Baseline Messages

Luke 4:41

James 2:19

Matthew 7:21-23

John 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Psalm 19:7

Psalm 119:44-48

James 1:12-24

Matthew 10:40

2 Corinthians 5:17

Jeremiah 29:13

Philippians 3:12

Message by Chuck Hatch 

Message by: Ben Stoffel

Ephesians 6:16-17 

Hebrews 4:12 

2 Timothy 3:16

James 4:7

We can focus our thoughts. We can set our minds. We don’t have to just think about whatever falls into our minds. We can capture and submit our thoughts to the Word of God and the authority of our Champion – Jesus!

The Mind is a Battlefield - A key discipline of spiritual warfare is to capture our thoughts and submit them to God's Word!

Key Verse:
Colossians 3:2 - Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

 1. We must learn to “SET OUR MINDS”.

·   Romans 8:5 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 2. We must take our thoughts captive and submit them to Christ.

·  2 Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

3. We are changed by capturing our thoughts and renewing our minds in Jesus.

·  Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Challenge: filter every thought through the following lens from Philippians 4:8:

·  8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 3:18-19; Colossians 3:2; Matthew 16:23; Romans 8:5; Ephesians 4:22-23; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:6-8

Prayer is Divine Dependency in Action

• John 15:5
  • I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

We remember:

• Jesus Prayed and Fasted for 40 Days
  • Then…He resisted Satan’s temptation through complete dependence upon the Father and the Sword of the Written Word.

Story: The War in the Valley

Exodus 17:8–16 (ESV)

When Moses lifted his hands in prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving to God – Israel would win the battle. We must pray to Win spiritual battles. God will fight against enemies seen and unseen, we must pray, pray, pray, and then keep praying!

How We Can Pray to Win:

1.      We Must Pray Continually

• Ephesians 6:18
  •  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance…
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • 17 pray without ceasing,

2.      We Must Pray Watchfully

• Colossians 4:2 
  • 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
• Matthew 26:41
  • 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

What is the temptation?

• If we are not praying CONTINUALLY and WATCHFULLY as our primary spiritual warfare action, then it is easy to Act In Our Own Will; Our Own Wisdom; Our Own Strength.

Final Thoughts:

• Where is our spirit willing but our flesh weak? These are the moments and situations when we stop praying...or reduce our praying.
• We can shore up these areas with increased prayer and fasting. 
• Let’s increase our Divine Dependency on God by asking Him for help.

The moment that we act from our flesh, is the moment we begin losing a spiritual battle. Our desire to be right, to be first, to be important...our pride, in all its forms, is a dangerous heart posture because we cannot win spiritual battles through our own effort!

Humility is the heart posture of spiritual warfare. 

Knowing Jesus is the first victory in spiritual warfare. Humility is how we walk in His victory. 

Here's a quick summary of the 4 main points from last week:

The first win for the enemy is to draw us away from complete dependence upon God. 

1. Pride Places us against God. - James 4:6

• Pride tells us we can handle it on our own. We know best. We don't need help.
• Humility keeps us abiding in Divine Dependency on Jesus. - John 15

The proud person attempts to live without dependence on God.
The humble person attempts to live in Divine Dependency on God for all things.

Andrew Murray: "Humility is the place of entire dependence on God."

2. Submission before Resistance - James 4:7-8

• We must submit to God, and then resist the devil....the order matters!
• Spiritual authority flows from surrender and submission to Jesus. 

3. Jesus showed Great Strength through Humility - Philippians 2:5-11

• The greatest spiritual victory in history came through the greatest act of humility! 

4. Humility receives Grace in Weakness - 1 Peter 5:5-9

• Peter's progression is to be humble and to humble yourselves and in that posture, stand firm against the enemy. 
• Humility is required to win spiritual battles. 
• In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul reminds us that weakness is not the enemy; self-sufficiency is the enemy. God's grace is given in full measure when we need it the most; but first we must consider our selves the most needful of it. 

Final Thoughts:

The strongest Christian is not the one whom needs God the least.

The strongest Christian is the one whom depends on God the most. 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

The first victory in spiritual warfare is knowing Jesus!

1. Know Jesus - He is Far Above All (Ephesians 1:19- 23; Hebrews 1:3)

2. Know Jesus - He Gives Strength and Power to Stand (Ephesians 6:10)

3. Know Jesus - He Gave You A New Identity (Ephesians 1:3, 19-20; 2:1-10)

Ephesians 1 - Jesus is Far Above All

Ephesians 2 - You are raised up and seated with Jesus in the heavenly places. You are his workmanship created to walk in good works.

Ephesians 6 - You stand in the strength of His Might and His Power

From Watchman Nee: 

1. Sit - rest in our position in Jesus Christ

2. Walk - Live righteously in the world

3. Stand - Stand our ground against the enemy

John 4:1-43

FREEDOM WAS NOT FREE! Use it right!

When life feels normal...But is not neutral.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Message by Ben Stoffel

By: Ben Stoffel

Matthew 3:16-17

Ephesians 3 :14-21