2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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,
Jesus promised to give us abundant life (John 10:10), but we must know what belongs to us to stop the devil from stealing. There is a war between carnality and spirituality in our lives. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness, whose ruler is the devil, into the kingdom of light, where God rules supreme. Therefore, the renewal of the mind is critical to fending off the devil’s fiery darts in our lives.
Many Christians are passive regarding spiritual things, which affect the natural realm because everything that happens in the natural starts from the spiritual realm. Therefore, we need to take authority over the spiritual realm. We need to take hold of what belongs to us and not give in to the devil’s cheating or taking advantage of us.
Ephesians 6:10 (NASB) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
This Scripture does not refer to being strong in ourselves but in the Lord because the battle cannot be fought with our flesh. Spiritual weapons are needed to fight a spiritual foe. However, we can be strong in the Lord because of our position in Christ; believers are now one with Christ. Nevertheless, it does require that we humble ourselves and submit to His Lordship.
The mind is the final battleground in the spiritual war. Yet, we are not left defenceless. The Word of God is our mighty weapon, capable of countering all these influences, and by renewing our minds with the Word of God, we can cast down every argument that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.
The devil has led many of us to build our identity on worldy values, but we must not let them define us. We set high expectations of ourselves and desire the affirmation of the people whom we hold in high regard, such as our parents, bosses, and peers. We might even be our enemy by setting high expectations for ourselves.
Unfortunately, we live in a broken and fallen world, so people will fail us. When that happens, the devil will capitalise on these thoughts to destroy and steal from our mental and emotional health. He will use periods of transition to make us feel hopeless.
We need to pull down all these strongholds, take captive our thoughts, and submit them to the Lordship of Christ by remembering our identity in Christ: I am a child of God. I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. I am seen as righteous, holy, and blameless. This is my identity, and this is how I will choose to behave in this world. This is the best identity one can ever have on earth and in heaven.
Sermon Series: THE WEAPON OF OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE (PART 1)
记住你在基督里的身份
哥林多后书10:3-5因为我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭着血气争战。我们争战的兵器，本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力可以攻破坚固的营垒，将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。
耶稣应许要赐给我们丰盛的生命（约翰福音 10:10），但我们必须知道什么是属于我们的，才能阻止魔鬼偷窃。在我们的生活中，肉体与灵性之间存在着一场战争。我们已经从魔鬼统治的黑暗国度转移到上帝统治至高无上的光明国度。因此，心意的更新对于抵挡魔鬼在我们生命中的炽热飞镖至关重要。
许多基督徒对影响自然领域的属灵事物保持被动态度，因为自然界中发生的一切都是从属灵领域开始的。因此，我们需要掌管属灵领域的权柄。我们需要把握属于我们的东西，不要屈服于魔鬼的欺骗或利用。
以弗所书 6:10 最后，你们要靠着主，靠着他的大能大力，作刚强的人。
这段经文不是指我们自己坚强，而是指我们在主里坚强，因为争战不能用我们的肉体来打。需要属灵武器来对抗灵界的敌人。然而，由于我们在基督里的地位，我们可以在主里刚强；信徒是与基督合而为一。然而，这确实要求我们谦卑自己并顺服上帝的主权。
头脑是属灵战争的最后战场。然而，我们并非毫无防御能力。神的话语是我们强大的武器，能够对抗所有这些影响，并且通过用神的话语更新我们的思想，我们可以推翻每一个抵挡神的知识的诡辩。
魔鬼引导我们许多人将自己的身份建立在世俗价值观的基础上，但我们不能让它们定义我们。我们对自己抱有很高的期望，并渴望得到我们所尊敬的人的肯定，比如我们的父母、老板和同事。如果我们对自己设定过高的期望，甚至可能成为我们的敌人。
不幸的是，我们生活在一个破碎和堕落的世界，所以人们会让我们失望。当这种情况发生时，魔鬼就会利用这些想法来破坏和窃取我们的属灵和情感健康。牠会利用过渡时期让我们感到绝望。
我们需要推翻所有这些营垒，或任何俘获我们的思想的部分，并通过记住我们在基督里的身份，将它们顺服基督的主权：我是神的孩子。我借着祂的血得到救赎，罪孽得赦免。我被视为公义、圣洁、无可指摘。这就是我的身份，这就是我在这个世界上选择的行事为人的方式。这是一个人在地上和天上所能拥有的最好的身份。
讲章系列：我们属灵争战的武器（第一部分）
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