THE DANGER OF IMAGINATION
- Bishop Bill Anderson
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Man is Consumed with Images
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Imagination – the ability to form mental images, sensations, or concepts of things not currently perceived by the senses or experienced
Our imagination is positive when used for creative thinking in problem-solving or creation, or in seeing yourself in the Word – what you can have, be, and do
Our imagination is negative when used for mental escape, distance from reality, and imaginary fantasies, Fear of what may or may not happen, and expecting the worst
Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you start seeing positive results
The Second Commandment
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Explaining the Second Commandment
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
The Why of the Second Commandment
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
If you opt to create them and subsequently serve them humbly rather than Him, God clarifies that the reason for your apparent hatred towards Him stems from your desire to forge an image different from His. Remember, you become who you love and admire.
IMAGES ARE VAIN
Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
THE DEVIL BLINDS THROUGH WICKED IMAGINATIONS
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Wicked Imaginations
Negative Mental Habits: Constantly thinking negative thoughts, complaining, or harboring grudges.
Forbidden Fantasies: Indulging in lustful, proud, or envious, and self-exalting thoughts.
Worry and Anxiety: Allowing the mind to focus obsessively on negative "what-if" scenarios rather than trusting in divine providence.
What Do I Spend My Time Thinking About?
· Are we guilty of always thinking negative thoughts? Always whining, complaining? Are your thoughts lustful? Are they prideful, or ungrateful?
· When we allow our minds to focus on negative, evil, and wicked things, we are going against everything God has done and taught us to do.
· Because of this foolish type of thinking, we are actually helping the devil
· Another thing that makes this type of thinking so dangerous and abominable in the sight of God is that if we constantly imagine evil thoughts all the time, then eventually we will say and do those things also.
· And instead of building faith in the word of God, we cause fear and permit the devil to set us up for a fall
OUR CALLING
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Let This Scripture Become Life in Your Life Now!
• Do it, not just quote it.
• How often?
• In Every Thing! In Every Thought!
PRACTICALITIES
Use your imagination to see what the Word says about you: saved, healed, prosperous, obedient, son of God, a witness, overcomer,
Cast down images of sick, broke, victim, pride, insecurity, and the what-ifs
Remember, we become who we love and admire
Admire God and His Word every moment and every day of your life
Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you start having positive results
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
What new imagination have you
What was your greatest aha moment in the message?
Looking forward to our discussion.
In His Service,
Bishop Bill
To watch the teaching, click here: https://youtu.be/Q8B2OZcXgw4?si=oF8sNzsnYwXqr8CQ
What a now message! Thank you Bishop!
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
The thoughts of the "what ifs" about the future. I see that they can steal from my present. Casting down the thoughts that have come from other people's situations that have crept into my world and compromised my ability to "trust" in the miraculous/healing of sickness and disease. In those situations people died before their time and it could have been avoidable. In some ways I see that as irresponsible and selfish all in the name of what, trusting God? Again, those things were their journey and this is my journey. So I am responsible for taking captive those thoughts and imaginatio…
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
Fear and negative thoughts. Condemning image that exalts itself against trusting God. I have strived and strived with this for too long. Thank you for for clarifying just how dangerous this can be. These absolutely come out and affect my words and actions (or in-actions). Does not bring life to my home or harvest field. My own efforts have not and will not silence and kick these out, it must be the authority of Christ to bind and get them out.
What new imagination have you?
Obedient son of God. Step by step, thought by thought, word by word, action by action. When God corrects and allows me to…
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
I think I had to redefine what was wicked sometimes wicked was defined as really bad stuff and God has a definition of anything that's contrary to what the word of God is wicked. There were some negative thinking and thoughts that false humility which is pride in the other direction that I didn't dump in the wicked bin just not good bin. This is a really good reset to recognize those things have influence even though I may have viewed them as not dangerous. They keep me from the perfect will of God. then I can settle for a bad experience and then slap Christianity on it…
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
I have a few that I need to cast down the first is automatically think why bother think and pre judgeing the people or person that they have no interest in the word. Second is me imagining what the enemy is focusing it on me to prevent me sharing and talking to people about the word.
What New imagination have you?
God believes in me so I guess that's a lot more than a imagination that's me believing the word and imagein people believe that the word is the truth from God
What was. Your greatest aha moment in the message?
That I imagine that I was ok I…
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message?
One thought and imagination that I have had to cast down is not being a successful harvester.
What new imagination have you?
I see myself as a harvester reconciling people back to God and doing it on a consistent basis.
What was your greatest aha moment in the message?
I was guilty of living in a world created by me through wicked imaginations that were formed because I did not like the image that God presented to me. Talk about a WOW moment. I repented of those wicked imaginations and am now casting down those thoughts and imaginations that are contrary to the Word of God. God is now…