2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Thoughts Captive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Thoughts Captive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) 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,
The greatest battles of the Christian life are fought in the
mind. [Believer's SB]
Paul speaks a great deal about training the mind to think in a
way that honors God, because the mind is the primary battlefield for
spiritual warfare on the personal level. Transformed minds lead to both
joy and victory. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley]
We do not yet have our glorified bodies; we still live in tents
of unredeemed flesh. Yet because the Spirit of the living God
dwells within us, we serve God not in the flesh, but through faith, in
the Spirit. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley]
Paul uses military terminology to describe this warfare
against sin and Satan. God must be the commander-in-chief - even our
thoughts must be submitted to his control as we live for him.
Spirit-empowered believers must capture every thought and yield it to Christ.
Like Paul, we are merely weak humans, but as believers we
don't need to use human plans and methods to win our battles. God's
mighty weapons are available to us as we fight against the devil's
"strongholds." Paul assures us that God's weapons - prayer, faith, hope, love,
God's Word, and the Holy Spirit - are powerful and effective (see
Ephesians 6:13-18). These weapons can overcome proud human arguments
against God and the walls that Satan builds to keep people from finding
God.
When dealing with people's proud arguments that keep them
from faith, we may be tempted to use our own methods. But nothing can
pierce these barriers like God's weapons can.
Are you depending on your own strength and clever strategies
to overcome the world's resistance to God? Instead, deepen your
dependence on God by obeying him. In the process he will shape you into a
soldier guided by his Spirit. [One Year NLT SB re 2 Cor. 10:3-6]
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 Our thoughts need to be restricted, withdrawn from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.
Few realize that it is a duty to exercise control over the
thoughts and imaginations. It is difficult to keep the undisciplined mind
fixed upon profitable subjects. But if the thoughts are not properly
employed, religion cannot flourish in the soul. The mind must be
preoccupied with sacred and eternal things, or it will cherish trifling and
superficial thoughts. Both the intellectual and the moral powers must be
disciplined, and they will . . improve by exercise.
In order to understand this matter aright, we must remember
that our hearts are naturally depraved, and we are unable of
ourselves to pursue a right course. It is only by the grace of God,
combined with the most earnest effort on our part, that we can gain the
victory. The intellect, as well as the heart, must be consecrated to the
service of God. He has claims upon all there is of us.
Few believe that humanity has sunk so low as it has or that
it is so thoroughly bad, so desperately opposed to God, as it is. .
. . When the mind is not under the direct influence of the Spirit
of God, Satan can mold it as he chooses. All the rational powers
which he controls he will carnalize. He is directly opposed to God in
his tastes, views, preferences, likes and dislikes, choice of things
and pursuits; there is no relish for what God loves or approves, but
a delight in those things which He despises. . . .
If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will be in all our
thoughts. Our deepest thoughts will be of Him, His love, His purity. He
will fill all the chambers of the mind. Our affections will center
about Jesus. All our hopes and expectations will be associated with
Him. To live the life we now live by faith in the Son of God, looking
forward to and loving His appearing, will be the soul's highest joy. He
will be the crown of our rejoicing.
Those who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual
exercises are the ones who can be translated and not be overwhelmed with
the purity and transcendent glory of heaven. {OFC 154-5} re Psalm
139:23, 24
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
Keep your focus on Me. I have gifted you with amazing
freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind.
Only the crown of My creation has such remarkable capability; this is
a sign of being made in My image.
Let the goal of this day be to bring every thought captive to
Me. Whenever your mind wanders, lasso those thoughts and bring them
into My Presence. In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and
shrivel away. Judgmental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My
unconditional Love. Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the
simplicity of My Peace. I will guard you and keep you in constant Peace, as
you focus your mind on Me. (Psa. 8:5; Gen. 1:26, 27; 2 Cor. 10:5;
Isa. 26:3) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
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