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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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