In the last post we discussed WHAT YOU HAVE in Christ. What you have is AUTHORITY. We talked about receiving the key of the kingdom of heaven and how significant that is to every believer.
I want to remind you that we are in a battle that is never going to end until we die. However, God has equipped us with everything we need to stand against an enemy that has already been defeated.
Let us take a look at the battlefield where this most significant battle is taking place. It is called THE MIND.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5, King James Version (KJV) says the following:
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. This scripture gives you a look at where this significant battle is taking place. Its in our minds. Let us walk through these verses so you can understand what God is trying to show us as far as our un-regenerated. mind is concerned.
The first thing this verse tells us is we have weapons. A battle is not fought emptyhanded. In order to win a battle you must be fully equipped with weapons. We have been given weapons that are not of this world. Why? Because our enemy is not of this world. The Word of God says “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” Let us stop here for a moment and examine the words “not carnal”. It means it is not natural or fleshly or normal. What this is simply telling us is that our weapons do not function using our five senses. “but mighty through God”. We are in a battle with a spiritual being who cannot be fought with anything that is normal or of this world. “But mighty through God”. Hallelujah. What distinguishes us from the rest of the world is that our right standing is in Christ and everything we do is through Christ.
The weapons that we possess were given for a specific purpose and it is all for the benefit of freeing the mind. Let me divert here for a moment. I want us to take a look at the mind and examine its functions.
The mind is that part of you that is both spiritual and physical. Your mind is what bridges the gap between the spiritual world and the natural.
When you received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour your spirit was regenerated. Your mind remained unsaved. Paul says in the book of Romans 12:1-2, King James Bible:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Let us take a deeper look at this scripture. Paul says “I beseech you.” In other words, he is saying I urge or plead or even beg you brethren to give yourselves…. He goes on to explain how you must give this sacrifice and then says that it is a reasonable service. What does he mean by a reasonable service? He means that it is not a difficult or impossible thing… In essence or in actuality it is something you can accomplish because you are a regenerated people.
He goes on to explain in verse 2. “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Why would Paul ask believing, born again Christians to renew their minds? Simply because he knew and understood that the mind was untouched when the spirit was regenerated. Our minds remain unsaved. The Word of God says “God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). When God deals with man He goes straight to man’s spirit. Why? Because He (God) is a Spirit. He left your mind and your body in your care. It is your responsibility to get those parts of you lined up with your regenerated spirit. So how must we do that? Through His Word. The Word of God says in John 1:21 that we should receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save our souls or minds. Everything that we need to live a holy and enriched life in Christ is in His Word. It is impossible for transformation to take place without it. Only when this happens will you be able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Hallelujah! (Rom, 12:2).
Now that you understand why your minds need to be renewed let us go back to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. Everything that is related to these verses has to do with renewing the mind. Verse 5 says “casting down imaginations” where do you imagine? In your mind. “And every high thing that exalts itself up against the knowledge of God.” Where is knowledge? In your mind. “And taking into captive every thought to the obedience of Christ. Where are thoughts? In your mind. This last part is interesting. It says “taking into captive every thought.” Who takes these thoughts captive? Not Christ but you. It is your responsibility to make your mind receptive to God’s word. It is after all a reasonable service.
I will leave you to meditate on these words and pray that God our Father will open your understanding to what His Word is constantly revealing to us.
This is Pastor Karen Bruce. God bless