This week we continue with what the Word says about your thoughts, your heart and how that affects you.
The enemy is not just an enemy of your soul, but he is the enemy of your mind as well. Through fear and lies he tries to intimidate and change the way you think. He knows that if he can get you thinking his way, you will be expecting an outcome that will be full of fear and void of faith.
We must change the way we think. Look at what happens when we surrender our minds to the enemy.
2 Cor 10:3-5 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.
Look at this scripture. Paul is telling us a few things. Our warfare is not in our flesh but it is a spiritual warfare. The enemy doesn’t want to engage you in the spirit because in the spirit world, he is a defeated foe. In the Spirit Jesus reigns and rules. In the flesh we are weak so he wants to engage your flesh and your mind so he can guarantee a victory for himself. This is not where we should try and fight.
Secondly we see that Paul writes about some strongholds. These are the lies we have believed from the enemy. At first it is only a small lie but through continuous deceptions it becomes a stronghold. How do you recognize a stronghold? When I accept something as true in spite of what the Word of God teaches. I live in fear when the Word says: do not fear. This can be true for anything that the enemy wants me to believe.
Thirdly we see that Paul identify that the lies are things we imagine. Have you ever worried about things that has not happened yet. It was an imagination and some people have too much of an imagination. These imaginations exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and in an age where people have very little knowledge about God, it is not difficult to see why people struggle to live in victory.
Lastly we see that Paul says that we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Most people have their thoughts captivated by the enemy(social media and the daily news doesn’t help us at all). They are in rebellion against the very truth that can set them free. Somehow the enemy has gotten them to believe that truth is a conviction. “I am convinced that homosexuality is okay.” They will die for their conviction, what they believe is right, but will never encounter the One who is The Way, The Truth and The Life – John 14:6. In their persistence to believe a lie God has given them over to a reprobate mind, worshipping a creature instead of the Creator.
So how do we renew our mind?
Start with casting down the lies you have believed. Measure it up against the Word of God and if it is contrary to His Word, contradict His Word or deny the Truth of His Word, let it go and stop agreeing with it.
Secondly bring it into captivity. Capture your thoughts. Don’t allow your mind to roam around and have its own way. Your mind does not control you, you control your mind. Set you mind on Him and meditate on His Word. Fill your mind with things that will benefit you, not harm you.
- For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
When you have a sound mind, you are not vulnerable to the spirit of fear. God does not give you a spirit of fear, He gives you a sound mind. Why will you let the enemy steal that from you?
A sound mind: literally meaning to protect, to be safe or disciplined.
To renew your mind means to discipline it and to protect it.
- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
What protect your head? What protects your mind? The helmet of salvation which is the Word of God. If you get His Word in your heart you will have His protection over your mind. A sound mind!
