Battle of the Mind / Protecting the Heart (Part 2)

Once you have established your confidence on prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, you will have the foundation to apply the remainder of the above passage from Philippians 4 to your life. Look at the second command from this passage which leads us to His promises:

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.

 

It is hard to put this into practice. Most of us tend to dwell on the negative things rather than meditating on the spiritual and good things of God. This is not the power of positive thinking for the focus is not on ourselves, but on the Lord. How many times have we sat and brooded over something that upset us? It is human nature to mull over the things that bother us, worry us or offend us. We love to dwell on gossip and bad news. It is a scientific fact that our brain develops based on how it is used. Unfortunately these things often develop our ways of thinking early in life and this causes grief later on. An abused child develops defenses and patterns of thinking that usually make them susceptible to emotional struggles later in life. Someone with a downcast personality establishes a pattern of thinking that makes them susceptible to depression and anxiety. The real challenge is that as we develop our minds, these problems often become physical in nature and very difficult to overcome.

 

Research has shown that children exposed to pornography or sexual abuse early in life have larger developed areas of the brain that controls sexual responses. Not only does science verify this truth, but it should be common sense. Children who are trained in music at an early age have a propensity to excel greatly in music; athletes that are exposed to a particular sport tend to excel greatly in that sport. The same holds true for academics and any other area of interest. Common sense should compel us to realize that the same is true for most patterns of behavior in our lives. Why do many abused children grow up with the tendency to commit abuse? Our behaviors, attitudes and ways of thinking are often shaped early in life and our adulthood is captivated by decisions and responses made during our youth.

 

The good news is that even though sin and our human nature hold us into captivity, Jesus declared that He has come to set the captives free. Jesus declared that He came to preach deliverance to the captives[1] and has given us the promise that the person whom the Son sets free is free indeed[2]. Many who are held captive do not even realize that they are in bondage. When those rejecting the gospel declared that they were not in bondage to anyone, Jesus made the statement that those who commit sin are slaves to sin[3]. This is reiterated by the apostles throughout the New Testament. Consider this passage from Romans 6:16  

¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

The word servant in this passage is ‘doulos’ which means slave. This passage is referring to a servant by bondage. Other passages use the word servant to refer to those who are paid servants but not bondmen. An example of this is John 2:9 where Mary told the servants at the wedding to give Jesus whatever He needed when they were out of wine. Those who commit sin are slaves to sin and are under bondage. The good news is found just prior to the above passage in Romans 6:3-7  

³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin.

 

This passage of scripture provides an explanation as to how the Christian overcomes. It first begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation includes the death and burial of our bondage to our flesh and God raises us up as a new creation. This new life is not bound to sin, but because we have died to our old life we have been set free from the sin that held us captive. Once we surrender our life to Christ, our inward man is set free from sin and we are no longer enslaved by our flesh; however, our flesh will continue to war against our minds. This is explained clearly in Romans 7:21 - 25  

²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  ²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

 

This is a point of confusion for many Christians. Some expect that the Christian life will be happy all the time without cares, struggles or problems. This is not so. The Bible tells us that the righteous will suffer through many afflictions but will be delivered from them by God[4]. Jesus stated that in this world you will have trouble but He has overcome and we will overcome through Him[5]. The apostles visited the churches to encourage and strengthen them by saying that it is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom of God[6]. How can it be an encouragement to tell believers that they are going to struggle? Perhaps a better question would be to ask which is better, to prepare someone to endure or to promise them peace and prosperity so that they are blindsided by tribulation?

 

Struggles will come from without and from within. In this world each person – regardless of their depth of faith will struggle. Do not think that you are struggling because of your guiltiness. There are indeed consequences to sin, but most of our struggles are common to all men and women. The difference between the victorious Christian and the defeated Christian is how we prepare ourselves and how we respond to the struggles we will face. Some have a propensity toward certain sins based on their past behavior, but they are no longer bound to that sin for each Christian has been given the power to overcome through Christ. It may seem like sin can keep us bound, but the problem is not our bondage to sin, but our lack of understanding of how to walk in the Spirit. We are promised that if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh[7].

 

We cannot overcome by simple self-willing our selves to overcome. Anyone can overcome the things that are weaker than their own will, but only through the empowerment given to us through the word and the Spirit can we overcome what is stronger than the weakness of our human will. The Bible tells us that anything that is not of faith is sin[8]. This is true for those who disbelieve God and live according to their own fears and anxieties, those who are so self-focused that they have temper explosions when the world around them is not centered on their wants or perceived needs, those who allow temptations to become the driving force in their lives or any other provision in our lives to live according to the flesh. We all struggle with the flesh. The struggles of some are hidden from public view or may be accepted by the social norm, but if we are not walking in the Spirit by faith, we are serving sin through our flesh.

 

A bit earlier we looked at Romans 1 which tells us that those who suppress the truth will be given the lie[9]. The scripture also promises us that those who hear and receive the word, more will be given[10]. This all plays a role in our understanding and application of the principle of overcoming and gaining control of our minds. We suppress or receive each thing that comes into our minds. Our flesh calls out for us to follow temptation and the Spirit of God in our hearts calls out for us to follow God’s paths of righteousness. The truth and the way of escape from temptation are always present. We must suppress the truth before temptation overcomes us. The opposite is also true; we must suppress temptation in our minds so we can follow the truth. This is what it means to cast down every thought that is disobedient to Christ. It is not that temptation overcomes us, but that we receive temptation and reject the call of God’s wisdom to turn from temptation. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12  

¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  ¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

This passage is specifically addressing those who reject salvation through Christ, but the principle applies to our topic here. You will follow what you love. Those who love truth will turn to the direction of God’s word and those who love unrighteousness will turn toward temptation. We deceive ourselves by convincing ourselves that our actions are justifiable, but the truth is that we are either walking in the flesh to serve sinful passions or walking in the Spirit to serve the Lord. Let us add to the discussion this passage from Proverbs 1:20-23  

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:  ²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,  ²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?  ²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

 

The one who hears and obeys the call of wisdom will be filled by God’s Spirit. Wisdom comes from the word of God and is the Spirit’s call for us to walk in the ways of life. We are promised that if we follow wisdom, we will be given understanding in all of God’s ways and we will be led to the paths of life[11]. All the great rewards promised are given to those who find wisdom[12] and overcome[13]. We also should not lose sight of the promise that God gives us from the river of His pleasures and we are abundantly satisfied from what He gives[14] to those who trust in Him. This is all part of walking in faith. Instead of trusting in our flesh to satisfy (which it will never do), we trust in the Lord to satisfy our hearts and give us what we desire. When our desires spring from a life founded on Christ, our desires will not be founded upon sinful flesh, but godliness. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the unbelieving, nothing is pure[15]. To the unbelieving, walking by faith is foolishness for they cannot see the promises of God nor experience the satisfaction that fulfills the life lived in faith.

 

Overcoming is not easy, but it is indeed possible. This is true for everyone regardless of how deep your struggles may be or any personal defects that may seem to hold you captive. We are given scriptural principles that God has ordained to give victory to any who will apply them by faith. Consider this passage from 1 Peter 1:13-16   

¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  ¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  ¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  ¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

We have already seen the promise that God will give us a sound mind when we are faithful to His word, now we are told to be sober minded. Let’s take a moment to look closer at verse 13. Eight times in the New Testament we are instructed to be sober in our minds[16]. Sober mindedness is clarity of thinking even when circumstances would normally cloud our minds with anxiety or temptation. There are two Greek words used to communicate this truth. The word ‘sober’ in the passage above is the Greek word ‘nepho’ (pronounced nay'-fo) which means: to be calm and collected in the spirit or to be at peace in one’s spirit. The second word used to teach sober mindedness is the Greek word sophroneo (pronounced so-fron-eh'-o), which means: To be of sound mind, be in one’s right mind, curb one’s passions or to exercise self control. An example of this can be found in 1 Peter 4:7. Consider the power of God’s promise to give us a sober mind. No longer do we have to be driven by our passions, lusts, fears or anxieties, but we are given the power to walk in the Spirit so that we overcome these things that challenge our minds. Even though we may have an established pattern of behavior that has even developed physical patterns within the brain, we still have the power to overcome and stand strong in our right minds and to bring those passions under subjection. The physical make up of our minds do not have dominion over the passions of the Christian, but through the Spirit we overcome the flesh. Consider the commandments with promise given to us in 1 Peter 5:6-10   

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  ⁹ Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  ¹⁰ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

 

What an amazing promise! If we humble ourselves and submit to the Lord by obeying His word, we have the promise that God will exalt us over these things and settle our minds while making us perfect in Christ. The devil is a roaring lion seeking to devour anyone who will allow their passions to rule their lives. This is true for fear, anxiety, worry, lust, greed or any other work of the flesh. Satan will use your flesh to tempt you into actions that will be used to try to destroy you; however, God has promised that He will not allow His children to be tempted beyond their ability to stand[17] and He has also given us the power to resist by standing upon His word. When you get a love for His word, it will change your life.

 

Most people attempt to resist by their own will in the flesh, but the power is not in your ability to stand, but the power of God to uphold you with His hand. This is always given to us through the power of His word. God has given you a promise; if you do these things you will not fall[18]. In Proverbs you have also been given the promised that if you commit your works unto the Lord, your thoughts will be established[19]. In the Old Testament, the word ‘works’ in the Hebrew means: deeds, business or pursuit. We are not just speaking of finding a good deed to do, but the pursuit of your life. When we lived according to the flesh, our works (or pursuits) were focused on fulfilling our selfish ideas and gaining pleasure. God is calling for us to turn away from our pursuit of self and commit our pursuit to seeking His ways, His kingdom and His righteousness. When we do so, there will be a change of mind, a change of focus and the Spirit of God will transform the way we think and He will establish our thoughts upon a sound mind.

 

Part of the principle given to us from 1 Peter is the command to gird up the loins of your mind. This is a word picture that teaches a spiritual principle. During the time that scripture was written, the common clothing was a long robe for both men and women. If a man were to run in a robe, he would stumble and likely fall. When soldiers went to battle, they girded up their loins and when runners ran, they girded up their loins. This means that they took the robe and pulled it up to tuck it into their belt which gave the robe an appearance like shorts. Their legs would be free from hindrance so they could run a race or fight an enemy.

 

The scripture is teaching that we are to take the things in our minds that hinder us and take them out of the way. If it is fear or anxiety, we cast our cares upon Jesus knowing that He has promised to meet our needs and care for our lives. If it is greed, we set our minds on things above and not on things of the earth. If it is lust, we bring those thoughts captive by setting our minds on the word. Consider this passage from 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

Notice the first principle spoken of in this passage – our weapons are not carnal (or of the flesh) but mighty in God. If you try to overcome fear through efforts of the flesh, success will be short lived at best. If you try to overcome lust by resisting with the flesh, you will eventually fall back into lust. If you try to overcome depression by positive thinking, you will slip back into your old pattern of thinking for your focus is on yourself rather than on the Spiritual things of God. We live in a body of flesh but we cannot overcome by the efforts of the flesh. According to scripture, the victory to overcome the world is through our faith given to obey Christ[20] and is always founded upon hearing and keeping the word of God[21].

 

Overcoming Temptation

Previously we looked at the promise that God will not tempt us beyond what we are able to bear but will make a way of escape[22]. All temptation is common to man, but we all have different weaknesses. The way of escape is to have a change of focus. You cannot resist and be consistent in victory without a change of focus. The Bible gives us wonderful instructions on this topic that shed light on this challenge we all face on a daily basis. Do not ever think you are above temptation for God has warned that the one who thinks he stands should take heed or else he will fall[23]. Even in victory we must keep our guard up and pursue godliness for even a moment in the flesh is a moment of weakness that can lead right back into the trap of sin. One thing that is taught to recovering alcoholics is that they are always alcoholics. The call themselves recovering alcoholics but they always remember that this weakness remains and they must always be on guard against it. Giving in one time can cause them to quickly spiral out of control and return back into the bondage that once held them so tightly. We are all recovering sinners. Our flesh craves sin and we will never be out of the reach of temptation as long as we are in this life. We must continuously remind ourselves to keep our focus on the right paths and as Proverbs 4:13-15 states:

¹³ Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.  ¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  ¹⁵ Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

 

Take a firm hold of the instructions of God’s word and do not let it go! As David stated in Psalms, “I have set the Lord always before me…I shall not be moved”. King David was a man after God’s own heart and was used mightily by God, but if you are familiar with the account of his life, there was a time when his eyes turned from the Lord and he fell into temptation, adultery and even murder. He was forgiven, but the consequences haunted him his entire life and he never rose to the same honor he once held. If this mighty man of God fell into temptation, we should take heed that we also do not fall.

 

Everyone has a tendency to drift away from God. We are surrounded by temptation, corruption, and worldly things that never cease to threaten our walk of holiness. There is not a preacher or any man or woman of faith that does not struggle with the flesh or its tendency to rise up and challenge our walk in the Spirit. Even if someone is walking in the Spirit, seeking the Lord and doing all the right things, the flesh will still rise up and attempt to draw them away from the Spirit and toward the flesh. A bit earlier we saw that the Apostle Paul stated that the flesh continuously rises up and wars against his mind trying to draw him into captivity of sin again. If the apostles whom Jesus used to establish the church struggled with the flesh, we should realize that every man, woman and child will struggle with the same.

 

As we drift, the flesh takes over and our priorities and values begin to change. Have you ever met someone in the church that seemed so godly but later in life their values became so worldly? In our age of self-centered preaching, this has become more common because sinful attitudes are rarely challenged by doctrine. You also will see your priorities and values drift away from God’s ways unless there is something that calls you back and affects your mind. There must be a renewing of the mind to prevent the mind from becoming corrupt. Look at Romans 12:1-2  

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.

 

The Bible warns us that the heart is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked and we cannot know it[24]. Once sin is in the heart, we will find a way to convince ourselves that sin is right. The favorite phrase of someone justifying sin is, “There is nothing wrong with it”. In fact, the Bible says that an adulterous woman gratifies herself and then declares, “I have done no wickedness”[25]. Even a Christian can fall deeply into sin and then declare their own righteousness while they are in complete rebellion against God. There MUST be something within our daily lives to prevent us from drifting away. Our natural tendency is to drift, but those who renew their minds daily will be transformed away from a life in the flesh and into the life of the Spirit. You WILL conform to this world if you are not being transformed through the renewing power of the word of God. Consider this passage from Colossians 3:5-10  

⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence [cravings], and covetousness, which is idolatry:  ⁶ For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  ⁷ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  ⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

To mortify means to put to death. We must do two things in our daily lives: put off the old man (the flesh), and put on the new man (our life in the Spirit). God subdues the flesh when we submit to Him and our life in the Spirit is renewed through the knowledge of Christ which is by the word. Remember that faith gives life and faith comes by hearing the word of God[26]. We are instructed that we must be renewed daily[27]. The Old Testament foreshadowed this principle when God daily gave manna from heaven. The people could not gather two days worth of food but had to gather it each morning. Manna is a foreshadow of the word of God through Christ and we cannot sustain our lives on yesterday’s nutrition. Any who do not renew their minds daily will drift as their spiritual life grows weak and the flesh grows strong. As we drift, the word of God sets our minds back on the right ways and we must either turn from the word or turn from the things that are contrary to God’s word.

 

You cannot overcome any other way. Your human will is not sufficient to overcome the flesh. Temptation is overcome through the Spirit and not through our human resistance. Look at this passage from James 4:7-8  

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  ⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

 

Take note that the key to this entire passage begins by ‘submitting yourselves to God’. From that submission you are given the power to resist. As you draw near to God you have two things that occur. First, your mind has turned from the temptation because you are now focusing on God and drawing near to Him. Most try to resist by sheer will and because their mind is still in the flesh, temptation does not subside. Secondly, God draws near to you and therefore you are pulled out of the trap of the flesh. When King David repented, he stated that God pulled him out of a miry clay pit and put him high upon the rock. What happens when you have both feet stuck in miry clay? When you try to pull one foot out, you force the other foot deeper. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink. Life in the flesh is no different. You may attempt to shift your focus, but if you are establishing your weight on something else rooted in the flesh, you are still sinking.

 

When you draw near to God, He pulls you out of the flesh and sets you high upon the rock of Jesus Christ. No longer is it your strength, but as the Bible states, we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might[28] – not our might. Also take note of the devil’s response. He does not flee because you have resisted, but because you are drawing near to God. Your relationship with God does not allow the devil to tag along. The devil attempts to draw you away from your walk with God by showing you worldly things that appeal to your flesh. If you slip into the flesh, temptation has a renewed affect on your mind; however, if you pursue the Lord and draw near to Him, your mind is renewed in the Spirit and temptation has no power over your life. Our minds are continuously drifting toward the flesh because of our own human nature and all the corruption that surrounds us in our daily lives. We must guard our minds by not allowing our eyes to follow these things and renew our minds daily so that we are renewed through knowledge by the word of God. Let’s end this section by looking again at Proverbs 4:23-27  

²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  ²⁴ Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.  ²⁵ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  ²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  ²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

Guard your heart through renewing your mind daily. Seek the Lord through the word He has given and do not let your eyes or your heart turn away from the path of God’s righteousness. Temptation is anything that calls us to turn from the path before us. Once we turn, we wander off course. The word corrects us and instructs us back into the ways of righteousness.

 

Eddie Snipes

Exchanged Life Outreach

www.exchangedlife.com