" The BattleField Is Your Mind" This Is Where All Is Won Or Lost!
Scripture--- Ephesians 6:12--- " For We do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places."
Purpose of this book-- Is to get the people prepared. Paul is talking to all the believers whom believe in Jesus...
1. For we do not battle with flesh and blood"...
**This is proof that we are to live a spiritual life... This means that we are not dealing with or in the physical>>>
**Our real battle is not with cultists, atheist, false religionists witchcraft, etc.. but its the demons that are in them.... sometimes the flesh has not even the slightest clue...
2. "but against principalities"... The meaning of principalities-- is rulers, authorities,--- Today's Talk-- Our governments!!!
Titus 3:1-- Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work... ( See we as Christians have an allegience to serve the LOrd, but we still have to obey the laws of the land and the rulers that God has put over us!!!! We must do what we can to be good citizens and servants-- In a democracy, that means participation and willingness...) (( If you want more on a Christians attitude towrd government,, read Acts5:29, Romans 13:1))
Greek Word for principalities is Arche-( Ar-khay)--which means magistrate or judicial system!!
3. "against spiritual hosts of wickedness"
** This is speaking on the worst of the worst such as: 1. extreme sexual behavior- examples: beastiality, incest, homosexuality, rapist, etc. 2. occultism- which is unseen and hidden voo-doo, witchcraft... Satan worship...
4.. "in heavenly places"... This refers to the entire realm of spiritual beings, this is where the battle is being fought!!!!
THIS IS THE WARZONE!!! WE ARE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE!!! THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE!!!
What do you mean brother Ghost???
The essence of spiritual warfare is whether you choose to serve God or self... Serving self is Satans nature...
Where does Satan attack us the most?????
Where are we most vulnerable???
What does Satan really want???
Satan wants your Mind!!!
Six functions of the mind that show why Satan so desperately wants the mind:::
1. The Heart is changed by the mind... Mark 1:17-- Jesus says: " Follow Me and I'll make you fishers of men"
Once you have made up your mind to serve God, Christ comes and teaches you how to change the heart...
Romans 12:2- do not be conformed of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..
Ephesians 4:23- be renewed by the sipit of your mind
Matthew 13:9-- This is the parable of Jesus teaching about the good seed landed on good soil and the seed that is not is snatched by the enemy!!--------This is actually the spiritual battle between Jesus and Satan!!
***Both continually seek to influence our hearts by influencing our minds!!
2. The Mind percieves Truth and the Will of God...
When Satan attacked biblical characters, his main tactic was to subvert the mind..
1.he tried to decieve
2. he caused people to misunderstand
3. he causd them to come to the wrong conclusion about the truth
4. he caused them to forget or to miss focus!!!
Key Point!!! PEOPLE WHO WON THE VICTORY AGAINST SATAN HAD TRAINED THEIR MINDS IN THE TRUTH OF GOD!!!
3. Your Belief system determines direction, actions and responses...
What we believe is what we react to...
Matthew 16:22-- Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him saying, " Far be it from You, Lord: this shall not happen to you"
Matthew 19:13-- this is where the diciples thought that the little kids wee not of importance and they rebuked them,, but Jesus says let those children come
Luke 9: 49-- this is where the diciples saw a man casting out demons in Jesus name, but since he didn't roll with them, they rebuked him,, but Jesus said do not rebuke him, hes on our side...
Note:: The battle is not when the offense takes place... It is in what we belive...
4.Unity with God/ Other Christians requires the mind...
John 15:15--Jesus noted a relationship change betwenn Him and His diciples.. ( If you notice throughout the gospels, they were always competing with each other about whom was the greatest--- But in Acts 2:1,,, they had learned to be in one accord...
Why the transformation???
Because the longer they were with Jesus, and the more they were obedient in changing their minds, that began to change the heart.. Because they made the dicision to change their mind, they were blessed with understanding and truth..... In UNity, we are to think as One...
5. A Corrupted Mind Will Block the Usefulness to God in the Kingdom...
See, even if we know the truth without putting forth the actions to advance the kingdom, we are subject to a state of disobedience in which we then lose our faith and usefulness of advancing the kingdom of God!!!
6. The Mind is the Battlefield for bondage or freedom...
What you believe will lead you to bondage or freedom...
Of course Satan wants to attack leadership, cause division, and steer us wrong, but the key to defeating him is to have a God-Made_MIND!!!!
Homework?????????????
HOW DID SATAN ATTACK THE MIND IN THESE SCRIPTURES????
1. Acts 14:2
2. 2 Corinthians 4:4
3. 2 Corinthians 11:3
Purpose of this book-- Is to get the people prepared. Paul is talking to all the believers whom believe in Jesus...
1. For we do not battle with flesh and blood"...
**This is proof that we are to live a spiritual life... This means that we are not dealing with or in the physical>>>
**Our real battle is not with cultists, atheist, false religionists witchcraft, etc.. but its the demons that are in them.... sometimes the flesh has not even the slightest clue...
2. "but against principalities"... The meaning of principalities-- is rulers, authorities,--- Today's Talk-- Our governments!!!
Titus 3:1-- Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work... ( See we as Christians have an allegience to serve the LOrd, but we still have to obey the laws of the land and the rulers that God has put over us!!!! We must do what we can to be good citizens and servants-- In a democracy, that means participation and willingness...) (( If you want more on a Christians attitude towrd government,, read Acts5:29, Romans 13:1))
Greek Word for principalities is Arche-( Ar-khay)--which means magistrate or judicial system!!
3. "against spiritual hosts of wickedness"
** This is speaking on the worst of the worst such as: 1. extreme sexual behavior- examples: beastiality, incest, homosexuality, rapist, etc. 2. occultism- which is unseen and hidden voo-doo, witchcraft... Satan worship...
4.. "in heavenly places"... This refers to the entire realm of spiritual beings, this is where the battle is being fought!!!!
THIS IS THE WARZONE!!! WE ARE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE!!! THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE!!!
What do you mean brother Ghost???
The essence of spiritual warfare is whether you choose to serve God or self... Serving self is Satans nature...
Where does Satan attack us the most?????
Where are we most vulnerable???
What does Satan really want???
Satan wants your Mind!!!
Six functions of the mind that show why Satan so desperately wants the mind:::
1. The Heart is changed by the mind... Mark 1:17-- Jesus says: " Follow Me and I'll make you fishers of men"
Once you have made up your mind to serve God, Christ comes and teaches you how to change the heart...
Romans 12:2- do not be conformed of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..
Ephesians 4:23- be renewed by the sipit of your mind
Matthew 13:9-- This is the parable of Jesus teaching about the good seed landed on good soil and the seed that is not is snatched by the enemy!!--------This is actually the spiritual battle between Jesus and Satan!!
***Both continually seek to influence our hearts by influencing our minds!!
2. The Mind percieves Truth and the Will of God...
When Satan attacked biblical characters, his main tactic was to subvert the mind..
1.he tried to decieve
2. he caused people to misunderstand
3. he causd them to come to the wrong conclusion about the truth
4. he caused them to forget or to miss focus!!!
Key Point!!! PEOPLE WHO WON THE VICTORY AGAINST SATAN HAD TRAINED THEIR MINDS IN THE TRUTH OF GOD!!!
3. Your Belief system determines direction, actions and responses...
What we believe is what we react to...
Matthew 16:22-- Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him saying, " Far be it from You, Lord: this shall not happen to you"
Matthew 19:13-- this is where the diciples thought that the little kids wee not of importance and they rebuked them,, but Jesus says let those children come
Luke 9: 49-- this is where the diciples saw a man casting out demons in Jesus name, but since he didn't roll with them, they rebuked him,, but Jesus said do not rebuke him, hes on our side...
Note:: The battle is not when the offense takes place... It is in what we belive...
4.Unity with God/ Other Christians requires the mind...
John 15:15--Jesus noted a relationship change betwenn Him and His diciples.. ( If you notice throughout the gospels, they were always competing with each other about whom was the greatest--- But in Acts 2:1,,, they had learned to be in one accord...
Why the transformation???
Because the longer they were with Jesus, and the more they were obedient in changing their minds, that began to change the heart.. Because they made the dicision to change their mind, they were blessed with understanding and truth..... In UNity, we are to think as One...
5. A Corrupted Mind Will Block the Usefulness to God in the Kingdom...
See, even if we know the truth without putting forth the actions to advance the kingdom, we are subject to a state of disobedience in which we then lose our faith and usefulness of advancing the kingdom of God!!!
6. The Mind is the Battlefield for bondage or freedom...
What you believe will lead you to bondage or freedom...
Of course Satan wants to attack leadership, cause division, and steer us wrong, but the key to defeating him is to have a God-Made_MIND!!!!
Homework?????????????
HOW DID SATAN ATTACK THE MIND IN THESE SCRIPTURES????
1. Acts 14:2
2. 2 Corinthians 4:4
3. 2 Corinthians 11:3
