bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: Even in Paul’s day, there were those that were rebellious, being led by arrogant ministries, that where undermining the gospel and doing the work of the enemy. They were resisting him and to slander his person and character, Paul addressed these people. So many times we hear people talking about about their Pastor or teacher, the evangelist, the prophet the apostle. I am speaking of the true 5 fold ministry here. The ones sent by God Himself. They get slandered a lot and talked down on. And many times they are misunderstood. Nowhere in the word of God are we told to put down His servants. His word says not to touch His anointed. So many are talking about Brothers and Sisters behind their back. Some are jealous for whatever reason but there is never a reason to be jealous of on another. When we see someone in the Church is is jealous of another brother or sister… This shows that they need to spend more time with God and know who they are and Whose they are. God has plenty of gifts and anointed for every one of His children. This jealousness has got to stop in the Bride. Some think they have their jealous spirit well hidden, but it certainly isn't hidden from God and it usually isn't hidden long-term from others. It is amazing what people strive for out of wrong motivations.  I have seen people half kill themselves in the church striving for what seemed like very Godly things, however it was all in vain because it was motivated by a jealous heart. This thing has got to stop!! James 3:14-16 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. This is what Jealousy produces… confusion and every evil work. It has nothing to do with God because it is not from above. It is earthly , sensual and devilish. Psalms 105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Psalms 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.  If someone is truly anointed, they would want to encourage the people to discern what is true and what is not. They would encourage people to pursue truth no matter where it would lead. They would love the sheep enough to protect them from falsehood and want to see them grow. They would allow the sheep to learn and think for themselves. The anointing, who is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and someone who has the Spirit of Truth will never run from seeing error but will confront it when necessary. He will give someone the truth from the Word, subsequently leading us away from error.  2 Corinthians 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. Paul will admit that he walks according to the flesh in the sense that we all do.  He is a flesh and blood human being, and he struggles with the same things the Christians struggled with.  But Paul wants to make it clear that he does not war according to the flesh. He is not using fleshly things to fight against spiritual things. We have to understand what flesh can do if we allow it to and understand there is a war that has nothing to do with flesh at all. Sin is of the flesh… but it all goes back to the enemy of our souls. As Pastor King was saying last night. 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) The carnal weapons that are spoken here of are the manipulative and deceitful ways his that some people use..  ii. In Ephesians 6, Paul lists the kind of spiritual weapons he did use: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  To rely on these weapons took faith in God instead of carnal methods.  But truly, these weapons are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds! 2 Corinthians 10:5 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; Carnal, worldly ways of thinking and doing are against the mind and methods of God.  They want to debate God, saying they have a better way.  They exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.  They think of themselves as smarter, more sophisticated, more effective, more powerful than God's ways.  Carnal, worldly minds think they know more than God does! Actually, Paul continues with this "warfare" metaphor down through verse 6. The warfare is the battle against false doctrine. Paul's weapon is God's Word and the power of God. The strongholds represent false doctrine. These strongholds (false doctrine) are fed by conventional anti-God wisdom. The war is won when there is obedience to Christ and God's Word. Finally, disobedience to God's Word is avenged by the power of God's Word.  Paul wants them to realize that persuasive speaking does not equal sound doctrine. When the carnal mind reasons without direction from the Holy Spirit, false doctrine often is the result - especially when it is accompanied by persuasive speech. Sound doctrine brings "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." In other words, sound doctrine doesn't wander out of the bounds of the clear teaching of God's Word. We are also reminded of Hebrews 4:12 , "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." So...how does a Believer walk in victory day after day? As we embrace the Word of God as our weapon under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, daily victory is the norm - not the exception. , "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." So...how does a Believer walk in victory day after day? As we embrace the Word of God as our weapon under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, daily victory is the norm - not the exception. 2 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. What happens when a Christian fails to bring every thought into captivity? What happens when we allow a hateful thought and murder someone in our mind? What happens when we don't obey Christ in our thoughts and deeds? God is please by faith, and faith is obeying the Words of God. The Bible commands us to revenge all disobedience. We ought to get upset with ourselves when we fail. Notice that the Bible says if we judge ourselves, then we will not be judged by God. 1st Corinthians 11:30-31, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1Co:11:31: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”  1st Corinthians 11:32, “But when we are judged, we are CHASTENED of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” The word chastened means to discipline. Hebrews 12:6-8 teaches that God the Father scourges and chastens His children. The word “scourge” in Hebrews 12:6 means “to beat with a stick, to whip.” Christians can be chastised and disciplined for their own good. May we all purpose in our heart to bring every thought into captivity, unto obedience to Jesus Christ. But when we do mess up , let us revenge that disobedience by chastising ourselves. It is important that we pray daily for the Lord to “deliver us from evil” as Jesus taught us to do. . By abiding in the Scriptures and praying, God has promises in James 4:6 to give His grace unto the humble.. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. - This is addressed evidently to the members of the church, and with reference to the claims which had been set up by the false teachers. There can be no doubt that they valued themselves based on their external advantages, and laid claim to special honor in the work of the ministry, because they were superior in personal appearance, in rank, manners, what ever it was that they thought made them look good, or look big. God doesn’t go by that. He goes by our heart of hearts. He is the discerning of the mind and heart Think of David. The prophet thought it would be one of his big brothers that God would of chose to be King by looking on his outward appearance. It looks good to it must be good so to speak. Its not the head knowledge that means any thing. It is the heart knowledge that matters.. Its not the schooling or how smart a person thinks they are. It is the one that walks in and lives in Christ. The one that bares much fruit of the Spirit of God. It is the humble and the meek. The ones that God has sent. NOT the ones that man has chosen by the way the look on the out side. The heart is what matters. The heart that is sold out to Christ Jesus Amein 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”