The Battle Of The Mind Nick Bowlin | River Church Frankfurt

Man Is a Spirit, He Has a Soul, and He Lives in a Body


• Understanding this helps us see how believers can give place to the devil in their souls and bodies (Ephesians 4:27).


Man Is a Spirit Being


• Man is a spirit; he is not part spirit but a spirit being.
• He has a soul (mind, will, and emotions).
• He lives in a body.


Scriptural Foundation:


1 Thessalonians 5:23
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Hebrews 4:12
“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 [the body], and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”


Why Understanding Man’s Nature Is Important


• The devil works through man’s five physical senses and his unredeemed soul and body to try to defeat him.
• A believer can close the door to the devil by:
• Renewing his mind (his soul).
• Keeping his body under the dominion of his recreated spirit.
• This is essential for standing victorious against the devil.


Letting the Spirit Dominate


• Believers must let their spirit-man dominate their soul and body.
• Many problems arise when the soul and body dominate instead of the recreated spirit.
• Much of what is called “demonic activity” today is actually man’s unregenerated soul and flesh dominating his recreated spirit.
• When believers understand this, they can:
• Discern what is truly demonic activity.
• Strengthen their soul to stand against the enemy.


Scriptural Foundation:


2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, HE [his spirit—the man on the inside] is A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”


The New Birth Affects the Spirit, Not the Soul or Body


• The outward man (body) does not become a new creature.
• The soul (mind, will, and emotions) does not become a new creature.
• Only the inward man (spirit) is born again and made new.
• Because the body and soul do not change, believers still:
• Have to deal with their outward man.
• Must control the desires of the flesh and unredeemed soul.
• Recognize that Satan tries to gain access through the soul and body.


How Man Functions in Different Realms


• With my spirit, I contact the spiritual realm.
• With my soul, I contact the intellectual and emotional realm.
• With my body, I contact the physical realm.


JAMES 1:21
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, whichis able to SAVE YOUR SOULS.




Save- sozo
Sozo is defined as to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, make well, and make whole. So we could read
James 1:21, "... receive with meekness the engrafted
Word, which is able to save, heal, deliver, protect, preserve, make well, and make your mind,will,and emotions whole."


Series: Mind, Body, Spirit
Part 1: The Battlefield of the Mind
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I. Introduction
* The mind as the primary battlefield
* Romans 12:2 – "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."
* 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 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."
* How thoughts shape actions and destiny
* Proverbs 23:7 – "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."
* The role of faith in renewing the mind
* Hebrews 11:6 – "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
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II. Understanding the Enemy’s Strategies
* Satan’s attacks on the mind
* Genesis 3:1-5 – (The serpent deceives Eve by questioning God’s word.)
* 2 Corinthians 4:4 – "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."
* Lies, doubt, and deception
* John 8:44 – "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
* James 1:8 – "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
* Fear, anxiety, and negative thinking
* Philippians 4:6-8 – "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
* 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
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III. Weapons for Victory
* The Word of God as a sword
* Ephesians 6:17 – "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
* Hebrews 4:12 – "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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."
* Guarding the mind through spiritual discipline
* Colossians 3:2 – "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
* Proverbs 4:23 – "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
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IV. Renewing the Mind
* Meditating on the Word
* Joshua 1:8 – "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."
* Psalm 1:2 – "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
* The importance of gratitude and praise
* Psalm 100:4 – "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."
* 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
* Replacing lies with truth
* John 8:32 – "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
* 2 Corinthians 10:5 – "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."
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V. Walking in Victory
* Daily disciplines for a transformed mind
* Romans 8:5-6 – "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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
* Ephesians 4:23-24 – "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
* Resisting and rejecting ungodly thoughts
* James 4:7 – "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
* 1 Peter 1:13 – "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
* Testimonies of mind renewal
* Isaiah 26:3 – "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
* Philippians 2:5 – "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."