Slide # 1
The battle field of our mind!
(Note: This sermon was one of the most impacting, insightful and helpful I have written, and resulted in much fruit for the Kingdom - restored relationships, dedication to God, repentance and holiness! Please excuse the New Zealand application :-)
Did anyone else read this morning about the Terrorist attacks planned against NZ?
Apparently, Jihad – full open warfare - has been openly declared against New Zealand.
Allied forces have infiltrated one enemy stronghold and released documents that show the full extent of the threat.
One particular item that should make each one of us here today ‘sit up and take notice’, is the terrorist statement that they are:
‘especially targeting the ‘Infidel born again Christians’ of this country whose nation was founded upon Christian principles of abomination!’
However, like the terrorist warfare of late, the plans of the enemy are not what we would expect.
Gone are the days when armed warheads and marching troops are the foundation of warfare.
The plans of this 21st century warfare are a lot more subtle and damaging than traditional ‘hand to hand’ combat.
The outline of this terrorist plan of attack – are more along these lines:
· They already have in place personal to infiltrate central government and local body elections.
· They already have set in place policies and procedures that will undermine the foundational structures of this society – family and marriage.
· Propaganda is their number one line of attack – you may even have seen a recent documentary of ‘terrorist bloopers’ where they video ‘botched’ assassinations and torture – turning it into humorous videos that are freely available on the net.
· And last but not least – their number one line of attack and fury – is leveled at the established churches of New Zealand.
Even within Te Atatu Peninsula!
This is like nothing we have seen before, and it’s time for each of us to ‘wake-up’, shake off our apathy, and prepare for battle.
Because – whether we like it or not,
…despite how inconvenient it is to our life styles – we are now in a battle – for our lives and the lives of our loved ones!
If you don’t think this is the case,
…then you are amongst the most vulnerable and at-risk of all!
Today I will uncover several of the tactics of the enemy,
…and apply them directly to your life,
… and help you understand the steps you must take to protect both yourself, your family – against attack and annihilation!
I am even going to help you identify – how to discern and recognize the propaganda and lies that the enemy tries to destroy us with.
In fact – I want to read to you – the exact words I came across this morning, that has prompted me to bring you this warning and this message.
You need to listen carefully – because your life literally hangs in the balance with these words!
Actually – before I do – I want to clarify something first – and make it very clear.
In case you haven’t realized, I am not talking about Jihad or terrorism that comes from Iraq or Iran.
What we are discussing today is not the threat from extremist Muslim militants.
It is something far, far worse than that!
What we are discussing this morning makes these people look like ‘kittens wrapped up in Candy Floss’.
The terrorism we will uncover this morning is far more dangerous and real –
…than a bunch of fanatics who are enjoying the limelight of world media and politics.
The threat we are talking about is so dangerous and malicious,
…so clever and deceptive, that even George Bush in Washington DC, even Tony Blair and Helen Clark –
…have failed to uncover, or discover the extent of their destructive actions throughout the entire world as we know it today!
This truly is the ‘silent enemy’ behind all enemies.
Slide # 2
Let’s turn in our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I want you to know that we can trust God’s Word.
What the Bible has to say, its promises and concepts – are true!
It is a Rock we can build our lives upon!
Before we ‘unwrap’ this passage of Scripture, we need to understand it in the context of 2nd Corinthians 2:11.
Slide # 3
We are not ignorant of the schemes of satan!
You know what?
What I’ve discovered, is actually the reverse of this verse to be true.
Many, if not most Christians I have come across, have no idea about the schemes and attacks that enemy has planned against them.
In all honesty, my heart breaks when I see so many Christians succumb to his attacks:
Slide # 4
· Marriages destroyed
· Families divided and broken
· Friendships ended
· Christians defeated
· Ministries ambushed
And at the end of the day – these people are left, literally ‘shell shocked’ with no idea of what just went wrong to destroy their relationships.
In fact – this ‘ignorance’ shouldn’t surprise you either,
…because the number one plan of attack the enemy has against the world today – is to ‘mask his presence’.
To make us think that we are in deed battling against each other.
Slide # 5
· Country against country
· Nation against nation
· Race against race
· Indigenous against refugee
· Family against family
· Husband against wife
· Son against father
· Mother against daughter
· Church member against church member
· Friend against friend.
But what does the Bible say about all this?
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, (not against each other!).
I want to share one further personal testimony to highlight the fact that people’s lives actually hang in the balance of understanding the forces of darkness at work in the world.
The date is forever etched into my mind.
Sunday November 10th 2002
That Sunday I brought an urgent request to this church at Te Atatu Baptist.
These were the words I said – I have them recorded in my sermon booklet on my computer:
“The spiritual leaders of the churches on this Peninsula are under demonic attack – we need to rise up in prayer and ask for God’s protection.”
Does anyone remember what happened two weeks later?
One of our local pastors was found dead in his garage.
He had committed suicide!
I’m not suggesting that anything this drastic is about to take place again.
What I am saying, is that this topic is real, it is relevant, and it is happening right now – in some form or another, to each one of us present here today.
We need to ‘sit up – and take note’ this morning!
Let me uncover another one of the main tactics that the enemy uses against us, each and every day of our lives.
Let’s get a bit more personal and closer to home this morning.
In fact – I want to ‘get inside your head’ and help you see things in a better light,
…see things by the light of God’s Holy Word!
Have you ever considered that some of the accusations and voices you hear in your mind, are not actually your own thoughts?
Slide # 6
You see, in Revelation 12:10, the Bible calls satan, the ‘Accuser of the brethren’.
The Bible also suggests, that Satan has the ability to put thoughts directly into your heart, or more correctly, into your head, into your mind.
And one of satan’s biggest deceptions, is that we think they are our own thoughts, and we listen to them!
In the gospels, Jesus faced this amongst his disciples.
Slide # 7
Matt 16:23
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.
Slide # 8
John 13:2
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.
And later in the book of Acts.
Slide # 9
Acts 5:3
Then Peter said, “Ananias, (A Christian member of the church!) why has Satan filled your heart?
You see, so often – when we read the words of Ephesians 6:12 about not wresting with ‘flesh and blood’,
…we ‘externalize’ it.
We think about these things in other people, in the world, in the secular government and society.
But you know what we also forget?
That we ourselves – are made of the same ‘flesh and blood’ as others are.
Have you ever asked yourself ‘whose flesh and blood’ we are fighting against?
Just maybe we need to look a bit closer to home,
…into our own hearts and lives, and accept that some of the thoughts we have been conditioned to listen to,
…some of the judgments and prejudices we have embraced,
…haven’t actually originated in truth, or even from our own thought life,
…but from the whispers and suggestions of the ‘spiritual rulers of the dark world’!
Slide # 10
‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’.
Scripture makes it clear that Satan has the ability to put thoughts and suggestions into the minds of those who are even following Jesus closely.
But what do these ‘thoughts’ sound like, and how can we identify them and stop them clouding our judgments about ourselves and others?
Slide # 11
The key is found in the Scripture from Revelation that calls satan the ‘Accuser of the brethren’.
I want to give you a challenge for over the nest few days or weeks.
Listen to your thoughts!
Write them down!
Take ownership of the thoughts in your head!
I want to share with you some of the sounds you will hear if you take the time to listen.
I assure you that these revelations are not unique.
And if you were honest, or took the time to actually listen to them.
You might even find they are the same words, or very similar, to what swirls around in your head as well.
See if you recognize any of these:
Slide # 12
· You’re no good!
· You can’t do it!
· You’ve tired and failed before!
· No one will listen to you!
· You can’t take the spiritual lead of your family – what will your wife think?
· You’re a failure!
· You’re ugly!
Now, what about thoughts aimed at getting us to be suspicious or hurt by other people.
Thoughts designed to break fellowship and friendships.
Emotions designed to make us feel indignant and hurt.
These are what satan specializes in!
Slide # 13
· They’re talking about you behind your back!
· They’re out to get you and make you look bad!
· They’re telling lies about you, and people are believing them too!
· They don’t like you!
· They are really the enemy and you need to get away from them!
What do we do when we hear these thoughts in our heads, that are almost too fast to recognize, even experiencing them as emotions?
We respond to them with our own thoughts!
Slide # 14
· I’m no good!
· What will my wife think?
· I’m ugly!
· I’m a failure!
· Others are talking about me behind my back!
Listen to this key – it may be one of the most important principles you will hear in a long time.
Slide # 15
The thoughts of accusation and doubt that come into your head, usually start with the word ‘you’.
· You are a failure!
· No one will listen to you!
· You can’t succeed!
· You’ve failed every time before!
· No body likes you!
· You can’t trust anyone again!
Notice that they start with a ‘you’!
Slide # 16 – Statement over page
If they were your own thoughts, they would start with an ‘I’.
Think about it – and you’ll realize that what I’m telling you is the truth!
Who do you think those thoughts come from – that start with a you?
I’ll tell you exactly where they come from!
Slide # 17
The Accuser of the brethren.
You can know a thought comes from the devil, or our own fallen nature, if it has as its foundation the purpose of ‘accusing the brethren’!
Either yourself, or other believers.
But, many people make friends with these thoughts.
They believe them, and these thoughts actually become part of their personality.
These thoughts even have the potential ability to alter and influence how we think about others, how we treat them and react to them.
‘Phillip hates you – he’s been saying nasty things about you, and gossiping about you to others, he’s out to get you!’
And we respond like a robot.
‘Phillip hates me, he’s been saying nasty things about me….’.
It’s all in your imagination – it’s probably lies!
But you see what’s happening – you’re being set up for failure!
‘Your husband thinks you’re ugly,
he isn’t attracted to you any more,
he’s started looking at other women,
he’ll probably leave you because you’re such a failure!
Where will you go?
What will you do with the kids?
They’ll grow up without a dad and probably end up in a worse mess than you are –
- and it’s all your fault!’
And unless you’re careful, discerning and filling your mind with Scripture, you’ll believe the lies.
Has it happened before?
You bet your life on it.
Who do you think fuels marriage and family break-ups, church splits and racial disharmony?
We can build up a whole image about a person,
…a whole attitude of whether we like them or not,
…based upon the thoughts in our heads,
…even without speaking or meeting with that person!
That’s why gossip is condemned by Scripture, – because the one behind it, is the ‘Accuser of the brethren himself’.
Be careful, be very - very careful!
So – what tools do we have at our disposal to combat these attacks leveled against us each and every day of our lives?
The solution is found in the very passage that gave us the problem.
Slides # 18 to 22
Ephesians 6:10
10 A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
13 Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.* 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.* 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
Notice one of the key words here?
Slide # 23
“Stand!”
Slides # 24 to 26
· Verse 11 – stand firm against all the strategies and tricks of the Devil.
· Verse 13 - so that after the battle, you will still be standing firm!
· Verse 14 – Stand your ground!
What does that mean?
Slide # 27
· Don’t run away!
· Don’t leave your spouse or family!
· Don’t surrender and say those words or do those things you are tempted to do!
· Don’t react to those thoughts in your head – and especially –
· Don’t automatically believe them or entertain them!
Stand!
The trouble is, if you know anything about battle and warfare,
…someone standing still in the middle of a battlefield – makes an ideal target for the enemy!
That’s why this passage of Scripture on warfare, goes further into the battle strategy for Christians.
It’s not good enough to ‘stand’ in the middle of a battle – totally exposed!
If that’s the case – then you’re totally unprotected!
It’s not enough to stand in the middle of a battle with your thought life, – in your own strength!
You’ll get annihilated on the spot!
If you ever hope to wind the battle for your mind, the spiritual battle that rages inside our heads each and every day of our lives.
You’ll need to put on spiritual armor!
The armor of God!
Actually – just before we delve into this a bit further,
…I want us to identify the reasons why many Christians DO NOT ever bother to put on the ‘Whole armor of God’.
The reasons for this neglect are very obvious.
Armor is heavy, it is often uncomfortable, it often ‘gets in the way’.
Why strap on armor if all you’re doing is going to the office and sitting at a desk all day, or spending time at home or in the community?
That’s just plain uncomfortable and unnecessary!
And that’s how most of us feel about this whole topic most of the time.
Slide # 28
I have no need for the armor of God!
· Why bother with the inconvenience of putting on armor?
· Why bother even praying!
· Why bother reading God’s Word every day!
The way to answer this question is simple –
‘How much have you prayed and read God’s Word this last week?’
How did you go compared to the average Christian alive today:
During one week:
· Two minutes reading God’s Word!
· 30 seconds in prayer!
There’s an old saying that goes something like this:
Slide # 29
Don’t bother the devil,
and he won’t bother you!
Satan isn’t bothered by a person who is no threat to him.
If we’re happy to carry on life like everyone else around us, unaware of the need to share God’s love with others.
Unaware of the battle raging around our heads.
If we are like that, and live in ignorant bliss, then there really isn’t any need for you to put on God’s armor.
Laurian Gill said these words during her self denial message.
Slide # 30
There’s a difference between a believer in Christ, and a disciple of Christ!
I’m not talking about ‘believing in Christ’ today, because the book of James says that:
Slide # 31
James 2:19
Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!
I’m talking about those Christians who want to gain victory over their thought life!
Who want to make a difference for Christ in this world!
Who want their families and loved ones to come to know Him as Lord and Savior!
I’m talking about believers who take up the challenge to be a disciple!
You want to know what the root of the word ‘disciple’ is?
It’s the word ‘discipline’!
You see, once you understand that this world is at war with unseen spiritual armies, and see your mind as the battle field.
Once you decide to take a stand for Christ and join His army!
It is then that you will realize the need for Spiritual Armor –
…and you won’t even notice the discomfort, the cost, the effort needed to pray, read God’s Word and live in harmony with all other believers!
This then – is what we must do!
Slide # 32
Ephesians 6:13 Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth.
Lord – I put on the belt of truth today, I choose a lifestyle of honesty and integrity. Show me the truths I so desperately need today. Expose the lies that I’m not even aware I’m believing.
Slide # 33
And put on the breastplate of God’s righteousness.
And yes – Lord, I wear your righteousness today against all condemnation and corruption. Fill me with your holiness and purity- defend me against all assaults against my heart.
Slide # 34
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.
Lord – I choose to live for the gospel at any moment today. I am not ashamed of Your gospel, and give me a responsive heart to share Your love with whomever you tell me to.
Slide # 35
16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
Jesus, I lift Your Name against every lie and every assault that tells me anything contrary to Your holy Word. I break every lie that says I am not good enough to receive Your love. I put a stop to the condemnation and accusations that swirl within my head today – both towards myself and others!
Slide # 36
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And Lord – I know my heart is deceitful and my desires are at times motivated by my flesh, so help me today to replace my thoughts, my actions and reactions, with the eternal truth of Your holy Word! Help me to love Your Word more than life – desiring if more than food for my stomach!
Slide # 37
18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
Finally, Holy Spirit, I agree to walk in step with You in everything – in all prayer as my spirit communes with You throughout the day!
Amen
Statistics:
C:\\…The battle field of our minds.DOC
Word Count: 3,750
Scripture Word Count: 686
