1. You're in a War

Ephesians 6:10-12

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We wrestle.

2. You Have an Enemy

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

C.S. Lewis The problem is most people overestimate or underestimate spiritual warfare. Funny how the devil likes when we over believe or under believe just don't bible believe.

3. Your Enemy Fights With Deception

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

wiles - deceitful methods; cunning; trickery

devil - liar, slanderer

4. The War Is Multidimensional

Ephesians 6:12

...in the heavenly places.

Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see in the physical did not come from anything that can be seen.

If we limit the scope of our understanding to just the natural, physical world, then we will limit our ability to receive from God in the natural from the spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15

The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

5. The Primary Battleground Is the Mind

1 Timothy 2:6

He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.

Many Christians are Legally Free, but Practically Bound

76% of people who have been in prison will return to prison within five years.

My Thoughts Control My Life

Proverbs 4:23

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

Romans 8:6

If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

#1. Guard Your Mind

Isaiah 59:19

When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

The Holy Spirit wants to lift up the standards of:

1. God's Son (Jesus)

2. God's Word (The Bible)

John 15:26

Jesus says, When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, He will testify of Me.

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God's Word has the ability to separate what you're thinking from why you're thinking it.

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Sanctify them - to make holy by association with God

remembrance - to cause to remember, to recall to mind.

The Holy Spirit can't retrieve truth that hasn't been deposited.

#2. Free Your Mind

Proverbs 4:23

Your life is shaped by your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

A stronghold is a repeated pattern of thinking that keeps taking you to the same destination.

A stronghold is a train of thought.

Any thought contrary to the work of Jesus and God's word that you allow to have a place in your mind will eventually become a stronghold that takes you captive in the wrong direction.

captive - taking by force

obedience - to listen under

#3. Stand On Your Seat

Ephesians 2:6

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Stand on the finished work of the cross of Jesus.