TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
Session one: Chris Brunt
We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10 we walk in the flesh but we do not walk according to the flesh. Weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powered for the destruction of fortresses.
Is it possible to take every thought captive?
Where does taking a thought captive end and sin begin?
Having a bad thought come into your mind is not sin. Temptation is not sin. Acting on that temptation is.
What you do with that thought makes the difference. Do you turn it over to God or do you dwell on it? Do you control it, or does it control you? In Mark 7:15 Jesus says, “There’s nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” No thought or temptation that goes into your mind defiles you, but every thought and temptation that goes your mind has the potential to defile you. When you don’t immediately take that thought captive it will proceed out of you as wickedness, envy, pride, lust, etc…..
Are you competitive? Do you like to win? Are you a fighter? You must confront Satan head on, you must be aggressive, you must fight him and you must win. There is only one way to win and that is putting on the FULL armor of God (Eph 6:11). This is a war and you are either in or you are out. If you are out it is because you are ineffective and Satan need not waste his time with you. He does not need to defeat or kill you, only neutralize you. If you are standing on the battlefield unarmed is the enemy going to waste his time with you, or take out the soldier with a machine gun? Simple art of warfare, take out your biggest threat first. All you have to do is stop the threat. So if you’re not facing battles it may be because you have retreated and are ineffective.
****Remember if the enemy can control your mind he can control your behavior.
1
TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
Does Satan have enough power to take you out or does he launch thoughts into your mind and make you take yourself out? How much power does Satan have?
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ the Devil has no power over you. He can launch flaming arrows and make you doubt yourself. He can make you think you can take your armor off, there’s not really a war being fought. Once you take the armor off, you don’t take your thoughts captive and your mind goes wild. Those flaming arrows will reach you if take off that breastplate of righteousness or put down your shield of faith. Keep on the helmet of salvation and capture your thoughts.
Are you going to let the enemy win? He is trying to come into your house and destroy you. If he takes you down he takes your whole house down. How hard are you willing to fight?
Don’t let the fact you are tempted discourage you, even Jesus was tempted. Temptations never go away. Read Luke 4:1
This is a war; it is a real war with real casualties. You must fight and you must take captives. You must capture your thoughts and turn them over to the Commander and Chief, God. Remember that we are in a war, but we already know the outcome. How cool is that? We are in a fight but we already know we are victorious through Jesus Christ our Savior!!!!!!
1 Corinthians 15:57-58: But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Never enter a battle without a battle plan. What is your battle plan? How do you take your thoughts captive?
Chris Brunt, Men's Ministry Director