Taking
Every Thought Captive (draft form - still
being worked on)
Our
thoughts come from three sources - God,
yourself and the devil. I have found in
most cases that our thoughts and the devil's
thoughts are almost one, because when anyone
seeks ministry, it's because their thoughts
are not God's thoughts. We are Taking
Every Thought Captive that does
not line up with the word of God.
How do we recognize when we are
thinking God's thoughts or the devil's thoughts?
Here's a simple test:
Matthew 18:12 Jesus asked, "What
think ye?"
So, what are you thinking? Phil
4:8 breaks the thought process down for us. So
anything that we think that does not line up with
this passage, are the devil's thoughts (or ours).
Who are you allowing to mold you? The Word of
God or what your mom, dad, husband, bosses, friends
say about you. God's word overrides all evil words
spoken from others. God is your Father in Heaven
who created you and created you with a purpose.
Are you going to allow the thoughts of others
stop you from your God given purpose and calling?
That is exactly what the devil wants to happen
is you living in the thoughts of what others say
that are not true. God's word is true about you.
You must take every thought captive.
That means casting down anything that does not
line up with the Word of God. Are you going to
allow evil words spoken over you creating low
self image or insecurity? It does not come from
God. What God says about you is true and what
others have said don't matter. Why do you live
in rejection?
God
or DEVIL:
Truth
or negative, dishonesty, lying, deceptive, worry,
confusion
Honest
or fearful, worry, confusion, bitter
Pure
or sinful, unclean, filthy
Just
or victimized, distrusting, comparison, questioning
God
Lovely
or ugly (also including self-hatred), hardness
Good
report or gossip, slander, suspicion, judgment,
criticism, envy, jealousy, filthy communication,
slander, blasphemy, wrath, malice, anger
Virtuous
or cowardly
Praise
or unthankfulness, unbelief, distrusting God
I
Cor. 13:5 says to not think any evil. (This chapter,
the love chapter, really goes into detail what
we are to think as well.)
Why
is thinking so important? Because what we "think"
comes out of our mouth. And when it comes out
of our mouth, that's when sin has conceived. The
bible says that what we think in our heart, so
we are. (Proverbs 23:7) James 1:13 -15 says that
temptation comes first, and it's when we act upon
it that it becomes sin.
Our
thinking has been the culprit! Our stinkin' thinkin'!
Simply
put: Positive thoughts are of God, Negative thoughts
are of the devil. Even if the thought you are
thinking may be true in nature, perhaps someone
did do you wrong, but we are to still "think"
good thoughts all the time. Like the saying goes,
"If you can't say anything good, don't say
anything at all."
It
has been apparent in ministry that everyone (100%)
has thought problems.
If
we had the "mind of Christ" we wouldn't
be thinking any of the negative thoughts. (I Corinthans.
2:16). This passage says we "have" the
mind of Christ. So we as believers, have what
we need to "have the mind of Christ"
real in our lives.
Let's
look at the scripture in the same passage, Phil
4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again
I say rejoice, Let your moderation be known unto
all men, The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing;
but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus."
The
whole process of our sanctification is to have
the mind of Christ. Having this one-mind (Phil
4:2) results in peace. If there were no turmoil,
worry, confusion, jealousy going on in our thinking,
wouldn't we be at peace? Of course we would.
So
how do we get our minds cleaned out of the filth?
#1
- We need to have the mind of Christ activated
in our lives, it's already there, just needs to
become forefront in our mind. We need to know
God's thoughts. And His thoughts come out of the
Word of God. You need this in order to "weigh
the spirits" as the Bible tells us to do;
to know if they are of God or not. Do a Bible
study on the words "think" and "thoughts"
and "mind", etc. to see what God says
about all of this. When you understand what He
is saying, you will then be able to recognize
the thoughts in your own mind, whether they be
of good or evil. This is called discernment. Knowing
the difference between good and evil. (Heb. 5:14)
#2
- Cast the thoughts out that are not of God, and
keep those thoughts that are. II Corinthians 10:5
say, " 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." We are Taking
Every Thought Captive! At this point,
decide if the thought is a God thought or not.
Yes! Every thought. Did you know that if someone
did something wrong to you and you began thinking
bad thoughts about them, you have just taken the
bait of the enemy? No matter what happens in our
lives, to us or around us, we are to "think
good" at all times. Think positive. Make
lemon aid when life gives you lemons. Think good
of all men - as the Bible teaches. This whole
thought issue has to do with relationship with
people. If there were no people, half of our evil
thoughts would be gone because the people are
gone. However, there is still ourselves, so we
can think evil of ourselves the rest of the time.
We are not to even think evil of ourselves!! And
remember, all things work for good. (Romans 8:28)
#3
- Understand that these thoughts don't just pop
in our heads, these thoughts come from what is
in our heart! Mark 7:20-23, "And Jesus said,
"that which cometh out of the man, that defileth
the man, for from within , out of the heart of
men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,
murders, thefts, coveteousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,
foolishness." We need to come face to face
with what is truly in our hearts. And if these
thoughts start to surface and we begin responding
to them, it's time to begin casting down those
thoughts, as II Corn. 10:5 says to do. But I find
we don't do that. We think about it, and think
about it, then we feel "bad" because
of what we are thinking. Many people think that
if they think a thought, it's sin! It is not.
It's sin to dwell on it and then act upon it (James
1:13-15).
#4
- know your enemy's thoughts. In order to truly
be set free, we need to know BOTH good and evil.
God's thoughts and the devil's thoughts, just
in case our thoughts are in there someplace too,
we need to discern ourselves. What I believe is
this: When we think a thought, it's because it's
something in us. Because the enemy can only cause
us to think wrong if we have something in us he
can draw on. For example, I cannot be tempted
to rob a bank. It's not in me. I can't even be
tempted to drink a drink, because I no longer
have that addiction. But I can be tempted to each
chocolate. I am tempted to judge. I am tempted
to fear. Because these things are still "in"
me. The process of everyone's life is to be sanctified
in body, soul and spirit. This is a process! A
process means there is time involved. So even
though God has already purged me and cleansed
me from a lot of things that were "IN"
my heart already, there are still many more things
to be cleansed from, and evidenced by what I still
"think." If I have a dream that startled
me, and I wake up and wonder why I dreamt that,
first of all, I cast that "evil" thought
out. But then I begin asking God what is in me
that the enemy used to cause me to "think"
(dream) that dream? And sure enough, there was
something God was wanting to get at in me. Sometimes
He has to use the enemy in a dream to show us
what is in us! Remember, God uses anything to
get to us - even the jawbone of a donkey!
#5
- Separate the thoughts now. Remember, our thoughts
come one of three places: God, ourselves or the
devil. I believe that behind every thought is
a "thinking" being! So for me, I saw
every thought as a creature. (Hebrews 4:13). It's
either of the Holy Spirit, myself or the devil.
Once I categorized them in my mind, I was able
to capture the devil thoughts, bind them up and
cast them out! At first I had to do this a hundred
times a day. Then it got less and less as time
went on. Because I believe by taking responsibility
for our thoughts, taking charge of what is in
there, recognizing if it's a wrong thought, and
telling it to leave, is cleansing my heart at
the same time. I found that many people stay in
bondage because they aren't willing to see what
is in their own heart or they are afraid to see
what is there. We can't be afraid to see it, we
need to so that it can be purged. Once we "see"
it, half the battle is won! We take it captive,
cast it out, and God does the restoring, purging,
and healing in line with our own words!
#6
- Recognize that those things within you that
the enemy uses are NOT you! They are the sin in
you that God is wanting out. Romans 7:20 "Now
if I do that I would not, it is no more I that
do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." In other
words, there are things I don't want to do because
I "know" not to, but then I do them
anyway. We need to understand that it's the SIN
in us using our bodies to live out their characteristic.
We have simply allowed them to because we didn't
know any better. In order to get them out they
have to manifest so you can see what is in you!
God can only purge something when you know what
it is. You just can't pray, "Father, purge
me from everything that is not of you." Of
course that is a good initial prayer, but then
we need to get specific. Father, if there is any
evil in me, tell me what it is - as David prayed.
We have to see what is there before He can begin
the cleansing process. This is the same with forgiveness,
we just can' t pray a blanket prayer of forgiveness,
we have to identify each person we need to forgive.
This is an every day battle a believer is to do.
Our minds are to be renewed every day - His mercies
are new every morning. Our minds are to be conformed,
and continue being conformed, to the mind of Christ.
(Romans 8:29). When we know that it is the sin
in us, and not us, we can stop being so angry
and unhappy with ourselves. Now I can love myself
better because I've separated me from the sin
in me. I still hate the sin, but I don't hate
me! So many have made themselves ONE with the
sin! You bought the lie if you think you are an
angry person! The anger is the sin in you, because
truthfully, you don't want to be an angry person,
you may have even tried not being an angry person,
yet it just comes out! It's time to go to work
and ask God to help purge your heart of the anger
that is within, and identify it in detail.
Simply
put:
Pay
attention to your thoughts and cast down (out)
any that are not God's thoughts. Even if the thought
is true - if it's not a good thought, you are
not to think it at all!!!! You will stay in peace.
And since those thoughts came from someplace within
us, we need to go to God and ask Him what is in
us. There was a reason that thought came up in
the first place, perhaps God is wanting to bring
your attention to something within that He wants
out! It's not time to go into condemnation and
fear. It's time to get excited because God is
doing a work. Remember, things have to manifest
in you before they can be removed from you. Reminds
me of a story I use in ministry called "The
shrapnel." My husband was in vietnam and
bombs blew up all around him sending pieces of
metal his way. Many of those pieces penetrated
his body, so when he returned back to the U.S.
he still had that shrapnel in him. One by one
they all began protruding out of his skin. They
would begin festering, hurting, reminding him
of how it got there in the first place, tec. It
wasn't a pretty sight. However, when the metal
finally worked it's way out, and sometimes had
to be surgically removed, the sore was healed.
That's how God purges our sins - the way it went
in is the same way it will come out! But once
it's out, it's OUT!
A
prayer for you:
Father,
I come before you with my brother/sister in the
Lord. I know from experience that our thoughts
need to be renewed and conformed to your thoughts.
Help my brother/sister to identify every thought
to decide if they are your thoughts or not. Help
them to get more of your thoughts in them through
Bible reading and fellowship with You. Help them
to recognize when the enemy is thinking a thought
through them so they can tell it to "GO."
Help them to know they have this authority to
cast things out! I pray courage and fearlessness
over their lives. I pray they take back their
thoughts, and get rid of anything that is not
of you. It may be a bit overwhelming for some
at this point because of all the negative thoughts
they have. But let them know that it won't be
long the thoughts will become less and less destructive,
and only your thoughts will remain. Let them find
comfort knowing that every person reading this
is in the same boat, otherwise they wouldn't be
reading this. They are not alone, and even the
most polished preacher has to take every thought
captive, if they know to do so. And as thoughts
come up that are not of you, help them to investigate
further by asking you to help let them see what
is in them that allowed that thought to come in
the first place. Sometimes it could be things
as jealousy, fear of evil, doubt, confusion, bitterness
and unforgiveness, comparison, feelings of incompetence,
etc. And help them not to think badly of themselves
for having these things. Help them remember it's
sin in them that has to manifest so that you can
purge. Don't let them fear what they will see,
but be happy they see it. Help them to cast out
every imagination and high and lofty thing out
of their thinking, and only dwell on whatsoever
things are good! Let their heart and mind be stayed
on your so that whatever comes from within, out
of their mouth, will be what would come out of
yours. I know this is a process, but help them
to remember when they mess up, to receive forgiveness
immediately (as taught in previous teaching),
and to go on. We only stay in SIN because we haven't
received forgiveness. Bless my friend now Lord,
and let them experience peace within their heart
and mind. In Jesus name, Amen."
Diseases
that come out of not taking your thoughts captive:
Depression
Ulcers
negative
thinking suppresses the immune system,
raises the blood pressure, and creates
a general level of stress and fatigue
in the body. In short, infections, cardiovascular
irregularities, the degeneration of muscles,
and the random growth of unwanted cells
get more opportunity.
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