Think on These Things

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 strong holds;

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. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

When Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians not to be ignorant of the Devil's "devices," it is translated from the greek word  'noemata', a form of the word nous. The Greek word nous describes the mind or the intellect. Thus, in one sense Paul is saying, “…we are not ignorant of the way Satan schemes and thinks.”  The Greek word for wiles which Apostle Paul admonishes the Ephesians, means "schemes" and is from the same word that is used for "mind."   

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan is constantly plotting ways to assault our thought life. 

The mind is the main battlefield in spiritual warfare. 

Every attack of Satan involves the human mind.

The battle for the mind is easily summarized:

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (hostility or hatred) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  Romans 8:6-7

Satan wants to make your mind carnal (sinful, worldly, fleshly). God wants you to be spiritually minded.

The greatest commandment includes loving God with all your mind. This is one of the main reasons why Satan battles for your mind:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy MIND; This is the first and great commandment.  Matthew 22:37-38

Satan battles for your mind because it is closely tied spiritually to your heart and mouth:

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts . . .  Matthew 15:18-19

Satan battles for the mind because the way you think affects the way you act:

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .  Proverbs 23:7

Satan knows if he can control your mind, he can control your body, your actions, and, if left unchallenged, your spirit.

In Old Testament times, fiery darts were used as weapons of warfare.   Apostle Paul explains the spiritual battle with Satan to the Ephesians. He speaks of "the fiery darts of the wicked." 

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.   Ephesians 6:16

The enemy continuously hurls "fiery darts" at you in the spirit world. Most of these "darts" are aimed at the mind.

Apostle Paul warns that you should not be "soon shaken in mind" 

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.   2 Thessalonians 2:2

In the Greek translation, "shake" means to "agitate, disturb, to destroy." If you can take hold of something and shake it, you have control over it. Satan wants to "shake" or exert control over your mind.

The mind is one of the most complex and least understood parts of the human body. Because it is so complex, Satan has many subtle methods of attacking the mind. But if we keep our mind focused on God, if we guard our mind and protect it through monitoring that which we are consciously aware of, we will not be so easily defeated in our mind.

Just think of all of the ungodly influences we allow to enter our mind via television, internet, music and the environments in which we willingly put ourselves. To a large degree, we can and we should control what we allow our minds to entertain. If we stop and considerate it, often times we build our bad situation up in our mind and take that situation and make it much worse that what it is - we do this in our mind. When undue influences and thoughts take hold in our mind, we should do as Apostle Paul instructs:

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 strong holds; 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.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We do well to keep our minds occupied with the things of God. Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing, 

Pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 

Stay encouraged in God by meditating on his word day and night  - 

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  (Joshua 1:8) 

- and thinking on those things that are pure 

Finally, brethren, 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. (Philippians 4:8)

(Biblical Studies)

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