The Apostle Paul warns us about the dangers and pitfalls of a wayward imagination.
Webster defines “imagination” as: The ability to form material images of things never experienced in mind.
1 John 2:16
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
Perhaps the greatest place where sin occurs in one’s life is in the mind.
Paul gives us several warnings about where and how the power of sinful imagination can affect us.
I. The imagination of self –
Galatians 6:3
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
II. The imagination of sufficiency –
2 Corinthians 3:5
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”
The imagination of sufficiency is thinking you are self – sufficient.
James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Revelation 3:17–18
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”
III. The imagination of Strength –
1 Corinthians 10:12–14
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Ephesians 6:10-11
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
IV. The imagination of Knowledge –
1 Corinthians 8:2
“And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.”
1 Corinthians 4:4–5
“For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
