Keeping Thoughts Captive
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “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.” If we lose the battle in our thought life then negative strongholds, or patterns of thought that act themselves out, will gain control and bring us into destructive living. Much of the trouble that people go through in life could have been prevented if they had taken that initial thought captive and applied the Knowledge of God in its place.
God is very interested in our thought life. Psalms 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the MEDITATIONS of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.” Oh, if people could just guard their mouths and their thoughts! Our thoughts or meditations must remain pleasing to God. How do we do that? We take every thought captive and keep them obedient to Christ!
2 Corinthians 10:5 requires that “every thought” should be brought into “captivity”. The word captivity is a military term used to describe the imprisonment of an enemy for the intent of questioning. Have you ever seen those military movies where they capture an enemy and place them under that single light to ask them questions? Why do they do that? They want to find out whether or not that person is a threat. We need to do the same with our thoughts! When a thought races across your mind you need to take that thought captive and find out whether it is a friend or a foe. Ask yourself, “Do I want this in my life? Is this what God would want? Is this thought a threat to a holy lifestyle?” By doing so you are subjecting your thoughts to a screening process. If the thought agrees with Biblical principles then it can stay, if not it must be cast down. How do you cast down a thought? You cannot fight a thought with a thought. You must cast it down with words.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the POWER of the tongue; those that love it will eat the fruit thereof.” The Bible says that the tongue has POWER over life and death. The way we live begins in our thoughts. When an evil thought comes we must cast it down with the words of our mouth in order to ensure the right kind of living. When a thought tries to exalt itself over the Knowledge of God I speak to that thought and say, “That thought is not obedient to Christ. I cast you down. I refuse to think that way.” Now of course be sure to use discretion. Find a quiet private place to do this. People might think strange things if you are always talking to your thoughts around them!
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
