In today’s world, our minds are constantly being bombarded by ungodly influences. Social media, rage-baiting news, the entertainment industry, political upheaval, lofty opinions, and twisted ideologies. These forms of attack create a constant noise designed by the enemy to capture our attention, manipulate our choices, and subtly enslave our hearts.
We must recognize that our minds are not passive in this onslaught of external influences. The mind is all the while absorbing, analyzing, filtering, and creating thoughts that can war against our transformation and subvert the process of renewing our minds.
As born-again believers, our minds should be sanctified altars for the glory of God. Instead, because of this constant noise, it often remains a stronghold where old thought patterns and temptations are resurrected and insist on residing. I would dare say that most of the Church doesn’t recognize this as spiritual warfare.
The Apostle Paul said it best:
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 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
The problem we must all face is the strongholds created within our minds where thoughts and arguments that are contrary to God’s truth find a place to take root, to lay a foundation. This is Satan’s deception in its most devious form. Strongholds do not get built with great fanfare and demonstration. They come in stealthily, disguised as harmless ideas, familiar voices, and half-truths, stacking one upon another until a foundation is laid. Once a stronghold is finally built, the enemy now has a fortress to hide behind and manipulate us in secret to do his will.
This elaborate deception has one purpose. One goal. To prevent us from renewing our minds to the word of God and becoming the people He created us to be. Fully redeemed, mature sons.
Many Christians live as prisoners of fear and anxieties entrenched in their thoughts. Their emotions are being manipulated, drawn away from God by selfish desires and lustful thoughts, keeping sin alive by legalistic thinking and having their conscience seared as with a hot iron to numb them and desensitize them to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Satan does not need to shout while hiding behind a stronghold; a whisper in the mind is more than enough. Satan can’t read our minds, but he can put thoughts and ideas there. These are the bricks and mortar that strongholds are built from.
We are not immune to this deception no matter how much our hearts lean towards God. We all have a soul that was born into Adam. The soul (our mind, will, and emotions) was not sanctified at the new birth, only our Spirit. Our mind is the battlefield, and our soul and body are Satan’s target. They are his ultimate trophy.
He can’t obtain this prize in a fair fight, and he knows it. He has already been defeated. So, he must use deception, distraction, and subtle manipulation to trick us into handing over our souls willingly. History tells us that he has been very successful in this tactic.
He tries to keep our minds in a disordered and confused mess where the seeds of darkness and doubt can be planted, take root, and eventually bear his rotten fruit. We must fight to have our minds transformed and renewed by the word of God.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Transforming the mind is not a single event. It must become a spiritual discipline, a lifestyle, a constant battle against spiritual forces and spiritual beings warring against the process of our transformation. We can’t be dependent on others to fight this battle for us. We are responsible for working out the salvation of our souls. We have the Holy Spirit’s help, but He will not do it for us. We must partner with God by feeding on His word so that the Holy Spirit has something to work with.
It’s not enough just to listen to sermons, memorize verses, and read books about the Bible. We must engage God’s word for ourselves.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
We must treat our every thought like the TSA agents checking people before they board an airplane. Check them out thoroughly and determine their origin. Does this thought come from God, from the flesh, or from the enemy? What does this thought carry with it? We need to ask ourselves, does this thought edify and produce life? Or is it feeding strongholds within us? Is it hiding behind unresolved hurts, emotional traumas, or grudges that have been nurtured or even legitimized?
Does this thought ultimately compete with God’s will? Every thought that rises against the knowledge of Christ is like a brick in a stronghold. If it is not taken captive or torn down, it joins with other bricks, creating walls that hinder our spiritual growth.
Remember that the devil always works with lies, but he needs a point of entry, and he will find this point in an inattentive mind full of Earthly concerns or in a mind that refuses to fully submit to God. So be alert! Be diligent! Be aware that you are in a battle and the enemy doesn’t fight fair.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
JESUS IS COMING!
Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.
Truth Pressure Ministries 