Our Father wants us to practice mind control. “What?!!”, You say. That’s a BIG statement. It is, but it’s no lie. He tells us in His Word. Let’s take a look at the type of mind control Our Father wants us to practice.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
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;
This is the part right here: “Bringing into captivity every thought” – Every Single Thought that you have – to the obedience of Christ.
This is huge. And, what part of the chapter is this under? SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
Part of our defense against the demonic realm is bringing every thought we have into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
So, you know, when the devil creeps up on you like the sly fox he is, and he knows our weaknesses, and says things like, “Go ahead. Do that. God won’t be mad. It won’t hurt anyone. So-and-so won’t find out. If you just do it once, it won’t be a big deal.” …and so on and so forth. Thoughts to look at that sexual “dirty” photo. Thoughts to eat that extra piece of cake, food contrary to our dietary needs, and foods forbidden by Our Father. Thoughts to act out of revenge, out of anger. Thoughts to partake in drugs or alcohol. Thoughts to gossip. Or, whatever sinful act it is that the devil is trying to get you to take part in – we MUST bring those thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ!
The devil is a sly, old fox. If I could I would catch him and put him in a box. Lock the box and throw away the key for the nasty tricks he played on me.
We must say, “No!” Remember the “Just Say No” campaign in the 80s? Just Say, “ No. Get Behind Me, Satan. The Lord Rebukes You, Satan. I am wearing my Armor of God. I have on my belt of truth. You are the father of lies. There is no truth in you. I got your number. Be gone from me.” Jesus said to Satan in Matthew 16:23
“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Mind Control Expert T-Shirt
Think about what your “thoughts” are saying to you. Bring them into the obedience of Christ. Is this thought coming from the enemy? Is this something your heavenly Father would want for you, be pleased with you doing, take delight in? If not, rebuke it immediately.
That is spiritual mind control. These are instructions from The Lord. He gave us the battle instructions to equip us to defeat the enemy and recognize his attacks.
He also gave us another instruction, which I believe greatly decreases our chances of being attacked in the mind by the enemy.
Ephesians 5:18-20
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Let’s unpack this because there is a lot here.
First off, what’s the very first instruction – be not drunk. It’s doesn’t matter if it’s wine or beer or hard liquor or fancy umbrella drinks on the beach. Be not drunk.
You are opening up your mind to a spiritual attack. We all know, well most of us anyway, as most of us have all been here – you don’t act the same, you don’t talk the same, you don’t speak the same, you don’t drive the same, you don’t walk the same, you can’t make decisions the same, you don’t think the same… when you are drunk, loaded up in excess with alcohol. Not only are you wide open to receive instructions from the enemy, but you are hindered in your ability to bring every thought captive to the obedience to Christ. That’s probably furthest from your impaired thoughts.
Have you ever wondered why they call alcohol devil’s juice? Or spirits? It’s opening you up to the devil and other spirits to attack you and have a field day with your life. They celebrate victory as they mess you all up in the head and have you doing things you would never normally due when sober.
And, the best part, is that the devil and those demonic spirits will remind you of what you did over and over and over and make you feel guilty, shameful. They put thoughts in your head, such as, “What an idiot you are! How unworthy of salvation you are. God will never forgive you.” Why? Because the devil is the father of lies! He doesn’t speak the truth because there is no truth in him. The devil lied to you when you obeyed his instructions instead of Your Father’s and you said what you said. The devil lied to you when you did what you did. And, the devil is lying to you when he says God will never forgive you. Or, that you are unworthy of salvation. Our Father is a forgiving Father and wishes none to perish, not one.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Do you see what a mess a person can get themselves into? And, even if this is you, which it may be next week or was last week – it can happen to any of us. However, when you repent and stand back up in your righteousness, admitting that the devil’s stumbling block got you this time, God will forgive you. He is a just God. He is a merciful God. He is a forgiving God. He offers and wants salvation for all of us.
You seriously need to avoid this whole mess with all of your might. Don’t give the devil a foothold. Don’t be drunk. Period.
Proverbs 24:9 tells us that the thought of foolishness is sin. Ever hear the term, “You drunken fool”? It’s sin.
Now, this second part, I believe, is helping us keep our minds busy and full of the Lord so there is no way the devil can get in. When you are singing and speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord and giving thanks always, where is there any room for the devil? There’s just no place for him in there. There’s no open space. There’s no cracks. There’s no room for the devil or wicked spirits to put any thoughts into you head. No lies. No doubt. No guilt. Nothing. You’re too busy making melody in your heart to the Lord and repeating psalms and singing hymns to yourself and giving thanks. If you don’t make room for the devil, he can’t move in.
It’s also worthy to note that Scripture tells us that Our Father sings (Zephaniah 3:17) and that Jesus sung (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26), and here we see to be filled with The Spirit, singing to ourselves and making melody in our hearts. What is going on here? The Spirit is Singing! All aspects of our glorious God sing!
Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Follow his commandments. Do everything in accordance to His Word and you won’t leave room for the devil to sneak in and mess things up. Keep Your Room Clean, Kids.
Matthew 12:43-45
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
What happened? After you cleaned the mess in your room, your house, your mind that wicked spirit went out and brought seven more with him to mess up your room, your house, your mind, again. Don’t give that wicked spirit and his other posse members any open doors or room to move in. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Fix your mind on Christ. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tell us? Pray without ceasing.
Armor up, folks. Be filled with the Spirit and not drunk on alcohol or high on drugs.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Keep your mind fixated on Christ. Pray without ceasing. Constantly give thanks. Sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord. Practice Kingdom Spiritual Mind Control.