Sermons from the Evanston Vineyard: Winning the war of the mind

I decided to visit my old church, the Vineyard, almost on a whim. I did let a few friends know ahead of time, but it was essentially last-minute. Also, I originally wasn't planning to take sermon notes. The last time I blogged about my former church -- really, the last several times -- I've not been all that flattering about what I saw there, including the sermons that were generally being preached. After all, I did ultimately leave.

Happily, though, this time was different. As you'll see below, this sermon was very similar to the ones I commonly hear at my church, Good News Christian Center, encouraging words about standing strong in our faith and relationship in Christ against all spiritual battles. There were a few minor details that I would have preferred to have been different, but overall, this was a solid message. 

One important thing I will note - the sermon ended before the speaker got to the third point, presumably due to time constraints. As such, I took my best stab at what might've been said had the speaker had the opportunity. When in doubt, use the Word of God.

♱

Church 10/15/2023

Sermon message:

Guest speaker

Thesis: winning the war of the mind

• The war
• Our weapons
• Our victory assured

Point #1: the war

We are waiting for V-day when Jesus returns. But Jesus has already conquered death 2,000 year ago via His blood.

What is the territory that Satan is still trying to go after? You.

Spiritual battle is real.

Growing in Christ-likeness via union with God.

2 Peter 1:4

You are in a spiritual battle and there is no neutrality. You’re either for God or for the devil. You are either in the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness.

Point #2: Our weapons.

Ephesians 6 put on the armor of God

Romans 13 put on the armor of light; put on Christ.

The first spiritual weapon is watchfulness.

Proverbs 4:23 guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life

Matthew 26:41 Jesus says to His disciples: “keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we live as humans but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every stronghold that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought in captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Isaiah 54:17 no weapon formed against you shall prosper, every tongue that rises up in judgment we condemn, for this is our heritage as servants of the Most High God, and our righteousness is from Him.

The second spiritual weapon is counterspeaking / rebuttal.

Matthew 4:1-11. when Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by the devil; and He uses the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God to rebut the temptations of the enemy. “It is written….”

The third spiritual weapon is “the Jesus prayer”:

“Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God,

have mercy on me.”

Just like the tax collector who prayed the same. (But also confessing the Lordship of Jesus Christ aka Romans 10:9)

Acts 28:31

Philippians 2:9-11

James 4:7 resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Mark 1 introduced Jesus as the son of God

Luke 18 blind Bartimeus praying, “Lord Jesus, Son of [God], have mercy on me.”

Point #3: our victory assured

Deuteronomy 20:4 for the Lord your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.

1 Corinthians 15:57 thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

Romans 8:37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.