“Brain washing” #1

By Pastor George Lehman

 

It is possible for a child of God to have a new life, and a new heart, but be without a new head.



We are New Kingdom people with Old Kingdom thinking

I’m not talking about being brainwashed to believe something you don’t want to.



Realizing where the war is



Romans 7:21-25 (Amp) - 21So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands. 22For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature].  23But I discern in my bodily members in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].  24O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am!  Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?  25O thank God!  [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord!  So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.



Thanks be to God it is possible.  Imagine 2 countries at war.  Bombs, rifle fire, lots of noise.
The only problem is that the armies are fighting in 2 completely different areas.  How can anyone win over the other if they’re not fighting at the same spot?



So many spirit-filled believers go through life defeated – AND don’t walk in their promised land (the fullness of God) because they don’t know where the war is in their lives.



So many Christians believe their failures and defeats come from:
Bad luck - Bad timing - Bad family background and

Any other negative circumstances.



When actually they don’t understand that their failures and defeats in life come as a result of “Losing the WAR in the MIND”.

Some Christians don’t even realize there is a war!



Many think or say, “I am a Christian, but life is just this way”.

Their life is a bit like going from victory to defeat – up and down life.
I Can’t be a good witness for Jesus.  An enthusiastic, effective life is for special people, “NOT ME”.



Listen, there is a WAR, and we have an enemy.



Revelation 12:9-12 (Amp) - 9And the huge dragon was cast down and out - that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.  10Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come - the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!  11And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].  12Therefore, be glad (exult), O heavens and you that dwell in them!  But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger (fury), because he knows that he has [only] a short time [left]!



The devil lost his fight in heaven and got kicked out onto earth.  The result is he’s desperate to destroy the lives of God’s highest creation.

However, God sent Jesus to redeem mankind and empower us to defeat the devil.

The Work is finished, Jesus is seated, all we need to do is embrace the truth and make it our own.



John 10:10 (NIV) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.(Abundant life)



Luke 10:19 (NIV) - I have given you authority to trample snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Jesus gave us Authority over ALL of Satan’s power.

 

So why are we still at WAR?

Satan knows that Jesus came so we could have life and have it more abundantly.  You see, Satan came to steal, kill and destroy that which



Jesus has already died for us to have and possess.  If he can steal, kill or destroy our concept and understanding of Jesus’ finished work “in your thought life”, then he can steal, kill and destroy us.



The only real weapon Satan can use against us is DECEPTION.  Deception begins in our minds, in our thought patterns

Deceive = Make a person believe what is false, mislead purposefully.



Did you know: - that the human mind processes around 650 000 thoughts every 24 hours.

Some conscious and some sub-conscious.



You need to realize this gives the spiritual principalities and the rulers of the darkness of this world, the enemy, about 650 000 opportunities to explode deceptive missiles of fear, doubt, confusion, frustration, anxiety, worry and any other negative device in your mental headquarters (fear=false evidence appearing real).

If demons can deceive you into dwelling on these things they gain a tremendous amount of control over your life – it robs you of God’s supernatural creative power your mind possesses.

If we are going to win this WAR we need to fight in the right place.  We need to set up a strong word governed defence system.

Almost like WALLS around a city giving 24 hour protection.

 

Proverbs 25:28 – Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self control.



You need to have self-control as to what you allow into your mental headquarters.



1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) - Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.



In order to be able to resist the enemy’s attack against your MIND and THOUGHT life we need a good “Holy Ghost-Word-of-God brain washing” daily.



Jesus said:

John 15:3 (KJV) - Now you are clean through the WORD which I have spoken unto you.



Our minds must be washed from whatever deceptive thoughts the enemy has planted in them.  Thoughts that want to take us off our God-ordained prosperous destiny.

We really need a good BRAINWASHING.



It’s the continual hearing of the Word of God that causes the cleansing and renewing of your mind to take place.

That’s why coming to church and attending Home cells is of paramount importance, as a God ordained place of receiving THE WORD



Ephesians 4:23 (Amp) - And be constantly* (without stopping) renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].



This is how you win the battle in your mind.

When you daily brainwash your mind with God’s Word, you will be able to stand firm and resist whatever deceptive, negative thoughts the devil sends you regarding that issue you’re struggling with.

 

Jesus said

John 8:32 - And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.



Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amp) - 10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides.  11Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.  12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.



It’s these spiritual forces that bombard your approximately 650 000 thoughts a day.  Wanting to create: confusion, havoc, fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, depression and all negative emotions available! They don’t want you to fulfil your prosperous destiny.



Jesus said, “as a man thinks, so is he”.

Your Thoughts become your Actions and
Your Actions become your Habits and
Your Habits become your Character and
Your Character becomes your Destiny

If you don’t like where you’re headed (Destiny) change your thinking



The first step to winning the WAR - position yourself for success and victory.

Realize the war of the enemy is against your mind.

Fight the enemy at the right battlefield.



1 Peter 4:1 (KJV) - Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, ARM yourselves likewise with the same MIND:  For He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.



Philippians 2:5 - Let this MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.



Jesus’ greatest trial in His earthly ministry (about to die on the cross).  Jesus prepared His mind for action and He prayed. 

Now you realize where the WAR is.



The source of faith:

It is told that the great preacher D.L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day it would come down and strike me like lightning But faith didn’t seem to come.

One day I read in Romans (Rom10:17 that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

I had up to this time, closed my Bible and prayed for faith.  Now I opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.”



Make a quality decision to defend your mind with a good word “Brainwashing” on a daily basis.

Don’t be a victim when Jesus made you a victor.

Discipline your mind with the anointed Word of God.

God blesses His Word – not ours.

AMEN