I was studying for last Sunday’s message on Spiritual Warfare regarding “Strongholds.” The text for the message was from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: “Since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” [HCSB]
I had my PowerPoint finished and my computer in my case. I had reviewed and revised my message repeatedly since putting it together the previous Wednesday. I was certain I covered everything. Then just as I was getting ready, the phrase “every thought” popped up in my mind. “Every thought?” Did Paul really mean we take “every thought” captive to obey Christ?
The word for “every” is “pas.” It means all, every, the whole, every kind of. So, I guess Paul did mean “every thought.”
I think a lot of things. Thoughts flow through my mind constantly. I think about what I need to do that day, any plans I might have, what I have to organize for messages or devotions. I think about my LORD. I think about my husband and family and friends. I think about myself. I pray. I sing at times. I read. I watch television. “Every thought?”
I think all day long, and Paul says I need to capture every thought in obedience to Christ? Yes, because tucked in beside all those normal, everyday thoughts, the enemy will seek to insert a deception or lie. He will try to make me believe his lies about God, or he will try to make me believe his lies about me. That is what he does.
So, as Paul commands, when one of the enemy’s lies (God doesn’t care about this situation!) tries to pass through to my heart, I capture it. When the enemy tells me (You are worthless, you cannot do anything for God anymore!), I seize it. I remind both the enemy and me “that is a lie,” and I replace it with the truth found in God’s Word.
The most basic truth is God loves me because I am His child. That settles it.
