2 Corinthians 10:5 - Thoughts Controlled by Christ!

2Co.10:5; Thoughts Controlled by Christ!

2 Cor 10:5 (KJV)  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; 

2 Cor 10:5 (CWB)  By God's power, we will destroy all false 
arguments and every device used by men against the knowledge of God.  His 
power is so great that He can even change a man's thoughts and bring 
him into obedience to Jesus Christ. 

2 Cor 10:5 (TLB)  These weapons can break down every proud 
argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from 
finding him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back 
to God and change them into men whose hearts' desire is obedience 
to Christ. 

The greatest battles of the Christian life are fought in the 
mind. [Believer's SB] 

God must be the commander in chief -- even our thoughts must be 
submitted to his control as we live for him. [Life Application SB] 

Jesus asks us to consecrate ourselves to Him.... If you will do 
this, He will quicken your conscience, renew your heart, sanctify your 
affections, purify your thoughts, and set all your powers at work for Him. 
Every motive and every thought will be brought into captivity to Jesus 
Christ. 7BC909 

The Word of God and prayer are the only effective weapons in 
this battle against Satan (Acts 6:4). [Wiersbe Expository Outlines] 

The weapons of the world are learning, personal influence, 
impressive credentials (1 Cor. 1:26), rhetorical polish (1 Cor. 2:1), and 
the like. These things Paul had discounted and discarded (Phil. 
3:4-8). He did not wage war as the world does or use their weapons. The 
weapons Paul used were the proclaimed Word of God and prayer (Eph. 
6:17-18), weapons with divine power. In dependence on God (1 Cor. 2:4-5) 
these weapons, frail by worldly standards, are able to demolish the 
arguments and every pretension of the gospel's foes. [Bible Knowledge 
Commentary] 

The heart that receives the word of God is not as a pool that 
evaporates, not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure. It is like 
the mountain stream, fed by unfailing springs, whose cool, sparkling 
waters leap from rock to rock, refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the 
heavy-laden. It is like a river constantly flowing and, as it advances, 
becoming deeper and wider, until its life-giving waters are spread over 
all the earth. The stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind 
its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass on its banks is a 
fresher green, the trees have a richer verdure, the flowers are more 
abundant. PK233-4 

What do you think about?  Does it matter what we think about?  
Is it a matter of concern to you to control your thought patterns?  
As followers of Christ we need to be very concerned about our 
thought patterns.  Our thoughts need to be restricted, withdrawn from 
branching out and contemplating things that will only weaken and defile 
the soul. 
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for 
from it flow the springs of life." Jesus taught us that it is out of 
the abundance of the heart (mind) that good or evil comes into our 
lives.  Jesus said that the law was transgressed by the thoughts before 
the evil desire was carried out in actual deeds. 
For the Christian, there must be a constant, earnest struggling 
of the soul against the evil imaginings of the mind.  There needs 
to be a steadfast resistance of temptation to sin in thought or 
act.  And the secret is in keeping the mind surrendered to God, who 
alone can keep it pure. 
"By constantly contemplating heavenly themes, our faith and love 
will grow stronger.  By beholding we are to be become changed, and as 
we meditate upon the perfection of our divine Model, we shall 
desire to become wholly transformed and renewed in the image of His 
purity.  The more our thoughts are up upon Christ, the more we shall 
speak of Him to others, and represent Him to the world." --Review and 
Herald, June 12, 1888. Pastor Don Dronen 

We need the softening, subduing, refining influence of the Holy 
Spirit, to mold our characters, and to bring every thought into 
captivity to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that will enable us to 
overcome, that will lead us to sit at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary, and 
learn His meekness and lowliness of heart.  
We need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit every hour of the 
day, lest we be ensnared by the enemy and our souls be imperiled. 
There is constant temptation to exalt self, and we must watch much 
against this evil. We need to be on guard continually lest we manifest 
the spirit of overbearing, criticism, and condemnation. We should 
seek to avoid the very appearance of evil, and not reveal anything 
like the attributes of Satan that will dishearten and discourage 
those with whom we come in contact. We are to work as did Christ--to 
draw, to build up, not to tear down... The reason that men have 
manifested these unpleasant characteristics is because they have not been 
connected with God.  TM223 

The world scorns the gospel and proudly sets up clever arguments 
against it. God's people destroy such arguments knowing that true 
knowledge of God comes only through faith, not through human reason. We 
should bring every thought into relation to Christ. All of our thinking 
should have a consistent unity which comes from having Christ at the 
center. Salvation is based not on hidden or philosophical knowledge, but 
on relational and personal knowledge of God which comes through 
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. [Disciple SB] 

True knowledge of God makes men humble; false knowledge makes 
them proud. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]