WINNING THE BATTLE FOR YOUR MIND

Taking Every Thought

Captive for Christ

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

n “For 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”

Ephesians 4:22-23

n “You were taught, with regard to your

former way of life, to put off your old self,

which is being corrupted by its deceitful

desires; to be made new in the attitude of

your minds;”

Colossians 3:2

n “Set your minds on things above, not on

earthly things.”

Philippians 2:5

n “ Your attitude should be the same as that

of Christ Jesus”

Philippians 4:8

n “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable--if anything is

excellent or praiseworthy--think about

such things.”

n Why do we still BATTLE with the same THOUGHTS and FEELINGS we had before we became Christians?

n Paul states clearly; we are now Christians, yet we STILL LIVE IN THE WORLD, but we don’t go to war as the world does.

n The battle for our mind cannot be won by using the same thinking we had before we accepted Christ.

n Many of us often try to win the battle for our mind the same way we always did.

….Failure is the result.

n In the world and influenced by the

world, WE LEARNED TO LIVE

INDEPENDENT FROM GOD.

n As a child I learned the values of the world from friends and family, by listening to the radio, watching TV, etc.

n Though I believed in God, the world taught me to live AS THOUGH GOD DIDN’T EXIST.

n Everything you and I have LEARNED through life and all the FEELINGS that came along with it, are PROGRAMMED INTO OUR MINDS, even though we have accepted Christ.

n The battle for our minds continues this very day!

n Our thoughts can so easily conform to the pattern of the world.

… This is why God tells us through Paul, “…Not to conform any longer to the pattern

of the world, but be transformed by the

renewing of our mind” (Rom 12:2)

n Within our thinking. We have given Satan STRONGHOLDS.

n “The weapons we fight with are not the

weapons of the world, on the contrary…

they have divine power to demolish

strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4)

n Growing up the world taught us to cope with life in a variety of ways (coping mechanisms)

Defense Mechanisms Come in All Shapes and Sizes

n DISHONESTY- To lie in order to hide the truth about oneself.

n DENIAL- A conscious or sub-conscious refusal to accept the world the way it really is.

n FANTASY- To escape the real world and live in one’s imagination.

n EMOTIONAL INSULATION- To withdraw from others to avoid rejection.

n REGRESSION – To revert to safer less threatening times.

n DISPLACEMENT – To take anger and frustration out on others.

n PROJECTION – To blame other people for your problems.

n RATIONALIZATION - To make excuses for what you say or do

n These are the pattern of thinking that were programmed into your mind when you lived independently of God.

n HOW CAN WE OVERCOME?

2 Corinthians 10:5

“ 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.”

--- The battle for your spiritual freedom is within your mind!

n We must daily, “Take EVERY THOUGHT captive to make it obedient to Christ.”

n Paul in 2 Corinthians shows clearly how the devil works, and the battle in the mind.

(2 Corinthians 2:11)

“ …in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

n The world “scheme” is the same word translated ‘thought’

n Satan’s “schemes” are within the thoughts.

2 Corinthians 4:4

n “The god of this age has blinded the

minds of unbelievers, so that they

cannot see the light of the gospel of

the glory of Christ, who is the image of

God.”

2 Corinthians 11:3

n “But I am afraid that just as Eve was

deceived by the serpent's cunning,

your minds may somehow be led

astray from your sincere and pure

devotion to Christ.”

n We must guard our HEARTS and MINDS.

Philippians 4:6,7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”