Your Mind Is A Battlefield

Your Mind Is A Battlefield

Bringing Every Thought Into

Captivity to the Obedience of

Christ 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

A Battle For The Minds of Men

We Are At War:A Spiritual war – A battle that is waged in the minds of men!

Winners1 Cor 15:54-57

Rev 21:7

Losers2 Cor 4:3,4Rev 21:8

A Battle For The Minds of Men2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our

warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down

strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing

that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every

thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

A Battle For The Minds of Men1Timothy 1:18

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the

prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you

may wage the good warfare, 2Timothy 2:3,4

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus

Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with

the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a

soldier.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

Convince, rebuke, exhort,

with all longsuffering and teaching.

A Battle For The Minds of MenEphesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)

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 you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but

against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the

darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in

the heavenly places.

A Battle For The Minds of MenJames 1:13-16 (NKJV)

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God";

for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt

anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved

brethren.


Internally Externally My response to

temptation & sin, Pride & selfishness, Self deception,

seeking the truth, open to change -

Requires knowledge & wisdom . . .

Resisting & exposing false doctrine, false religion,

Resisting & exposing ungodliness & immorality –

Requires knowledge & wisdom . . .We Are At War:

A Spiritual war – A battle that is waged in the minds of men!


Understanding Our Enemies

Satan & his servants - Eph 6:11, 12; 2 Cor 2:11; 11:3False information - 2 Pet

2:1,2; Mat 15:13; 2 Cor 11:13-15 Tempters - Prov 1:10-19;

1 Cor 15:33; 1 John 2:15-17

The Battle For Your Mind

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) But I fear, lest

somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in

Christ.


Understanding The Battlefield

We walk in the flesh – we are mortal humans, living in a temporal

world - but we are MUCH MORE - Eccl 12:7; Heb 11:13-16; Gal 5:16

But we do not war according to the flesh – This battle is fought

in the minds of men - (Arguments; Knowledge; Thoughts - vs. 5)


2 Cor. 10:3 (NKJV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do

not war according to the flesh.



Words & actions come from the heart / mind -

Gen. 6:5; Mat 15:18,19; Rom 16:17; Eph 6:6

We are what we think - Prov. 23:7

Both God & Satan desires control of our

thought life - Mark 12:29-31; 2 Cor 11:3






We determine what we allow to occupy & control our mind -

Rom 8:5 “set their minds . . .” Rom 12:1-3 - “be transformed by the

renewing of your mind” Col. 3:2 - “set your mind on things above”Phili 3:19 - the end of “those who set their

mind on earthly things”





Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as

the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their

understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the

ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being

past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with

greediness.





Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning

your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the

new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and

holiness.





Understanding Our Weapons

Weapons NOT carnalGuns, bombs, swords –

NOT Psychology – NOT Secular Education –NOT Human Wisdom –NOT Positive Thinking -


2 Cor. 10:4 (NKJV) 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down

strongholds,


Understanding Our Weapons

Weapons NOT carnalCompulsion (1 Peter 5:2)

Deceit (1 Pet 2:1, Eph 4:25; Rom 3:8)

Flattery - (1 Thes. 2:5)

Compromise (Gal 1:8-9; 2:5)

Bribery - (2 Pet 2:3)



strongholds,


Understanding Our Weaponswaist girded with Truth

Breastplate of RighteousnessFeet shod w/ Gospel of peace

Shield of faith to quench all fiery darts

Helmet of salvationSword of the Spirit – (The word of

GOD)Praying always - watchful w/

perseverance.



strongholds,

Ephesians 6:10-

18


God’s WordGod’s power to save men - Rom

1:16Living & Powerful – Heb 4:12Produces Faith – Rom 10:17Saves Souls – James 1:21

Regenerates – 1 Peter 1:22,23To be spoken in love – Eph 4:15

To be taught w/ patience & humility – 2 Tim 2:24-26

Will accomplish God’s purpose – Isa 55:11



strongholds,


Pulling Down Strongholds

The Lord is a stronghold for the faithful and

upright (Psa. 9:9; 18:2; 31:2-3).

Satan and sin also have their strongholds, but they

are doomed to certain defeat (Heb 2:14; 1 John

3:8-10).



strongholds,


Pulling Down Strongholds

The truth exposes & destroys the lies of Satan -

(atheism; paganism; humanism; Islam; Catholicism; denominationalism; & every

other “ism”)Every time we try to teach someone the truth or we defend the truth – we are

engaged in battle for Christ – Not to destroy – but to save!


2 Cor. 10:5 (NKJV) 5 casting down

arguments and every high thing that exalts

itself against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of

Christ,


Pulling Down StrongholdsThe truth can

expose & destroy the errors & sin

that may exist in our own lives - James 1:21-25


2 Cor. 10:5 (NKJV) 5 casting down

arguments and every high thing that exalts

itself against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of

Christ,

A Battle For The Minds of MenThe Battle For Your Mind

2 Cor. 10:5 bringing

every thought into captivity to

the obedience of

Christ,


✦ Receive the truth – (John 8:32; James 1:21)

✦ Obey the truth – (1 Peter 1:22,23)

✦ Transforming ourselves -“by the renewing of” our minds – (Rom 12:1,2)

✦ Become spiritually minded – “Setting our minds on things above . . .“– (Col 3:1,2; Mat 6:33; Gal 5:22,23; 2 Pet 1:5-10)



Isaiah 26:3“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed

on You, Because he trusts in

You.”


We Are At War:A Spiritual war – A battle that is

waged in the minds of men!Internally – the war with sin, self deception, pride, selfishness, etc., is

won or lost in ones mind.Externally – we are at war with

false doctrine, false religion, ungodliness and immorality – the minds of men must be changed -


We Are At War:A Spiritual war – A battle that is waged in the minds of men!

WinnersMark 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved

LosersMark 16:16

but he who does not believe shall be

condemned


Charts by Don McClainPrepared February 27- March 2,

2013Preached March 3, 2013West 65th Street church of ChristP.O. Box

190062Little Rock AR 72219501-568-1062Prepared using KeynoteEmail –

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Psalm 119:97-104 (NKJV) 97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my

meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever

with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,

For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep

Your precepts.

Psalm 119:97-104 (NKJV) 101 I have restrained my feet from

every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself

have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your

precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

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Your Mind Is A Battlefield