Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind...

by Louie Giglio

(John 8:44),

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of you father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."

(2 Timothy 2:26).

and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

(1 Peter 5:8).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

“In Jesus’ name, I won’t entertain your words, your thoughts, your influence.”

We first need to recognize those lies and acknowledge their destructive powers in our lives before we unfold how they can be extinguished in Jesus’ name.

When you are up against life and death, when your back’s against the wall, when circumstances are poised to take you out, and when the Devil is whispering lies in your ear, you need to know there’s an all-powerful Good Shepherd with a rod in one hand and a staff in the other.

staff,

grab you and pull you ...

rod,

crush any prowling lion or raging bear that cha...

(1 Samuel 17:34–36).

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

(John 10:10).

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

He said you are going through the valley. In other words—you are going to make it.

He didn’t build a bridge over the Red Sea; He parted the sea so they could walk through it.

(Psalm 77:19

Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified.

incarnational theology,

means that Jesus liv...

Jesus is at the table with us in the fire, in the hardship, in the feelings of hopelessness, in the broken world.

humility is not thinking less of yourself; humility is thinking of yourself less.

You are made in the very image of God.

Jesus is holiness personified, but the Holy One invited you here. Booked the table. Prepared the meal. Sat down to join you. And this reservation cost Him everything.

11).

John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life fo the sheep."

The truth is that you need to let the Good Shepherd lead you by still waters. You need to let Him cause you to lie down in green pastures. You need to ask God to refresh your soul and guide you along righteous paths of healing and restoration for His name’s sake. You may be surrounded by pressures and troubles and uncertainties and misunderstandings, but God has set a table for you in the middle of all this. God’s got your back.

The oil provided a protective shield that prevented these irritants from finding safe harbor in the wool around the sheep’s face and nose. God, through His Word, wants to protect you from aggravation, lies, and deceit.

called down fire on the prophets of false gods on Mount Carmel.

I Kings 18:36-39 - And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"

Elijah passed on the anointing to young Elisha,

I King 19:19 - So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.

(2 Kings 6:10).

Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

(v. 15).

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

(v. 16).

So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

(v. 17).

And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open, his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

But the Spirit of God is interceding for you:

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

(John 6:68).

But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

(Psalm 68:33).

To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.

He has to flee in Jesus’ name.

James 4:7 - Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(Matthew 4:1–11),

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said. "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All thee things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Matthew 5:21–22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

27–28,

"You have heard that it was said to those old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Proverbs 14:12–13

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief.

Hebrews 11:25

choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin

But as soon as you eat the fruit and hit guilt, shame, and frustration, the Enemy changes roles. He shifts from being the enticer and promiser to becoming the accuser and the condemner.

Condemnation is done from a posture of hate. Conviction is done from a posture of love.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

SURROUNDED, CLOTHED, SECURE, NEW

(Hebrews 12:2).

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The battle is won because of who walks with us through the dark valleys and who sits at the table with us when we’re surrounded by troubles.

Second Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Galatians 3:26–28

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:3

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.