Currently, according to data coming from the world health organization, there are now more than two hundred variants, strains, and subvariants of the original Corona virus. But in the spirit world, there are currently billions of strains of evil, and they keep on evolving and coming at us at a rate that persons could only keep up to speed through the Living and written word.
Evils, which folks in the sixties, and seventies never even dreamed of, have now become the norm, and what one would have recoiled in horror from in the days of yore, is now being gobbled up by persons in the here and now.
Alternative lifestyles are no longer a subculture; it is a fact that mainstream dynamics have driven such philosophies to the very forefront of societal modes of thought and action, in so much that individuals who might dare to differ are now swiftly becoming an endangered species.
This is why it is so critically important for everyone who names the name of Christ, existing in such an environment that is increasingly hostile to anything that savors of righteousness, to be updated with the latest booster shots, that are found only in the word of God.
In fact, if one does not see the importance of study, it is just a matter of time before that persons falls. It is virtually impossible to maintain a level head, and walk the straight and narrow path with a steady and even tread, without regular references to the Bible.
That is why Christ placed so much emphasis on the word, lifting it in order of priority over His necessary food, for if the word of God is not firmly entrenched in one’s heart, persons will certainly succumb to the many distortions and subvariants of evils that are to be found all around us.
The reading and study of God’s word gives to those who are thus exercised, an active reference point in deciphering, and distinguishing good from evil, and with the passage of time, and the indwelling of The Spirit of God, this ability to discern clearly, becomes sharper, clearer, and quicker.
But whenever the word of God is neglected in favor of those light, trifling, sensual, or secular materials, the spirit of discernment becomes severely blunted, and after a while, one can entirely lose their ability to tell what is right from wrong, or to discern truth from error.
This is actually the spiritual plague afflicting persons living in Laodicea; it is not so much the proliferation of evil worldwide, it is the lack of ability to discern between the heavenly and the satanic. And because of this, many individuals are settling in for a form of righteousness that’s neither recognized or endorsed by God. Let’s read:
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you art wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness does not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.
On this important, and necessary ability of persons being able to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, the Scripture has very much to say, for if one cannot differentiate properly, the battle is lost, even before it is begun.
When Martha became riled up at Mary, for her not helping with the cooking and preparation, as Christ was sitting in their living room hungry, she thought that she was prioritizing her agenda properly. But lo and behold, when the issue was raised, Jesus stated that her priorities had become temporarily inverted even though she knew it not.
Again, persons in our day are often presented with agendas that are packaged by the smooth operator in ways that are becoming increasingly difficult for us to recognize the good from the bad. Not so with Christ, who was noted for His quick understanding, and discernment, which in turn, helped Him greatly in fending off disguised temptation. Let’s read:
Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears;
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth…
Again, it is of critical importance for our minds to be dwelling on that which is of eternal consequence. In our troubled world, where from one day to the next folks might encounter angry, old men, with nuclear weapons who have already lived their lives and who might have nothing to lose, it becomes all the more important that our focus be on God, and not on any mortal man.
The word of God specifically states that the very last nation to be left standing, before the coming of the Son of Man, is America. It’s not China, Russia, North Korea, nor any of those actors living in the Middle East.
It is America; and thus, the person whose mind is focused on God and His word, would not be left to beat about in a frenzy of uncertainty, as the one who is not thus disposed. Persons can at times be overwhelmed, and discouraged on account of the constant barrage of bad news, and before you know it, the tenor of their words savors of fear.
Fear often crystalizes faith, and with the world in an increasingly volatile state, and with heads of nations one edge, the instability and uncertainty could wear down one’s faith, if we were to lose focus, and thus, a person could become defiled through fear. Let’s read:
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.
1st John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
Therefore, as we seek to address the issues of inner defilement, let us keep our hearts and minds lifted to the skies, for if we allow our minds to dwell on the good and right, God will grant us the enabling power to make it habitual, and thus persons can be fortified against the internal and external foes that continue to strive for the mastery of the mind.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that is to remind us that the mind is the springboard of all actions, and thus, it must be kept and garrisoned by the Living and written word of God. Let’s read:
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
God Bless!