“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“I don’t think Christians realize the battlefield that is inside of them. The Flesh waging war against the spirit. It is an internal battle. Romans 8:7-8. “Because the carnal (flesh) mind is enmity (hatred) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” It is in rebellion against God, and will not submit! It is ant-God. It wants it’s own way and does not want to follow God. And wants to be it’s own Master! And especially does not want to bow before the Lord and will not obey! This is why those living in the flesh do not please God. There is only one solution! Our flesh must be taken to the cross and nailed there door nail dead! It cannot be redeemed! And will fight because it does not want to die. Then it becomes a matter of your will being engaged to say no!! I had someone say to me recently ‘you are doing better than me spiritually.’ I responded, ‘what you see is more of Jesus because my flesh is dying!’ And I am living more out of the Spirit of Christ! Jesus is molding me more and more into His image. Hallelujah! It’s really all a matter of who you love more. Jesus or self!” Karen Cochran

Over the years, observing my own life and lives of at least hundreds of other believers I’ve personally known, it seems obvious that most of us live in crisis mode instead of being grounded in the fellowship of the LORD through His Word, in a life of perpetual prayer.

Read and pore prayerfully over Psalms 1 and 92.

Crisis Management Mode vs Perpetually Dwelling in His Word

Momentum, a perpetual, ongoing blessing, “a continual feast” when our hearts are made merry by the LORD. And, that happens when our hearts and minds are full, are kept full of His blessed Word.

“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15

Perpetual Blessings require perpetual fellowship…..

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Continually seeking the LORD guarantees that you remain full of His strength, His joy, His divine peace.

Running to the LORD continually is essential. Instead of praying and the reading of God’s Word being simply a crisis management reaction, why not make it our meat, our lifestyle – that which we do daily, diligently, and fervently?

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

If you are going to be established in divine peace, if you are going to be “safe” you must run to and remain grounded at the feet of Christ!

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 

Two Glorious Promises Here

Those who hearken to the LORD:

1. “shall dwell safely, and …”
2. “shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

Get filled, stay full, keep your lamp overflowing (Matthew 25:1-13).

Key to a transformed mind – without exception flood your being daily with God’s Word, His praise, and giving of thanks to Him who alone is worthy of all your praise, beloved! See Hebrews 13:15.

In this fallen world there is a great famine, a lack of the words of God…. Therefore we rejoice at His Word greatly.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11

Make the quality decision to put God’s Word first in your life. Drive this stake in the ground! Declare with the psalmist:

“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” Psalms 119:162

You must become deliberate in your bombardment!

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

For God to possess the land of your heart and mind, you must “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).

You are in a war and if you don’t fight, you WILL lose.

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3

When you begin to commit to serving God on His stated terms and making no excuse, the victory of Christ will begin overtaking your life!

The battle rages for the thought field of the mind. Which shall you allow to prevail – evil or godly thoughts? Who shall possess the seat of control? It is clear that the thoughts that reign shall control that vessel and this is why the mind, the control of thoughts is the battlefield to be won.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

The world, those captive to sin and Satan, can only revel in their band aids, their futile coping mechanisms, …. prescription drugs, “bipolar” and “recovery” and “depression” psychobabble symptoms because they are hopelessly stuck, entrenched in the mud of it – and completely defeated. The best they can grapple with and hope for is to mask or to band aid the symptoms. This is why so many books are sold which concern the battlefield of the mind, the thought life – because none of those things work, especially not on a long term basis. It’s a real issue for every human being and yet there is only one solution.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:1-3

Even the Christian can still walk in the flesh, succumbing to the unrelenting bombardment of evil …

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Obeying the cross command of Christ is the only victory to be had over the fleshly mind. As we are submitted to Christ in the cross – dead and buried with Him – He is raising us upward – out of the miry clay and entanglement of evil thoughts.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:5-11 

The Cross and the Inner Man

The cross nullifies the evil within us (Romans 6:7; 1 Peter 4:1, etc.). Jesus conquered sin and death by dying and ordained that we victoriously overcome them by dying “with Him” – “I am crucified WITH Christ” Paul declared (Galatians 2:20). The phrase “with him” appears 5 times in Romans 6, a prominent New Testament cross chapter. Here’s a taste:

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:4-7 

News Flash: The cross is at the center of the original Gospel. Are you learning it beloved? Read Luke 9:23-24.

Satan, the “god of this world,” and his human agents brainstorm, they storm the brains of all men and only those who lay down their lives in this fleeting world will overcome (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:11, etc.). Only those who truly follow Jesus, who follow His cross prescription (Luke 9:23-24), who deny self, take up the cross daily, and follow Him, will have victory over the forces of evil (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

Flooding Your Mind

Input from a Brother in Christ:

“Just finished studying and giving my Lord time before I start my day but can’t get enough of his word and his blueprint for my life. Love ya Brother.” David Reeves

Those not in Christ, truly, are under the control of the enemy of all souls who has come to steal from them, to kill them, and to destroy them! (See John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8.) The witness of Christ’s people is His washing away of all their sins and the love, joy, and peace of Jesus they are full of and walk in!!!! THERE IS 100% forgiveness of all confessed sin and victory in Jesus – only in Jesus!

The “little flock,” that is, Christ’s remnant, feed on God’s Word daily. Their lamps are full (Luke 12:32; Matthew 25:1-13). All others whom Christ saved in the past, are like the foolish virgins whom the Bridegroom will shut out of His eternal kingdom. Is your lamp full?…. Hint: If you have to go to man, go to “church” to get “fed,” that’s clear evidence that you are not personally seeking the LORD which would include at the top of the list, the daily study of His Word (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2; Jeremiah 15:16; Job 23:12, etc.).

The only One who can say “Peace be still” and stifle all fear and iniquity from our hearts and minds, is Jesus (Mark 4:39). And, He stifles and stills those raging waves of depravity and anguish as we are submitted to Him in the cross.

Evil emanating from your uncircumcised heart is the root of all your sin and the resulting problems in your life.

The Cross is the Only Solution to Evil Thoughts!

Notice the cross in verse 1 below and how it’s the key to the new life we’ve been brought into in Christ – and conquering by dying to the things that in our previous life of sin controlled and destroyed us.

“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; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:” 1 Peter 4:1-3 

One brother states the following of the above passage and the essential of the cross:

“Verse 1 is the same principle as Rom 6:7 He who is dead is freed from sin.  He who suffereth in the flesh hath ceased from sin.  Suffering is absolutely equated with death circumstances in the New Testament.

The ONLY WAY sin can be overcome is by faithfully dying.  It cannot be overcome by trying or doing.  We can’t initiate it either.  The world ruled by Satan (2 Cor 4:4-6 brings it, the cross, to us as was case with Jesus and Job.   Our only part is to faith thru it.  Once resurrection comes in we cannot not love, serve, give endure bless.  Sin is still in us but it can no longer dominate.  Rom 6:14.  So we must reckon on, count our death with Him to be true and realize it deep within us again and again by faith.

Without the applied cross, daily, it is futility to attempt to control the evil emanating from our depraved hearts. After the fall of man, the iniquitous nature of men’s hearts is irreparable. It is when the cross, the crucifixion gets down into our hearts that the solution of Christ, the resurrection grace of Christ, takes over and victory ensues.”

I have personally experienced this truth. There is NO overcoming of sin by anyone who is not full of and being empowered by the Holy Spirit – which comes by way of the resurrection grace of Christ exclusively in the lives of those who are truly dead, dying, and buried with Christ (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). To abide in Christ, to walk victoriously over that which displeases God, sin, one must be:

1. Born again, and

2. Denying self, taking up the cross daily, and following Jesus.

This is the order and truth we see in Romans 8:1…. Which is just one of a myriad of reasons we know that it was Satan who had the second half of this verse removed in his corrupted new “bibles”.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

There are 2 conditions to remaining in God’s saving grace here:

1. 1. Must be “in Christ” which happens at initial salvation, and
   2. Must be living in the Spirit by the cross life and not the flesh

Mind Game$ and Merchandising

There are a lot of people making a lot of money talking about our thought life, the battlefield of our minds, etc., while never mentioning the victory Christ alone can grant and He does so exclusively through THE CROSS! The crucified servant of the LORD has within him the grace, the divine enablement to overcome those iniquitous thoughts that once ruled him! Those evil thoughts emanate from the heart and so when the crucifixion reaches down deep, that iniquitous bent is reduced, deflated, brought to naught! (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:5; Romans 6-8; Galatians 2:20; 5:24, etc.).

There are no shortcuts to the cross – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

The daily cross – crucified life – is the divine power generator for overcoming all sin and all of Satan’s wiles, schemes! And it all begins with fresh repentance which Jesus delights to hear! (Read 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; James 4:7.)

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

Those who trust in man, in self, instead of the Savior, bring a curse upon themselves instead of God’s blessings. Those who trust in self instead of the Savior “departeth from the LORD.” 

DOES anyone, ever get away with evil? No. Never. Not one. Not once. The Almighty sees it all. – “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

“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.” Philippians 4:8

Notice as we revisit this central passage how that it’s only when we present our bodies a living sacrifice (the cross) that we are blessed to “not (be) conformed to this world: but” rather “transformed by the renewing of your mind” and blessed to “prove (demonstrate) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Verse 1 is the cross – the death and burial – and verse 2 is the resurrection victory.

One writer notes:

“As the storms of life sweep across the battlefield of our minds, the only victory over the enemy is found in the cross. Victory is paradoxically found in weakness rather than in human strength. This is folly to the fleshly mind. We must present our bodies to the LORD as a living sacrifice. In this way we present to God our service or worship. As sheep we die all day long and therefore conquer the enemy. Rom 8:36-37. Presenting yourselves to the enemy is presenting yourself to God. Jesus presented Himself to Satan and his earthly minions at Calvary. This was His paradoxical presentation of His body to His Father. See Jeremiah 21. The way of life (to be saved by God) is not to hold up in the fort but to walk out and “fall” (present yourself) to the enemy. God takes the activities of the enemy and co-opts them for good, saving many people alive (gives them Life). Gen 50:20; Rom 8:28.”

^“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,” 1 Timothy 6:12

“FIGHT” is a divine command. Fighting God’s way assures victory!

Cross Storm

Like a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines, John the Baptist was sent as the heavenly emissary to set off the battle of the ages – for the souls of men! He announced the Messiah – who had come to conquer death, hell, and the grave by dying! (Read Colossians 2:14-19; Hebrews 2:14-15.)

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:7-12

FB Meyer on Revelation 12:7-12

“SATAN CAST DOWN FROM HEAVEN

“The spirit of evil waits to destroy each birth of good in our world. As soon as Mary had given birth to our Lord, Herod sought to destroy Him, and this is characteristic of all the ages. But God’s care is always at hand to deliver His own. He has His prepared places, where He hides those who trust in Him. He keeps them in the secret of His pavilion from the strife of men.

“Sin has brought conflict, not on our earth only, but throughout the universe; but from the heavenly places it has been driven, and the last stand is made on our earth. Is it not possible that the awful war which has desolated mankind may be one of the last phases of this age-long conflict? There is but one talisman of victory. We overcome only in so far as we take shelter in the blood of the Lamb and wield as our weapon the Word of God. As darkness cannot resist the light, so evil cannot exist before the witness of the Church and the child of God, if only we care more for the honor and glory of Christ than for our own lives. To the end there must be war between the seed of the woman and the dragon, and there must be bruising. But the final outcome is sure. As Satan was cast out of heaven, so he shall be cast out of earth, and Christ shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.”

The storm of the cross, the downward dying and reciprocal divine resurrection life (Heaven’s uprising against evil) overcomes all, including the bombardment of evil thoughts!

Storming the mind, the battlefield of our thought-life with the cross, is the only victory over the iniquities that rage from within…..

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

The kingdom of Heaven invaded Satan’s domain when John the Baptist hit the earth! He was Jesus’ first cousin, the prophesied, the ordained messenger to prepare the way of the Messiah. All hell began to be unleashed in an unprecedented fashion at his divine introduction of the Messiah and announcement to all men to “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3

When men repent and trust Christ, they are freed from the enemy, hence the battle that rages against the Word and the righteous!

Like it or not – YOU are under attack and will either fight God’s way or lose.

As was the case with Judas when he chose to sin, the devil jumped in on the wings of it and participated. “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27). See also 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

The Spiritual State of Fallen Mankind

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. … And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:5, 12

Out of the uncircumcised heart emanates evil thoughts (Galatians 5:19-21).

Do you have more faith in sin than you do in the saving grace of Christ to give you the victory over it? That is a perverted faith! Flip your faith! Repent and renew your mind, asking God to forgive you afresh and thanking Him aloud for His all-sufficient grace He provided through Christ’s perfect sacrifice on that cross! (See Romans 6:14).

Are you indicting God by saying His grace, His divine enablement is NOT sufficient for His perfect will to be manifested in your life?

God will Raise you up – when you lay it all down!

The Importance of a Clean Heart: The Only Solution to Evil Thoughts!

Keeping a clean heart?

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24

Memory verse here:

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Father, we ask You to grant Your children pure hearts, in the name of Jesus. 

Cleansing, a clean heart requires true repentance and a constant flow of the water of His Word in your life, heart and mind. How often do you wash your body? Daily right? How about your heart? How often do you ask and seek the LORD for a clean heart? Jesus taught us that after being born again, receiving “the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5-6), we must receive regular washings:

“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” John 13:10

Constant examination:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24

This disciple can know he’s wayward, in need of fresh washing when the words of his mouth or the inclination to speak unwholesome things persist. Jesus told us exactly where corrupt communication proceeds.

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34

The root always determines the fruit (Romans 11:16).

“Heart” in Hebrew means “source.”

Keeping a clean heart – a heart freshly cleansed by …..

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:5-2:2

Prayerfully poring over passages like Psalm 51, David’s repentance prayer, is of great value to the sojourning saints of Christ in this late hour.

Prayer: Father, please break me to the core of my being! Break us that You might make us whole in Your holy image. I have no hope without You dear LORD Jesus and can do nothing without You! Please do a deep work in me Jesus! Break me, wound me, and make me whole my LORD! Grant this heart to be an heart of flesh. You are the Potter and I am so thankful that You created me, You found me, You saved me into Your eternal kingdom. I am Your clay. I love You Jesus. So be it in Jesus’ Name!

The Heart

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