Negative Reinforcement and The Spiritual Battle

Would you like to look behind the scenes at the things going on in the spirit world when we struggle in the natural?  Part of the answer lies in understanding strategies the enemy uses against us and God’s plan and provision for our victory.  From a quick search on the web you can find a definition as follows:  “In behaviorism, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus when a desired behavior occurs.”

Consider this:  the enemy wants you to give in to a temptation—say, going by the liquor store and picking up that 12 pack of beer. You do this even though you have been drinking too much and your spouse and friends have suggested your drinking is a problem.  You have told them you want to stop, but the following is going on behind the scenes.

The enemy knows, especially in the beginning of change, that a little misery can go a long way.  His fiery darts (Eph 6:16) which are primarily thoughts (Ps 64:04) come at me to cause misery, confusion, and doubt:

*Little arrows that bug you:  I deserve it, I need it, who do they think they are, not a big deal, just drink one, stop drinking later, this has been a hard day, week, month, cant make it without the beer, this is too much to take, won't be able to sleep, no relief, etc.

After a few rounds of arrows, I may drive by and give in to the temptation.  Or more likely I will say to myself:  “well, I will drive that direction but I won't go past the liquor store."  Then, "I will go past it but not in"; then give in, go in, buy my 12 pack, and get drunk.

At some point there will be some relief from the arrows and that is the point of reinforcement.  This is very important.  The Apostle Paul said “we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (2 Cor 2:11)  So let's not be ignorant that the enemy is very pleased to give us a little false peace and temporary relief from his onslaught so to ensnare us deeper into the stronghold.  As we recognize this scheme and resist, there will be a breakthrough at some point so that the momentum shifts and the stronghold changes.  God is calling us to break down those strongholds of defeat and build strongholds of victory.  "We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments." (2 Cor 10:4 NLT) 

How do we win the victory?:

1. Humble yourself.  This is mainly accepting and acknowledging that “I am one of those that is needy of God’s help and strength; to say yes to right and no to wrong.”  
2. Be aware this is the oldest trick in the book and there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
3. We are in the same fight as our brothers and sisters in Christ.  (1 Cor 10:13)  "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (NLT)
4. "Make no provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14) This means I cut off or remove anything that might be hindering me say no.  I drive another route home.  I carpool with a friend to work. I dont bring the temptation into the house to begin with. I go to debit or credit card only so there is a paper trail, etc.  
5. I submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).  Here's a prayer to pray:“Lord Jesus, I am yours. I submit to what you want for me—sobriety and self control and loving you, my family and myself enough to take care of my body and soul. I resist the temptation to get drunk in Jesus name.”
6. Call a brother or sister in Christ.  "Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that you might be healed" (James 5:16)
7. Perservere:  (James 1:2-4) "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

-Mark

Intimidation

Intimidation: to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: "to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls."

Today, we will consider the topic of intimidation. Intimidation is my attempt to create fear in another person to influence them or "bully" them. We have no right to intimidate others.

Dictionary.com goes even further to define intimidation as "filling someone with fear through the force of personality or the display of superior wealth or talent." If I am seeking to gain control in a situation by displaying an aggressive temperament or bragging about what I have then I am intimidating others around me. I am taking the first place. This is not, nor was it ever Christ's way. Christ sought to serve others and to be less. The book of Matthew is filled with teaching about servant-hood. Matthew 20:16 says that "the last will be first and the first will be last." If we intimidate others and "force" our way into the power position, we will certainly be last in God's kingdom. Matthew 23:11 even goes so far as to say "the greatest among you will be your servant." The disciples were human men jockeying for position in the kingdom and Christ spelled it out for them that they were to be servant leaders. Christ punctuates the comments with the simple fact that "those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). This flies in the face of intimidation. If I seek true power (from above), I will not intimidate, but instead be humble.

The other side of intimidation is that I am not called to be intimidated. I am called to be bold and filled with the Spirit of God and almost valiant in the confidence of the victory claimed in Christ. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." This is as true today it was when it was written in Deuteronomy 31:6.

Just to be clear, if I am happy about blessings that I have received or talents that I have been given and share that with others, that is not intimidation. The intimidation comes in when there is a subversive spirit that is attached to what I say. Declarations become bragging and I seek to take power in situations that I am placed in as opposed to allowing God to give me real authority. Intimidation seeks to dominate others through fear. God didn't create me to take part in any of that.

Here’s a prayer: “Father God, I repent for all of the times that I have intimidated others and sought to put myself first--that is not Your way. I renounce that intimidation and I come out of agreement with it. I thank You for Your forgiveness and Your cleansing me. Amen”

Here’s a declaration: “I renounce all intimidation that I have been under and I declare that I am not in agreement with intimidation. I am in agreement with my God who seeks to serve others and I stand in boldness on the "service of salvation" that Christ gave me on Calvary. You love me, You love others, and I will love others.”

-Scott