The Mind War
Battlefronts of Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 237 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Text -
Text -
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
But 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.
Definitions: the “mind”
The “mind”
the seat of reflective consciousness, including perception, understanding, and reasoning.
man’s intellectual processes
grk. nous - comprehension
the sum total of a man’s mental and moral state of being
Textual Argument
The believer’s understanding of the Word of God is continually being contested by the enemies of the truth - the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Whoever has control of the mind of man - whether God and the devil - will have control over his whole life.
Quotes:
…We’re fighting here tonight a great warfare: right against wrong: Word of God against modern theology, and trying to make the—the Word of God, bring It to the people while the enemy would try to beset It in every way. But One is the majority in God. -- 50-0816 - Looking To The Unseen
120 We fight it every day. Every Christian fights a battle, every day. We’re in a warfare right now, going on constantly within us, between right and wrong. “Shall we receive It? What shall we do? Shall we bow to the world? Shall we give up this thought that we got?” — 63-0421 - Victory Day
…We’re fighting here tonight a great warfare: right against wrong: Word of God against modern theology, and trying to make the—the Word of God, bring It to the people while the enemy would try to beset It in every way. But One is the majority in God.
And the great climax is at hand. The great warfare between the devil and God is going on, and the scene is being set for the final front lines where the—the clash will come; and God will reign and rule, for the Lamb was with them, overcome them. For He’s Lord of lord and King of kings, and He will ride down every opposition. Amen. — 56-0405 - The Resurrection Of Jesus
And the great climax is at hand. The great warfare between the devil and God is going on, and the scene is being set for the final front lines where the—the clash will come; and God will reign and rule, for the Lamb was with them, overcome them. For He’s Lord of lord and King of kings, and He will ride down every opposition. Amen.
50-0816 - Looking To The Unseen
120 We fight it every day. Every Christian fights a battle, every day. We’re in a warfare right now, going on constantly within us, between right and wrong. “Shall we receive It? What shall we do? Shall we bow to the world? Shall we give up this thought that we got?” — 63-0421 - Victory Day
56-0405 - The Resurrection Of Jesus
120 We fight it every day. Every Christian fights a battle, every day. We’re in a warfare right now, going on constantly within us, between right and wrong. “Shall we receive It? What shall we do? Shall we bow to the world? Shall we give up this thought that we got?”
63-0421 - Victory Day
Paul’s argument
You - the believers comprising the church - are set to be joined to Christ as a pure virgin. But the enemy of Truth is working on leading you astray in your mind, from your simple and pure state in Christ.
You must be presented to Christ pure.
The enemy of Truth is working on leading you astray in your mind, from your simple and pure state in Christ.
The serpent ‘deceived’ Eve. Deception is an attack on the mind.
In natural life -
The Reality: the believers may be led astray (corrupted)
The Reality: the believers may be led astray (corrupted)
But 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.
Eve was flesh of Adam’s flesh and bone of his bones, yet she was deceived.
Everyone in the may “fall” if we will not be careful
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
Believers may be led astray (corrupted) in their minds
How did Satan corrupt the whole world?
He “educated” Eve
but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
Genesis 3.
Example:
most of the “atheists” in the world are “educated”, who call themselves “enlightened”
He blinded the minds of the unbelieving
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.
Example:
The Problem: the human mind is depraved from the start
The Problem: the human mind is depraved from the start
The mind of the natural-fallen man cannot understand (mind faculty) the things of God
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
The mind-set of the carnal (natural) man is “enmity” against God
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8.5-7
The human mind is “closed”
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
We understand only because God “made” us understand!
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Example: Lydia’s conversion
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
1 John 5.
The Solution: our minds must be ‘renewed’
The Solution: our minds must be ‘renewed’
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Ephesians 4.
renew - grk. anakainosis, the act of reestablishing something so that it becomes like ‘new’
the mind of the fallen man belongs to the “old” man
Characteristics of the ‘renewed’ mind
The ‘renewed’ mind has 2 characteristics
First, it is a mind free from “deceptions” and “lies” of the enemy
First, it is a mind free from “deceptions” and “lies” of the enemy
First, it is brought
to become new again means to bring the mind to a state like it was before it was corrupted
before Adam and Eve fell, they had the Word of God!
before Adam and Eve fell, they had the Word of God!
Second, it is a mind captive to the obedience of Christ
Second, it is a mind captive to the obedience of Christ
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Third, it is a “thinking” mind
Third, it is a “thinking” mind
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
it “proves” the will of God
the mind of the natural-fallen man follows without question the things of the flesh.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Colossians 4
Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
the “thinking mind” questions everything the world is offering.
the thinking mind questions everything that is happening.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let’s grow up in our “thinking”
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1 Corinthians 14.20
Moses cried out, “Let my people go!”
Today’s cry out should be, “Let my people THINK!”
Quote:
God’s Unfolding Battle Plan: A Field Manual for Advancing the Kingdom of God Profile of a Thinker
The people of God must become critical thinkers of this high caliber to succeed in the days ahead. We must be able to hear the Lord as He asks us vital questions that will change the way we think. It is through critical thinking that the Lord will download key strategies to His people. Therefore, the Body of Christ must have the ability to evaluate the relevant data coming from God as He speaks to us from the Word, from revelation and from events in the earth. We must spend time reaching godly reasoned conclusions about these days and then taking the appropriate actions. The Church must have excellent judgment in this hour.
Conclusion
Conclusion