Scripture Reference:
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;
* note: the content of the following teaching is not my own, it is taken from excellent teaching by Gavin Porter from a series called God's Vision God's Mission. You can access the full teaching on YouTube by following this link: It is finished!
Reading Guide for Mom and Dad:
Ephesians 6: 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with the truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Look at the weapons that we've been given:
The Sword of the Spirit
The Helmet of Salvation
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Belt of Truth
The shoes on your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
All of these, if you look at them closely they have something to do with the mind:
The Sword of the Spirit - which is the Word, which is there to renew the mind
The Helmet of Salvation - protecting the mind
The Breastplate of Righteousness - protecting the heart (the heart which represents our understanding)
The Belt of Truth - holds all of the above together
The shoes on your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace - as we go out and put these things into practice we find out that they are true.
All of these are there for the renewing of the mind, I believe it is not there for us to attack the enemy, because the enemy is already defeated.
It's there for us to protect our minds from the lies, and to continually renew our minds.
To reinforce the truth in our lives.
It says we don't fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
But if you read at the beginning of Ephesians it says that all those things are already under our feet:
Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which His body the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
All those things are already underneath our feet. It is lies that are brought against our minds that we need to protect ourselves against and we have to renew our minds with the Truth which is God's Word.
2 Cor 10:4-6 casting down arguments(vain imaginations in the KJ translation) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Arguments, vain imaginations, knowledge, thoughts - these are all things that have to do with our minds.
There is a place for spiritual warfare and deliverance but I think a lot of spiritual warfare has to happen in our minds, it will be more effective.
Kettle Prayer suggestions:
Lord Jesus, change our hearts and renew our understanding. May Your Kingdom come on Earth as it is in heaven. Amen
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