Thermostat or Thermometer – Part 2
There is a difference between confronting spiritual forces and confronting people.
When it comes to our relationships with people, exercising dominion or authority in the Kingdom is something done in love, with honor, and with mercy. Jesus won by love, not by force… and we must do the same. We influence in the same way that He did… He told us to do so!
He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)
Jesus gave us all the authority to go… and to transform not only the world around us, but the entire world.
SIDEBAR: consider what would happen if every single believer got serious about going and making disciples…(but that will have to be for another article)
We have the authority and the mandate to go and to exercise dominion over all of creation, using influence to bring about change, to bring reformation to cities and nations.
If, however, we allow ourselves to be controlled by the environment around us, we will never accomplish God’s Kingdom purposes!
Let’s look at some more Scripture: Romans 12:2 says,“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (NKJV)
“Do not be conformed”. This means, “Do not be influenced. Do not be controlled. Do not become like what is going on around you.” Instead, we are to be transformed. This transformation that comes from the renewing of our minds is not only for us, it’s for a purpose: to demonstrate the good, acceptable, perfect will of God to the world around us.
Do not be a thermometer, conforming to the spiritual temperature around you. Instead, be a thermostat, transformed and transforming.
Paul concludes Romans 12 with this admonition: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 1
He was not only talking about the great evils in the world, nor was he referring to establishing a system of social justice. We do not have to be overcome or controlled by evil. We have the power and authority to overcome evil with good.
Paul also says, “Rejoice”2 We are commanded to rejoice, regardless of the circumstances around us, regardless of the environment we find ourselves in. Remember, just as we could be negatively influenced by the negativity around us, we can influence others simply by our attitude. If we step into a negative situation rejoicing, what will happen to the people around us? They will be influenced. Negativity will flee.
Again, we are not speaking of controlling people, but controlling the spiritual atmosphere around us. After a discussion about antichrist spirits in the world, John concludes, “You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”3 How do we control the temperature in the room? How are we the thermostats? Because He who is in us – Holy Spirit – is greater than anything else. If we consciously release Him, we consciously release the Kingdom. We declare, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” and “upon you”4. We take control and dominion over the world around us and refuse to let the enemy get away with anything.
satan loves it when we abdicate responsibility for our environment and for what goes on around us. he loves it when we just give up and settle for what he’s dishing out by refusing to pick up the mantle of authority and DO something about the problem.
Next time you’re in a situation where you feel despair, anger, despondency, or you’re confronted with negativity or any form of ugliness, make a conscious decision to be a thermostat. Do not conform to it. Do not put up with it. Change it! How? Pray. Sing. Rejoice. Declare. Take the authority you’ve been given and USE it. Be persistent and tenacious.
1 Romans 12:21 NKJV
2 1 Thess. 5:16, Philippians 4:4, Romans 12:12, etc.
3 1 John 4:1-4
4 Matthew 4:17; 12:28
[...] …continued in part 2… [...]