Unsaon Pagkat-on sa Kahibalo sa Diyos?

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV)

The Mind as Battlefield

Many people think the fight of faith happens only in visible places, such as the church, the home, or the workplace. Scripture shows that the fiercest battle happens in the mind. Paul writes that the weapons of a believer's warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

What are strongholds. In the Cebuano, it translates to "kota" or fortress. This means established principles in a perosn's mindset that are wrong and not aligned with the will of God. It's in these strongholds or "kota" that the enemy may proliferate his works.

That's why every thought is meant to be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This means the mind is contested ground, and the enemy works there quietly, shaping how people think long before he shapes how they live.

The Transformed Mind and the Will of God

The way out of this conflict is found in Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The verse makes the renewed mind the doorway to the will of God. Only a transformed mind can know and conceive what is good, acceptable, and perfect in His sight. Without that transformation, the will a person follows is his own, or worse, the will of Satan. Many people sincerely believe they are following God when they are simply following their own unrenewed thinking.

Guarding the Heart

Proverbs 14:12 gives a sober warning: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The danger lies in how convincing the wrong path can look. It seems right, feels right, and is often approved by others, yet it ends in destruction. Feelings are not the measure of what's right. God's will is.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 describes where such a life leads. Everything becomes meaningless, and people ask what they gain from all their hard work under the sun. Effort, achievement, and ambition all fade when they are disconnected from the purpose of God.

For example, humans make excuses for some of our offerings to the Lord. Excuses such as "Lord this is my offering but I'll use it today and replenish it by Sunday." When Sunday came, he cannot repay his debt to the Lord. Thus, there is no tithes and offering left for him to offer. This is an example of how the enemy uses excuses as a stronghold or "kota".

The Worst Outcome: Following the Will of Satan

The worst thing that can happen to a person is to follow the will of Satan, often without knowing it. John 10:10 describes the enemy's agenda as stealing, killing, and destroying. Matthew 16 shows how subtle this can be. In verse 17, Peter speaks by revelation from the Father. A few verses later, in verses 22-23, the same Peter tries to turn Jesus away from the cross, and Jesus answers, "You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." A man who had just spoken by heavenly revelation became, in a moment, a voice for the enemy's purpose. This shows that a person can love Jesus, follow Him, and still think in a way that opposes God's plan when the mind is not renewed.

Spiritual Authority for the Renewed Mind

A renewed mind also understands spiritual authority. Mark 16:17 begins with the promise, "These signs will follow those who believe," and the first sign listed is that they will cast out demons in Jesus' name. Believers do not fight in their own strength. They stand on the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. The enemy operates through deception, but a mind renewed by the Word recognizes his work and resists it with confidence, because the weapons are not carnal but mighty in God.

Unsaon Pagkat-on sa Kahibalo sa Diyos? Ang Tinuoray nga Pagsunod kang Ginoong Jesus

If the knowledge of God is the aim and the renewed mind is the way, the practical question is how a person actually comes to know God. The answer is true discipleship. Jesus said in Matthew 4:19, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Following Him is not a one-time decision but a continuing relationship in which the follower learns, is corrected, and is sent out. We get to leanr the will of God in our lives.

Paul carries the same pattern forward in 1 Corinthians 11:1, when he tells the believers to follow him as he follows Christ. This describes a process built on three things: the right connection, the right teaching, and the right practice. A person joined to the right source and taught the right things will live out the right way.

Four Ways to Follow

The first is worship attendance. Many believers grow steadily through regular Sunday services and weekday services, including the clustering gatherings, where the Word is preached and faith is strengthened together.

The second is following through social media. Many people can stay connected to teaching and encouragement throughout the week by following the ministry's online platforms, so that the Word keeps reaching them beyond the church walls.

The third is becoming a disciple in a small community. Discipleship is not meant to be lived alone. Those who belong to a small community, such as Power 7 communities, receive care, accountability, and the strength that comes from walking with others.

The fourth is joining the studies and schools of the ministry. Kingdom Encounter, School of Wilderness, School of the Promised Land, and School of Revival Ministry are steps that take people deeper, moving them from hearing the Word to being formed by it.

Conclusion

The knowledge of God does not come by chance or by human reasoning. It comes to a mind that is being renewed, and that mind is shaped through the daily obedience of following Jesus. Those who guard their thoughts, submit them to Christ, and stay connected through worship, community, and learning will begin to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. The battle is real, but the weapons are mighty, and the One they follow has already overcome.