Let me first say that I apologize for the absence of yesterday’s blog. I was completely exhausted after a long weekend. I did make it through the Celtics and Lakers game [Go Boston], and then went off to sleep, so here enough for yesterday and today.
All of us fight battles – for some, it is the battle of the bulge; while for others, it is the battle of the wills in child rearing – and then, for some, the battle of the pocketbook. They seem to be with us always. But, did you know there is a battle much more deadly? It is the battle for the mind – a deadly war between God and Satan on the battleground of your mind. And this could be your call to arms.
If we are ever going to be successful we must understand four very important facts.
1. We Need To Understand the Warfare of Our Foe
Your enemy is not clothed in flesh (see Ephesians 6:12). The devil has secured himself in high places to war against you. And there is a deadly, invisible array of demonic hosts dedicated to the destruction of your thought life.
Satan’s desire is to conquer and control your thought life, and then make it a stronghold from which he can war against God. But, when God saved you, He gave you the mind of Christ. The devil wants to get your mind because he knows that if he can get your mind, he can pull you away from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. We Need To Understand the Weakness of Our Flesh
We live in the flesh. We might as well admit it. All of us have problems, sicknesses, perplexities, and we suffer through the everyday things of life. Yet, we do not war against flesh and blood.
Our battle is against the devil himself and none of us can outwit or out war the devil. He mocks at our schemes. He ridicules our organization. The world thinks that education or government will win our battles. Or if we had a perfect environment in which to live, all our problems would be over.
We need to all remember that Adam and Eve got in trouble in the most perfect place on earth – the Garden of Eden. You’re not going to have a better environment than that! How did it happen? They were deceived. The devil messed with their mind.
3. We Need To Understand the Weapons of Our Fight
How are we going to pull down strongholds, imaginations, and high things like arrogance, ignorance, despair, bitterness, pride, and anger? Surely not with carnal weapons!
Instead, he tells us we are going to win because of the sovereignty of our Commander. Christ is our Commander and Chief. The devil has been trying to do all he can to win this war, but when Jesus Christ died at Calvary, he dropped the bomb on the devil. Read John 12:31
Secondly, we are going to win because we have the authority of our commission. Second Corinthians 3:8 tells us that God has given us authority. Jesus, Who’s won the war, has given us the power of attorney. Read Luke 10:19-20
Lastly, there is the certainty of our courage. Paul talks about himself being weak and his speech being shameful. He says, “I belong to Jesus Christ. He’s won the battle for me. He has given me authority, and because of that, I have courage to win this battle.” 2 Corinthians 10:8-11
Now, let me give you one final thought: Not only should you fight the battle and defeat the devil, but also you need to fill your mind with godly thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
4. We Need To Understand how to Center our minds upon Jesus.
And don’t let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to Him. If we stay in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, there won’t be any room for those filthy, dirty, wicked, lascivious, lustful, prideful thoughts that bombard us all. You see, God made us so that we can’t think two thoughts at one time. If we’re thinking what’s right, we can’t possibly be thinking what’s wrong.
All of us fight battles – for some, it is the battle of the bulge; while for others, it is the battle of the wills in child rearing – and then, for some, the battle of the pocketbook. They seem to be with us always. But, did you know there is a battle much more deadly? It is the battle for the mind – a deadly war between God and Satan on the battleground of your mind. And this could be your call to arms.
If we are ever going to be successful we must understand four very important facts.
1. We Need To Understand the Warfare of Our Foe
Your enemy is not clothed in flesh (see Ephesians 6:12). The devil has secured himself in high places to war against you. And there is a deadly, invisible array of demonic hosts dedicated to the destruction of your thought life.
Satan’s desire is to conquer and control your thought life, and then make it a stronghold from which he can war against God. But, when God saved you, He gave you the mind of Christ. The devil wants to get your mind because he knows that if he can get your mind, he can pull you away from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. We Need To Understand the Weakness of Our Flesh
We live in the flesh. We might as well admit it. All of us have problems, sicknesses, perplexities, and we suffer through the everyday things of life. Yet, we do not war against flesh and blood.
Our battle is against the devil himself and none of us can outwit or out war the devil. He mocks at our schemes. He ridicules our organization. The world thinks that education or government will win our battles. Or if we had a perfect environment in which to live, all our problems would be over.
We need to all remember that Adam and Eve got in trouble in the most perfect place on earth – the Garden of Eden. You’re not going to have a better environment than that! How did it happen? They were deceived. The devil messed with their mind.
3. We Need To Understand the Weapons of Our Fight
How are we going to pull down strongholds, imaginations, and high things like arrogance, ignorance, despair, bitterness, pride, and anger? Surely not with carnal weapons!
Instead, he tells us we are going to win because of the sovereignty of our Commander. Christ is our Commander and Chief. The devil has been trying to do all he can to win this war, but when Jesus Christ died at Calvary, he dropped the bomb on the devil. Read John 12:31
Secondly, we are going to win because we have the authority of our commission. Second Corinthians 3:8 tells us that God has given us authority. Jesus, Who’s won the war, has given us the power of attorney. Read Luke 10:19-20
Lastly, there is the certainty of our courage. Paul talks about himself being weak and his speech being shameful. He says, “I belong to Jesus Christ. He’s won the battle for me. He has given me authority, and because of that, I have courage to win this battle.” 2 Corinthians 10:8-11
Now, let me give you one final thought: Not only should you fight the battle and defeat the devil, but also you need to fill your mind with godly thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
4. We Need To Understand how to Center our minds upon Jesus.
And don’t let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to Him. If we stay in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, there won’t be any room for those filthy, dirty, wicked, lascivious, lustful, prideful thoughts that bombard us all. You see, God made us so that we can’t think two thoughts at one time. If we’re thinking what’s right, we can’t possibly be thinking what’s wrong.
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