Jim Parker
Member
It is a 5-step process:
(You’ve heard of a 12-step program? - The devil has a 5 step program.)
(1) Initial Suggestion
(2) Acceptance
(3) Consent
(4) Captivity
(5) Passion
(1) Initial Suggestion:
Something appears in our mind; a person, a thing, an image, a memory, that suddenly comes to mind.
A suggestion is not sinful.
It is impossible to keep one’s mind free of thoughts.
But, it is our work to resist evil thoughts.
James 4:7b Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
2 Cor 10:15 bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
(2) Acceptance
If, having directed our attention to the thought, we see that it is evil but, instead of rejecting it we retain it in our consciousness, relish it, and sympathize with it, then we have given the devil a foothold in our person. We have accepted the evil into our being and allowed the devil to conquer a piece of us.
(3) Consent
This is the willing acceptance of an idea or the image of an object that has been imagined.
This happens when someone begins to imagine how to act upon the suggestions of a thought towards which his soul has become favorably disposed
- even though his conscience tells him that it is not good and that it is sinful.
(4) Captivity
This is when the soul has accepted an evil thought and is completely gripped and carried away by it. The person has allowed the evil into his soul and the evil has captured his soul.
Captivity results in the automatic attraction of the heart towards the thought or the constant allowance for it to dwell in ourselves which is an act of uniting with the evil.
That will always result in sinful behavior.
Jesus said: “from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (Mark 7:21-22)
(5) Passion: This word describes being enslaved to sin.
It is the circumstance whereby our habitual tendencies and actions have occupied our soul for such a long time that, by becoming our habitual manner of life, they become our nature.
Sin now becomes so habitual that a person cannot and does not have the power to live without the constant gratification of his sinful inclination.
The sin, having become habit and “second nature” is called a “passion.”
John 8:34 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
FIFTH: What are our weapons and how do we employ them?
2Cor 10:3-5
For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war,
for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly
but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ,…
> There are very simple, though not easy, steps, which a believer must take to defeat the devil.
> The weapons and their proper use is called, “asceticism.”
> What’s that?
> An ascetic is someone who constantly forces himself to perform good works and to refrain from evil works.
> The main thing is not the good works but the inner disposition of the ascetic which is the desire to do the will of God and only the will of God.
> Therefore, the true ascetic strives to uproot from his soul
- evil dispositions, evil habits, and evil will,
- and, in their place to plant and firmly inculcate
- good dispositions, good habits, and good will.
> This is the primary struggle of the true ascetic.
> This is the primary and necessary struggle of EVERY CHRISTIAN!
> It is a great struggle because evil habits,
- having grown deep roots through their frequent satisfaction,
- increase in strength and become like shackles on a man
- and that deprives him of his moral freedom and keeps him enslaved to sin.
Saint Isaac the Syrian said to: “Fear evil habits more than demons.”
> You can chase a demon by invoking the name of Jesus.
> A resolute determination, enlightened and strengthened by the grace of Christ is required to overcome the most deeply-rooted evil habits.
> It will require constant battle, against it and against every act of disobedience to God’s will.
- Every evil habit will weaker and weaker if you constantly battle against it.
- It will finally be eradicated IF YOU DO NOT GIVE UP.
> A constant battle with passions (habitual sin) is necessary and the grace of the Holy Spirit liberates the ascetic.
> This grace is given only in response to the person’s personal effort in spiritual struggle.
> This is why Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” (Luke 13:24)
But, having eradicated a passion, your work is not done.
> What you have achieved at this point is a “clean but empty house” to which the demons will work to fill with new passions.
> The opposing virtues must immediately be planted in place of the eradicated passions.
- The virtue of Abstinence is opposed to gluttony. (Which is why saints fast.)
- The virtue of Chastity is opposed to fornication.
- The virtue of Non-acquisitiveness is opposed to avarice.
- The virtue of Meekness is opposed to anger.
- The virtue of Blessed Tears about one’s sins is opposed to despair.
- The virtue of Sobriety (clear, rational thinking) is opposed to sorrow.
- The virtue of Humility is opposed to vanity.
- The virtue of Love is opposed to pride.
> The way the believer carries out spiritual warfare is to eradicate the evil passions and replace them with the virtues.
> And, as it took practice to become enslaved to the sinful passions, so it will require practice to make the virtues your “second nature.”
> Actually, by making the virtues your normal way of life, you are restoring, with the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit, Man’s original nature which is that we were were created in God’s image and likeness and we were created “very good.”
SIXTH: How will we know that we have won this war?
> You will hear Jesus say to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
> Until then, keep fighting because if you are fighting then you are winning.
>>>>> The only way to loose the battle is not to fight.
> What is the goal of all this struggle?
- Every battle has an objective.
- What is our objective?
Mat 5:48 “…you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
1Pet 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7)
Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
> The Christian ideal, the perfection towards which we must strive, is holiness, which is similar to the holiness of God.
> The attainment of Divine sanctity is the objective of our lives.
> God created us to be holy as He Himself is holy so that we would delight in the communion of love with Him.
> The spiritual warfare that every Christian should be fighting every day is the struggle to uproot and cast out sinful habits and to replace them with the virtues.
> The result will be a humble, loving, gentle, kind, generous, person who, with the help of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit, through constant battle against the evil with which the devil tries to infect him, has overcome the world.
> The result will be a Christian who reflects the love of Christ to the world.
> The result will be that, when someone meets you, he will fall in love with Jesus.
(You’ve heard of a 12-step program? - The devil has a 5 step program.)
(1) Initial Suggestion
(2) Acceptance
(3) Consent
(4) Captivity
(5) Passion
(1) Initial Suggestion:
Something appears in our mind; a person, a thing, an image, a memory, that suddenly comes to mind.
A suggestion is not sinful.
It is impossible to keep one’s mind free of thoughts.
But, it is our work to resist evil thoughts.
James 4:7b Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
2 Cor 10:15 bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
(2) Acceptance
If, having directed our attention to the thought, we see that it is evil but, instead of rejecting it we retain it in our consciousness, relish it, and sympathize with it, then we have given the devil a foothold in our person. We have accepted the evil into our being and allowed the devil to conquer a piece of us.
(3) Consent
This is the willing acceptance of an idea or the image of an object that has been imagined.
This happens when someone begins to imagine how to act upon the suggestions of a thought towards which his soul has become favorably disposed
- even though his conscience tells him that it is not good and that it is sinful.
(4) Captivity
This is when the soul has accepted an evil thought and is completely gripped and carried away by it. The person has allowed the evil into his soul and the evil has captured his soul.
Captivity results in the automatic attraction of the heart towards the thought or the constant allowance for it to dwell in ourselves which is an act of uniting with the evil.
That will always result in sinful behavior.
Jesus said: “from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (Mark 7:21-22)
(5) Passion: This word describes being enslaved to sin.
It is the circumstance whereby our habitual tendencies and actions have occupied our soul for such a long time that, by becoming our habitual manner of life, they become our nature.
Sin now becomes so habitual that a person cannot and does not have the power to live without the constant gratification of his sinful inclination.
The sin, having become habit and “second nature” is called a “passion.”
John 8:34 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
FIFTH: What are our weapons and how do we employ them?
2Cor 10:3-5
For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war,
for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly
but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ,…
> There are very simple, though not easy, steps, which a believer must take to defeat the devil.
> The weapons and their proper use is called, “asceticism.”
> What’s that?
> An ascetic is someone who constantly forces himself to perform good works and to refrain from evil works.
> The main thing is not the good works but the inner disposition of the ascetic which is the desire to do the will of God and only the will of God.
> Therefore, the true ascetic strives to uproot from his soul
- evil dispositions, evil habits, and evil will,
- and, in their place to plant and firmly inculcate
- good dispositions, good habits, and good will.
> This is the primary struggle of the true ascetic.
> This is the primary and necessary struggle of EVERY CHRISTIAN!
> It is a great struggle because evil habits,
- having grown deep roots through their frequent satisfaction,
- increase in strength and become like shackles on a man
- and that deprives him of his moral freedom and keeps him enslaved to sin.
Saint Isaac the Syrian said to: “Fear evil habits more than demons.”
> You can chase a demon by invoking the name of Jesus.
> A resolute determination, enlightened and strengthened by the grace of Christ is required to overcome the most deeply-rooted evil habits.
> It will require constant battle, against it and against every act of disobedience to God’s will.
- Every evil habit will weaker and weaker if you constantly battle against it.
- It will finally be eradicated IF YOU DO NOT GIVE UP.
> A constant battle with passions (habitual sin) is necessary and the grace of the Holy Spirit liberates the ascetic.
> This grace is given only in response to the person’s personal effort in spiritual struggle.
> This is why Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” (Luke 13:24)
But, having eradicated a passion, your work is not done.
> What you have achieved at this point is a “clean but empty house” to which the demons will work to fill with new passions.
> The opposing virtues must immediately be planted in place of the eradicated passions.
- The virtue of Abstinence is opposed to gluttony. (Which is why saints fast.)
- The virtue of Chastity is opposed to fornication.
- The virtue of Non-acquisitiveness is opposed to avarice.
- The virtue of Meekness is opposed to anger.
- The virtue of Blessed Tears about one’s sins is opposed to despair.
- The virtue of Sobriety (clear, rational thinking) is opposed to sorrow.
- The virtue of Humility is opposed to vanity.
- The virtue of Love is opposed to pride.
> The way the believer carries out spiritual warfare is to eradicate the evil passions and replace them with the virtues.
> And, as it took practice to become enslaved to the sinful passions, so it will require practice to make the virtues your “second nature.”
> Actually, by making the virtues your normal way of life, you are restoring, with the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit, Man’s original nature which is that we were were created in God’s image and likeness and we were created “very good.”
SIXTH: How will we know that we have won this war?
> You will hear Jesus say to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
> Until then, keep fighting because if you are fighting then you are winning.
>>>>> The only way to loose the battle is not to fight.
> What is the goal of all this struggle?
- Every battle has an objective.
- What is our objective?
Mat 5:48 “…you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
1Pet 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7)
Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
> The Christian ideal, the perfection towards which we must strive, is holiness, which is similar to the holiness of God.
> The attainment of Divine sanctity is the objective of our lives.
> God created us to be holy as He Himself is holy so that we would delight in the communion of love with Him.
> The spiritual warfare that every Christian should be fighting every day is the struggle to uproot and cast out sinful habits and to replace them with the virtues.
> The result will be a humble, loving, gentle, kind, generous, person who, with the help of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit, through constant battle against the evil with which the devil tries to infect him, has overcome the world.
> The result will be a Christian who reflects the love of Christ to the world.
> The result will be that, when someone meets you, he will fall in love with Jesus.