THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND
It has been said that “the mind is the battleground of the soul.” All spiritual and natural battles begin in the mind. Natural battles originate first in the minds of individuals who wish to conquer territory, dominate, control, and/or interfere in the affairs of others. As stated earlier, most wars begin over differences in ideologies. Many “religious wars” have also been fought over differences in religious ideologies.
Spiritual battles are no different than natural ones in the sense that they are usually fought over ideologies and the “territory of the mind.” The Devil tries to impose his will upon individuals, factions, and nations by promoting his “devilish agendas.” Just as God desires His will to be accomplished in our lives, Satan “tries to impose” his will upon the lives of individuals.
The second most common cause of natural war is over territory. In the “territory of the mind” this cause of war is also found. By establishing devilish strongholds in the minds of individuals Satan can control and/or influence “the territory of their mind.” For many the Devil does not have to “establish” strongholds in their minds because he already “occupies” their minds. The more territory he possesses or influences in the minds of individuals the more he can control and/or manipulate their thoughts, actions, and reactions.
The third most common cause of natural war is over resources. On the battlefield of the mind resources are also important to the believer as well as the Devil. The Devil wants “our thoughts” in order to promote his agenda on this earth. Our thoughts are resources he can “use to confuse” divide, and conquer the souls of others. He uses the thoughts of individuals, as well as factions and nations to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan desires to steal our peace, destroy our faith, and kill the word of Life within our hearts.
The battle over our spiritual resources is one of the greatest battles we will ever fight on the battlefield of our mind. Our godly thoughts are our strongholds. Our righteousness, joy, and peace depend upon our ability to retain godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The enemy’s main targets on the battlefield of the mind will always be our godly thoughts, as well as our resolve to stand against the onslaught of “devilish deliberation.”
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH: FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS, CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVTY EVERY THOUGH TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
Although we live in a natural world our warfare is not against natural men, therefore our weapons are not natural weapons. As Christians we are not at war with mankind but with the unseen Forces of Darkness that are trying to impose their will upon our lives and their “devilish ideologies” and thoughts in our minds. Devilish strongholds exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. Satan desires to establish carnal thoughts and religious ideologies in the minds of individuals, factions, and nations in order to impose his will upon them. These thoughts and ideologies are “devilish strongholds” which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
The strongholds that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God are planted as “seed thoughts” by the enemy in the “high places” of the minds of individuals. The enemy waters them with the “polluted water” of “his word.” In many churches today Satan waters the strongholds (false doctrines) he establishes with what Paul called “another gospel.” A “watered down gospel” creates a Church with a “form of godliness” that is void of power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The knowledge of God is where we find godly wisdom and understanding. Carnal thoughts exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and impede and war against the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. We cannot and will not grow spiritually without godly wisdom and revelation. We cannot cast down the strongholds which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God without understanding how to do so. We certainly cannot take “thoughts captive” without the knowledge of God and “resurrection power.”
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal weapons. They are “spiritual weapons” that are designed to be used on the “Battlefield of the Mind.” They are weapons that we can only obtain and utilize through the knowledge of God. The weapons in our “spiritual arsenal” are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
Our spiritual weapons are powerful enough to stop our enemies on a natural battlefield. Through prayer we can stop our enemies without lifting a “natural sword” against them. There are many stories in the Bible where Israel’s enemies were defeated without having to “lift up” a sword against them.
Solomon said there is a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:8). There is a time “to fight” and there is a time to “let go” and “let God” fight our battles both spiritually and naturally. There is a time for “natural war” and a time to let God fight our natural battles. Just as “natural war” is inevitable, “spiritual war” is also inevitable.
Wherever natural battles and wars are raging we know demonic entities are “fighting feverishly” behind the scenes. Death and destruction is the bread of the unseen Forces of Darkness. They feed off the death and destruction of mankind. This principle is also true regarding spiritual warfare. Although the thoughts and imaginations we cast down are not always spiritual entities, they certainly have their origins in demonic thought. Carnal thinking entered into the hearts and minds of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and ate of the fruit which grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
THE CARNAL MIND
The Bible tells us that the “carnal mind” is the enemy of God. (See Romans 8:7). The carnal mind feeds off of and is nourished by the fruit that grows on Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It opposes the “fruit” which grows on the Tree of Life. The fruit which grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is the “bread of the carnal mind.”
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil produces the fruit of confusion, doubt, unbelief, fear, and unrighteousness to name a few. The fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil opposes and conflicts with godly knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. In other words, the fruit from the “Evil Tree” continues to war against the “sanctified soul.”
The carnal mind can only produce carnal thoughts and imaginations which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. For Christians casting down and eliminating those thoughts is, if you will pardon my expression, “a no-brainer.”
The carnal mind is not only the enemy of God it is the enemy of every individual. Mankind’s greatest enemy is not the Devil, but the “carnal mind.” If we can eliminate “carnal thinking,” we will have no problem defeating the Devil when he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. However, for many Christians, until then they will continue to remain in subjection to the wiles and schemes of the Devil.
AND HAVING IN A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED. 2 Corinthians 10:6.
When Christians learn how to occupy the “high places” in the realm of the Spirit, they will have no problem dealing with the disobedience of the enemy. However, we will only be able to occupy the “high places” if and when we are sitting in heavenly places “in” Christ Jesus. We cannot “cast down” carnal thoughts and imaginations if our thoughts and imaginations continue to exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
Our ability to destroy strongholds depends fully upon our obedience to Christ and the word of God. We cannot align ourselves with the enemy and expect the strongholds we are demanding to fall if we are being disobedient to the thoughts which establish godly strongholds in our minds.
The Bible tells us that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” Rebellion is another word for disobedience. Rebellious thoughts and attitudes are fruit which grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. All strongholds and thoughts which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God are engendered by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
When we are obedient to the commandments of God, we will have no problem eliminating the strongholds which hinder us from loving and serving God with a pure heart. When our obedience is fulfilled, we will be ready and able to demand and exact revenge against the enemy and the “works of darkness” which permeate this present world.
Rebellion is the “deadly fruit” which the wisdom of this world produces. The fruit that grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is sensuous and devilish. Rebellion is concealed and hidden in the strongholds that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. Following orders from “heavenly headquarters” will assure us we will continually “eat” from the Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life where sin and rebellion do not exist.