Identifying your enemies

Rob Streetman Feb. 4, 2020

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In consideration of your mission and strategy for those in your spheres of influence, we must recognize that an enemy lies within us. 

I lament not knowing sooner in my life that my carnal mind has been an active and aggressive ally of Satan and the world.

Not knowing for myself means I have been unable to share the same with the hundreds of people I have attempted to disciple over the years. Furthermore, every time I brought my carnal mind into the church, I was helping the enemy gain or strengthen their position in the camp I was at least partially responsible for protecting. The same is true for every sphere of influence God has entrusted to my responsibility.

Yes, it is a sobering thought.

Failing to identify and deal with our carnal mind, we have not only injured ourselves, but we have brought the number one enemy of God’s kingdom into our fellowships and ministries. In doing so, we have helped open the door to Satan and the world.

Furthermore, concession to our carnal mind is a blatant form of double-mindedness. We have been given the mind of Christ; to trust in any other is idolatry. The carnal mind is at enmity with God, and can be nothing else (Romans 8:7).

If this has also cut you to the heart, then I dare say you and I are in good company and the response remains the same.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ~Acts 2:37-38

From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, we learn that “repent” means “change one’s mind.” Consider that for a moment. When John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter called the multitudes to repent, they were saying, “Change your mind about the kingdom of God and how you enter into it!” 

Repentance is not an event reserved for the lost. It is the beginning of a process; a change of the mind that leads to a change in behavior.

With this in mind, the command of Romans 12:2 makes much more sense: “… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transformation—in individuals, fellowships and societies—begins with the renewing of our minds. If 2020 and the decade that follows is to be marked by transformation, we must learn (and teach others) to repent.

The way we think has much more to do with the decline of the Western church than we realize. We must seriously and soberly consider the way we think as Christians. We have gotten lazy with our thinking. We trust our thinking way too much. Those of us who preach and teach trust the thinking of others more than we should.

The results are obvious and they are not good. It is time we tried something different. We must, by the Holy Spirit, identify and overcome our carnal minds.

God bless you with courage and grace to call for the renewal of minds of those whom God has entrusted to your care.

Photo source: istock 

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Rob Streetman serves the body of Christ as President of two parachurch ministries: inLight Consulting (a workplace transformation ministry) and 2:2 Collective (a unity and church growth ministry). He is the author of two books: The Map Maker and A Storm is Coming. Rob’s heart desires is to encourage, edify and equip Christian leaders as disciple-makers and transformation agents—that they would become houses that stand in the storms of this life. He previously worked in various IT industry positions. Learn More »

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