BATTLE OF THE MIND

The daily thought life of the believer can be likened to a spiritual battle ground. There are at least three voices that one hears: 1) God 2) Self 3) Satan. We need to clearly distinguish between these voices.

Jesus said in John 10:3-5 “The sheep hear His voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out...for they know his voice...for they know not the voice of strangers...” (See previous study: “How to Hear God”)

Just because one hears the tempting voice of Satan, does not mean that one has sinned. It's how one responds to the voice that determines whether it is a temptation or a sin. James 1:15 says, “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death.”

II Corinthians 10:5 states that as believers we should be “casting down (kathaireo - to put or lift down, demolish) imaginations (logismous – arguments, speculations, false reasoning, uncontrolled evil) and every high thing (hupsoma – high thing) that exalteth itself against (epairo – to lift up upon or against) the knowledge (gnosis – knowledge, practical intelligence, insight) of God (theos – object of worship, God), and bringing into captivity (aichmalotizo – to take by the spear) every thought (enthumeseos design, device, thought, devising)to the obedience (hupakoe -hearkening submissively) of Christ (Christou – the Anointed One);”

We are to put on the whole armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10-18, “take the helmet (perik – something around the head) of salvation(soterion – safety, soundness, deliverance,” which is similarly expressed in

Romans 13:14 as “But put ye on (enduo – to clothe, go into clothing) the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision (pronoia – forethought) for the flesh (sarx - flesh), to fulfill the lusts (epithumia – over desire) thereof.”

Jesus set the example of dealing with the temptations of Satan as He faced him head on in the desert according to Matthew 4:1 “Then was Jesus led up (anago -to lead up) of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (peirazo – to try, to prove) of the devil.”

Jesus' primary weapon was the Word of God, according to Matthew 4:1-11:

1. “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written(Deuteronomy 8:3), “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

2. “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again (Deuteronomy 6:16), Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

3. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written(Deuteronomy 6:13), Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

   “Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.” Luke 4:14 adds that after His victory over the devil, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.”

Another key in overcoming Satan's temptations is prayer. Jesus told us to pray according to Matthew 6:13 “Lead us not into temptation...” Jesus also told the disciples in Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (See previous study, “Tempt, Temptation.”)

We are to be spiritually minded according to Romans 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 states, “Walk (peripateo – to walk around, continually) in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (See previous study, “Mind of Christ.”)

According to Romans 12:1-2, Scripture says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (lateria - worship). And be not conformed (suschematizo – to fashion in the same way) to this world (aion – age, dispensation): but be ye transformed (metamorphoo – to be transfomed, changed) by the renewing (anakainosis – a making newagain, change) of your mind (nous – mind, will) , that ye may prove (dokimazo – try, prove) what is that good (agathos good (agathos - for the ultimate good), and acceptable (euarestos - well-pleasing), and perfect (teleios – coplete, ended), will (thelema – wish, purpose, purpose) of God.” Ephesians 4:23-24 states, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” “We have the mind of Christ,” according to I Corinthians 2:16.

And again in Philippians 2:5, it states, “Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 5:26 states that “He might sanctify and cleanse it (ekklesia) with the washing of water by the Word.” Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

In James 4:7, it states, “Submit (hupotasso – to set in array under) yourselves therefore to God. Resist (anthistemi – to set over agains) the devil, and he will flee (pheugo – to flee) from you.” Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame (nikao – to gain the victory) him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word (logos – speech, reason) of their testimony (marluria - witness); and they loved (agapao – love, kind kind) not their lives (psuche – breath, animal life) unto death (thanatos - death).” To resist the devil, we have Jesus' Authority, Name, Power, Word and Blood!

The devil was defeated by Jesus at the cross as Colossians 2:14-15 states, “Nailing it to his cross...and having spoiled (apekduomai – to strip off, unclothe) principalities (arche – beginning, principality) and powers (exousia – privilege, authority), he made a shew of them openly (deigma to make a show or example), triumphing over (to lead in triumph, cause to triumph) them in it.” And finally, in the end, we see Satan in the lake of fire according to Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever, “