2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. V4. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have DIVINE POWER to demolish strongholds. V.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I’m going to come back to these verses in just a moment but please continue reading.
Numbers 32:6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Rueben, shall your brethren go to war, and shall you sit here.
This story contains great insights for all of us who are intentional about our walk with God. Everything that we read about past generations which was recorded in the bible, has an application for our lives today.
Two of the ten tribes of Israel, Gad and Rueben chose to remain on the opposite side of the Jordan river when it was time to cross over and take possession of the land of promise. The land was promised to them by God, but there was one small problem. They were going to have to fight for it. These two tribes had so much wealth and so many possessions they did not want to pack up, leave it all and start over. To their credit, they negotiated with Moses and were permitted to stay where they were comfortable, provided they assist in the battle. Sometimes your fight is not because of what’s in it for you. Sometimes its because of what’s in it for somebody else who matters to you.
After the warriors from the tribes of Rueben and Gad joined their countrymen in conquering and possessing The Land of Promise, they were permitted to return home to what mattered most to them.
The first fact of serving God is this … THERE WILL BE SOME BATTLES.
NEW LEVELS … NEW DEVILS. Warfare is unavoidable. If you really want the best that God has for you, you are going to ENCOUNTER your enemy, the devil. On a regular basis you are going to have to engage him and defeat him regardless of his sophisticated strategies. You are never going to outgrow warfare; therefore, you need to learn how to fight. The number one place where Satan launches his most vicious attacks is in our mind. One reason why Satan is so consistent about beginning his attack in our mind is because our mind is the place where we allow Satan to walk and work against us without impunity.
Categorically most of us have a hard time differentiating the true from the false.
Number one, always remember that Satan is a liar and number two, always remember that your head is a liar … ALSO. Whether our thinking originates from our past, our imagination or its being inspired by demons … there is ONE OVERRIDING test that all thinking must be measured by. HERE IT IS …
Philippians 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. This ABSOLUTELY MAPS OUT my responsibility … for what goes on in my mind.
RESPONSIBILTY MEANS … MY ABILITY TO RESPOND.
The mind is the BIGGEST ARENA of OUR BIGEST BATTLES.
Beyond the warfare in my mind, some other battles seem like the outcome is out of our hands. Those are the battles that you must place into the hands of God.
Psalms 46:1-3. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. V2. Therefore, we will NOT fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the seas, V3. though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
You can’t always control what’s going on around you, but you can and MUST always CONTROL what’s going on inside of you.
SOMETIMES … you need to just sit yourself down, silence the lies in your head, BUTTON UP your lips from saying anything foolish, then take your hands off and let God do His part. Stretch your hands toward God and look for your help from HIM. You don’t have to search for God. He’s there. He is a very present help in time of need. While you are trying to figure things out God already HAS IT All worked out.
MAYBE “Right Now” YOU NEED HIM BADLY. IT MIGHT BE … A PARTICULAR SIN THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH. IT COULD BE A RESENTMENT. IT COULD BE AN ONGOING BATTLE WITH DEPRESSION. YOU MIGHT BE IN THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE WITH AN ADDICTION … THAT WONT BREAK.
MAYBE THE FIRE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE HAS BEGUN TO DIE.
PLEASE, DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T LOSE THE WILL TO FIGHT. THAT WOULD BE TRAGIC.
That’s exactly what Satan wants you to do. I wrote this to remind you …
- GOD IS CLOSE TO YOU TODAY
He wants to rekindle His fire in your heart.
- Renew your consecration TO HIM … that you once had.
ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BREATHE ON YOU TODAY-TO BLOW A FRESH WIND OF HIS PRESENCE OVER YOUR LIFE.
- ASK HIM TO CREATE OUT OF THE SEEMINGLY NOTHINGNESS OF YOUR LIFE
- EVERTHING THAT YOU NEED AND
- EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DESIRED FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE.
Don’t miscarry what God is birthing in you while you’re going through a battle.
THIS COULD BE YOUR MOMENT WHEN FAITH IS REWARDED … DON’T MISS IT.
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, WHY NOT LIFT YOUR HANDS … AND HOLD UP YOUR HEART TO GOD.
Our weapons are not the words that we speak to the people we conflict with.
Our weapons are not of this world.
The weapons that we have at our disposal are charged with The Divine Power of The Holy Spirit.
The weapons that we have demolish the weapons of the devil which are always lies and strongholds of thinking and behavior.
We capture every thought and bring it into the obedience of the truth … Jesus is truth.
Satan pretends to be God and appears as an ANGEL of light, but he’s nothing to be feared … when you KNOW YOUR GOD AND POSSES HIS POWER.
Don’t buy in TO ANY LIES. You are already a WINNER.
MIND YOUR MIND
I’m here to help you. Let me know what’s troubling you. Let’s win this one together.
