Victory in the Battle of the Mind
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8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Introduction
Introduction
Thank Bro. David for his years of service as song-leader. Not retiring but taking a different role. Give Bible and card.
Bro. Alan at 1:30 today. All are welcome, encourage couples to go. Someone will be able to watch the kids.
Each person sitting here today is involved in a great battle. The battle is between good and evil, and it is fought for control of a place called the mind.
When this great battle started on earth, there had to be a mutual meeting place. There had to be a place selected for the battle to begin, and for the battle to rage. And that battlegrounds begin in the human mind. 62-0311 — The Greatest Battle Ever Fought
This no mans land of the mind is where the battle is fought for the soul, which is the place where the King dwells.
The mind is like a city with eleven gates, five gates of the body, five gates of the spirit, and one for the soul.
Five senses of the body:
Sight
Taste
Feeling
Smell
Hearing
Five senses of the spirit:
Imagination
Conscience
Memory
Reason
Affection
One gate of the soul, known as free will, which allows faith or doubt into the throne of your heart.
When you are born into the world, as you reach the age of accountability the battle begins.
At some point God’s Word is introduced through the senses of the body and spirit, specifically through the sense of hearing.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Now there is a battle between faith and doubt.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Faith is the victory, faith doesn’t bring victory, it is victory.
Faith is the victory over death. Faith is the victory over sin. Faith is the victory over sickness. Faith is the victory over worry. Faith is the victory over flustrations. Faith is the victory over the world. 58-1004 - "Faith Is Our Victory"
Now, faith is a conqueror. Faith is an overcomer. It just isn’t a peace-maker. It overcomes. “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.”
What does it do? What is faith? What is, to “conqueror”? Conquer and victory is the same. To conquer, it means “to beat down; to over-ride; to handcuff; to throw into prison.”
It means that the sin that once ruled you, you rule it now. It means that you have overcome it. You’ve whipped it. You are greater than it is. 58-1004 - "Faith Is Our Victory"
And faith is the victory that overcomes every curse of the devil. Faith is the victory. Faith in what? Not faith in your church, not faith in your creed, not faith in some man. But, faith in Jesus Christ Who made the promise, that’s the victory.
What is it? It is the victory. Say, “My arm is still crippled.” But faith is the victory. “I still feel sick.” But faith is the victory. Oh, it overcomes the world.
When you can climb into God, by prayer, until you see the thing conquered under you, there is nothing that can hurt you then. You’ve overcome. You got fifty miles of elbow room. You’re sailing free then.
You who have been a drunkard and a slave to whiskey, you will be the master over him then. That old devil of alcohol that made you drink, he’s your master now; but when you get faith, I don’t mean make-belief, real faith, he’s your servant then.
You who can’t lay down tobacco, you women and men, when it comes to a place to where you can get to that spot, to where you have overcome it by faith, you’ll master it then. 58-1004 - "Faith Is Our Victory"
Real faith knows no defeat. It cannot be defeated. Even death itself can’t defeat it. It knows no defeat. Trials know defeat, but faith knows no defeat.
It cannot be defeated. And it is the only way that you can please God. “For without faith it is impossible to please God,” said Hebrews 11.
Faith has its own language. We have to learn the language.
And I think it would behoove Christians more, today, if they were trying to learn some Heavenly language, the praises of God, that we’re going to sing over There, and enjoy.
And the people that does not believe in shouting, what would you do when you get over There? You would be so out of place.
Better get faith, and overcome now, for faith is the victory that overcomes. No, you wouldn’t be tagging little things like that. You would be having victory. 58-1004 - "Faith Is Our Victory"
If faith is the victory and faith comes by hearing, why do I not have victory in my mind?
Faith has to come to a place that it is not just mental faith, but that it has been accepted by the soul and quickened to life.
We call this the True Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Example: “I’m not the son of Charles and Ella Branham”
Now its more than a mental faith, it is a reality.
Now the King is in residence on the throne of your heart. From his administration comes joy, peace, all the fruits of the spirit.
I’m not trying to produce something by my own efforts.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
We just accept the Word upon the basis, “God said so,” and sets a stream between you and God. Every channel comes open between you and God, then.
There’s the battle, the very first, front line. Let’s not use a .22 rifle; let’s get an atomic bomb. Let’s do the job right. Let’s get God’s atomic bomb.
“What is it, Brother Branham?” F-a-i-t-h in His Word. That’s God’s atomic bomb. It blows sickness and devils, right and left. It annihilates them. It just destroys. It disintegrates everything that’s ungodly.
When that bomb of faith drops in there, with the Word of God behind it, it blows every devil, every sickness, every disease.
You say, “Is that right, Brother Branham? Then why does it, on some, and not on others?”
It’s because of the channel. You can look out and see it. But you’ve got to have it in here, looking this a way. Not out there, looking in; you got to be in, looking out.
You can’t come through reason. You can’t come through these other things. You’ve got to come right down God’s channel of it, right into the soul. 62-0311 - "The Greatest Battle Ever Fought"
He that is within you begins to make your body and mind come subject to the Word.
Your actions are transformed by the renewing of your mind.
There’s a new King in residence. Once the King is there, all the channels are cleaned out by the Holy Spirit.
Example: Girl with Hodgkins disease, not a Christian.
What was the matter? You had to open the channel, first. You’ve got to get the Soldier, the Holy Spirit, placed at the battlefront, that takes God’s Word. He is the Word. And He stands there, there’s nothing going to stop It then.
(Boiler with the flue stopped up. Cluttered mind needs an escape valve)
You’ve got to clean it, conscience, memory, thoughts, laying aside everything, and coming from the inside out, with that unadulterated Word of God, that It’s the Truth.
No matter if ten thousand died on this side, today, trusting; ten thousand died on that side, tomorrow, trusting; that has nothing to do with me.
I’m the individual. I’m the one that’s trusting. I’m the one that believes it. And we see back yonder, if we wanted to open up our channels then, if we can, and see. We find this one and that one, and this one and that one, thousands of them, testifying. 62-0311 - "The Greatest Battle Ever Fought"
There can be victory in the battle of the mind. You are not a victim but a victor. A victim is a sacrificial lamb, a victor is one who benefits from that sacrifice.
We are more than conquerors.
Victory in the battle of the mind is a promise from God.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
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;
Bro. Branham prayed for many people who were fighting a battle with mental oppression.
I see a lady setting right back through this a way. She’s suffering. She’s got oppression. She’s got a breakdown. It’s a nervous condition, a mental condition.
Oh, if the woman could only catch it. God, tell me who she is. Please do. Her name is Mrs. Adams. Mrs. Adams, believe with all your heart, and Jesus Christ will make you well. Do you believe it with all your heart? You accept your healing?
Don’t be scared. If you’re scared, you’ll always be in that estate. It a mental oppression. But don’t doubt. Believe with all your heart. Will you do it? Then stand up on your feet, Mrs. Adams.
Stand up on your feet. Stand up, right here and be healed in the Name of Jesus Christ. I rebuke that devil that’s bothering you to try to keep you from it. The devil’s lying to you. You’re going to be all right. Go home and be well now. God bless you. 60-0723 - "Speak To The Rock And It Shall Give Forth His Water"
All right, the thing of it is, that you’re really, the trouble is, you’re suffering from a nervous breakdown. You’re having some kind of mental scruples in your mind. It’s oppression from Satan.
This has been going on for some time. It’s caused your body to get weak. Your heart is weak. You’re in a very bad shape. By this, your whole family is just about into a breakdown.
Sir, you’ve been waiting for a Word, haven’t you? [The brother says, “Yes.”—Ed.] Do you accept my word? [“Yes, sir.”] Then, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I send you home to be well. 63-0802 - "Perseverant"
This is something he had as well.
And you don’t know what I’ve suffered; just mental oppression. Every seven years it’s come, all my life. 65-1128E - "On The Wings Of A Snow-White Dove"
He went to Mayo clinic trying to get help, and had a vision of a squirrel that jumped into his mouth. The voice said “Remember he’s only six inches long”.
Mayo Brothers, the next day, examined me. Said, “Your father was an Irishman, he drank. Your mother being a half Indian, that makes you almost a half-breed. So you’ll be…you’re just such a nervous wreck until you’ll never be out of it.”
Said, “Otherwise, you’re healthy. But that, that’s something in the soul that man cannot control.” Said, “When a man dies, can’t hold a autopsy, ’cause his soul’s gone.” He said, “Well, you’ll never get over it.”
I said, “But, sir, I don’t do nothing.” I said, “I’m happy. Said, “That’s right. That’s just out of the human grab bag.” Said, “You’ll always have it.” Oh, what a discouraging thing! 65-1128E - "On The Wings Of A Snow-White Dove"
His mother had a dream of six white doves.
When he was in dove cove, he saw the seventh one. He also saw the six inch squirrel, that missed him and fell in the cactus. He found a rock that had the words “white eagle” written on it.
He had went to another doctor who said you have gastritis, you’ll never get over it.
Somehow, I know. I’ll tell you before it happens. The doctor’s a good doctor, no doubt. I think he’s a fine man. But I know I’m going to be over it. It’s done! It’s finished, and I’m going to be well! 65-1128E - "On The Wings Of A Snow-White Dove"
Later that night, during the prayer line, he prays for a woman with the same problem.
Depression, fear, I know what this…[The sister speaks to Brother Branham.] Poor little thing, she said she’s never seen peace in life. The same thing that I…Can’t sleep, nervous, tension.
Dear God, bear me record, Lord, that I’ve told the Truth. How I feel for this little woman! I pray, God, that You’ll send to her, tonight, that streak of faith from above that knows that You are obligated to Your Word, and You’ll keep every Word.
May the God of Heaven take this fear away from my sister. And I obey You by laying hands upon her and condemning it. In the Name of Jesus Christ, may it come out of her. Amen.
Now, look sister, you believe me now, if you can start from right here, by the cross. From this night, deny you got it. See, go on saying, “I haven’t got it no more,” and it will leave you. 65-1128E - "On The Wings Of A Snow-White Dove"
He didn’t tell she needed a supernatural sign, but if she could get victory in her mind, it was over.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the devil getting free rein in my mind. I believe victory is mine, and faith is the victory.
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
Quit messing around with .22 rifles, drop the atomic bomb of faith on your enemy. You can have victory in the battle of the mind.
On the Wings of a Snow White Dove