KEY SCRIPTURE:1Pet 5:2 KJV “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

We started our discussion on the mind, on the note that, it is a tool for greatness, or could be an instrument for failure. The scripture said a man is what he thinks about. Prov 23:7. The mind is like the steering wheel of the body. Where the mind goes,  the whole body will go there. The success of every successful man started in the mind. He had a mental picture of what he wanted to be and then strove to get there. God asked Abraham to look at the stars and the sand at the seashore. He said to him so shall your descendants be. He had a picture of that glorious future., and so could believe God for it.

Be very careful what influences you. Jesus said, take heed what you hear Mark 4:24. Feed your mind with positive information, and pattern your life after the truth you have stored there. It is said that attitude is everything. Attitude is the mental concept you hold about various issues and your corresponding response to those things. Apostle Paul said I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philip 4:13. This was his mental concept, and so He was not going to settle for failure. He goes into every endeavour as a winner.

It was said of Daniel that he had an excellent spirit. Dan 6:3. This simply meant he had cultivated an attitude of doing everything rightly or excellently. He attached a sense of perfection to whatever task was given to him He might have thought that whatever he did was to glorify God, and so, as a representative of God; he must produce his best. A person with this attitude can only be successful. He decided to use his mind positively to achieve success.

 Many people talk about finding difficulty in doing certain things. The truth is that such people have not made up their minds to do that thing. Remember, a decided mind cannot be tempted. The person falls into temptation because he did not decide to stay victorious. Remember that, in life, it is the mind that ‘sees’, ‘ acts ‘, or even ‘hears’, not the eyes, hands, or ears. The eye sees what the mind is occupied with. Stop complaining about difficulties, and decide you would be the best.

CONFESSION

 I only achieve after the mental picture I have about myself. As a child of God, I have the power of the Holy Ghost in me. I can therefore do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Pro 23:7 KJV “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

Jas 1:8 KJV” A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Th 2:2 KJV “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

We realised in our last study that, the devils seek to trouble men’s minds to the point that, it becomes so stressed that, it gives up its power of control, to become blank, or void of any specific thing to consider or think about. A person in such a state may have a stream of contrary thoughts flowing through his mind. His dream life is normally full of all kinds of horrible scenes. One criterion to notice that one is under siege is the absence of peace. God does communicate to His people through dreams, yet these kind does not bring stress and fear to the individual. A person in that passive condition would normally have dreams that are inspired by these devils.

One may even develop insomnia, that is difficulty sleeping. The Bible says God gives his beloved sleep. Ps 127:2. Such people also become very forgetful. Their minds cannot focus to concentrate. They easily lose thought of very recent things they might have heard or done. All these are orchestrated by devils. These and many more are the depressive condition that one who does not allow the word of God to dominate his mind may go through. Dear child of God, this should be far from you.

What will one in such a state do to capture back his mind which is being dominated by devils? The scripture said, our weapons are mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.

1. Use the truth of the scripture to address the error that seems to have taken hold of your mind.

2. Speak out what the word says

3. Whenever that error flashes through your mind, say, this is a lie of the devil, and I refuse it.

4. Any time it flashes through your mind, just say no, I refuse it.

In the initial process, you may not be having that sense of peace and stability of mind, but as you keep your ground and sustain the resistance, your mind would start feeling a sense of peace.

Please note that this is warfare and you must not relent in your refusal or resistance. The scripture said, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

In such times spend a great deal of time praying in the Holy Ghost, if you pray in tongues. Give attention to listening to messages that address the kind of error that seeks to control your mind. As you keep listening, the truth would start driving out the error, and secondly, faith would be built in your heart to stand and overcome. Make sure you win back your mind and stay free. Satan always awaits opportune moments to stage a comeback, but make up your mind never to give any grounds to the enemy.

CONFESSION

God’s word is truth. I girt my loins with the truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness. I give no place to any lie of the devil. I am always ready to challenge them with the truth of God’s word. I gain supremacy over my mind and always walk in the peace of God.

THOUGHT: FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, FOR THAT IS THE ONLY MEANS TO GAIN BACK THE GROUNDS TAKEN BY THE ENEMY

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 6:11 KJV: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”

Eph 4:27 KJV” Neither give place to the devil..”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Th 2:2 KJV” That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

The condition described in today’s study is those people who have not renewed their minds with the scriptures or have not taken guard over their minds, to resist all unscriptural suggestions.

Devils aim at causing the minds of men to be troubled. A troubled mind becomes grounds for all kinds of strange reactions. These actions are normally wrong and result in very serious effects on individuals. Remember the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. He takes advantage of people’s weaknesses. and assaults their minds.

How do most people develop troubled minds? One may have a troubled mind because of unpleasant information or event that has occurred. It may come from a contrary thought that entered the mind. Many times, such thoughts are baseless lies. They may also be unidentified impressions that settle in the subconscious mind. Such thoughts or impressions cast a disturbing sentiment on the mind, which keeps recurring. These thoughts get the individual very disturbed, leading him into a state of passivity. In this state, he does not have any specific thing on his mind. This person loses control of his mind. The mind assumes a state of emptiness. It is at this point that a demon just enters.

I will draw a near similarity to explain why devils stretch an individual’s mind into this passive state. In certain practices of yoga, they go into meditation and repeat certain words in order to achieve a blank mind. It is this blank-mindedness, that makes them gain the ability to cause things to levitate, or do other supernatural feels. They call it mind over matter, but this is not true. It is Spirits that gain access to the individual and start doing those feats. A passive state is a goal of the demons. If the mind gets empty, they would take charge and enter the individual. TO BE CONTINUED.

CONFESSION

My mind is my responsibility to protect myself from evil lying devils who may want to take charge of my mind. I keep myself free from them by allowing the word of God only to fill my mind.

THOUGHT: AN UNPROTECTED MIND, IS A PLAYGROUND FOR DEVILS.

FURTHER STUDIES

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

2Co 11:3 KJV” But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Co 11:3 ISV “However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.”

The mind of man is the most assaulted part of man. Every temptation comes as a suggestion from the evil one. It is always processed in the thought realm before, it is executed. Before a man is born again, Satan or his demons had absolute dominion over the mind of the individual. When he is born again, he still seeks to gain mastery, yet this is subject to the individual’s submission to the lies and schemes of Satan. Please note any man with high authority in Christ, is directly related to how Satan cannot assess and influence him or her via the mind. The Lord had so much power over the devil because Satan had zero influence over His mind. The Lord said, the Prince of this world comes, but he has nothing in Him.

Power and authority in the Christian experience come from your liberty from the schemes of the devil. I have repeated this statement to help all Christians see the great need to keep themselves free from Satan’s contamination. In our key scripture, apostle Paul was very concerned about the brethren in Corinth, concerning Satan’s subtitles .2Co 11:3 ISV “However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.”

Many children of God, unconsciously start compromising in a very subtle way, thinking, there is nothing much serious. By the time they come to their senses, they are in deep waters, which has completely overwhelmed them. If you put a frog in hot water, it would quickly hop out of it. If you put it in warm water, whiles you warm, it, gradually, it will surely stay and die. Heb 3:13 ISV Instead, continue to encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. A ship left at the shore without anchoring will be drifting gradually, till it gets lost out of sight.

CONFESSION

God’s word is my anchor, and I keep myself firmly tied to it. I give no place to deceptive thoughts from the wicked one. The word of God is my continual meditation.

Answer these questions

1. Can you consider certain events or conditions that may appear harmless, but can sink you into deep waters of sin?

2. What must you do if you notice you are in such situations?

THOUGHT; BE EVER READY TO KICK DOWN EVERY THOUGHT, THAT CAN LEAD YOU INTO SIN.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Th 5:22 KJV “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Jas 1:14 KJV But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Co 10:5 KJV “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;”

2nd Corinth 10:4-5 reveals the warfare that rages within the mind of the child of God. The two verses show us that demons build Strongholds in the minds of believers. In verse 5, he explains that these Strongholds are, contrary imaginations, opposing thoughts, lies, and thoughts that exalt views against the knowledge of God. All these seek to create a rebellion against God.  The warfare from the believer is to use the truth to expose the errors, confront them and prevent them from dominating the child of God so he would be impactful.

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the scriptures show the attack on the mind of the unbeliever by blinding his mind from seeing the truth to accept. This is a very fierce and crafty program to keep the unsaved person in darkness. 2Co 4:4 KJV” In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Satan has designed the institutions, culture, and systems of the world to craftily blind men from coming to know the truth. The peak of it is to forcefully take the word of God from public institutions as is currently happening in Europe and America. Our weapon once again is prayer and the proclamation of the word of God.

Satan is waging a relentless War on the minds of men. It is said that, in this year, Great Britain will make it mandatory to teach the various ‘gender’ groupings as well as the relations that exist among them. This is a  way of introducing LGBTQ+ to little children, all in a bid to possess their minds. Africa is their next target, and the means to penetrate Africa is through our monetary transactions. Satan will not succeed in his clandestine agenda. Church of God, start to pray to prevent the demons of hell from possessing the minds of our children.

CONFESSION

There is a war for the minds of all humanity. I am not ignorant of the devices of the devil. I   resist every contrary thought, imagination, or thinking that opposes the word and way of God.

THOUGHT: BE ON GUARD TO PREVENT DEVILS FROM TAKING YOUR MIND

FURTHER STUDIES

2Co 11:3 KJV “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Eph 6:14 KJV” Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Corinth 10:5 KJV” 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;”

We return to our discussions on the nature of man. This time we look at one faculty of the soul, that is the mind. It is also known as the intellect. It is located within the brain. It is the faculty for accumulating information, analysing the information received, recollecting or remembering information stored, and also imagining thoughts, views, or ideas. The mind is therefore a very important faculty in the human body. The relation between the mind and the brain is that; the mind is the psychological part, whiles the brain is the physiological part. The brain is the visible part, while the mind is not visible.

The Bible said the state of the mind is the real condition of the person. Prov 23:7 KJV” For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” For a man to either be in the Spirit or the flesh, is determined by the dominant factors of the mind. Rom 8:5 KJV “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.” The mind is also the determinant of whether a child of God receives transformation into the ways of the word. Rom 12:2 KJV” 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.”

In the light of all that has been said about the mind above, it becomes the target of Satan and demons.2Co 10:4 KJV” (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”Strongholds are fortresses of satanic lies, ideas, imaginations that the devil establishes within the mind. If the devil succeeds in creating any wrong thinking process or pattern in a believer’s mind, no amount of shouts to drive them out will succeed, until the truth of God’s word is brought to that individual’s mind to drive away that lie (please this is different from the presence of a demon sitting in any part of the body. That one would go by commanding it to go). In the armour of God for the believer, the Lord said the believer’s loins must be girt about with truth. Our loins in this contest is not the waist, but our minds. Eph 6:14

CONFESSION

I girt my mind with the truth of God’s word. I attend to the word, meditating on it, to give it a place of dominance over my thoughts and thinking.

THOUGHT: DEMONS MAY STRIVE FOR THE BELIEVER’S MIND, YET, THEY WOULD NEED YOUR COOPERATION TO MAKE THIS SUCCEED.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mar 4:24 KJV “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

Job 31:1 KJV” I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Jos 1:9 KJV “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

In our previous discussion, the Lord instructed Joshua the successor to Moses, about how to make his way prosperous and have good success. The Lord instructed him to stay with the words of the law and keep meditating on it day and night. He had to do all that was written therein. If he did that, he would surely make his way prosperous. Dear child of God, our world is sadly influenced by evil forces with their agenda, yet the ruling principle of our universe is the word of God. It does not matter, who you are, or where you are, if you would guard your life by the tenants of the word of God you will surely come out very prosperous. Light would eternally reign over darkness.

In addition to Joshua doing what the law said, he had to keep fear far away from him. There are always evil unseen beings who would come behind people, and situations, and even project certain thoughts that would make you feel, you can’t achieve or overcome the mission given to you. The Lord asked Joshua to be very strong and courageous so that he would be able to conquer and fulfill the task God has given to him. When a man is fearful, he will create all kinds of reasons why certain tasks should not be done. Consider the words of these fearful spies sent to see the land of Canaan and come back with good results. Num 13:33 KJV “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

Now fear or being courageous, depends on what you allow to dominate your consciousness. When an individual feels his consciousness with the greatness of God and refuses to consider all the external threats, he would be fearless and very courageous. On the grip side if one ignores all that God says about himself, but considers himself as against, the terrible oppositions, that you may face. Dear one fear or courage depends on who you put first. God or yourself. If the Lord is first, your safety is secured, but if you are first, then you become very vulnerable and helpless. See every task as God’s business, and he would defend His business. Represent God, and count on Him to defend His name. He would not fail you. Be very bold and courageous to do whatever you have been asked to do.

CONFESSION

I am on assignment for God. I do nothing for myself. God always defends His interest. I am fearless about nothing, for God has never failed in protecting His name and His glory. In this year, I will never cower before any condition. As I move forward, God also moves in me to overcome through me.

THOUGHT: IT IS VERY ABSURD FOR THE CHILD OF GOD TO BE FEARFUL.

FEAR LIMITS GOD FROM ADVANCING THROUGH YOU, TO CONQUER FOR YOU

FURTHER STUDIES

Deut 3:22 KJV” Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you”.

Deut 31:6 KJV” Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joshua 1:8 KJV This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

It is the wish of all to ‘have a prosperous new year’. Our key scripture shows us how to have a prosperous life. The following are the steps He has listed;

1. Do not let the book of the law depart from your mouth.

2. You shall meditate or mutter the word, day and night.

3. Observe to do according to all that is written in it.

Then you shall make your way prosperous

Prospering is not God’s duty, but man’s responsibility as we apply God’s principles. He said this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. Our mouths are not given to us to only eat. In actual fact, eating is a very secondary role of our mouth. The book of James chapter 3 shows us, that our mouths are to chart the course of our lives. The Greek word for mouth is STOMA. It means, the edge of a weapon. The immediate weapon that comes to mind with an edge is a sword or a knife. Our mouths are basically given to us to make war. To make a way in our path in life by cutting down every opposition, enemy, or resistance. We must always choose the right words to say. God’s words in our mouths are

1. The sword of the Spirit. Eph 6:16

2. The seeds that are planted as we say it. Mark 4:15.

3. The hammer to break down difficult situations’ 23:29

4. Fire to burn all that is unwanted. Jer 23:29

5. Light to lead us. Ps 119: 105

There are more revelations about the word of God. As we speak the word we are engaging these elements to act for us according to the need of the moment.

The next instruction of scripture says we must keep meditating on the scripture. The word meditate is the Hebrew word’ hagah’, which could be interpreted as mutter, murmur, speak, roar, etc. The word used in our key scripture is to mutter. Muttering is to keep repeating the word undertone. If the condition needs a sword to cut or strikethrough, then muttering it over and over again, would eventually cut down whatever opposition it is. If it is a spiritual wall that must be broken down, then the word will be a hammer, if muttered over a period would ultimately dismantle that wall. Muttering God’s word every day would surely correct a lot of issues for us.

The next is to do according to what the word says. Make sure you do not act contrary to the word. In this way, you would make your way prosperous. Make a decision to make your way prosperous by practicing the word daily throughout the year.

CONFESSION

God’s word is His success notes that he has given us to apply and succeed, in this life. I diligently follow its dictates to win every contest in this life. My mouth is the means by which I use the word against every opposition.

THOUGHT: THE WORD IN YOUR HEART, THROUGH YOUR MOUTH, IS JUST LIKE GOD SAYING IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Ti 4:15 KJV” Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Rom 12:2 KJV” 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.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Tim 3:16 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The breath of God is the very source of our personality. The Bible said God breathe into the lifeless man, and man became a living soul. The breath of God is God’s ability to make us qualified to do whatever He requires of us. God has made available a means of contacting His breath for daily strength to overcome every challenge or difficulty that we may encounter. The scripture says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The word inspiration of God, also means the breath of God. The breath of God goes into action and effect when we submit ourselves to it or believe it totally. Now, to believe means you cast your life on it.

When we believe the scripture, we have swallowed what it says, placing our very dependence on it. It is at this moment that the life in the word is released. The breath of God is yours for every engagement that you may find yourself. Give attention to the word of God. Meditate on the word and give a renewal to your mind concerning all life issues. The Bible says it is life to those that find them and medicine to all their flesh. Proverb 4:21,22.

Make a decision to give more time to the word of God this year. Let your heart be filled with joy and satisfaction any time you have to sit by the word of God. Make every truth you learn a special prophecy from the mouth of God. Know that so long as you receive that word, you have accepted into your system, the very breath of God. In this new year, make it a year of celebrating the word of God, by giving the word the highest and most prestigious place in your life and heart.

CONFESSION

The word of God is my life and my light. It is my power to conquer this life. I give my attention to it, and allow my whole life to be controlled by the word. I see success all around me.

THOUGHT: RECEIVING THE WORD, GIVES YOU THE POWER TO LIVE BY IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 4:12 KJV” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1Th 2:13 KJV” For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Jas 2:24 KJV “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

At the commencement of the new year, lots and lots of good wishes for a good and prosperous new year will be flying through the airwaves to family and friends. It is a very good thing to wish one another well and even wishes the best for yourself. Please note that no year brings anything on its own, rather it is the changed attitudes and actions that result in a changed lifestyle. It is said that it is insane to do the same things and expect different results. Change or improvement in anything is always a result of a positive change in one’s action. In Genesis 26, there was a very serious famine in the land. The Lord encountered Isaac and asked him not to go down to Egypt, but said the following to him:

Gen 26:3 KJV ” Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;”

  Isaac’s success or failure depended on his obedience to the instruction of the Spirit of God. Dear brother or sister your improvement in whatever endeavour depends on your obedience to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, the Holy Spirit is our senior partner. He is our helper, guide, guard, and Counsellor advocate. It is in doing the instruction of the Spirit that brings about a change in the state of that individual Isaac was very obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Gen 26:12 KJV” Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.”

We can say that, for that year, Isaac was greatly blessed. He reaped a hundred percent of what he sowed. You can have a glorious year by doing what the Holy Spirit would teach you. The Spirit of God is ready to instruct you on a specific task as a Christian. Make sure you execute it with all seriousness.

CONFESSION

Thank God for blessing me with a new year. I receive the counsel of His Spirit concerning my path for this new year. I live with a determination to bring glory to the name of my heavenly father. Thank you, Lord.

THOUGHT: MAKE A GOOD YEAR BY MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE IN WHAT YOU DO

FURTHER STUDIES

Jas 1:21,22, &25 KJV “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.