Let us consider where the battleground lies. Our warfare is not in the cities; or on the streets; or in foreign lands. The battleground where the enemy assaults us is much closer to home. It is in our minds and in our thoughts. When we can overcome all the doubts and fears that assail us right where we live, in our innermost thoughts, we can overcome anything that we encounter in the world.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. Everyone desires peace. We want peace in our homes and at our workplace. Often the peace we so desire seems to elude us completely. We are not responsible for others. We are responsible for ourselves. We can possess the peace that passeth understanding, regardless of our situation or environment.

We see from the above verse a key to possessing God's perfect peace. It is found when we keep our mind centered on God. We can worship and dwell on God wherever we are, regardless of whom else is around. From our heart's we can commune spirit to spirit, and no one will even know. This keeping our mind focused on God, communing with Him is acquired with practice.

We are instructed in Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who be reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Most Christians see themselves as being of full age, and ready to digest strong meat. After all, they've been a member of such and such church all their lives. Our spiritual growth has nothing at all to do with years spent in a religious environment, and everything to do with how we have developed and grown in our personal relationship with God. How has our spirit grown? Do we seek the Father's guidance for everything in our lives, or do we think we can handle the routine, daily stuff and just look to God for the catastrophes? Do we possess discernment? Or do we depend on our reasoning ability to keep us from harm? Are we even aware of the fact that we are God's dwelling place? Our spirit is united and made one with God's spirit when we are born again.

Strong meat is going to humble you, not puff you up. 1 Cor.8: 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. We need to come to grips with the fact that we are never going to have all the answers; we are never going to know it all. But we can have an intimate relationship with the one who does have all the answers. We need to learn to appreciate that we will never anticipate what is coming down the road, if we are walking with God. He will always surprise us. When we set ourselves up as having all the answers we are setting ourselves up for a fall. We may fool some people, but we should remember that God knows the truth. Such conduct will only grieve God. A know-it-all attitude is one of the greatest hindrances we could possibly possess. It is an avenue for the development of pride, arrogance, a sense of superiority, all opposites of the qualities we need to cultivate in our lives. What qualities should a child of God possess and demonstrate. 1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Nothing in life should be allowed to take preeminence over our desire to be found pleasing in God's sight. The world and those who control the systems men have built operate from the carnal realm of their reasoning minds. From our childhood, we are taught to think things out, to use logic and reason to survive in this world. Having been born into the family of God, we must learn again as a little child how to function properly in God's family.

John 4:23-23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Our spirit is what has been reborn; our body is simply a vessel. Yet the carnal appetites of our flesh can be strong and all consuming of our time and energies. We must learn that if we will be true worshipers of God, we must learn to put down our flesh, and allow our spirit to develop and grow. We must conform to God, not the other way around. God is a spirit, and if we would worship him, we can only do so from our newborn spirit. Lip service is empty, if the heart is not in it. In this world today, it is all too common to have people who will praise and congratulate you to your face, then verbally stab you in the back when you are not around. We must guard our hearts that we are not found guilty of doing the same thing to God.

Do we have a set time during the week when we turn out thoughts and attention to God, and the rest of the week we are caught up in the concerns of this world? God will not be content with partial love and obedience anymore than we would be content with a spouse who only gave thought to us for a few hours a week, and the rest of the time did their own thing to our exclusion. As members of Christ's body, each member is special and unique. We are all born into this world at our own specifically appointed time and place. We all have different life experiences before our spiritual birthing. We have no control over these things. But our Father has a plan and definite purpose he desires to fulfill in and through each one of our lives.

Men will tell us that 'their church', 'their take' on Christ's gospel is the way to follow. That they hold the keys to unlock the mysteries of heaven. What will you do if God should see fit to judge all the churches? What will you do if the time comes when God breaks down all the religious structures men have built up? Do you believe in your heart that all of the denominational divisions man has established are pleasing to our Father? We were never called out by God to seek after the things of this world. We are, however, charged to seek after the things of the spirit.

As born again believers we have access to a spirit-led, spirit-filled life, which is far superior to the life available to us without God. There are no divisions in the kingdom. No counterfeits will ever be able to sneak in, because the kingdom is God's. God sees and knows the very thoughts and intents of every heart. Clever men can deceive other men, but they stand naked and exposed before God. We all need to seek after the kingdom with our whole heart. We need to consume every word recorded in the gospels that Jesus spoke, concerning our new life in HIS KINGDOM.

St. John 12:46-50 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me the commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father. We are given the same opportunity to have the very same kind of relationship; both with the Father and with the Son. Jesus did not rely on his own mental abilities; he did not operate in this world by his reasoning mind. He operated in this world by the power of the spirit. He spoke that which he heard the Father speak. This is the same way we are charged to live in this world, and the same message we are charged to deliver to others. We can only accomplish this as we are led by and live in the spirit. This means that we are more sensitive to God within than we are to our own rational thoughts, to our own carnal desires and judgments.

People don't need to hear more good ideas; people in the world today need to hear the word God intends for them. People today don't need more charming, charismatic leaders, or beautiful stirring music; they don't need to be made to feel good about themselves. What people need is to encounter the awesome presence of the living God. When the presence of the Almighty comes on the scene, everything falls into the proper perspective. People need to find the one thing that will fill their inner void. We need to have our hunger satisfied. All that the world has to offer; material things, wealth, power, are but poor substitutes for that which our hearts desire. God created man in His own image. That we should be satisfied with anything less than His fullness is impossible. We were created a triune being. We all possess three parts; body, soul and spirit. We are incomplete as long as our spirit is separated from our Creator.

You have heard testimony of individuals who have possessed great wealth and power, yet have not found happiness or satisfaction in them. Others have had very little materially; yet have experienced great joy and peace in spite of their material lack, because of their living relationship with God. Having a relationship with God is the determining factor in man's finding peace and fulfillment in our life. Our relationship with God is dependent on bringing our mind into subjection to our spirit. Our spirit life is eternal, while our physical/mental life is temporal.

As long as we are not subject to the spirit, we are easy targets for the enemy. As long as we are governed by our own thinking and following our own will, we are walking in darkness. The greatest battles we will ever fight lie within our own selves. The struggles we must face center in our dying to self and all the dictates of our flesh, and learning to live under the direct guidance of our spirit. Consider what Paul said in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul was an ordinary man just like we are. He experienced a personal encounter with Jesus, which totally changed his life. He knew what it meant to be crucified with Christ ... to die to self. He knew what it meant to live in this world, dead to the flesh yet alive in the spirit. He knew what it meant to have Christ living within, guiding and directing every part of his life. Faith and reason are opposites. Reason can never accept that which is not tangible to the senses. Faith is the avenue by which we know God. The choice is ours, as to how we will live our lives.

1 Cor 2:15-3:3 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

We may think of ourselves as being spiritual. We may even appear spiritual by the standards of men. But men are not the standard of measurement; Christ is. Paul was speaking to Christians, but they were Christians who had not yet matured. What we have today are multitudes of spiritual babies, only able to receive milk and not meat. Like children, we want someone to comfort us and make us feel good about ourselves. When we are fully submitted to Christ, we will have the same mind as Christ and be one with Him. We have to make Jesus Christ LORD of our lives. Being born again is only the initial step of our birthing into God's spiritual family. We do not then automatically have the mind of Christ in all things.

Notice the point made in the following verse. 1 Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This is one of the things we are charged to strive toward. Not that we pursue denominational doctrines, but that we seek to learn Christ's gospel. We must seek after and strive to obtain the mind of Christ, while still in these mortal bodies. This is only found in an intimate, personal relationship. Without it, we will have divisions and be out of step.

God is calling out to his people today; to trust him, to believe him, to obey him and to follow him. We see in 1Pet. 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. As God's children, and heirs to his promises, we are not going to gain our full inheritance as long as we are carnally minded. We will never be overcomers in the world if we are not first overcomers in our own lives. "Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." The rest of our earthly lives we are to live by the dictates of God's spirit, not our flesh. We do not call the shots, God does. We do not set the agenda, God does. We will find we have our hands full just by walking in the knowledge we have already received, and being obedient to the directives given thus far. We can learn a lot from studying how God has dealt with mankind in the past, as recorded in the Bible. Man has not changed. The word tells us in James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. And in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. God's plan encompasses all of mankind and all of time. We will be doing ourselves a huge favor when we get in step with HIS game plan. Jesus was the perfect example we are called to follow. He is our strength, our guide, our comforter, our intercessor and our judge. He told us in St. John 14:12-21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Yet a little while, and world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus words are LIFE, and they give us directions as to how we may find life. One of the most important keys that will unlock this mystery is belief. "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." We must believe with our entire heart and soul and mind that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We must believe every word that he spoke. Partial believing will not get us part way into heaven. Belief is something that is not tangible; it cannot be measured by man. No one knows what another person really believes or doesn't believe. We can observe others conduct; their actions and words; but God alone sees the thoughts and intents of every heart. That is why we cannot judge one another. Jesus said that if we truly believe him, we shall do the same works that he did and even greater works. This is not happening. Why? Because of unbelief. What did Jesus do? He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, confronted the religious hypocrites, and preached the message of the Kingdom. Even he could perform no miracles in his own hometown because of their unbelief. Are you beginning to see the importance of believing? Unbelief will keep us separate from the intimate relationship we so desire. May we join our voice with the father of the child possessed by an evil spirit in Mark 9:24 "Lord, help thou mine unbelief." We see suffering and trouble everywhere we turn. No country or household is exempt. If we know God, then we also know the answer to the problems that surround us. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Faith and belief are interwoven. You cannot possess one without the other. Diligence in seeking is required on our part. Darkness in the world has never been greater than it is in this generation. Do we believe enough to hold our lights on high, or will we hide it under a bushel? We need to ask ourselves such questions, while there is still time to change. "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." Did Jesus mean we can ask for a new car and we will magically find one in our driveway? We must first become one in the spirit with Christ. Anything that we ask of God in accordance with his will, we will receive. This verse does not mean that we can ask for things according to the lusts of our flesh and get them.

We have a tendency to get the cart before the horse. Too often, Christians behave like little children with our wish lists. Too often, our wants and requests are carnally motivated from our fleshly desires. Many times we don't get what we ask for: James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount he was describing the religious hypocrites and warning believers not to follow in their example: Matt. 6:8 Be ye not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask. We need to come to the realization that God knows everything. He knows all that we have need of, and as our heavenly Father he desires to give us good things. But first of all he desires to bring us to maturity. As long as there is carnality mixed with our spirituality, we are imperfect and in part. Jesus said in Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. We can only come into perfection by willingly laying down our self-life, and learning to live by the spirit. We can only truly know God, from our spirit. Not with our mind, not with our intellect, not with our carnal wisdom and knowledge. St John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Some of us need to have a little perception or attitude adjustment. John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Do we have seeds of self-righteousness festering in our hearts because we think we chose to become a Christian? Then let us realize that God chooses whom he will. Everything in our walk hinges on our relationship with the Father and the Son. Who is it that loves God? Jesus went on to say, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." We need to examine our own hearts, and get into God's word. We need to learn again what Jesus said, and to ask the Holy Spirit to quicken our understanding. Are we obeying all of Jesus' commandments to us? What kind of love are we showing our LORD? Have we laid down our own life? Do we want to hear him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant?" Are we confident we won't hear him say, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?" These are all things worthy of our prayerful consideration.