2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV
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;
The Context and Focus:
We see Paul making a defence of his ministry, as part of the chapter from where today's verse is taken from. There may have been men and women who were in the various places Paul visited who would oppose him at every turn, trying to cast aspersions on his character and person, and sometimes speaking evil of him. For all who will truly serve God and make impact in the world they have been placed, get ready for the same treatment. Truth has many enemies, because the world is comfortable around falsehood and deceit. The people of the world will always fight ideas, concepts or positions that threaten their way of life. And because it is the world, there is only way the world known how to fight, and that is dirty, and until someone drops. The world has no scruples or principles when it comes to war, because it is 'kill or be killed'. That is the world's way, but it is not the way the people of the Word fight. How does God expect me to fight?
The Message:
The bible talks about casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The greatest battle is actually that of the heart and mind, because that is where the devil plants his seeds of despair, desperation and destruction. He has nothing free to give to anyone, and of course, you can only give what you have. How would anyone expect the devil to guarantee eternal life with God when he does not have it? The devil knows he does not have it, and he will seek to distract as many as he can from seeing what God would have them see. He wages his war on the mind, sure that if he controls the mind, he controls the life. The verse above also talks about bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. The pictures here are of a war that is not fought with conventional weapons or in a conspicuous place, where the warring parties are known to each other.
The Conclusion:
This war takes place away from public view, and only those who are totally surrendered to God are guaranteed victory in this war. Casting down or taking captive is not a passive exercise, but one that involves knowing what is at stake, as well as what is required to win. As I seek to promote the things of God, I have to make sure that my mind and heart are always subjected to the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. Pride is of the devil, and there can be no good outcomes from a heart that has been taken over by pride. If it is God's will to pull down all high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, be sure that this also will apply to anyone who seeks to exalt himself over and above God. It takes a surrendered life to be able to carry out the assignment defined in the verse above. It is when my heart is submitted that I can command alignment and obedience. Hypocrisy is very dangerous here, because you can be caught in the crossfire. May the Lord help us to be fit for service in His kingdom, and may he find us useful vessels in his hands for the war that needs to be fought. God's time of favour is here.
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