Where is God Amidst All This Chaos?
Special: Counseled by God Free Video Event and up to 50% off!

Overcoming the Accuser in My Mind - Testimony by Pastor Keith Carlisle

Mark Virkler's picture

As I began the course “Counseled By God” (i.e. CLU graduate level college version of this training) I had no idea how much it would change the way that I look at situations in my life. Although there were many areas that the Holy Spirit touched on through this course, I believe the lesson that had the greatest impact on my life currently was discerning the accuser’s thoughts versus the Comforter’s thoughts. Before I learned how to hear the voice of God and recognize it as spontaneous thoughts that light upon my mind I found myself constantly struggling with all the thoughts that came into my mind.


Although I knew that there was a great battle going on in my mind, I didn’t seem to have much victory in overcoming negative or critical thoughts. Seeing all the names of satan in the Scriptures and how these negative and accusative thoughts lined up with his character helped me to begin to see that just because I had a thought it didn’t mean that I was the source of it. That’s the way the enemy works, especially as the accuser. He wants me to think that every thought I have is my own and then condemns me and accuses me for having such a thought and calling myself a Christian. I knew from Scripture that satan accused Job before God and told God that the only reason that Job served Him was because of the protection that God had around Job and his family. However, God knew much more about Job and his character than satan did and allowed him to test his theory on Job but God would eventually work everything out for Job’s good. This was not an easy test for Job but God saw him through to the end. Serving the Lord does not mean that difficult times will not come into our lives but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. In my past I would get pretty discouraged and frustrated because of these thoughts but I am now thankful that I feel much better equipped to deal with them. It’s when I try to do this on my own (self-effort) that the real frustration begins because God never intended for me to do that but has placed His Holy Spirit within to lead me and guide me. The Spirit is our power source and when we fail to draw upon Him and His wisdom we will fall. The enemy wants us to believe that there is no hope and that we might as well give up but that’s because he is a liar. God has told us in His Word that “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

When I asked God to talk to me about these two verses this is what I received from Him: My dear son, I have provided everything that you need to face the enemy in battle. These are weapons that I provide, divinely powerful weapons to destroy any strongholds that the enemy tries to raise up. In order to be successful in battle, use My weapons. Remember to examine negative thoughts as they come to you and determine their source. The only thoughts I want you to really follow are those that I give to you. I want you to obey My thoughts that I give to you. It is by these thoughts that you receive counsel from Me. Watch Me , listen closely to My voice and walk and live in the flow of My Spirit within you. Rest in Me, My son.

We have thousands of thoughts on any given day and it takes a conscious effort to analyze each thought and take it captive to the obedience of Christ. However, when we recognize that satan is the accuser, a liar, our adversary, an angel of light, and a thief, we are better equipped to get rid of these negative critical thoughts, rather than incubating them, and to ask the Holy Spirit to replace them with His thoughts. When I asked the Lord to show me where I am pondering and receiving thoughts that line up with the names of satan, this is what He spoke to me:

My dear son, Whenever you ponder and allow negative, critical and accusative thoughts to take root in your mind, you are allowing satan and his minions to defeat and discourage you. Remember, My child, I came to give you life, not destruction. Replace those negative thoughts by asking Me for positive ones. Thoughts that are true, honest, pure and that build you up and encourage you. I want you to be able to recognize the lies and accusations that satan brings against you and take all of these thoughts captive to Me. I love you and am proud of you. There is no condemnation to those who belong to Me. You have let satan belittle and beat you up long enough. I have defeated him and set you free. Begin to live in that freedom day by day as you discern My thoughts from satan’s thoughts. The longer you wait when an accusative thought comes, the more discouraged and defeated you can become. Take action immediately and rebuke that demonic thought and command it to leave and ask Me to replace it with a thought from Me. Live from the flow of My Spirit within you.

Lord, How do you want me to resist and overcome the enemy’s lies?

Response: My son, It is very simple. I want you to keep your eyes fixed on Me and bring all his lies and accusations to Me by taking every thought captive. When you bring these thoughts to Me I will destroy them and you can ask Me to replace these thoughts with good ones that come from Me. Ask, My son, and you will receive. I have provided everything that you need to be victorious against the enemy and his lies and deception. Utilize what I have provided for you through My Spirit who lives within you. Always remember, My child, that the precious and holy blood of My son Jesus has defeated your enemy and all his forces. He came to destroy the devil’s work. Walk in the freedom that He died to give you. Greater is He who is within you than he who is in the world. I love you!

It was a sobering thought to me when I realized how many times during a day that I allowed negative thoughts to stay in my mind rather than immediately taking action against them. This is not an easy habit to break but I have certainly made significant progress in the last few months. I know that I have spent years thinking this way and I still have some struggles in this area but having the awareness of the problem is the first step to healing. The power and the authority of the Holy Spirit within is our greatest gift and resource to overcome the enemy and walk in the victory that Jesus died to give us. Learning to replace the negative lies of the enemy with the truth of the Word of God has helped me to really utilize God’s gift of the Holy Spirit in my life. He, the Holy Spirit, in contrast to satan is the Spirit of truth. I am thankful that Jesus sent Him as my helper and the one who is called alongside to comfort me. There are many voices that are competing for our attention and the only one that I need really to focus on is the voice of God. I was encouraged with Philippians 4:8 and God’s guidance as to what kinds of thoughts He wanted my mind to dwell on. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

Lord, what would you like to say to me about this verse in my life at this time and how you want me to apply it?”

His response: My dear son, What you think about is so important in your life as a believer. The enemy is constantly at work trying to get you to think of anything other than Me. I want you to think about good and true things. You can’t live and walk in the Spirit without a renewed mind. You live in a broken world and there are negative influences all around you. Do not focus your mind on these things but upon Me and My love for you. Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate you from My love. You must learn to rest in Me and My care for you. This is what trust is all about. Trust Me to replace the negative, critical thoughts with pure and lovely thoughts. Do not trust in your own abilities but rather abandon yourself to Me in childlike trust. I love you! Rest in that love, My child, rest.

It is still a challenge learning to only incubate the thoughts that come from God and His Word but I know that as I continue to let God fill all my senses with His Spirit and I become more aware of His presence with me moment by moment that I can walk in victory. Just having the awareness now of how much negativity I had allowed to come into my mind and that I have all the resources to combat these thoughts through the Holy Spirit has brought me a significant measure of success. Have I completely arrived yet, I don’t think so, but I am much further down the road walking in victory than I used to be and I am thankful for that. I know that each day I will get stronger as I keep my eyes focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. I am learning the importance of seeing God everywhere that I look and I was encouraged as I asked the Lord about this in some of my journaling of the last chapter of the text. I asked the Lord how I can see Him more clearly everywhere that I look and this was His response to me:My dear son, As you ask My Spirit to open the eyes and ears of your heart He will. You can see Me everywhere if you will just look. Most people aren’t looking because they are too focused on other things like circumstances, problems, even other people. I want your focus to be on Me, only then can you see Me everywhere; in the sunrise, the sunset, the birds, the flowers, the rain, all of my creation declares My glory. Start looking, Keith, and you will see. Trust Me and don’t allow worry to enter your life but rather bring all your anxiety to Me for I care about you more than you can imagine. You are much more valuable to Me than birds and flowers yet look at how I care and provide for them. How much more will I care for you? The key, My child, to seeing is to keep your eyes focused on Me and look at every situation knowing that I am in control and that I am present with you. The enemy constantly tries to distract you and speak lies to you but he has no power over you. I defeated him through the power of My death and resurrection. Now My son you can live through Me. I am your very life. Live, My child, live through the power of My Spirit joined to your spirit. I love you!


Note from Mark Virkler: My 10-year-old granddaughter is learning to make computer animations, and this is what she has created to illustrate the message of this blog. Click the green flag to watch:

Add new comment

Comments

Anonymous's picture

I have read this piece several times now and each time i get more and more excited to read the truths in which Holy Spirit has shared with Pastor Keith in overcoming negative thoughts that the enemy of our soul uses to keep us defeated.

Within the past few weeks the Lord shared with me that, "if i would control my thoughts, then i would control my destiny". As i sort Him to show me how to overcome all of the negative critical thoughts which was causing me to be sick in my soul (mind, emotions...), He first ensured me that that I was capable of taking control over every negative thought by relying upon Holy Spirit and not relying upon myself. This was even something that He shared with Pastor Keith.

Well now i find myself, by the help of the Holy Spirit saying the following when i have a negative, critical thought or imagination, "I reject that thought/imagination, I cast down that imagination or i take captive that thought and bring it to the obedience of Christ... then i would wait upon the Holy Spirit to give me a Word to follow the statement with - such as, "it is written that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came that i might have life to its fullest, so i have life in this area of ....". Each and every time, peace comes and i am now finding myself walking in peace more and more.

On days in which i do not obey these principles, i have found myself just being in a big ole mess - emotionally. I praise God for bringing freedom - for giving us weapons which are divinely given so we can win each and every battle.

Thanks for the post and all of the wonderful work you have done for the body of Christ.

NW

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 31 - 40 of 479

Pages

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 66 Pages

Though the economic system (mammon) of this world is under a curse, we have received instructions for how to move out from that dominion and into the blessing of the Kingdom of God. God’s promises to His children have not changed with the whims of government or Wall Street, nor have His directions for how to walk in those promises. We can “choose not to participate” in the economic recession that is around us if we instead choose to obey the logos and rhema of the Lord and enjoy the blessings that result.

Price: $9.95
Gifted to Succeed

Gifted to Succeed

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 189 Pages

There is no joy so complete as knowing who you are -- who God has made you to be and what your basic giftings and drives are. The goal of this book is to get you effectively functioning in roles which allow you to adequately express your heart motivations and gifts. The fulfillment you experience when you function in your gifts and calling is a joy almost beyond belief.

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men." (Prov. 22:29)

Price: $17.95
The Great Mystery

Great Mystery

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 54 Pages

This is a workbook which guides you in meditating on hundreds of New Testament verses which speak of Who Christ is within us and how to touch and release Him and His wisdom, power and might continuously and effortlessly out through our lives. You will look up every New Testament verse on being "in Christ," "in Him" and "in Whom." In addition, you will meditate on the various names given to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and realize that all that He is is available within you and even joined to you (1 Cor. 6:17)! Absolutely amazing!

Price: $9.95
Health Mastery Through MRT

Health Mastery Through MRT

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 82 Pages

Wouldn't it be great if there were a way for my body to tell me exactly what it needs and desires, without having to take expensive or invasive tests? Wouldn't it be amazing if I could perform these tests as often as I wanted, right in my own home (or anywhere I wanted), with no costly instruments necessary? 

Price: $19.95

Hearing God Through Biblical Meditation

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 179 Pages | $15.99 retail list price

For many years I studied the Bible incorrectly, and it produced death rather than life. Even though I had a knowledge of the Scriptures, I did not personally experience the life and the realities they revealed. The Bible calls this the ministry of death, rather than the ministry of righteousness (2 Cor. 3:6–9). Upon coming out of Bible college, I found myself just like the apostle Paul, attacking those who disagreed with my theology. 

Price: $15.95

How Do You Know?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 180 Pages

How do you know? What is the process you use to discover truth? I did not ask that question during the first 25 years of my life. I used eleven different methods for discovering truth including: if my parents said so, then it was so. If my teacher said it was so, then it was so. If my pastor said it was so, then it was so. If my theology said it was so, then it was so. I have discarded them all and adopted a twelfth method, which is in harmony with what the Bible teaches. We teach you this method in this book.

Price: $17.95
How to Build a Winning Team

How to Build a Winning Team

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 105 Pages

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $12.95
How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 44 Pages | Published 2002

This brief booklet walks a person through the main obstacles to speaking in tongues, and shows how each one can be successfully overcome. It is down-to-earth, practical and biblical, and in it Mark Virkler shares the struggles he went through before he was able to speak in tongues. Some were theological issues and some simply practical issues, like the fact that if I am going to speak in tongues, I will need to speak. Otherwise, nothing happens.

Price: $2.95
How to Walk by the Spirit

How to Walk by the Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 136 Pages | Previous name "Sense Your Spirit"

Are you like many western Christians who have been taught little about how to sense their spirits? Do you have trouble even defining what spirit sensations feel like within you, much less recognizing them? This training was birthed from Mark’s passion to live out of his spirit, and thus release the anointing of God. The problem he faced was lack of clear biblical definition as to what his spirit felt like. So Mark looked up every verse in the Bible on heart and spirit.

Price: $13.95
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 223 Pages

This book leads you in meditating on and journaling about two hundred and fifty verses that discuss the Holy Spirit. You will grow in intimacy with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the anointing within you will increase! You will exclaim as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road “Did not our heart burn within us…while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)! In addition to being led to journal through these verses, you will read numerous two-way journal entries from Mark Virkler, as well as a five-page prayer at the conclusion of the book.

Price: $10.95

Pages