The Spiritual War of Imagination
Your mind can easily become the devil’s playhouse. He and his world of dark spirits are masters at imposing their evil influence on top of you. That place at the top is your mental thought life. The human ability to think, dream, and plan is wonderful, even God-like. This is one of the powerful things about our creative abilities. Our great God made us a little like Himself and nothing about us is bigger than our mind, which includes our self-consciousness.
Satan long ago developed and mastered the ability to attack the human consciousness. It is very likely the same method Satan used to deceive the angels and lead them to rebel against the Father. Millions of New Agers brag about taking possession of man’s minds to create what they call mass-consciousness. They project the idea of using their mental powers to lead our world to another level of evolution. They call it the coming “Age of Aquarius.” It is scary even though it is Biblical because they are actually promoting the Antichrist Kingdom.
The Bible has much to say about our thought life. Solomon spoke with God-given wisdom when he said, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7a). Apostle Paul warns us of the desperate need for charity or love that “thinketh no evil” (I Corinthians 13:5b). He spoke of the pure virtues that must fill our thought life, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Repeat the last four words, “Think on these things.”
David cried out, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). In the first psalm, the Spirit of God gave us the formula of success, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3). I have known a host of people that meditate on God’s promises and that is good; but, first, we must meditate on His laws if we are to prosper.
This dangerous hour is a repeat of the spirit of evil that plagued Noah’s generation right before judgment came. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Jesus warned us of this, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark” (St Matthew 24:38). Apostle Paul described that same period, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves” (Romans 1:21-24). Human imagination that forgets God is like a cesspool that spews vileness to destroy and pollute everything it touches.
God our Creator has not left us alone for this downward spiral of evil to consume us. He warned us that this is the conscious storm facing this last generation. The atmosphere is charged with dark and vile imaginations, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Please look carefully at what is coming against us, everyone we know, and all those we meet every day. These principalities and powers are both evil and unclean spirits. Principalities are generals in Satan’s army of attacking spirits. He then named “rulers of the darkness of this world.” They cannot be less than great spirits of wickedness that inhabit the conscious world all around us and above us. He then named “spiritual wickedness in high places.” Wicked angels that fell with Satan inhabit the entire atmosphere. If the Holy Ghost opened our eyes, we could see these hellish entities constantly charging against anyone who rejects the evil world to follow Jesus Christ. They are also busy destroying unprotected souls and loved ones that have refused the saving blood of Jesus Christ. The armor described in this great passage must be worn in the power of His Holy Spirit. He completes this picture of our armour with his warning to protect our mind. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesian 6:16-17). The “helmet of salvation” will keep protection around your thought life.
The Holy Spirit has also given us power to help others survive these horrendous attacks. This is the most important part of this Salty Saints inspiration. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 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” (II Corinthians 10:4-5). The words, “strong holds,” are a perfect description of how Satan wraps his dark imaginations around our minds and thinking until we cannot hear one word of warning. I have tried to warn multitudes in my years as a minister and, even, looked in their eyes as they shook their head in disbelief or rejection. A few of these dear souls finally woke-up and repented. Many are already eternally lost.
Prayer in the power of the Holy Ghost is the single hope for all of us. The apostle gave us hope by saying, “casting down imaginations.” This level of effective praying has become an absolute necessity. This kind of praying is only possible when the prayer warrior has become empowered by the Spirit. James, the Lord’s half brother, called it “effectual and fervent” praying. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 516b).
Your mind and thought patterns must be of paramount importance to your spiritual life. Do not allow anything negative or disruptive in your spirit to linger more than a few seconds. You can submit yourself to God, and then you can resist the devil and he has to flee. This has to be a lifestyle, not a one-time battle. Fill your mind with the Bible and the Spirit’s great revelations. Live a clean life so there are not any doors to your spirit by the world of evil. Baptize yourself daily in anointed praying.
Joseph R. Chambers