Now the "gates of our city" are the portals to our mind--primarily sight, hearing, taste, and touch. Our gate keeper is our inner ability to judge and to "take every thought captive." If you are spending your life allowing imagery to enter the city of your mind, unchecked, then ultimately you will act out according to an enemy design. Do you have a fear or shame-based identity? Jesus said, "These seed were sown of the enemy.”
For some, your main gates may be heavily secured and guarded. You don't expose yourself to unhealthy imagery and have truly partnered with the Holy Spirit to keep enemies from entering.
There is one more place I challenge you to look--the religious Gate. For many of us, we know immediately that when a provocative image comes our way that this is part of an enemy “trojan horse.” But too often those of us who are in the church leave "spiritual messages” unchecked and therefore allow our religious gate to be an open door.
Let’s face the facts; we are all imperfect and even when we are operating out of the best motives, we sometimes miss the mark. Now I am not particularly talking about living in sin or rebellion to God. Again, it's a much more subtle battle. For example, as I get up to preach or teach the Word of God, I have read and heard the principles of faith I try to live by begin to come out as listeners open their gate to receive new information. The problem is that truth is flowing through an imperfect system; "if any man can bridle" his tongue he is a perfect man. The mindsets I grew up with, the areas of fear that I am uprooting, and even my pre-Christian world view begin to show through. In some areas I may seem more assured, while in other areas I simply don't have a full, life imparted knowledge. Meanwhile, my listeners and readers end up getting a piece of my "old man" as Paul’s said, or "sinful nature" shows through.
Dave, what’s your point? It’s just this: If I can recognize that often imperfect messages proceed from my own writing or speaking, I become more aware that others do the same. Just because a born-again Christian with the best intentions steps up to the podium, microphone, or on the TV screen, that does not equal 100% God. The areas of gluttony, fear, and misguided, although well intentioned, “theology" flow out from even the most sincere follower of Christ. It is our responsibility to “guard our hearts with all diligence because out of them flow the issues of life.”
Determine right now to surround yourself with material that is helping to create in you the images you want to ACT OUT. I have had to “part ways” with many well meaning, well intentioned authors when I found that their speaking or writing did not produce the type of encouraging motivating images that I needed.
Dave Yarnes is the Executive Vice President of MorningStar Ministries. He has own many businesses and has had in international impact in marketplace ministry.
