Sunday, November 8 · Grace Church St. Louis
The War in Your Mind Pt. 3
The sermon says the battle for peace is fought in the mind, where an already defeated enemy attacks through lies, accusation and sudden fear, and where believers answer with scripture spoken out loud and the authority Jesus gave them.
The passages
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3–5
Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:15
For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…
2 Corinthians 10:3–5
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:11–13
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:1–2
…above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;…
Ephesians 6:16–17
Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
“When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came;’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
Matthew 12:43–45
Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
Luke 10:19
The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:2–3
When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
Luke 4:13
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.
Hosea 4:6
Go deeper
Why does Paul describe the fight against enemy strongholds as taking thoughts captive rather than as a battle against people?
Paul says the weapons are not the kind an army carries and the ground to be taken is inside a person's head. Arguments and pretensions get pulled down, and thoughts get led away as prisoners. It is a military picture with no human enemy in it.
For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…
2 Corinthians 10:3–5
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10–13
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8–9
Why does Paul tell the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God before the day of evil comes rather than in the middle of it?
Paul writes from a prison cell, chained to a soldier, and dresses the church head to toe. The pieces are put on ahead of time so that when the assault lands there is something already in place to stand in.
Therefore put on 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 the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;…
Ephesians 6:13–17
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
Isaiah 59:16–17
But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Why did the unclean spirit in Jesus' parable come back to a house that had been swept clean?
Jesus tells of a spirit evicted from a person who wanders and finds no rest, so it goes home. It finds the place tidy and empty, and brings seven worse spirits with it. The story turns on the house being cleaned without anyone living in it.
“When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came;’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
Matthew 12:43–45
The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
Luke 11:24–26
…who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,…
Colossians 1:13