Winning the War Within – Part III

Two major points I want to make this week:

• The Battle is in the Mind
• Winning is Possible

(Recap) There are three parts of you:

• You are a Spirit (this is the real you).
• You possess a Soul.
• You live in a Body.

(2 Cor 10:3-5 KJV)  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1.  This isn’t an EXTERNAL battle – it’s an INTERNAL one (a War Within)

• This is not war in the flesh (not with flesh and blood)
• We can’t win this war with physical weapons

2.  Many come to Christ with STRONGHOLDS

• Thoughts lead to images, images (if unchecked) lead to strongholds
• Strong words: pulling down, casting down, taking captive!

3.  You can be a PRISONER in your own MIND

• A slave to negative thinking
• A slave to low self-esteem
• A slave to sexual sin (pornography, fornication, lust, etc.)

4.  Change is POSSIBLE!

• We can be deprogrammed & reprogrammed
• We can take thoughts captive and bring make them obey!

5.  The Opposite is also POSSIBLE!

• Unrighteous thoughts can create unrighteous images, and unrighteous images (if unchecked) can lead to unrighteous strongholds.
• Godly thoughts can create Godly images, and Godly images can lead to Godly-type strongholds.
• At this point it is hard for the devil to get you think any less of yourself than what God’s Word says you are!