Taking Thoughts Prisoner

Articles

Larry Walker
02/16/16 - Christian Focus

Every Project Made Prisoner to the Obedience of Christ

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10:3-5

There are things that Christians have to fight against with all the determination and strength we can muster. For many, the fight against sinful lusts may be a great conflict; for most of us, though, the enemy is more subtle, more deceitful, and harder to recognize. The demanding and long and bloody battle of turning our natural life into the spiritual life is the greatest challenge most of us will face. This is true even in our “church work”. See the verses above. Our natural, fleshly life argues incessantly for our time and attention; sets up strongholds of busywork and accomplishment in our lives; and exalts itself against our knowledge of God – against our knowing Him spiritually, against our true fellowship with Him. Even when we are busy with “Christian work”, we can slip into a worldly emphasis on programs, activities, achievements, and personalities, rather than on obeying Christ. We have to tear all these down, make every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

The idea is one of discipline. Our work as Christians often simply springs up by impulse – how we happen to feel that morning, or whether we like to be around a certain person, whether the sailing is smooth, or whether the job is something we happen to like doing! Jesus NEVER worked that way. Every project in His life was disciplined to the will of His Father. He let no impulse of His own guide him. “The Son can do nothing of Himself.”

Are we doing work for God that is drawn from our own undisciplined human nature, by our natural likes and dislikes? If so, we are not bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We have spiritual weapons that we can bring to bear on this. We have to begin by humbly listening to God, by trusting His provision for us, by taking up HIS weapons. By determined and disciplined obedience to His word, we are “sensitizing” ourselves to His will, “spiritualizing” our walk before Him.

In this way of living we will have plenty to do with our natural world. We live in it, and we cannot avoid it. But we will see it differently. We will view it through God’s eyes. We will plunge into a spiritual battle, and find that we are able to tear down strongholds and cast down high thoughts exalted against our God!

– Larry Walker, Sept 2009