Building STRAW PEOPLE! Who are straw people?
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1. Not speaking the truth builds straw people or imaginary thoughts in the mind. Troubles come when this occurs and can be very dangerous. Building straw people can crush relationships and destroy a marriage.
2. Straw people are built with lies, presumptions, guessing, falsehoods, misconceptions, wrong ideas, and partial truths.
3. When someone allows lies and deception to enter their thoughts and if they are acted upon, the straw people (imaginary thoughts in the mind) become stronger and then they become a stronghold. It is like breathing life into the straw person.
4. Straw people can be created about others or ourselves. Furthermore much time is wasted on invented thoughts in the mind.
Nehemiah 6:8
"I replied to him, No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own heart and mind."
5. Strongholds need to be pulled down and destroyed by the truth in God's Word.
6. Accurate constructed thoughts in a person’s mind will cause them to fulfill God’s will. The opposite is true as well.
7. Our goal is to dismantle false thinking and build or rewire our thought life and relationships with truth. (God’s Word)
Consider the following.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Romans 12:2
“And 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.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
One biblical example of building a straw person.
Genesis 50:15
"When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Perhaps now Joseph will hate us and will pay us back for all the evil we did to him." AMP
Psalms 119:160
“The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever.” RSV
Psalms 51:6
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” NKJV
Psalms 25:5
“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” NKJV
Three life examples of building straw people.
(1) You have a family event coming up and you know a specific family member will be there. The last event ended poorly because of a difference of opinion between the two of you. You begin to play the debates, as your mind remembers them, over and over working yourself into a defensive state.
(2) Your family makes some changes to the day-to-day operation. (Mom goes back to work) The family schedule is different and you cannot participate in all the events you have gone to in the past. You do not see your friends as often and you begin to feel left out of things. You convince yourself that they do not want to be around you anymore because of the changes.
(3) You enter a new situation (new school, new job, new church) and you feel you are over or under dressed. You begin to imagine that people are whispering and talking about your clothes. You become withdrawn and quiet. You avoid having contact with most of the people.
1. As we obey truth we are set free. However, we need to watch the first video below.
2. If we live in obedience and speak the truth today people can trust us in the future.
3. Reading God’s word is valuable because we are reading words of truth. Not only are we reading God’s truth but we are filling our life up with His words. If we have God’s word in abundance it will come out of our mouth.
Matthew 12:34
“For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.” AMP
4. Release truth from your mouth today. Be a well of life (fountain of life) to others. (read the account of the woman at the well found in John 4:1-15)
Proverbs 10:11
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” RSV
Truthfulness vs. Deception
"Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts" *(IBLP)
5. Dictionary definition for the word “Deception”: Trick, fraud, dishonesty, and double-dealing.
6. People are looking for truth. Jesus is truth.
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” RSV
7. Truth makes people free. Once again, watch the first video below.
John 8:31-32
“Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." RSV
8. We are to speak God’s truth in love. When speaking to people about something it might be the truth, but it might not be in a loving manner.
Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” RSV
9. Learning how to speak to people should be a high priority.
Colossians 4:5-6
“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” RSV
Let us remember these powerful words of Jesus in John 8:44.
John 8:44 (AMP)
“You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.”
Let us be found speaking the truth like Jesus and not lies like the father of lies which is the devil.
Click here and read the surrounding verses of John 8:44.
Click here. Various ways straw people or imaginary thoughts can develop in a person.
Click here. More about straw people!
The following video reveals truths about Jesus, the believer's shield, refuge, strength, and present help. It also reveals the nature of our adversary, the devil, and how he operates. Then it reveals the believer’s role on this earth, and that is, do what Jesus did! Amen!!
Click here. More about this video. “Is there anything too hard for Jesus?”
Click here. More about this video. Avoid building straw people and trust the Spirit of truth!
*Used with permission from the Institute in Basic Life Principles.