The Warrior's Mind

For the Christian, the battle is real. The battlefield is the mind and the enemy treacherous. His number one weapon is psychological warefare(PsyOps). How are we best prepared to defeat his attacks? By having a Warrior’s Mind.
Romans 12:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
12 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.
1 Corinthians 2:16
King James Version (KJV)
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
A warrior’s mind has been renewed to the Word of God until it can be said in truth, “We have the mind of Christ.” This is in contrast to the mind of the devil, which is selfish and consumed with the things of the world and flesh. The mind of Christ has been transformed by the Word of God and is dominated by the fruit of the Spirit.
The warrior’s mind operates with a “warfare worldview.” If we consider Jesus, we ca see that everything He did was an open act of warfare against satan:
Acts 10:38
King James Version (KJV)
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Like Jesus, we should see people as oppressed prisoners of war. Until we see sickness and disease as an enemy, we will not fight it as we should.
This state of mind is and invaluable tool in the plan of God. It is a disciplined mind, able to quickly discern the enemy’s tactics and to respond appropriately with the Sword of the Lord.
Many times the Word of God is compared to a sword. However, it is not the written words on the page that is our weapon. We must act on those words. We must internalize them so that when we speak it is the Word of God that comes out of our mouths and determines our actions. It is this Word that we use to take thoughts captive. The unrenewed mind is actually satanic in it’s thinking and must be is a constant state of renewal.
A warrior’s mind is stable and not impaired by inordinate emotions. Curry Blake said, “Emotions are to be used a tool for the Glory of God and not by satan as a tool to detract.” The warrior’s mind is single, focused on the task at hand, the freedom of the oppressed and the elimination of the enemy.
It is important that the warrior’s mind not become entangled with the daily affairs of life, wiling away hours on trivial pusuits. It is stayed and fixed on Jesus and therefore is kept in perfect peace.
While we must not be controlled by emotions, neither should we become emotionless robots or a Spock like figure unreached by the human condition. There is an appropriate and valid place for every emotion. It is when they begin to control us that  we run into problems and become ineffective for the Kingdom.
We can learn to “flip the switch,” by learning to tie each emotion to a logical response. In this way, when that emotion threatens to overwhelm us, we can switch over to logic and take control of the situation. Over time this allows us to rewire our minds to respond out of the spirit rather than from the emotions.

What Meaneth This?

WHAT MEANETH THIS?

Acts 2: 12

What meaneth this?  This questioned surfaced first among hungry, curious people on the day of Pentecost over two thousand years ago.  However, that was not the only time or the last time the question has been asked.  This question reaches down through time to the twenty-first century.

Jesus said   “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4) In other words, we have a spiritual hunger as well as a physical hunger.  There is an aching void in man’s soul with a quenchless hunger for the supernatural.  This God-shaped hole is in each of us; it is a vacuum in our being desiring to be filled.  The Holy Spirit baptism, first given on the Day of Pentecost, was designed by God to fill that need.

Many books have been written and many sermons preached in order to distort the meaning of this question.  The Holy Spirit baptism is not our final goal or the final lap of a Christian marathon but rather it is the qualifying factor for entry into the race.  Hebrews 2: 1-2 states “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”   It is not an “added benefit” but an “absolute necessity” for Jesus said in John 3:5 “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” 

The receiving of the Holy Spirit was not just for the apostles and disciples in the early church but it is for us today!  It is not for a select few but for all to receive!  Acts 2: 39 says it is a “promise unto you , and unto your children, and  to all that are afar off. ” When Peter preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost, the hearers asked what they should do and Peter responded “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. (Acts 2:38)  This is how we are born again so let us follow Jesus’ command  in John 3:7  “you must be born again“ and Peter’s instruction in Acts 2: 38 and receive this wonderful, free gift!