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"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."
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Yesterday, we looked at two prominent lies the Devil hurls at us:
1. The Lie of Comparison
2. The Lie that You Are Doomed
Today, we will look at two more:
3. The Lie of Worthlessness
This is unfortunately a valley I see more and more people are falling into these days. You are not enough; you will never measure up; etc. The enemy is at your table, feeding you this very common lie. Louie Giglio says our response should be to lock eyes with Jesus at the table. There is no scorn or shame in His eyes, only love and compassion for you and me. The hands that hold the pitcher of water to pour you a refreshing drink are hands with nail scars in them. "Sure, 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." (p. 60)
4. The Lie that There Is No Way Out
This lie is a combination of all the other lies. This leads you to a point of desperation that results in harm to yourself or others. A friend of mine told me a couple of weeks back, "There is always a solution." And there is. Our problem is, we cannot see it in the moment. That doesn't mean it is not there; it means we just haven't seen it yet.
One of my favorite Old Testament stories is when the King of Aram, an enemy of Israel, came to silence the prophet Elisha because he was helping the king of Israel. Enemy forces surrounded Elisha's house, but the prophet was not worried. His servant, however, was petrified! But in 2 Kings 6:17, Elisha prayed for the LORD to open his servant's eyes. God heard the prayer, and sure enough, the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire!
We will listen to one of two voices: "There is no way out, you are doomed," or, "I've got you, I am for you, and I will make a way." Chapter 7 in Pastor Louie Giglio's book, Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, is entitled, "Take Every Thought Captive." This chapter is very helpful in assisting us on a practical level as to how we win the battle and do what 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us. He compares the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection with the battle of the Allied troops at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The war was won at that point, but there were still battles to be fought. Over 4,400 Allied troops died in the conflict, but when the five Normandy beaches were secured, it spelled the end of Nazi Germany. In time, the Allied forces would bring through the harbors of Normandy the following: 2.5 million troops, half a million vehicles, and 4 million tons of supplies. The war, for all intents and purposes, was over, but significant battles were still in the future, like the battle for Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. (See pages 125-26.)
When Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead, He won the war for your soul and mine, for our eternal freedom and victory. All we must do is believe in Him and turn to Him in repentance, and He gives us the victory. There are still battles to be waged while we are on this earth.
I have great news for the child of God: we are not marching to victory but from victory! Here is a very practical way (thanks to Pastor Giglio) that you and I can apply 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: when Satan hurls a thought at you, recognize that the thought is not from God but Satan; that is step one. Next, cast down that thought in Jesus' name, and say it out loud: "This thought is not of Jesus, so I bind it inoperable, in Jesus' name!" Next, take the thought captive to the obedience of Jesus, arrest the evil thought, and say, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 9) Then, do what Jesus did when attacked by Satan in the wilderness, quote the Word of God.
Win, don't lose, the battle in your mind. God has given us all we need to win these battles, to come out victorious, to conquer and not be conquered. God does this for His glory, for our good, and for us to be able to help others in a similar battle.
I am praying for you, for God to strengthen you to not allow the enemy a seat at the table of your mind. That table of grace is a special place for you and the King of Kings. Be strong, in Jesus' name. The Lord is with you!
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