Text:           2 Corinthians 10:4-5

By:               Bro Nene, Godwin (Deacon)

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[4](For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

[5]Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Introduction

When it comes to the issue of the mind, and who controls it, its a big fight to battle with, as a major aspect of the soul, the mind is where in most cases your actions are formed…..

The mind encompasses various aspects of human thought, emotion, and behavior.

The mind is essential in determining the life path of an individual. It’s the driver, the steering wheel (helm) of our life. It plays a crucial role in our life, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Whatever (whoever) controls your mind, controls your life (your master). As important as the mind is, it doesn’t generate what it thinks, it listens/receives to what it processes…

Who is speaking to the mind?

Romans 6:16 (BBE)  Are you not conscious that you are the servants of him to whom you give yourselves to do his desire? if to sin, the end being death, or if to do the desire of God, the end being righteousness. 

2 Peter 2:19 NLT.

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

HOW OUR MINDS ARE INFLUENCED 

1. The Devil – Gen 3:1-5 (Satan deceives Eve)1). 2 Cor 11:3 (Amp). But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Rev 12:9 – This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.1Peter 5:8 – Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour…
2. The World– Romans 12:2*: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” – 1 John 2:15-16 [15]Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16]For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

3. The Old Man (the flesh) – Rom 8:5-8 & 12-13 – 5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

4. The Spirit of God. – Rom 8:14 – 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Gal 5:16-25, James 3:13-18 – Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. 14 But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don’t sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic. 16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. 18 And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF BEING LED BY THE FLESH

ROM 8:5-13 (CEV) 5 People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. 6 If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. 7 Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God’s laws. 8 If we follow our desires, we cannot please God. 9 You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you. People who don’t have the Spirit of Christ in them don’t belong to him. 10 But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. 11 Yet God raised Jesus to life! God’s Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit. 12 My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. 13 If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say “No” to your desires.

HOW TO SUBDUE YOUR MIND 

1. Feed it with the word of God Hebrews 4:12 – [12]For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Rom 12:2 

2. Focus on God’s truth – Eph 4:17-23 NIV, Col 3:5-10, Psalm 1:1-3.

3. Intentionally engage in right thinking – Phil 4:8 – 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

4. Commit to walking in obedience. Obedience empowers you against satan’s Schemes. James 4:6-7 (KJV) – But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 2 Cor 6:14 ~ Be no unequally yoked together…

5. Engage in prayers and trust in God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We 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.

Eph 6:18 – James 5:16 ~ Effectual fervent prayers….

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