Point 1: We are in a spiritual battle.
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
In this passage, Paul is telling us that we are in a spiritual battle against Satan and his forces. Our weapons in this battle are not physical weapons, but spiritual weapons: the Word of God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
Point 2: Our minds are a stronghold of the enemy.
One of the most important strongholds that Satan attacks is our minds. He wants us to doubt God, to fear the future, and to think negative thoughts about ourselves and others.
When we allow our minds to be filled with negative thoughts, we are giving Satan power over us. But when we take captive our thoughts and make them obedient to Christ, we are defeating Satan and growing in our relationship with God.
Point 3: We need the Holy Spirit's help to take our thoughts captive.
On our own, we are unable to take our thoughts captive. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome any thought that comes against us.The Holy Spirit will convict us of our wrong thoughts and give us the strength to cast them down. He will also help us to fill our minds with the truth of God's Word.
Point 4: We need to be intentional about taking our thoughts captive.
We don't have to be victims of our thoughts. We can choose what we think about. To take our thoughts captive, we need to be intentional about filling our minds with good things. This means reading the Bible, praying, listening to Christian music, and surrounding ourselves with positive people. It also means being mindful of what we watch on TV, listen to on the radio, and read online.
Point 5: We need to be patient.
Taking our thoughts captive is a process. It doesn't happen overnight. There will be times when we slip up and allow negative thoughts to creep into our minds. But the important thing is to keep fighting. When we catch ourselves thinking negative thoughts, we need to quickly cast them down and replace them with the truth of God's Word.
Point 6: We need to be accountable to others.
One of the best ways to stay on track with taking our thoughts captive is to be accountable to others. A good place to start is with our husband or wife. They know us best and could help us with our negativity, probably more than anyone else, or you could find a trusted friend or mentor who can help you to identify and overcome your negative thoughts.
You can also join a small group or support group where you can be encouraged and supported by other Christians who are also seeking to grow in their faith. Such as our Thursday night meetings at 6pm.
Point 7: Taking our thoughts captive is worth it.
When we take our thoughts captive, we experience many benefits. We have peace of mind, joy, and hope. We are also better able to resist temptation and to make good decisions. And most importantly, when we take our thoughts captive, we are growing closer to God.
Point 8: Jesus is our example.
Jesus is the perfect example of someone who took his thoughts captive. He was constantly bombarded with negative thoughts from the devil, but he always resisted them. When we are tempted to think negative thoughts, we can remember Jesus and how he handled temptation. He used scripture.
Point 9: We have the promise of victory.
The Bible promises us that we will be victorious in our spiritual battle.In 1 John 5:4, it says, "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." When we take our thoughts captive, we are demonstrating our faith in God. And when we have faith, we know that we will ultimately be victorious over Satan and his forces.
Point 10: Taking our thoughts captive is a part of our sanctification.
Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ. When we take our thoughts captive, we are conforming our minds to the mind of Christ.
This is a process that will continue throughout our lives, but it is a process that is worth it.
Conclusion
Taking our thoughts captive is an important part of the Christian life, and bringing thoughts into the obedience of God is a lifelong process. It’ll take time, effort, and the help of the Holy Spirit. But when we commit ourselves to this process, we can experience the joy, peace, and love that God has in store for us, even in these times we are living in.
Especially – in these times we’re living in!
When we take our thoughts captive, we are defeating Satan, growing closer to God, and becoming more like Christ.
Challenge
I encourage you to make a commitment to take your thoughts captive today. I challenge you to take one step this week towards taking your thoughts captive to the obedience of God. Maybe it's spending more time reading the Bible, praying for the Holy Spirit's help, or simply being more mindful of your self-talk. Whatever it is, take one step towards bringing your thoughts into alignment with God's will. I encourage you to make a commitment to take your thoughts captive today.
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