Our passage today in 2 Corinthians 10 reminds us that there is a battle for our minds. Satan is active in presenting fine-sounding arguments much as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7). But we must never forget that his intentions are evil. His goal is to take us captive, keep us in bondage, and destroy our faith and our family. He wants us to respond to the sins committed against us in a sinful way. But we believers have the power of Christ Himself to demolish these arguments, obliterate them and destroy them by the power of God's Word and God's Spirit.
We must learn to reject all ideologies that are not rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ; those that do not evidence faith. We examine every thought as to its source, and if not from God, we take it captive to Jesus Christ and leave it with Him. This is how we "take every thought captive to Christ" and thereby demolish demonic thought-strongholds. Specifically, we learn how to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus, to fix our eyes on Jesus, to look at the cross and find our life in Him.
Today we saw from Scripture the extreme importance of demolishing all the "knowledge" and "fine-sounding arguments" that Satan wants to set up in our minds. The way to freedom is through taking every thought captive to Christ: we are to wash those thoughts away at the cross! Jesus took these thoughts and all your sins on Himself when He died on the cross and was buried in a tomb. Learn to rejoice in Jesus' resurrection power to free us from them! The cross demolishes these thoughts and washes them away!
As you first begin taking your thoughts captive to Christ, it may be hard to do, but it will become easier and more natural with practice (Hebrews 5:14). It won't be long before no evil idea can get set up in your mind as a stronghold because you will have formed a habit of taking all your thoughts to Christ to check them first.
In closing, I want to remind you that you are not alone. All Christians struggle with their thoughts sometimes. I can remember a time when I just wanted to die rather than face another day of wrestling with all the anguish and heartache in my life. I had trouble sleeping, eating, and relating to others because my mind was so clouded with the pain of my circumstances.
But God…in His great mercy showed me the way out of the darkness. He called me to listen to His voice and not the voices of my enemies - the world, my flesh, and the devil.
My enemies said untrue things: you are unworthy, no one loves you, no one wants you, you are ugly, you are stupid, you deserve better, you should run away.
But Jesus, the voice of Truth, spoke these good things to my heart:
I love you!
I sent my Son to die for your sins and those of the whole world. My grace is sufficient for you.
I see you.
I care about you.
I feel your pain.
You are not alone.
I made you wonderfully.
You are beloved and chosen.
You are mine.
I will mold you into my image and use this trial for your good.
I will enable you to love and serve the family I have given to you.
As I consistently listen to the voice of my Good Shepherd and not my flesh, the devil, or the lies of the world, I found peace and healing for my soul. I was able to smile at my future because Jesus was with me (Proverbs 31:25).
Jesus is with you too, dear friend. Bring your troublesome thoughts to Him, and He will speak Truth to you, quiet your mind, and bring rest to your soul. There is thought-taming grace for you.
Question 7. What are your final thoughts about today's lesson? Please share.
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