Guarding the Heart in the Midst of

Spiritual Warfare

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

1

Be Ye Refreshed

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

(Jeremiah 31:25)

2nd Corinthians 4:16: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even

though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is

being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:1 - Therefore, since we have this

ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,

Do Not Lose Heart

• The Christian Walk, especially when one chooses ministry, is

not an easy task and when one is walking upright and with a

godly conscience

• In this chapter, the Apostle Paul speaks of persecution from the

“god of this world” and this worldly system. There are a lot of

things we may endure for the gospel’s sake

• Paul does not lost heart is because though all his suffering takes

a toll on the outward man, yet the inward man is being renewed

and blessed.

– The key to endurance is a strong and renewed inward man or the

“hidden man of the heart”

Develop Strength Inwardly

• 1st 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.

• We focus too much upon our flesh and our intellect and emotions to

endure trials and fight this battle, but God wants us to develop

inwardly so that we can endure outwardly

• Paul prayed for it:

– Ephesians 3:16: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to

be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

– To be strengthened with might - To be powerfully strengthened. That is, to give

you abundant strength to bear trials; to perform your duties; to glorify his name.

Faith in God Allows This

• Ephesians 3:17 - That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

• We need spiritual strength to let Christ dwell within us because

there is something in us that resists the influence of the

indwelling Jesus

• Faith allows Christ to dwell in our hearts which serves as the

foundation for the love of God to flow in our lives, producing

spiritual fruit that will allow us to maintain godly character and

behavior in the midst of attacks and trials (Galatians 5:6;

Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22,23)

Follow the Path

Our New Life Begins with Christ

Dwells in Our hearts by FAITH

Faith that comes by hearing god’s word

This love relationship with Christ producesgodly fruit

Godly fruit strengthens and sustains us in our spiritual walk

YOU GOT ME RUNNING IN CIRICLES

DISTRACTIONSANXIETIES

CARES OF THIS WORLD

RUNNING WITH “THE JONESES”

SELF GRATIFICATIONS

“DAILY STUFF”NEEDS

OBLIGATIONS

God Wants You to Prosper & Be

In Health

• God desires that we be prosperous and whole

3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest

prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And may the God of peace Himself

sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane

things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may

your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete

[and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the

Messiah).

Prosperous and Be in Health

• You cannot prosper above the prospering of your soul

• Prosperous Soul – Free from error

• Paul prayed that our spirit, soul and body be preserved

sound and complete – In that Order

• God designed the human to live after the order of

spirit, soul, and body instead of body, soul, spirit.

Many People/Christians Has It

Backwards

• Self Care begins with the spirit

Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world (this age),

[fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs],

but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind

[by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for

yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of

God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in

His sight for you].

Being Spiritual by Fleshly Means

• Another Dilemma is that they try to achieve something

spiritual by fleshly means

• Galatians 3:3 - Are you so foolish and so senseless and

so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with

the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by

dependence] on the flesh?

• We fail when we pursue doctrines, new age thinking,

philosophies and supernatural things (occultism) that

are not connected to the Spirit of God

Keeping Your Heart Strong in

Battle

Praise

Prayer

Armor Up

Spirit

Faith

Make Praise Your Battle Cry. (Psalms

8:2). Praise stills the Enemy and

Strengthens the Believer

Make Prayer Your “Stand to: -

Watch and Pray so that you

enter not into temptation

(Matthew 26:41)

With God’s Armor, we can

be strong in the Lord, and in

the power of his might.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Stay

filled with the Spirit; keep the

living waters of the Spirit of God

flowing through your life

(Ephesians 5:18)

Through faith we won’t

cast away our confidence,

we will trust in the Lord,

and please God

The Spirit Searches Our Hearts

Romans 8:26,27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

• Our infirmities - Assists us in our infirmities, or aids us to bear them. The word “infirmities” refers to the weaknesses to which we are subject, and to our various trials in this life.

• The Spirit helps us while we are struggling and dealing with infirmities by:– By giving us strength to bear them

– By stirring and enabling us deal and be sustained in the midst of trials

– By ministering to us consolations, and truths, and spiritual truths that enable us to endure our trials.

The Spirit Knows Your Heart

Jeremiah 17:10 - But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.“

• The Spirit of God searches

– The Motive

– The Intensity of Need

– The Mood – How we feel or impacted by what we are requesting

– Alignment of our hearts and needs to God’s heart

• This is why when you are on your knees and don’t know what to pray for, don’t stop

or give up, but allow the Spirit to take over and pray for your behalf

Eliminate “Heart” Problems

High Blood Pressure - Reduce anxiety by trusting with

all of your heart in the Lord. Reduce the burden on

your heart and rest in the Lord

• Matthew 11:28-30: Come to Me, all you who

labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light."

What are you carrying around these days? Strife, anger,

jealousy, resentment, bitterness - These things will

become a burdened to your spirit and wear you down

Cut down on Stress by learning to “Respond” instead of

“React” to life situations, relationship issues, &

spiritual/personal attacks

Take Your Medicine:

The “Gos-Pill

• 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your

care upon him; for he careth

for you.

• Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious

for nothing, but in everything

by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your

requests be made known to

God;

Eliminate “Heart” Problems

What does your spirit diet consist of? A spiritually healthy

diet is needed for a strong heart and for an enduring spirit

• A Good Diet begins with the milk of God’s Word

• 1st Peter 2:1-3: So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all

deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn

babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow

into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

• Progressing to strong meat as you mature

• Hebrews 5:13,14: For every one that useth milk is unskilful in

the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat

belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason

of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• Avoid “mixed drinks” - Too many people want to drink from the

table of God and the world

• 1 Corinthians 10:21: You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord

and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s

Table and at the table of demons, too.

Eliminate “Heart” Problems

Exercise to Improve Cardio We must raise our heart rate through exercise to

help improve our cardio and lose weight.• Actually “Doing” Christianity is better than just “Pew”

Sitting on Sunday• James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving

your own selves.

• We are deceiving ourselves if we feel we can spiritually grow by not

doing work or ministry for the Lord

• Getting engaged in Christian service is good for your heart

• Run your own race and run to win • 1 Corinthians 9:24 - Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,

but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

• Being Strong in the Word can strengthen you when trials

are come and your are spiritually attacked

• Study to Show Yourself Approved and Fit to

Run- 2 Tim 2:15 and Acts 17:10

Final Principles• Realize that the battles you face are not yours alone to face – Allow the

Warrior to be a Child sometimes

• The battle is not ours. We do not have to fight alone– 2 Chronicles 20:17: You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation

of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.

• Ensure you are fighting the right enemy - People are not always your enemy– The Apostle Paul reminds us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12)

– Even when people frustrate and anger us, they are not the enemy. Keeping this in mind may encourage us respond to people differently.

• Ensure you have a Battle Buddy - You were not created to be alone– You can’t go to war against lustful thoughts, dishonesty, addictions, and fear by yourself. You’ll be

doomed to fail.

– James 5:16: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

– Sin has its greatest power in Secrecy

– Ecclesiastes 4:10: If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Keeping Your Heart In the Midst of

War• Resist & Submit – James 4:7

• Keep your heart and mind focused on eternal things – 2nd Cor 4:18

• Discern – Be not ignorant of Satan’s devices – 2nd Corinthians 2:11

• Armor up – Ephesians 6

• Know Your Authority – Romans 8:37; I John 4:4

• Keep your heart pure and cast down imaginations (2nd Corinthians 10:4)

Avoiding Dryness of Spirit

• When we approach Self-Care without involving

“Spiritual Care,” we leave our spirit dry

• Sometimes when we are in a “Spiritually Dry” place it

is difficult to hear from God and receive from Him

• Dryness can not only put a “drain” upon us spiritually

but also emotionally and physically (Remember

Genesis 2:7)

Causes of Dryness

• Sin – Separation from God

• Lack of Spiritual Nourishment and Inertia

– Inertia – Spiritually Activity – Lack of Ministry to Others

– Many Christians are not inactive because they ran “dry,” but

they ran “dry” because they are inactive. Their inertia (lack

of involvement in evangelizing the spiritually lost and

building up Christians spiritually) is not the effect of their

dryness, but rather its cause.

Causes of Dryness

•Over-Feeding

– Of Worldly Activities

– Of Religious Activities

• Disregard for our Bodies

– Lack of Sleep/Rest

– You can sleep a lot and not have Rest

Causes of Dryness

•Imbalanced Lifestyles

– Having a Just Weight/Priorities/Focus

– Deuteronomy 25:15 - But thou shalt have a perfect

and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt

thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the

land which the LORD thy God giveth thee

– Proverbs 11:1 - A false balance is abomination to

the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Broken Cisterns

Jeremiah 2:13: "For my people have done two evil

things: They have abandoned me--the fountain of

living water. And they have dug for themselves

cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

Overcoming Dryness

• Stay in a Repentant & Forgiveness Attitude

• Relationships

• “Draw From the Well”

• Discipline, Balance and Living Responsibly

• Proper Exercise and Recreation

• Spiritual and Physical Exercise

• The “Spirit” is often referred to as “Water” and

“Oil” meaning things that refresh or even

lubricate

• Without the Spirit of God flowing in our lives,

the “Day to Day” tasks, trials, tribulations

compounded by spiritual attacks can be

overwhelming leaving us dry, unable to cope,

broken, and lifeless