Treasures New and Old

Spiritual Warfare: Mind Management, Praise, and Prayer

This month we will look at two additional principles to help manage our minds as we seek to control our thought life and make it pleasing to the Lord. Again, our main reference verses are below:

Romans 7:22-25: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Ezekiel 11:5 (emphasis added): “And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.”

Summary review of the last two articles and the principles that were shared:

• First: A key component or weapon, if you please, is to not love the world, but to love the Lord Jesus Christ!
• Second: A key component or weapon is to take on the humble mind of Christ! You can’t do it by yourself, you must do so with His help.
• Third: A single focus on the Master is required.
• Fourth: Where are our minds drawn, and on what do we think about? How do we renew our mind?

Bringing every thought captive takes a serious management approach. Some “management” tools to do this can be found in the following verses which I am using to describe the Fifth Principle for Mind Warfare:

Fifth: Think on These Things – Thought Management

Philippians 4:4-9:

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

• Whatsoever things are true: (Strong’s G227): The word is preceded by a negative particle “A” and literally means “not hidden, or concealed”, therefore, true and represents truth. God’s word is truth, His testimonies and truth.

• Whatsoever things are honest: (Strong’s G4586): meaning venerable, honorable, honest, respected, revered, esteemed. Consider these positive high truths like the principles in God’s Word or His promises.
  

• Whatsoever things are just: The Greek word here means equitable, righteous, absolute or relative, high character, by implication innocent and holy, a just thing or decision or declaration (Strong’s G1342).

• Whatsoever things are pure: (hagnos) “the same as <G40> (hagios); properly clean, i.e. (figurative) innocent, modest, perfect :- chaste, clean, pure” (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G53). Hagios means “sacred (physical pure, moral blameless or religious, ceremony consecrated) :- (most) holy (one, thing)”, may also refer to the saints (Strong’s G40) (not like Catholic depictions).
  

• Whatsoever things are lovely: (Strong’s G4375) from two Greek words: pro and phileo which means for or towards and friend or brother (Strong’s G4314, G5368). Towards a friend is, therefore, acceptable and seen as lovely.

• Whatsoever things are of good report: euphemos: a report or testimony or other speech that is well spoken of, is reputable in nature and from a reputable source, trustworthy in content (Strong’s G2163).

• If there be any virtue: (Strong’s G703) arete: taken from the Greek word for man, this word refers to a praiseworthy or virtuous manliness which equates to what we call excellence, valor, distinction, quality, or merit.
  

• If there be any praise: (Strong’s G1868): not just praise, this Greek word (Strong’s G1909) has a compound prefix “epi” which can mean many things, but in this case “above or over” and, therefore, a very commendable thing, very laudable object, act, or statement. Of highest praise.

• Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do. Find a godly person whose life you can emulate, who has a good reputation and walks in the Spirit like Brother Paul and be as much like him as you can.
  

• And the God of peace shall be with you. The end result of waking in the Spirit by following after these nine things.
  

Some additional admonitions to help you in this battle of the mind:

1 Peter 5:5-9 (emphasis added):

Likewise, ye younger, [1] submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you [2] be subject one to another, and [3] be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [4] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. [5] Be sober, [6] be vigilant [regarding what thoughts pass through your mind – be ready to reject them, cast them out, and think on God’s Word instead]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom [7] resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Hebrews 3:13 (emphasis added): “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

2 Corinthians 3:14 (emphasis added): “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.”

Ephesians 5:26-27: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such things; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Remember that God’s Word is specifically designed by God to cleanse your heart and mind as you become more and more conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now let’s look at the sixth principle – that of true praise:

Sixth Principle: Praise and Prayer

Praise occurs 248 times in the Bible (e-Sword’s Strong’s) – must be pretty important! Here are just a few verses regarding praise:

Psalm 7:17: “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”

Psalm 9:1: “To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works.”

Psalm 9:2: “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

Psalm 28:7: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Psalm 34:1: “A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 42:5: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

Isaiah 42:10: “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.”

Isaiah 61:3: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Romans 15:11: “And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.”

2 Chronicles 20:21-22: “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Pray and Prayer occurs 894 times in the Bible (e-Sword’s Strong’s) – must be pretty important!

• Pray 313 times
  
• Seek 244 times
• Prayer 114 times
• Ask 109 times
• Cry out 15 times
• Supplication(s) 60 times
• Praying 20 times
• Request 19 times

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Luke 6:12: “And it come to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Luke 6:28: “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

John 16:26: “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:“

Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

1 Corinthians 14:15: “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Philippians 1:9: “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

Colossians 1:9: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

1 Thessalonians 5:25: “Brethren, pray for us.”

1 Timothy 2:8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Hebrews 13:18: “Pray for us: for us trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”

James 5:13: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

Matthew 6:5-15 (emphasis added):

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which in in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Let’s do a recap:

• Rejoice evermore
• Pray without ceasing
• Give thanks in everything
• Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good
• Abstain from evil and evil thoughts
• Set ambushes for the enemy of your soul by memorizing Scripture

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).

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