MIND GAMES - part 1 “MIND WARS” - CHESS
THE MIND IS A BATTLEFIELD WHERE TWO PARTS OF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY PLAYING A GAME…
1. Your Flesh
2. Your Spirit
THE GAME OF CHESS:
1. Military Strategy:
- Chess was designed as a strategic war game. The game simulated a battle between two armies, and it was intended to train military commanders in strategy and tactics.
2. Problem Solving:
- Chess was used as a means to teach and test problem-solving skills. Medieval scholars and philosophers often used chess as a metaphor for life’s complexities and as a way to explore philosophical ideas related to decision-making and strategy.
It requires critical thinking and planning ahead.
ALL of life’s battles are WON or LOST in YOUR MIND!
PAUL was the grandmaster player of the MIND GAME!
Romans 7:15 - 22
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
2 Corinthians 10:3 - 6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
DUNAMIS = dynomite, explosive power to the pulling down of….
Kathairesis - to tear apart and utterly raze “strong holds.”
Stronghold - Greek = Ochuroma - Military Stronghold - It depicted a fortress, a castle, or a citadel.
The “strongholds” Paul refers to are lies that the devil has ingrained so deeply in your mind and in your belief system that they now exert power over certain areas of your life.
Ancient fortresses had exceptionally thick, very high, impregnable walls many times 20 FEET DEEP!
The “strongholds” Paul refers to are lies that the devil has ingrained so deeply in your mind and in your belief system that they now exert power over certain areas of your life.
THE DEVIL WANTS TO ATTACK YOUR MIND AND CREATE STRONGHOLDS OF DECEPTION:
~ TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM GOD’S HEALING FROM YOUR LIFE
~ TO SEPERATE YOU FROM THE FREEDOM JESUS CAME TO PROVIDE!
The devil wants to shape your thinking of failure ONE LIE AT A TIME, UNTILL YOU ARE a
- shape your thinking one thought at a time… one pawn at a time…
- he attempts to build strong lies in your mind so he can rule you from a lofty position in your thoughts and emotions.
Although you may know logically that the lies the enemy speaks to your mind are untrue, these lies still wage war in your soul, attempting to sabotage your sense of self-worth and your self-image.
When a person has a stronghold in his mind or emotions, he has thick, invisible walls around him that act like both a fortress and a prison in his life.
Like the walls of a fortress, these lies insulate him from people who may try to break in to help him see the truth. Although others may want to help this person, they often find it impossible to break through the invisible barriers that surround his mind and emotions.
THE GAME OF LIFE WILL ALWAYS MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LOUDEST THOUGHTS!
Proverbs 23:7a
7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
- WHAT STAYS IN YOUR MIND - WILL COME OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
- YOU CANNOT HAVE A POSITIVE LIFE AND A NEGATIVE MIND.
There was an article about beginner chess people versus advanced and it all had to do with thinking.
1. First it was called the “MOVE BY MOVE” Concept.
- Instead of having a final goal in mind, they are stressed about every single move they make. They are worried constantly they will do the wrong thing.
WORRIED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PEACEFUL
Are you constantly thinking about worry?
or
Are you full of peace, do you learn to cast your care upon God even when things are not the way you want.
2. “DEFEATED AND RUN” Concept.
- the moment a pawn is taken they start walking down the idea they are defeated.
NEGATIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 POSITIVE
Do you wake up critical of everyone, assuming the worst?
Instead of believing the best… do you look at the day and say “it’s gonna be tough”, “look at my hectic schedule”?
or
Do you wake up and say “GOD IS WITH ME!
- I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!”
- “GOD IS WORKING THROUGH ME TODAY!”
3. Was called the “BULLET OR BLITZ” Concept.
WORLDLY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ETERNAL
What you have, what you wear, what you can get, how much you can make, how quick you can get done with things, what you want to do, how many followers, what everyone thinks about you.
or
God has given me a life to STEWARD, finances to STEWARD, time to STEWARD and gifts to USE!
- I am here to make a difference!
- I am here today to make an eternal impact!
WHAT STAYS IN YOUR MIND - WILL COME OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
:: HOW TO WIN AT THE GAME ::
1.
You have an enemy… the enemy’s pawns are not people… THEY ARE LIES.
CHESS DECISION:
1. WITH A POSITIVE, ETERNAL AND PEACEFUL MIND…YOU CREATE HIGHWAYS IN YOUR BRAIN!
- WHEN THE Enemy does this move RECOGNIZE - I KNOW THAT MOVE!
- I DEFEATED THAT MOVE BEFORE!
- I’VE GOT THIS!”
or…
YOU CAN CREATE THE NEGATIVE HIGHWAYS…
- A MINDSET, WORDS and THOUGHTS are that of always being a VICTIM.
2 Corinthians 2:11
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
BE aware, but NOT afraid.
2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
~ WE RESPOND WITH THANKS!
~ WE RESPOND LIKE WE KNOW THE END RESULT OF THIS!
~ God wants to use us as the DEMONSTRATION of HIS
Paul is saying:
- DO NOT BE IGNORANT!
- FIX YOUR FOCUS! ~ understand when he attacks you with lies!
~ WHEN YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE A LIE. ~ YOU THINK ABOUT THE LIE.
~ IT BECOMES YOUR DEFAULT THOUGHT.
John 8:44
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.
:: HOW THIS WORKS OUT ::
Frustrated at work.
Feeling depressed about life.
- old path eat ice cream, junk food, complain
- now MORE depressed because you feel guilty and upset and hopeless that you can’t control
RECOGNIZE THE LIE ~ think a different way… take a walk, pray
~ Respond recognizing the lie.
Feeling bored with life.
~ instead of searching the internet, scroll IG, self-degradation.
~ instead Open the Bible… text someone encouragement… write a letter…
WHAT IS THE MOVE THE ENEMY COMES UP WITH TO TRY TO TAKE OUT YOUR KING?
Helplessness - hopelessness - worthlessness - pointlessness - anger
NAME THE MOVE!
- YOU CANNOT DEFEAT WHAT YOU DO NOT DEFINE!
2.
Cap = something that is untrue, something that is fake.
John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
IF THE TRUTH SETS YOU
STRATEGY - NAME a truth that DESTROYS the stronghold.
2 Corinthians 10:5
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;
Greek - Take Captive = war term = capture with a sword or a spear.
THE SPEAR = PRAYER and THE SWORD = THE WORD!
YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE THOUGHT!
LIE #1. I CAN’T = TRUTH - I can do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)
LIE #2. BUT I’M JUST
LIE #3. BUT I’LL ALWAYS…. = TRUTH - Christ has redeemed me from every curse of the enemy. (Galatians 3:13)
WHEN THE LIE COMES ~ CAST IT DOWN and REPLACE IT….
Ephesians 6:16
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
“Fiery Darts” = Greek word Belos - It referred to an arrow with its tip wrapped with fabric soaked in flammable fluids so it would burn with hot and angry flames.
The specially-made, long, slender arrows that outwardly looked harmless; however, the hollow interior of the arrow was filled with flammable fluids that, upon impact, exploded into a raging fire.
This last arrow is most likely the picture that Paul had in his mind when he wrote about the “…fiery darts of the wicked.”
Often when the devil strikes, his attack looks inconsequential at first…
“Quench” = Greek word Sbennumi = quench by dousing or to extinguish by drowning in water.
It refers to the water-soaked shield of Roman soldiers. You see, before Roman soldiers went out to battle, they purposely soaked their shields in water until they were completely water-saturated.
The soldiers did this because they knew the enemy would be shooting fire-bearing arrows in their direction. If a shield was dry, it was possible for it to be set on fire when struck.
If this vital piece of armor was water-soaked, the flames would be extinguished even if an arrow penetrated its heavily saturated surface.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Our faith is increased by hearing the Word of God.
Ephesians 5:26
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
The Word of God is likened to WATER.
WHEN THE NEGATIVE THOUGHT COMES OUR WAY,
~ IF WE PRIORITIZED BY:
- Hearing the Word by coming to church.
- Receiving the Word by saying “whether I feel it or not ~ I say the WORD is highest authority”.
- Believe the Word by accepting it as MORE TRUE THAN THE LIES.
- Speak the Word by SAYING IT OUT LOUD WHEN THE LIES COME.
- ACT ON THE WORD BY DOING SOMETHING IN FAITH.
Romans 12:2
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.
- Be transformed… by Creating New Paths of Thinking… by Renewing your Mind!
The FAVOR on our lives is going to PROVE HIS GOODNESS!
3.
TRAIN YOUR
Emotions can cloud judgment in chess.
Players must control their emotions, stay calm under pressure, and make rational decisions.
Negative thoughts trigger
Ephesians 4:26 - 27 TPT
26 But don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day.
27 Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!
SIN is simply missing the mark of God’s perfect will.
- do not let anger control you.
- do not let guilt control you.
- do not let history control you.
- do not let depression control you.
Just because you feel it does not make it true. .
WHEN WE START TO FEEL EMOTIONAL, WE MUST remind OURSELVES of the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.
2 Peter 1:3
3 ACCORDING as HIS DIVINE POWER hath GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS that PERTAIN unto LIFE and GODLINESS, through the KNOWLEDGE of HIM that hath CALLED US TO GLORY and VIRTUE:
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1 Corinthians 2:16 NLV
16 For who has the thoughts of the Lord? Who can tell Him what to do? But we have the thoughts of Christ.
Revelation 3:7
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
- RECOGNIZE the devil’s lies.
- REPLACE all caps with facts.
- RULE your feels with what is real.
AND WE WIN!