The Battlefield Part 1
- There is a war being waged for our souls and the battle ground is our minds and this battle will not end.
- Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
- These are real beings that hate the human race and they roam around seeking someone to destroy and swallow up.
- That someone is us!
- If satan has control of our mind he will control every aspect of our life. “So goes the mind so goes the body”
- Do an honest evaluation of your life right now. (Born again, back slidden, never Born again).
- Because we have to come to grips with somethings.
- Pause service.
Never born again, back slidden
- Multitudes of people in this world today are being held hostage in their minds by the devil. They are incarcerated, locked up, and caged in their minds, held like slaves, prisoners, or detainees who are under arrest and live at the mercy of the devil.
- Are you tired of being locked up?
- Chasing your next fix.
- Faced with the same problems.
- Always running into the same circumstances.
- Nothing ever goes your way, you can never get ahead.
- Feeling hopeless, worthless and alone.
- Unhappy and depressed….
- The things you think will fix you Satan dangles them right out of your reach.
- Just to find out that it was only a temporary fix. (An illusion)
- Are you tired of the devil playing you like a video game?
- Your mind is the Devils battlefield and you are losing the war.
- You are a prisoner of war, satan has you locked up.
- 2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NLT) 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
- My testimony
- Theres still time, you have not lost the war yet!
- When you die without christ you have lost the war.
- But when you die in Christ, you will win because you will rise again into eternal life.
- Today is the day for Salvation!
Born Again
- Our mind is the devil’s battlefield.
- Are you constantly faced with the same problems?
- Always dealing with the same circumstances?
- Do you feel:
- Hopeless
- Worthless
- Discouraged
- Alone
- Thinking like the old you.
- Talking like the old you.
- Acting like the old you.
- Satan has your thinking, stinking.
- Because satan is winning the battles in your mind. (Your not a Prisoner)
- When we get discouraged its because we…..
- Philippians 4:8 (NLT) 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
- Think – to take inventory
- of all the things that Christ has brought you through.
- Your testimony.
- Things the scripture says about you, like being an overcomer.
- When we were born again, a renewing of our minds began.
- God is reprograming us to be over-comers and live a life of victory by the blood of Christ.
- Sometimes we loss sight of that…..
- Satan is doing everything he can to stop us from seeing the Goodness of God.
- They believe his preaching is self motivated.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
- Tare down strongholds or prison walls.
- Take every thought captive – make sure its a good thought
Not Born Again/back slidden
- I know it has been tough and theres times when you feel:
- Hopeless
- Worthless
- Your life doesn’t matter to anyone
- No one cares
- Alone
- How do I get out of this prison you are in?
- Acts 2:37-38 (NLT) 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do? “38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Christ paid the bail bondsman for you and he has served the sentence for every sin you have ever committed and that sentence was death.
- Repent! Turn to God be baptized and he will give you a fresh start, a new beginning.
- God will began to turn things around for you and use it to your advantage
- I’m going to bring it all together here
- If you have never been born again
- If you are back slidden
- If you are a born again believer but satan has your thinking stinking.
- Acts 3:19-20 (NLT) 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins maybe wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
- And God is raising up strong Christian men and women in our community who will stand up for what is right and hold people accountable.
- James 5:13-15 (NLT) 13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
