The Psychological Warfare of Today's Christian!
Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Ephesians 6:14: Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Ephesians 6:15: and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:16: Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
Intro: Do we have any athletes in the building today? Really, what sports do you play (allow people to call their involvement aloud, call on a few if you have to). Top athletes perform today at levels never believed possible. Today we have athletic trainers, sport science and sports psychologist all contributing to the “new excellence” in sports today.
But, let's travel back a few years and revisit say, the 1940's and 1950's. At this time, we had trackers or runners and although they were talented, it was believed by all that no runner would ever be able to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. The doctors said it was physically impossible and that the heart could not pump enough blood to oxygenate the body properly and scientist claimed that our human anatomy was designed in such a way that it could not impossible and there was no way to bridge the gap; it was deemed impossible from the lips of “The Experts”! Now, I'm sure that all of the “Experts” had valid reasons as to why it was and impossible pipe dream and could “NEVER HAPPEN!” After all, they are the Experts!!!
In life, when you are told or when you decide that something just can't be done, you give yourself every kind of reason and justification as to why you just can't do it (Justify it).
At the end of the day though, we know that “the pundits” and “the experts” were wrong because at a track meet in Oxford, England on a windy spring day May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds.
Why was he able to do it? That's simple, where others said, “impossible”, Roger Bannister decided it was possible and all he had to do was drop the I and the M which stands for the ideas of men!!!. “So, Roger began to focus himself on what was possible rather then impossible and with possibility came promise; with promise came hope and with hope came real tangible breakthrough. The sub-4 minute barrier was broken in the minds of the world; new ideas of performance and possibility replaced those old broken ideas. He demonstrated that the facts surrounding the impossibility of the sub-four minute mile was only a myth and not factual at all in reality.
The Next Impossible Barrier Would Be Bannisters Record but In less than 60 days, John Landy beat Roger Bannister's record with a finishing time of 3 minutes and 57.9 seconds. Within the year several other runners managed to run less than a four minute mile.
Just like the Sub-4minute mile, many of the barriers that hold us back in our spiritual lives are self-imposed; they only exist in our minds. So, if we begin to build up our minds, we just might be able to overcome many of the self-imposed barriers that have stunted our growth in Christ for years.
1. I MUST MAKE MY MIND STRONG FOR THE BATTLE!
Phi 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.SPIRITUAL WARRIORS that win, keep their minds sharp by refueling it with godly thoughts every single day.
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The loins is the reproductive area of the human body and so our mind is the reproductive area of our spirit and it must be girded up with the word and the holy ghost
Proverbs 23:7: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he!
We all have heard of the a person's MINDSET; our minds are set (or programmed) by our thinking patterns and beliefs. Afterward, our mindset results in our behavior and conversation.
A negative thought pattern is a sure path leading to a personal defeat. I HAVE NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFE A PERSON WALKING IN VICTORY WHILE TALKING DEFEAT. Roger Bannister decided that he was going to fuel his mind with faith and hope.
If we find ourselves having, engaging or indulging in negative or sinful thought patterns; we need to become aware of our need to TRANSFORM (Ref. Romans 12:1-2) or REBOOT our mind so that we can move onto a CHANGED & RENEWED MIND.
We have all heard of the definition of insanity. What is it? Exactly, doing the same thing and expecting different results. Why do people function in this way? It's because they don't know of any other way of doing it. They are using what's known as a “LEGACY SYSTEM” in the technology world.
LEGACY SYSTEM IS A term used in the computer industry, but applicable in the religious world.
Legacy System (leg e-see sis-tem)
A computer system or application program which continues to be used—due to the cost of replacing or redesigning it, and often despite its poor performance. The implication is that the system is large, monolithic and difficult to modify (see Mk. 13:1).
A system that has been in operation so long that no one remembers how it came into being or why it was designed as it was. However, in spite of its inferiority and many fallacies and inefficiencies, many are hopelessly dependent upon it. They have no idea how to do anything differently.
Isn’t it time to REBOOT TO A NEW SYSTEM OR WAY OF THINKING, to Biblical ideas and opinions instead of personal opinions and ideas; instead of functioning under the “Legacy System” full of unbiblical paradigms and ideas of men.
The “Legacy System” is stealing the rightful mindset of God's people.
We must go on towards His Full Intention, together! We must lay down our thinking and take on His because our thoughts are not His thoughts! HOW DO WE DO IT? WE HAVE PRINCIPLES TO HELP DEVELOP A POSITIVE AND GODLY MINDSET FULL OF PEACE AND POSSIBILITY IN PHILLIPIANS CHAPTER 4.
1. vs. 4, Rejoice in the Lord. Reboot your mind and renew your focus to rejoice in Jesus and all that He is to you, all He has been for you and all that He has done for you.
Phi 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
2. vs. 5, Delay gratification for the ultimate reward of heaven. Find joy in simplicity. Our mind performs better in a state of ease.
Phi 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
3. vs. 6, Bathe every decision, everything in your life with prayer. There is a supernatrual peace that comes with being in the perfect will of God.
Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
4. vs. 6, Ask God for help through supplication.
5. vs. 6, Be Thankful for God's blessing by articulating them one by one.
Phi 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
TRANSITION: LEADS US TO THE NEXT POINT IN PHILIPPIANS 4:8 WHICH IS TO MAKE YOUR MIND A PLACE OF VICTORY AND WORSHIP!
2. MAKE YOUR MIND A PLACE OF VICTORY & WORSHIP! (SUBMIT TO GOD)
Phi 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You.”
You Need To Take A Stand And Say To Yourself, “My Mind Will Be A Place Of Worship
David knew the supreme value of our thoughts when he prayed in psa.19:14 let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight o lord. He was saying God help me to think right!
Satan has lied to the church and convinced us that our mind is supposed to be a continual dumping ground for his thoughts of temptation, accusations and deceptions. However, the Scripture tells us temptation is only season rather than 24/7 and that our MIND SHOULD BE A PLACE OF WORSHIP BRINGING GLORY TO GOD!!!
II Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Mark 12:30: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.
BACK TO VS. 8 IT TELLS US HOW TO MAKE OUR MIND A PLACE OF WORSHIP BY FOCUSING ON ...
Truth
Honesty
Righteousness (whatsoever is just)
purity
what God has made lovely
Spiritual Victories/Testimonies/Good Reports
Pursuit of Spiritual Virtues
Praiseful Things
IF YOU DWELL ON THESE THINGS, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR MIND A HOUSE OF WORSHIP!
TRANSITION: FINALLY, AS YOU REBOOT YOUR MINDSET, LEAVE THE LEGACY SYSTEM AND THE OLD WAYS OF THINKING, YOU MUST REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY NEGATIVE THOUGHT THAT COMES TO INVADE YOUR NEW MENTAL SANCTUARY!
3. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TO OCCUPY MY MIND!
I REFUSE TO LISTEN TO SATANS LIES. SUCH AS:
Accusations
Insecurities
Self-Doubt
Feelings that God has abandoned us!
II Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
I REFUSE TO GIVE IN TO RATIONALIZED OR DUALISTIC THINKING. The enemy clearly wants to convince us that certain sins are not morally wrong, when we factually know what the scripture says about the matter.
THE RESULT OF DUPLICITOUS THINKING IS SPIRITUAL DEFEAT COMBINED WITH CONSTANT MENTAL ANGUISH AND INNER-CONFLICT.
A DOUBLE MINDED MAN, A DOUBLE MINDED WOMEN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL OF THEIR WAYS (JAMES CHAPTER 1)
I REFUSE TO GIVE INTO SECULAR OR WORLDLY THINKING. MY MIND IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
CONCLUSION:
Guard Your Thoughts
Watch your thoughts,
For they become your words.
Watch your words,
For they become your actions.
Watch your actions,
For they become your habits.
Watch your habits,
For they become your character.
Watch your character,
For it becomes your destiny.
Author Unknown
