In our Small group lesson this week in the study on “Spiritual Warfare and Overcoming the Enemy”, we found that Satan’s primary objective is to get us into sin by persuading us to trust in ourselves, in our own reasoning and power, to walk independently of God. The devil’s primary tactic is to target our minds, because our thoughts determine our actions. The mind is the primary battlefield in spiritual warfare. The King James Version of Proverbs 4:23 says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The “Keep” is the fortified central tower within the castles during the Middle Ages. To “keep thy heart with all diligence” was to steadfastly place our soul (mind, will and emotions) in the fortified central tower of our heart, centered on Christ as we walk in the Spirit, in a righteous relationship with God, for safe keeping, because thoughts are the seeds for words and deeds.
Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Matthew 15:18-19 “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies.”
Sometimes, we forget that, this side of heaven, we walk in the flesh. As the mind goes, the body followers, so Satan targets the mind (heart) to accomplish his purposes. What purpose is that? John 10:10 tells us: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” The Apostle Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Earlier in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul explains: “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 gives the battle plan and godly tactics against spiritual warfare, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Our defense begins with trusting in God alone as our “Keep” and dwelling there. Amen. Equipped by the truth of God in His holy Word, we clean the temple and become our own “thought police”, mighty though His teachings and commands: to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. To dwell on untrue thoughts instead of focusing on the truth of Christ are the deceptions and distractions of sin that bind and poison the carnal mind from the inside in slavery. There is no freedom in sin. This is what Jesus meant when He proclaimed in John 8:31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The sinful flesh, the God-rejecting world, and Satan will leave us disappointed in the end, because “disappointment” is a result of missing God’s Divine “appointment” for us.
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
To meditate on these things is to take into account everything, view the world through Christ, deliberately weighing everything against the just Word of God, which is the balance of life in the scales of justice, rich in faith and the Spirit of God. We put on the full armor of God to stand against the attacks of Satan in the battle for our mind and “keep” our eyes and heart (mind) on Jesus, as the godly things which you learned and received and heard and saw, these do. Profess and practice these things as a practitioner of the Word of God. Take captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, which includes our thought life influenced by conversations, books, movies, the Internet, televisions, music, and friendships. Don’t compromise. Thoughts lead to actions, and ungodly thoughts unchecked become a “stronghold” base of oppression for the enemy. These strongholds of “wrong” thinking need to be dwelt with, torn down and mortified. We are not to allow these thoughts to continue. If we do, Satan will achieve a victory in our lives. Our strategy for winning that battle for our mind is clear: take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This is not simply a one-time action; it is a continual process. Moment by moment, we must evaluate our thoughts and bring our minds under control. It is spiritual warfare and a battle for your mind. Resist the devil. The God of peace is with you.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’
Soli Deo Gloria
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
Excellent post, Brian! Absolutely we must always be on alert to avoid the snare of the enemy. I tell my kids like my parents told me...Garbage In, Garbage Out. What we are taking into our minds will eventually have to be processed and spewed back out into the world. We may not realize it at the moment, so we must stay in the Word & have Him in our hearts. Loved this post! Thanks for sharing, friend. Happy Sunday! :)
Good point Larri. Thank God for parents wisdom. I can still hear my mom saying: "If everyone jump off a cliff, would you too?" I got the point. The problem is that, sometimes, we don't get the point, don't understand it, don't see it clearly or miss it completely. This topic Bible Study has been an excellent lesson to get us thinking on the issue of spiritual warfare and the enemy, then focus on the Lord. I'm happy that you enjoyed the post and commented on it for me. Blessings friend.
Good word Brian, thanks for sharing. Satan can get to us through our feelings and today so many people go by their feelings instead of through the law of Truth.
Blessings,
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Great point. There is a reason why people go by these feelings instead of God, so this is the reason that we bring the light of truth into the darkness of unbelief (deliberately rejection or just lacking the knowledge of truth). We are light-givers as we walk in the Spirit. Thanks for the comment sister.
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