The Literal “Battleground of Your Mind”

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Most of us understand that strongholds are areas that Satan and his demonic powers have set up in people’s lives to dominate and control them.  It might be in an area such as living in fear, or an addiction such as drugs or alcoholism.   It might be bondages of lust from everything to dominating lustful thoughts to pornography to adultery and fornication or homosexuality.  It might be greed or bitterness or false religion or idolatry, but they are areas that Satan sets up strongholds in the human mind to dominate the person.

The greatest strongholds of evil such as murders and homosexuality and adultery and hatred all began as ungodly thoughts that were allowed to go and grow and form into literal strongholds that demons could come in and dominate.  It all began with unbridled evil thoughts.

Hebrews 4:12 says the LOGOS, and Ephesians 6 says the RHEMA (spoken Word).  The Word in our minds is the LOGOS.  The Word that pushes back demons and sets others free in action is the RHEMA. 

The Word of the Spirit or LOGOS that becomes a part of us is what tears down strongholds and keeps evil thoughts at bay.  You hear and read the truth of the Word and the Spirit activates it in our minds and it destroys the power of sin and evil over our lives.

When we speak the Word over others, the same Holy Spirit activates that Word and brings delivering power to others.  But before we can be effective in setting others free of their bondages, we MUST be free ourselves and the Word of God has to have its full effect in our own minds to keep strongholds torn down.

Ephesians 6:17 “ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: “

John 1:1-2 (KJV) “ 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   2 The same was in the beginning with God. “

John 1:14 (KJV) “ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “

This is the same Holy Spirit and the same Word of God (which the full manifestation of which is the Lord Jesus Christ) in both cases. Both are the sword of the Spirit.  But the spoken Word sets others free and literally tears down the strongmen in others.  But the Logos written Word of God (Jesus is the Word – see John 1) in our minds is what puts thoughts under the control of Jesus and tears down those evil strongholds in our thinking.

Let’s go back to what the carnal does to our relationship to God.  Romans 8:5-8 (KJV) “ 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.   6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.   7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.   8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Not only can you not please God with a carnal mind, but the enemy will use your carnal mind to oppose God both in your life and in those other lives that you impact.  It is easy to be used of the devil, sadly.  Just don’t pray and submit your mind and thoughts to God and the carnality of your own mind will become Satan’s ally.

To be carnally minded is death, but that is exactly what all of us are unless we are praying and getting full of the Word and letting Jesus have rule over our thought lives.  We have to surrender our thoughts to Jesus or the carnality of our flesh will mess our lives up.

We need to fill our souls or hearts with godliness and holiness so that God fills us up with His will and thinking and then we arm ourselves with the mind of Christ.  We can think and be given the same love and concerns and convictions that Jesus has. The Holy Spirit will give us the mind of Christ if we want it.  DO WE WANT IT THOUGH?  ARE WE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO GOD TO GET IT?

1 Peter 4:1-2 (KJV) “ 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;   2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ”

Understand this:  the strongholds in the individual’s lives are built from ungodly thoughts that oppose God’s Word.  But if you build a stronghold in a person, be it that of sin like addiction or lust or bitterness and unforgiveness, then demons can come and use it to control and dominate that person.

If that stronghold is an ungodly iniquity (a spiritual sin) then it can open the door for demons to do more than just oppress or control the person, but to come inside and literally inhabit and possess the person.  The church is called to use the authority of the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit… we are given the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM so that we can cast out these unclean spirits.

But before God can use you as part of the church in setting others free, you have to be submitted to God and free in your own mind yourself!  You have to get the BATTLEFIELD OF YOUR OWN MIND under Jesus’ dominion before you can really be used of God to set others free.

Matthew 16:18-19 (KJV)18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.   19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  

Gates are stationary strongholds.  We are given spiritual mighty weapons to tear down strongholds. 

The church does have the keys or authority to tear down strongholds in Jesus’ name, but before we can move in the power and authority of the church, then our own minds must be under the lordship of Jesus Christ first and the strongholds in us already torn down.

Matthew 15:18-20 (KJV) “ 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.   19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:   20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. “

To reiterate, this is what we must do:  Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)1 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.   2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.