LD Staff1. Spiritual warfare isn’t prayer against devils
Real biblical warfare is against the wrong ideologies, teachings, and thought patterns.
The educational system that changed our lives wasn’t “prayed into” our minds; it was taught using different methods: words and pictures.
As a result, our way of thinking was gradually eroded by a new way of thinking, altering our lifestyle, language, dressing, and culture until it became normal.
How do you become a doctor or a lawyer?
You are taught and given a different worldview. You acquire the necessary knowledge and skills through years of education and training, which shapes your perspective on medicine or law. Eventually, this educational journey will mold your mindset and equip you with the expertise needed to practice as a doctor or lawyer.
This should show you how powerful words are.
That’s why Paul said:
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1 (AMPC)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2. To be able to learn, you need to present your faculties (ear and mind).
Transformation comes from changing the way you think.
People learn in two ways: conscious and unconscious.
Conscious learning is when you deliberately go after information or teaching.
Unconscious learning is when you are being influenced by your environment or association.
The environment in which you find yourself matters. The environment can be the books you read, the music you listen to, the programs you watch, e.t.c.
If we could give ourselves to going to school to learn things that have no eternal value, how much more should we give ourselves to learning the word, which has both physical and eternal value?
3. There is an ongoing war of words
The Lord God gave him this command: “You may eat from any tree in the garden. But you must not eat from the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, on that day you will certainly die!”
Genesis 2:16–17 (ERV)
God gave Adam an instruction; He spoke words.
But the snake said to the woman, “You will not die. God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree you will learn about good and evil, and then you will be like God!”
Genesis 3:4-5 (ERV)
The serpent also spoke words.
The man was then left to make his choice.
His choice eventually overthrew him—not God or the devil but himself.
Adam could have told the devil, “God said”, but he didn’t.
4. You must be conscious and deliberate
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Satan’s temptation was deliberate. If he can be deliberate about luring people from where they stand, then you, as a Christian, should be deliberate about where you stand.
Live your life deliberately and purposefully.
You must know why you are where you are. A man who doesn’t have convictions would be defeated by a man who has convictions.
5. We are not engaged in any physical warfare
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT)
Mindsets, thought patterns, indoctrination—no devil mentioned in the warfare
Every day, our minds are bombarded with distractions, negative thoughts, and worldly influences that seek to divert us from God’s will for us.
Even Jesus resisted the devil with words: “It is written.”
He didn’t pray him away; in fact, the devil came when Jesus was fasting and praying.
Adam had the same opportunity but chose to be swayed.
Until you allow the word of God to pull down the sacred altars of beliefs in your mind, you will remain bound.
As a result, you will malfunction and believe it is the devil, but it is not.
Patterns are equally subject to the word of God. Even if it is a family pattern, you can change it by standing your ground.
The only way to resist the devil is through the word of God. Knowledge drives out ignorance the same way darkness goes out when you turn on the lights. Ignorance is darkness; knowledge is light.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
Your words are superior to the words of the devil because you speak the word of God.
You are not too weak to resist the devil; as a believer, you are more powerful than him.
All you need to do is make up your mind to refuse to be swayed from the truth.
6. Who or what dominates your thoughts controls your life, and what controls your life becomes your destiny.
Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do.
Joshua 1:8 (ERV)
When you allow the word of God to dwell richly in you, you will make your way prosperous.
In other words, you will be directed by the word. The word will begin to influence your thoughts, words, and actions.
And nothing will be able to negatively influence you.
7. You win or lose the battles of life in your mind
Devils are not in charge of your life; don’t give them that much relevance; you have not just made up your mind.
When the word of God is strong in you, there is no devil that can stand against you.
Your problem is not demons; if they show up, resist them with the word.
Your mind must have the right material; if you have the wrong material, the devil would use it to feed you the wrong information, and it would look as if it were true.
Doubt is a weakness of faith that comes from insufficient information.
Take sides with the word and win.
