THE DANGER OF IMAGINATION
- Bishop Bill Anderson
- 14 hours ago
- 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 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…
I have started to cast down the thoughts and imaginations of always looking at the bad side of every situation that comes up in my life. I used to automatically go to the worst case senario in any given situation.
The new imagination that I'm starting to use is to see the best in every situation that comes up in my life. The best sinario is what God says about the situation.
From the very beginning God has made in the image of His son.
What a message! Thank you Bishop! This message is a wakeup call to just how many of my thoughts I had not been casting down and the effect they have been having in my life.
What thoughts or imaginations have you cast down since the message? The imaginations of disease in my body when specific symptoms come. This is one I have been casting down time and again for some time now, but I realize I was only doing a part of what I needed to be doing--casting down wrong imaginations--however, I wasn't actually imagining something different.
Another imagination I have been casting down is one of certain people not wanting God or wouldn't want to hear about God.
What…