WHAT IS, THE “GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH”??? 3

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Heb. 11:1

THE BATTLEGROUND OF FAITH IS THE SOUL

Now there is, in this gallant country of Universe, a fair and delicate town, a corporation called MANSOUL; …a town that I may say of it, “There is not its equal under the whole heaven.”  As to the situation of this town, it lies between the two worlds: and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; and he built it for his own delight. He made it the mirror and glory of all that he had made, even the top-piece, beyond anything else that he did in that country. And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all the country round about.   This town of MANSOUL had five gates, at which to come out, and at which to go in. The names of the gates are these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate and Feel-gate.

Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon the famous town of MANSOUL, to take it, and make it his own habitation. (Holy War, the sequel to Pilgrim’s Progress by the English Puritan- John Bunyan)                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Bunyan’s classic work dealing with Spiritual Warfare identifies the Battleground of Faith as the Human Soul, MANSOUL if you will

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; …and, "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.…Deut. 11:18-19

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,  "this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the lord: I will put my laws UPON THEIR HEART, and ON THEIR MIND I will write them, " He then says, "and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."…Heb. 10:15-17

HEART - The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure. The seat of the understanding; the seat of the will; hence, secret purposes, intentions or designs.   WHAT WE “FEEL”

MIND -The intellectual or intelligent power in man; the understanding; the power that conceives, judges or reasons. WHAT WE “THINK”

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12:1

 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. John 12:37-41

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jer. 17:9

The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:5.

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jer. 17:10

"I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!'  "How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?…Jer. 23:25-27

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.  For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting …Rom. 16:17-18

Behold, I (Jesus) will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.  'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.  'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you.…Rev.2:22-24

The LORD judges the peoples; for the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.  My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.…Ps. 7:8-10

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.        Isa 26:3

 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col. 3:1-

What we hear, see, taste, smell and feel greatly influence our heart’s desire and our mind’s contemplation.

BE ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. 1 Pet. 5:8