CRANIUM WARS

1. CRANIUM WARS The Battleground

2. This morning we are going to start a new series—Cranium Wars. • WARNING: this teaching has the potential of completely and radically altering the whole course of your life! • It has the potential of taking you from death to life. • Bondage to freedom. • From sickness to healing. • If you will simply apply the truths we will discuss, it will change you forever and for the good. • Cranium Wars? • Kind of a strange name don’t you think?

3. cra·ni·um – / [krey-nee-uh m] –noun • the skull of a vertebrate • the part of the skull that encloses the brain • As the title denotes, this is a war, and every war has a battlefield. • The location of this war is in the human mind. • Thus, the title: Cranium Wars.

4. Proverbs 23:7b – For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (NKJV) • Have you ever thought about what that means? • ANSWER: You become what you think. • Our thoughts are powerful. • They are the precursor for all we do. • Our words and our actions all begin with our thoughts. • Thoughts lead to attitudes to words to actions.

5. Have you ever stopped and thought about what you are thinking? • It is time that we think about our thinking. • Negative thoughts lead to a negative life. • Right thinking leads to a positive life. Romans 8:5-6 – Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.(NLT)

6. The principal is simple: Stinkin’, thinkin’ leads to Death. • Right thinking leads to life and peace. • Do you have peace in your life? • Are you experiencing abundant life? • Is abundant life how you would describe your life? • If the answer is, NO. • Then, perhaps, this is the root cause—your thought patterns.

7. Let’s repeat that thought but reverse it: • A negative life follows bad, negative thought patterns. • A positive, abundant life follows right thinking. • This is not just thinking positive thoughts. • It is much more than just that. • Right thoughtsare thoughts which are based on what the Word of God says about you.

8. Many problems come from bad thought patterns that have been planted in your mind for years. • Some of them have even been in your family for centuries—passed down from generation to generation. • It is time for someone to jump off the negative merry-go-round and shout, Enough!I want to change!

9. You are not being bad if you admit that there are bad thought patterns in your family. • You are now a member of the family of God, and your mind is in the process of being renewed. • Your thoughts are now to be based on the Word of God and not on man’s opinion or family tradition. • Straight Talk for Men Example • Man – unfaithful to marriage vows • How did I let this happen to me? • Work backwards to same root • Mind full of lustful thoughts and pornography

10. Society says this is healthy & good for young boys. • Proverbs says, There is a way that seems right to man, but the end leads to death. • You know what? • Satan is well aware of this fact, and he is patient. • He has been planting these thoughts in this man’s mind since he was a young boy. • When the trap had been set, he was able to spring it, and the man was caught. • He was unable to resist because he had a lifetime of bad, lustful thoughts.

11. What we have to do is to begin the process of helping them to learn how to renew the mind. • If you don’t, he will just return. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (NKJV)

12. This passage is such an eye opener. • It reveals several very important points: • The battleground is the mind. • Satan uses thoughts that are counter to God’s Word to battle us. • Must know the Word well enough to be able to compare our thoughts with the thoughts of God. • Any thought that presents itself in our mind that counters God, must be removed immediately. • We must cast them down and bring them into captivity to Jesus Christ. • If we don’t, they can lead to a stronghold.

13. Ephesians 6:11-12 – 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (NLT) • Who is the enemy? • The devil and his evil forces • Where is the battle? • In the mind

14. Our enemy will attempt to defeat us through carefully laid out strategies and through deception. • He operates under the cloak of deception. • Remember what Jesus said: The devil is a liar! John 8:44 – He is the father of lies and of all that is false. • He has a file with your name on it. • He has done his research. • He knows your likes and dislikes. • He knows your weaknesses, insecurities and fears. • He has studied you for a long time. • He knows what bothers you most. • One of his greatest advantages is patience.

15. Through cunning and patience, he attempts to establish strongholds in our mind. • A stronghold is an area in our life where we are held in prison because of our way of thinking. • A stronghold is also a military term which describes a piece of land which the enemy controls. • They are entrenched on that real estate and will not leave without some force exerted against them. • Strongholdsare raised in our minds through allowing the thoughts that the devil plants there to take root.

16. It is through dwelling on them that they are allowed to take root. • These thoughts are played over and over in our minds until they become a stronghold. • Example: Someone offends you. • You get hurt and the enemy is all too happy to keep replaying it in your mind. • The more you allow him to do it, the worse it gets. • Then it begins to affect your thoughts, words and actions. • It becomes a stronghold.

17. Every time that person’s name is mentioned, it is like throwing salt into an open wound. • You get mad all over again. • Some people leave churches over this. • Some even stop talking to siblings over this. • Then, bitterness takes root. • And, it begins to affect everyone around you. • It is a deadly cancer and leaves you in bondage. • How do we combat this? • With our spiritual weapons. • Fight spiritual attacks with spiritual weapons. • Reason alone does not work.

18. There are 3 weapons available to the believer: John 8:31-32 – So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. (AMP) • Word of God – 1stweapon is the Word of God. • In this verse, Jesus tells us how we can win the battle against the lies of the devil. • We must get the knowledge of God’s Word in us—renew our minds with the Word. • Then use the Word to tear down the strongholds.

19. The key is to use the Word as a weapon and to continue in it until breakthrough comes. Mark 4:24 – Then He added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.” (NLT) • We must continue in the Word until it becomes a revelation to us. • Persistence is the key.

20. Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (NASB) • 2 edged/mouthed sword • This is the weapon Jesus used when combating the devil. • It is written . . . (Luke 4:1-13).

21. The lady who was offended. • What should she have done? • Instead of dwelling on the hurt and offense and stewing over how bad that person treated her. • She should have countered the lies of the devil with the truth of God’s Word! • No, devil! I choose to forgive because Jesus said that the Father will not forgive me unless I forgive my sister. Even as the Romans were nailing Jesus to the cross, He forgave. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If He can forgive the Romans, I can forgive my sister of this little offense.

22. You will notice that your feelings and thoughts will begin to follow the Word. • It is more difficult at first, but it will become easier each time you do it. • Personal Illustration Deuteronomy 34:7 – Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. (NASB) • God, you have promised me that my eyes would not grow dim! Proverbs 20:12 – Ears that hear and eyes that see—both are gifts from the Lord.

23. Some time yesterday, after keeping it up, the cloud of discouragement seemed to lift. • But, I am more aware of the fact that I need to keep standing on the promises of God’s Word until I see the breakthrough in my eyes. • There are 2 other weapons we have at our disposal. • Praise – Praise will defeat the devil quicker than anything else. • Prayer – Prayer is a relationship with all 3 members of the Trinity. • If you want a good prayer life, you must develop a good personal relationship with God.

24. Father • He loves you. • He is full of mercy and grace. • He is for you and will help you. • Jesus • He is your Friend. • He died for you. • He is your Advocate at the right hand of the Father. • Holy Spirit • He is with you all the time. • He is your Comforter and Helper. • He is your Guide and Counselor.

25. When you really believe these truths, it will radically change your prayer life. • In all actuality, you need to incorporate all 3 at the same time. • I went into a room and put on good worship music and began to worship. • And, stood on the promises of God’s Word. • Whose report are you going to believe? • I choose to believe the report of the Lord! • This is a battle! • We must continue in the fight until we see the breakthrough.

26. The problem is so many just pray and quit. • Although prayer is important, they neglect the other 2 weapons we have at our disposal. • There is a time to pray, but then there is time to get up from your knees and fight with the Word of God.

27. Conclusion • You cannot experience a positive, abundant life with a mind filled with negative thought patterns. • Your life will probably not get better until your mind does. • So, you need to get serious about this. • Be serious about tearing down the strongholds satan has built in your mind. • Use the weapons you have at your disposal—The Word, Praise and Prayer.

28. Zechariah 4:6b – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (NASB) • Wishing and determination alone are not enough. • You will need to allow the Holy Spirit to work. • Ask God for help and ask often. • Quote the Scriptures and often. • The Battle will not be won through the flesh, but through the help of the Holy Spirit. • He is your Helper. • Lean on Him. • This is vitally important to your spiritual health. • Right thinking is vital to victorious living.

29. CRANIUM WARS The Battleground