The Mind Of The True, The Right And The Pure

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness! Matt 6:23

I have the freedom to think for myself. Not to be tormented, confused, pressured or pushed into bondage by any thought pattern or evil influence. I will not die but I will live and declare the works of the Lord.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

God wants us to know how to have a mind free of torment, worry, confusion, fear, and snares. So let's figure out what God says we are to do to have our mind, thoughts and heart at peace. Some would say this isn't freedom and that I should have an open mind. An open mind that accepts everything not discerning whether if it's going to harm them or make them better is dangerous. We must have wisdom, the wisdom of God. God's wisdom, his word and obedience to it will allow us to be free to have peace, peace in our minds also.

We won't be under pressure or be pushed into anything. God gives us a choice and makes it clear, to be in one accord with God and his people. This does not mean acting, or doing the same thing as everyone else. It is having the same foundation, spirit, love, refreshment, and restoration in Jesus.

In Matt 18 is the lesson of how unforgiveness leads us to torment, God says if we do not forgive others as he has forgiven us he will turn us over to the tormentors. It really is a nagging torment to carry around unforgiveness and not replace it with God's love. We won't necessarily feel like forgiving them but by staying in God's word and knowing what things he has delivered us from when we sinned and caused the mess, should soften our hearts.

If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.> Is 48:18

God gives this along with a new heart, a new love. We all still have different jobs and calls and ultimately lead different lives but come in agreement with God's will in the name of Jesus.

It is very important to go to God and have our mind cleansed and healed from all deception. We can allow ourselves to be deceived and it all start with just a thought. Or maybe it is a mind set that you grew up with that was wrong. Entertaining the wrong thoughts will lead us the wrong way.Watching the wrong things can cause problems in our mind. If it is against God we should avoid it period. Even if it alone appears evil is one of first ways to discern it will only cause you harm and lead to sin.

but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Avoid every kind of evil.> 1 Thess 5:21-22

We must use our free will and choose to walk in the power of God, and take the kingdom of God by force. Be determined to press into God and do all he has said to stand. Even if you don't feel like it. Even if you struggle to do so, do so anyways. This is the only way out. Make yourself do it. We must stay in the word of God. It helps to calm the mind if we will read the word of God out loud, try it.

If we will first surround ourselves with the right habits that purposely feed our minds with the word of God, and pray & praise and worship. Then we would find relief and peace. It is a promise of God. So since God promises it to us than we know he will give it to us because God is faithful.

I'll put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.> Romans 6:19

Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.> Rom 8:2

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?> Heb 9:1

After your mind is under control (or while you are learning how to control it) then you will have to learn discernment. Out of all the thoughts, voices, and images in your mind, you will have to learn which ones were put there by you, which ones were put there by God, and which ones are demonic. The only things that you should trust, follow, and allow to stay are the ones from God. The ones that line up and agree with God's word.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.> John 10:5

So discerning your own thoughts from demonic thoughts is helpful in learning the depths of your own condition; to what extent that you are still being ruled by your flesh. This does two things. 1) It lets you know the doors that you are open allowing demons to enter and afflict you. 2) It shows you how much your mind needs to be renewed by the workings of the Holy Spirit (please know that you cannot renew your mind on your own with works; only faith in and submission to God will cause & allow this). Also, if the thought is your own, spiritual deliverance will not work, Doing it by your own works and strength is an unproductive waste of time and will also confuse and discourage you when it does not work.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. > 2 Cor 10:5

Captive Meaning and Definition

1. (v. t.) To take prisoner; to capture.
2. (a.) Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
3. (n.) One charmed or subdued by beaty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
4. (n.) A prisoner taken by force or stratagem, esp., by an enemy, in war; one kept in bondage or in the power of another.
5. (a.) Made prisoner, especially in war; held in bondage or in confinement.
6. (a.) Of or pertaining to bondage or confinement; serving to confine; as, captive chains; captive hours.

   Captive: words in the definition

   A, Affection, An, Another, As, Bondage, By, Captivated, Captive, Capture, Charmed, Confine, Confinement, Enemy, Especially, Excellence, Force, Held, Hours, In, Is, Kept, Love, Made, Of, One, Or, Pertaining, Power, Prisoner, Serving, Stratagem, Subdued, Take, Taken, The, To, War, Who,..

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. > Rom 12:2

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:> Phil 2:5

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; > Eph 4:23

“BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; ( carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger) because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. RESIST HIM, STEADFAST (marked by firm determination, resolution; not shakable, firm and dependable especially in loyalty) IN THE FAITH, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8)

we are to “be sober” (Not affected) and that we are to “be vigilant” (attentive) in dealing with the reality of Satan and his demonic spirits.

It then goes one step further and says that we are to “resist him” by being “steadfast in the faith.” Resisting the devil means you stand, fight, and directly engage with him and his demons if you have to.

We are all living in this war zone and we are all called to become good soldiers of Jesus Christ, no exceptions. You have to pray and you have to use your God given authority in Jesus name!

Demons will come after any Christian where they think they might be able to get some kind of foothold. If God the Father allowed His Son Jesus Christ to be tempted by Satan while He was in the desert for forty days – then you should know you too will be tempted for a season and different times of your life having to directly engage with a demonic spirits.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. > Heb 4:1

Speaking the word of God is so powerful even Jesus did it and God's angels harken and come to your rescue speaking the word of God!

Jesus answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

When demons try to attack you from an outside position, they will basically try to do one of two things:

1. They will either try and hinder you from being able to progress from point A to point B in your walk and call for God.
   
2. Or they will try and start playing mind-games with you in an effort to try and throw you into some kind of mental torment and sever your spiritual connection with the Lord.

For those who have the problem of literally having demons operating on the inside of them, they will have to go through an actual deliverance process to get rid of those demons. You will first have to find out what the legal right is that allowed the demons to get in there in the first place. And then you will have to properly take care of that legal right with God the Father before you can cast the demons out.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.> 1 John 1:9

As Christians, we have something that the nonbeliever does not have. We all have the full power of God operating on the inside of us in the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself. We also have the fact that demons are already a defeated foe. They have all been defeated by Jesus on the day that He was crucified for all of our sins. We are thus dealing with an already defeated foe.

• If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalm 66:18).

• Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.> Romans 8:5

• When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. > 1 Cor 13:11
  

In Matt 17:15, a boy is said to be a lunatic as a result of indwelling demons. The NT Greek word for lunatic is sele.niazomai and means the person is moon struck (mentally not well) or crazy. Mental problems are clearly shown in other parts in the Bible also, including the man with the legion in Matt 5:2-5, "And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones." Does that sound like somebody who's in their right mind? What would somebody in their right mind be doing walking around tombs? There was a spirit of death involved, which gave him a desire to draw near to the dead. Who in their right mind would be around tombs day and night crying and cutting themselves with stones? When Jesus cast those demons out, the man was said to have been "in his right mind" once again (verse 15).

"And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs." What kind of a person in their right mind would go running around in the tombs naked? > Luke 8:27

"And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not." > Matt 9:17-18

• I am not saying everyone that is dealing with mind and thought problems are crazy with mental problems, but this is just an example on the torment of the mind the devil can inflict from the bible.

Racing compulsive thoughts and mental torment: As you can see demons can affect a lot of areas in a person's life. One of the ways it works is through our thought lives to cause fear, depression and torment is through our thoughts. The Bible also uses the term 'vexed with a devil', which means to be tormented, harassed or troubled by an evil spirit. It is not uncommon for a person with a demon to testify to racing thoughts that are completely against their will. They would experience racing thoughts, irrational desires, compulsion to think and say things they would never normally even think about, etc. There are a LOT of people who are being affected just like this. It is not uncommon in ministry to see people's minds or thoughts being influenced or controlled by evil spirits. 

Ps 143— is a powerful passage speaking of Kind David when he was being tormented by evil spirits. In verses 3 and 4 we read, "For the enemy hath persecuted my soul (mind); he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate." In verses 11 & 12, we read, "Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul (mind) out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul (obviously not physical enemies, but spiritual): for I am thy servant."

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me. > Mic 7:8

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind,

to reward a man according to his conduct,

according to what his deeds deserve." > Jer 17:10

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father,

and serve him with wholehearted devotion and

with a willing mind,

for the LORD searches every heart and

understands every motive behind the thoughts.

If you seek him, he will be found by you;

but if you forsake him,

he will reject you forever.> 1 Chron 28:9

Test me, O LORD, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;> Ps 26:2

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and

know my anxious thoughts.> Ps 139:23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. > Gal 5:22-23

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. > 2 Tim 1:7

The helmet of salvation is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. Our ways of thinking need to be preserved. The head is the seat of the mind, which when it has laid hold on the sure Gospel of hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan's temptations.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1 Tim 4:1-14 (This is why we keep our mind protected so we are not seduced away from God)

"O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle (Ps 140:7).

But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.> Rom 7:23

Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.> Rom 7:25

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (2 Cor 10:3-5, Eph 4:14-16).

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.> Col 2:8

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.> Rom 13:14

There is a war around us being waged for our minds. Sin and distractions are placed before us to get our minds off of God. So we won't listen to God and get all caught up in a bunch of empty activities, that takes us down a path with no purpose or passion.

In order for us to live a Godly life filled with purpose , we must wage spiritual war and have a backbone to push against the enemies waves that crash upon our lives. When you answered God's call on your life and said God I want your will not mine, the war increased. When you said I'll tell the world about Jesus and how I love him and he loves them- the war at least doubled if not tripled!

Realize this that with each level of victory and gained wisdom from God, the opposers will get bigger as your faith in God gets deeper. So God has not put you in this postion to lose your mind but to rise and be counted in this hour! Fight the good fight of faith and grit your teeth and push through and obey God. It boils down to obedience to God and by prayer and staying in the word of God consistently and obey God at all costs! This is this fighting and resisting in faith that I am talking about! We all must go through our own times of tests and trials and reach out to God and step out in faith and trust in God. God will and can turn all attacks and trials into victory for us. This is where we gain more strength, faith, endurance, wisdom and knowledge.

He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.> James 1:8

We must harken unto God, seek him with all our strength and only rely on him.

Definition of HARKEN

intransitive verb1 : hearken 2 : hark back —usually used with back

Examples of HARKEN

1. <young people would do well to read this wise and witty book and harken to its message>

Related to HARKEN

Synonyms: attend, hark, listen, hear, hearken, heed, mind Antonyms: ignore, tune out

• You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.> Is 26:3
  
• So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.> 1 Thess 5:6
  
• The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.> 1 Peter 4:7
  
• Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.> 1 Peter 1:13
  
• Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.> Heb 3:1
  
• For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.> 1 Tim 4:8

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.> Deut 30:19-20

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.> Jer 22:5

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;> Josh 23:6

Romans 12:2 (The Message)

^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

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.

The key verse states that the result of renewing the mind will be to "test (prove) and approve what God's will is...". The test is by experiencing what the Word of God promises. Renewing the mind is a present tense, continuous action of walking on the Word of God. It is not possible to do this unless you have first renewed your mind to the Word. But when you do, you will test by actual experience, in reality, that the will of God is good, pleasing and perfect.

• Father God I bind up the spirit of distraction, and all evil spirits sent to cause me to miss details, forget things, and frequently make me feel uneasy causing the urge to switch from one activity to another in Jesus name.

• I pray to you Father God and ask you to by your Holy Spirit to cause me to maintain focus on one task at a time at your leading in Jesus name.
  
• I pray that you stir up godly passion in me by your Holy Spirit and that your Holy Spirit within me to increase even more. I pray that you give me a hunger and desire for your will and that I will not become bored with a task after only a few minutes and that the joy of the Lord is the strength I walk in. In Jesus name.
  
• Father God, I pray that you will help me to focuse my attention on organizing, completing a task ,with learning something new, completing or turning in homework assignments, and to not lose things often needed to complete tasks or activities in Jesus name.
  
• Father God I pray for you to cover my head and cause your word to rise up in my mind and heart . I pray that you will open my ears and soften my heart to listen when spoken to by you and others you have put in my life in Jesus name.
  
• I bind up all mind binding spirits and I loose myself from them in Jesus name. I pray for forgiveness of all sins that have allowed this spirit to come in and harass me in Jesus name. I bind up all evil daydreams, and all confusion,stammering, and all curses that have been sent out against me in Jesus name.
  
• I pray God for your stregenth to uphold me and cause me to be able to process information as quickly and accurately as others in Jesus name.
  
• I bind up spirits of rebellion and witchcraft sent to deceive me and to cause me to struggle to be odedient to God and to Struggle with following instructions. In Jesus name.

I pray for the peace of God, your peace to transcend my understanding, and guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus as your word says in Philip 4:7. I also pray to you God, my God you are of peace, sanctify me through and through. May my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:23)

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.> Col 3:2

In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and 
of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
 those who are disobedient.> Eph 2:2

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the 
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world 
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.> Eph 6:12

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and
 brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,> Col 1:13

 
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has 
blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in 
Christ.> Eph 1:3