The Battlefield: The Human Mind
Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
“Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid (G. K. Chesterton)”
A war is not complete without at least one battlefield. During the American Revolution, Colonial America existed as the battlefield. During the American Civil War, Gettysburg served as a battlefield. During World War II, Europe and Asia served as battlefields. During the War on Terror, Afghanistan and Iraq served as battlefields. Spiritual warfare is no different. Spiritual warfare is no different than physical warfare in this sense because it too has a battlefield.
There exists one main battlefield upon which the devil and his demons fight. Man is a tripartite being because God created man in His image. Man consists of body (beten, geviyyah, geshem; soma),[1] soul (nephesh; psuche),[2]and spirit (ruach; pneuma).[3] The devil’s battlefield is not the human spirit because the spirit portrays the true nature of the heart. If the individual has a heart after God, than his/her actions will correspond with proper godly actions. If the heart is wicked, than it will react in a manner pleasing to the devil. The devil’s battlefield is not the body because the body cannot function on its own. The body needs something or someone to send it a message on what to do. These messages come from the original computer…the mind.
All actions originate from a single thought. Scripture clearly connects our thoughts with our success or failure in spiritual matters. Romans 8:6 states, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” If the believer remains or becomes carnal, they will separate themselves from the presence of God. However, if the believer thinks on spiritual things, such as Scripture or spends time in exercising their mind in prayer, then they draw closer to God. God encourages the believer to thing on spiritual things. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Colossians 3:2 states, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Therefore, thoughts affect our spiritual success and failure. The devil knows this. Thus, he and his minions attempt to drag mankind to the lake of fire and brimstone along with them using a single thought.
A single thought can lead to the downfall of an individual. James 1:13-15 shows the path that this single thought can take an individual down. It states, “Jas 1:13 ¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” How is man tempted? The devil tempts man with a single though. This thought normally corresponds to a weakness that this individual possesses. If this individual dwells on this thought long enough, they will act upon and this act will be an act of sin. It will be rebellion against God and His Word. However, if the individual who is tempted with a thought and acts according to the Bible, they will successfully overcome the temptation and live a Godly life. What is the Biblical method for overcoming this temptation? James 4:7 informs the reader, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” RESIST!! RESIST OLD SLOOFOOT and the temptation will leave because the believer resisted the tempter. How can the believer know that this will work?
Matthew 4:1-11 proves that the mind is the devil’s battlefield. After Christ was driven by the Holy Ghost into the wilderness, the devil came to Him on three different occasions attacking the mind of Christ with ungodly thoughts. These thoughts consisted of the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The devil never physically forced anything on Christ or took control of Christ’s body. He always implanted thoughts.
[1] Deuteronomy 28:4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body <beten>, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.”
Daniel 10:6 “His body <geviyyah> also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.Daniel 4:33 “The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body <geshem> was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.”
Matthew 6:22 “The light of the body <soma> is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”
[2] Genesis 12:13 “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul <nephesh> shall live because of thee.”
Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul <psuche>?”
[3] Deuteronomy 2:30 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit <ruwach>, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.”
Acts 17:16 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit <pneuma> was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly “given to idolatry.
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