Illegitimate thoughts build strongholds!
We are to guard our minds through what we see, hear, and speak. When we focus our thoughts on worldly, sensual things, we begin to build strongholds. An illegitimate thought that the enemy has suggested over my life, is like a stone. As I dwell and meditate on such a thought, I create more stones and ultimately build a habitation for the enemy to dwell unrecognized.
We know that we can do nothing without HIM. Our problem is that we learned to do nothing with HIM.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 10:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
When GOD is with someone, the impossible is expected to bow. The renewed mind is a huge part of this journey.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:
10 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important Truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through you. 11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!
12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.
13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
14 Put on Truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on Holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart.
15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.
16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one!
17-18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all His believers.
Our faith is intended to extinguish the evil strategies sent by the adversary. The sword of THE SPIRIT digs out and removes the lies. We cast down those lies with The Word of GOD just as Jesus did when confronted by the devil in the wilderness. It is vital that we recognize the Truth that replaces the lies of the devil.
Truth is not to be glanced at in a daily reading, but to be dwelt on, memorized if necessary, so that we can adequately extinguish the lies and “half-truths” confronting us.
The lies always war against our identity in Christ. They will focus on our old man of the past and try to convince us that we unable or unworthy to walk in Christ. They will challenge and try to undermine revelation given specifically to our individual callings.
What we think and what we determine has an effect on the outcome of what GOD desires for us.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:
1 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His Sacred, living sacrifices. And live in Holiness, experiencing all that delights His Heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His Eyes.
3 God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.
The adversary wants you to set your affections on the world, especially money and pride. As we surrender to GOD, our Love will only be directed toward HIM and there will be no strongholds in our life.