April 19th, 2018

The Weapons of Our Warfare

 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war in the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-7

Our minds store information and images from childhood through this morning.  It is a repository of thoughts.  Those images and thoughts can be positive or negative.  Our memories can recall experiences joyful and hurtful.  In some cases, hurtful experiences have damaged our hearts.  This is important as Scripture tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so he is.”  (Proverbs 23:7)  As we walk in the renewal of our minds on a daily basis, we take our thoughts to Jesus Christ and His obedience.  Are our thoughts of God, of the flesh, or of the defeated one?  For every thought, there is a “moment of choice” to believe the thought or to refute it in Jesus’ name.  In this chapter, we will examine the components of conducting spiritual warfare against the thoughts we have that are not of the Lord.  The diagram below illustrates the “moment of choice” as part of conforming to the world or being transformed.

 

As we bring our thoughts to the Light, each one is exposed as truth or a lie.  So many times our broken hearts produce broken thoughts that do not line up with God’s word.  God speaks truth.  The truth breaks the back of a lie.  As we grow in our knowledge of the word, our faith is strengthened.  We realize when our thoughts are not in accordance with the word of God.  Such thoughts seek to keep us conformed to the ways of the world.  As we reject such thoughts and replace them with truth, we are transformed!