Don’t Let the Turkeys Distract You

God has a plan for your life

And

So does Satan

Satan’s Counter Attack on Your Life.

“It is satan’s constant effort to keep the mind diverted from the Savior and thus prevent the union and communion of our soul with Him.

1)The PLEASURES of this life, 2) life’s CARES and

PERPLEXITIES and SORROWS, 3) the FAULTS of others, or 4) your own FAULTS and

WEAKNESSES, to any and all of these he will seek to divert the mind.” -SC 72

The Origin of Turkeys (And that Includes YOU & ME )

How often I find myself “stroking my contrary thoughts.” –Dr. Joanne Davidson

Stoking thoughts that are contrary to the thoughts my Father wants me to be thinking.

Dr. Davidson was talking about what goes on in the heart.

What are the internal motives behind what I do! What are the internal impulses behind my actions! What are the internal affections behind my likes and

dislikes ! In Summary: We are talking about the internal

motivators that lead me away from my Father.

The History of “Contrary Thoughts”

Let’s take a look at GOSSIP – that’s one of the acceptable Adventist sins.

Where did Gossip originate? “Lucifer left the immediate presence of the Father

dissatisfied and filled with envy against Christ. Concealing his real purpose, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself.-SR 14

Lucifer went behind God’s back and made God & His Son look bad while making himself look good.

But where did the dissatisfaction and envy come from?

Here They Are – The Source of Most Church & School Battles

Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain CONTROL of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for SELF-EXALTATION. With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. –DA 21,22

The Source Of Most Church & School Battles (continued)

Sin originated with Lucifer “stroking his contrary thoughts” in two areas:

1) He sought to gain control – The origin of the “I’m going to be in charge” demon.

2) The desire for self-exaltation – The origin of the “look at me everybody, look at me” demon.

Even today, these two demons remain at the very core of our carnal natures. And they can be broken down even further to ONE SIN.

“Sin originated in SELF-SEEKING.” -DA 21

The Solution to Dealing with TurkeysPart #1

The battle for my heart – my internal motives, impulses, and affections; comes down to ONE SOLUTION:

Am I going to give Christ full control so that I continually think my Father’s thoughts, or, am I going to continue “stroking my contrary thoughts” – the things I automatically revert to when Christ does not have FULL control of my life.

And that’s where the battle takes place – around that word FULL control.

The Solution to Dealing with TurkeysPart #1

When I’m in charge – FEELINGS hold the upper hand over REASON.

But, When Christ is in charge – REASON holds the upper

hand over FEELINGS. My part in sanctification is to come to Jesus every

morning and to cling to Him throughout the day. His part is to level the playing field with my thoughts,

motives and impulses so that REASON guides my choices and not FEELINGS.

The Solution to Dealing with TurkeysPart #2

#1: Recognize who you are up against.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers in dark places. -Ephesians 6:12

The Solution to Dealing with TurkeysPart #2

# 2: Recognize that my part in the battle is to:

Put on the armor of God each morning. –Eph. 6:13

Stand ( don’t fight). –Eph. 6:14

Pray always. –Eph. 6:18

And Look What Mrs. White has to Say About Dealing with Turkeys When trials arise that seem unexplainable, we should

not allow our peace to be spoiled. However unjustly we may be treated, let not passion arise. By indulging a spirit of retaliation we injure ourselves. We destroy our own confidence in God, and grieve the Holy Spirit. There is by our side a witness, a heavenly messenger, who will lift up for us a standard against the enemy. He will shut us in with the bright beams of the Son of Righteousness. Beyond this Stan cannot penetrate. –COL, 171

Thought for the Day When Confronting Turkeys In the heart of Christ where reined perfect

harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause nor dejected by criticism and disappointment. Amidst the greatest opposition and most cruel treatment, He was still of good courage. –DA, 330

Thought for the Day When Confronting Turkeys Nothing can touch him except by our

Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” –Rom 8:28 –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 71

The End

Closing Thought Don’t go to God and tell Him you have a big

problem Go to your problem and tell it you have a big

God.