You're right up my ally on this subject chopper. I was a very early student, at about 19 years old, of such positive thought philosophers of the world such as Earl Nightingale, W. Clement Stone, Og Mandino, Robert Ringer and other preachers of that realm like N. Vincent Peale. I've also listened to probably every word that ever came out of Tony Robbins mouth.
There is no stone that I have not turned over in this arena. And I did use the principles of such men to make a small fortune. Or so I thought. It wasn't really that at all.
I had to, was forced to trade in ALL of the above for the knowledge of God's Word on this subject.
Few believers will bow to the understanding of God in Christ on this matter. Few. So very very few.
Here is what Gods Word says: Mark 4:15
This MEANS there is an intruder that is not us, in our minds. IF believers can not come into this sight of fact, they will be quickly turned into liars and hypocrites.
Now, follow what Jesus said DIRECTLY to how Paul taught this same matter in Romans 7:7-13. Paul was telling and exposing the TRUTH of Jesus' Facts from Mark 4:15.
And pity the man who hides behind the lie that those adverse illegal thoughts can be stopped or be legal or be pleasing to God in Christ.
The only thing that we get from God in Christ on this subject is HONESTY. There are either honest believers on this subject or there are liars. There is no in between and there is no wiggle room.
Yes, evil does come from within. It does come from evil thoughts. And anyone, anyone, who says they don't have them are only fooling themselves and hiding the fact that our spiritual adversary brings the onslaught of evil thoughts in direct opposition to Gods Words of LAW.
No man makes indwelling sin and evil present within them obey. It is not even remotely possible.
And the sooner a believer quits pulling their own leg on the subject, it is THEN that the real battles begin, because we are not warring with ourselves, our flesh and blood, some chemical reactions in the mind, our old man, our Adamic nature, our old nature, NONE of this is true.
We battle our spiritual adversary INTERNALLY, in our thought life. And if we think that adversary will not cover himself up and claim it's only "us" then he has merely blinded us to the reality of our indwelling sin and evil present in connection with the DEVIL.
Now, let that truth stick in everyone's craw because it will stick if anyone even TRIES to be that honest before our Maker.
God DEMANDS His Brutal Honesty on this subject. God already knows our state. It is only we who are blinded to it.
And when we see this, THEN HIS MERCY in Christ becomes vividly real and sorely needed at every moment of our lives, because you see, God is not just seeing "us." God can and does have the right to deal adversely with "the other party."
And on this ground, I not only scream, but BEG for His Mercy. Because I know His Right and Rule extends to more than "just me" in my poor little defiled lump of clay.
So, SHIELDS UP to everyone that hears. Those who hear will lock shields in prep for battle. And will stop lying to themselves.
Isaiah 63:8
For he said, Surely they are my people,
children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
Isaiah 16:5
And
in mercy shall the throne be established: and
he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
When we come before our Maker, IN TRUTH, we are essentially requesting our BEHEADING, in the spiritual sense. It will happen, COLLECTIVELY and when it does, we'll ALL know it, from the least to the greatest of us.
But liars will not stand.