- Mar 24, 2011
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Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I think we are all aware that we're under attack ever day, but not that we're in a war. Where is the war taking place? Inside of our minds:
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
2 Corinthians 10:5 pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;
We can only win this war by abiding in Christ, because apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). How do we abide in Christ? By obeying His commands:
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
So, the battleground is our will, whether we will obey or disobey Christ. The enemy is warring against us in every conceivable way to cause us to disobey Christ. The world and the flesh are constantly influencing our thought life to sway us towards disobedience. This is why our thoughts must be brought into captivity to obey Christ, because that is where the battle is; in our minds. Our thoughts must be taken captive into obedience because our thoughts will determine whether we obey Christ or not. This is why the enemy is attacking us in our thought life and using the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to take us captive and develop strongholds.
So, what do we do? The scripture tells us:
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
We can combat all of Satans temptations by asking God for His strength to overcome them. We must do this with humility and a thankful heart, knowing He will answer our prayers because we cannot overcome temptation without His help, and He commands us to turn away from every temptation.
According to these verses, as we turn our thoughts toward God, we should meditate on His greatness. On His truth, His purity, His righteousness, His beauty, His awesome deeds, His holiness, and everything Jesus did for us at Calvary. There is no end to the great things we could meditate on. This will condition our minds to think good and pure thoughts, which honor God and lead to us submitting our will to Christ. As we think on Christ, we will want to be more like Him, fully pleasing the Father in every aspect of our lives. We will strive to be like the Lord, who declared that though the prince of this world had come to destroy Him, that prince had nothing in Him. As we bring all of thoughts into captivity to obey Christ, destroying every stronghold with the weapons of our warfare (the Sword of the Spirit, for one), the enemy will have less and less of us, and the Lord more and more. As we grow together with Him, we will share in His victory at calvary, overcoming sin and death, and the dark powers of this age.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I think we are all aware that we're under attack ever day, but not that we're in a war. Where is the war taking place? Inside of our minds:
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
2 Corinthians 10:5 pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;
We can only win this war by abiding in Christ, because apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). How do we abide in Christ? By obeying His commands:
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
So, the battleground is our will, whether we will obey or disobey Christ. The enemy is warring against us in every conceivable way to cause us to disobey Christ. The world and the flesh are constantly influencing our thought life to sway us towards disobedience. This is why our thoughts must be brought into captivity to obey Christ, because that is where the battle is; in our minds. Our thoughts must be taken captive into obedience because our thoughts will determine whether we obey Christ or not. This is why the enemy is attacking us in our thought life and using the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to take us captive and develop strongholds.
So, what do we do? The scripture tells us:
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
We can combat all of Satans temptations by asking God for His strength to overcome them. We must do this with humility and a thankful heart, knowing He will answer our prayers because we cannot overcome temptation without His help, and He commands us to turn away from every temptation.
According to these verses, as we turn our thoughts toward God, we should meditate on His greatness. On His truth, His purity, His righteousness, His beauty, His awesome deeds, His holiness, and everything Jesus did for us at Calvary. There is no end to the great things we could meditate on. This will condition our minds to think good and pure thoughts, which honor God and lead to us submitting our will to Christ. As we think on Christ, we will want to be more like Him, fully pleasing the Father in every aspect of our lives. We will strive to be like the Lord, who declared that though the prince of this world had come to destroy Him, that prince had nothing in Him. As we bring all of thoughts into captivity to obey Christ, destroying every stronghold with the weapons of our warfare (the Sword of the Spirit, for one), the enemy will have less and less of us, and the Lord more and more. As we grow together with Him, we will share in His victory at calvary, overcoming sin and death, and the dark powers of this age.
