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Battlefield Mind
posted Sunday, 3 June 2007
Battlefield Mind
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses."
Gettysburg is by far the most recognized battleground in the United States of America. Although the battle of Gettysburg did not end the Civil War, it remains the greatest battle in the war between the North and the South. During the three-day battle at Gettysburg, more men fought and died than in any other battle fought on American soil. On the third day alone, July 3, 1863, during the infamous Pickett's charge, 10,000 Confederate soldiers became casualties of war in the span of 50 minutes. The actual numbers are staggering for both the Union and the Confederacy. The Union had 3,155 dead, 14,529 wounded, 5,365 missing, with total losses amounting to 23, 049 men. The Confederacy had 3,903 dead, 18,735 wounded, 5,425 missing, and 28,063 in total losses. Those numbers sound as if they came from a ten-year war between nations, rather than a three-day battle between brothers. It is no wonder that the battleground at Gettysburg is studied, talked about, and remembered more than any other battleground in the great history of The United States of America.
Gettysburg was a battleground fought upon in a physical war. Where is the battleground upon which Spiritual warfare is fought?
In 2 Corinthians 10:3, we learn that we are combatants in warfare. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." And from Ephesians 6:12, we learn that we war against a highly-organized enemy force. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." But where is the battleground in which this unseen warfare takes place? The battleground for Spiritual warfare is in the mind (soul)!
Rom 7:23 "but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members." Satan and his forces, through his system of evil and sin, are desperately trying to re-claim control of the strategic piece of land that was once their stronghold, your mind (soul). Before you became a believer, Satan had control of your mind through his organized system of thought. (worldly belief system) 2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whose case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Now that we are believers, Jesus Christ has enlightened our minds, but the battle still continues for supremacy and control of every thought. Our minds need to be guarded and fortified in order to counter any and every enemy attack. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head." Sally Kempton
Satan has outposts or fortresses (2 Cor 10:3-4) already built inside our minds. Those fortresses are fortified with the desires of our Old Man (The sin nature). The only way to thwart the assault on the battleground of the mind is to "destroy all speculation and every lofty thing (fortresses) raised up against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor 10:5) How do we go about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? In order to make the Spiritual battlefield of the mind a stronghold for Jesus Christ, we must analyze, memorize, and exercise truth from the Word of God.
(1) Analyze Truth
It is imperative for Christians to study the word of God on a daily basis. We have no problem putting fiction, news, sitcoms, and conversational rumors in our head, so why is it such a struggle to study the Word every day? Because the war is over your mind and the Word is the only thing that can win the daily battles in the struggle for superiority over your thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks within himself, so is he." The more we analyze Scripture, the more we "think" from the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16)
(2) Memorize Truth
There will be times (probably more than less) when you will be without your Bible. Memorization of Scripture is important because it helps us to meditate on the Word throughout our day. (Psalms 119:15) When we have doctrines, principles, and promises memorized, we stand ready to defend against a small skirmish or a full-scale ambush. The enemy is poised and always ready. Prepare yourself for battle daily by memorizing and meditating on Truth from the Word of God.
(3) Exercise Truth
Exercising in the Truth is to apply Scripture to experience. To be ignorant to Truth is to go into war without a weapon, but to know Truth and not apply it is to have a weapon with no bullets. Applied truth is your loaded gun in Spiritual warfare. Every time we apply truth to experience, we press the attack on the enemy. Stand your ground (Ephesians 6:11) and take the enemy's ground by exercising in the Word daily. Proverbs 22:17-19 "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD,"
There are more casualties in Spiritual Warfare every minute of the day than there were in 3 days on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Form a perimeter around the battlefield of your mind with the Word of God, and be victorious in the daily battle for superiority of your thoughts. "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Don't surrender one thought to the enemy. One thought can turn into an outpost. One outpost can turn into a stronghold. "Guard your mind in Christ Jesus" and become continually victorious on the battlefield of the mind. (Philippians 4:7)
Buck Hoskin
"For the WORD of the CROSS is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses."
Gettysburg is by far the most recognized battleground in the United States of America. Although the battle of Gettysburg did not end the Civil War, it remains the greatest battle in the war between the North and the South. During the three-day battle at Gettysburg, more men fought and died than in any other battle fought on American soil. On the third day alone, July 3, 1863, during the infamous Pickett's charge, 10,000 Confederate soldiers became casualties of war in the span of 50 minutes. The actual numbers are staggering for both the Union and the Confederacy. The Union had 3,155 dead, 14,529 wounded, 5,365 missing, with total losses amounting to 23, 049 men. The Confederacy had 3,903 dead, 18,735 wounded, 5,425 missing, and 28,063 in total losses. Those numbers sound as if they came from a ten-year war between nations, rather than a three-day battle between brothers. It is no wonder that the battleground at Gettysburg is studied, talked about, and remembered more than any other battleground in the great history of The United States of America.
Gettysburg was a battleground fought upon in a physical war. Where is the battleground upon which Spiritual warfare is fought?
In 2 Corinthians 10:3, we learn that we are combatants in warfare. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." And from Ephesians 6:12, we learn that we war against a highly-organized enemy force. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." But where is the battleground in which this unseen warfare takes place? The battleground for Spiritual warfare is in the mind (soul)!
Rom 7:23 "but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members." Satan and his forces, through his system of evil and sin, are desperately trying to re-claim control of the strategic piece of land that was once their stronghold, your mind (soul). Before you became a believer, Satan had control of your mind through his organized system of thought. (worldly belief system) 2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whose case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Now that we are believers, Jesus Christ has enlightened our minds, but the battle still continues for supremacy and control of every thought. Our minds need to be guarded and fortified in order to counter any and every enemy attack. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head." Sally Kempton
Satan has outposts or fortresses (2 Cor 10:3-4) already built inside our minds. Those fortresses are fortified with the desires of our Old Man (The sin nature). The only way to thwart the assault on the battleground of the mind is to "destroy all speculation and every lofty thing (fortresses) raised up against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor 10:5) How do we go about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? In order to make the Spiritual battlefield of the mind a stronghold for Jesus Christ, we must analyze, memorize, and exercise truth from the Word of God.
(1) Analyze Truth
It is imperative for Christians to study the word of God on a daily basis. We have no problem putting fiction, news, sitcoms, and conversational rumors in our head, so why is it such a struggle to study the Word every day? Because the war is over your mind and the Word is the only thing that can win the daily battles in the struggle for superiority over your thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks within himself, so is he." The more we analyze Scripture, the more we "think" from the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16)
(2) Memorize Truth
There will be times (probably more than less) when you will be without your Bible. Memorization of Scripture is important because it helps us to meditate on the Word throughout our day. (Psalms 119:15) When we have doctrines, principles, and promises memorized, we stand ready to defend against a small skirmish or a full-scale ambush. The enemy is poised and always ready. Prepare yourself for battle daily by memorizing and meditating on Truth from the Word of God.
(3) Exercise Truth
Exercising in the Truth is to apply Scripture to experience. To be ignorant to Truth is to go into war without a weapon, but to know Truth and not apply it is to have a weapon with no bullets. Applied truth is your loaded gun in Spiritual warfare. Every time we apply truth to experience, we press the attack on the enemy. Stand your ground (Ephesians 6:11) and take the enemy's ground by exercising in the Word daily. Proverbs 22:17-19 "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD,"
There are more casualties in Spiritual Warfare every minute of the day than there were in 3 days on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Form a perimeter around the battlefield of your mind with the Word of God, and be victorious in the daily battle for superiority of your thoughts. "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Don't surrender one thought to the enemy. One thought can turn into an outpost. One outpost can turn into a stronghold. "Guard your mind in Christ Jesus" and become continually victorious on the battlefield of the mind. (Philippians 4:7)
"You may be physically exhausted; you may be completely defeated, as far as the odds are concerned; you may be deprived of your liberty; but no one can stop you from THINKING those things which eventually will overcome the pressures and adversity of your situation." R.B. Thieme Jr.(Mental Attitude Dynamics)
Buck Hoskin
"For the WORD of the CROSS is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"
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