Spiritual warfare

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 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.

Often times when we speak of or hear teaching about spiritual warfare, it’s with the mindset that we are to bring our thoughts and actions under control. Rather than putting the control in Christ’s hands, we are taught to take control; we are taught to make our thoughts obey what the Bible says.

While the intentions are good, the outcome is always the same: failure. God didn’t give us rules and regulations so that we could obey them and fight spiritual battles through our obedience. God gave us rules and regulations to show us exactly the opposite; He gave us those things to show us that we are in desperate need of a Savior to fight our battles for us. 

Pride, arrogance, and boastful self-reliance are what got us the list, the big ten; it’s what got us the Law. When we read the Bible, or are taught passages from the Bible that are geared around our obedience, our abilities, and our self-control, we’re not going to be able to stand strong in spiritual battles. We’ll fail because we’re relying on our obedience; we’re relying on our ability to obey.

The scripture has been read accurately but interpreted inaccurately. Instead of focusing our thoughts on Christ’s obedience, we’ve been taught to focus on Adam’s disobedience! This is counterproductive and it gives the Devil a foothold.

Paul instructed the Corinthian church to bring their thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. He wasn’t telling them to focus on their obedience; he was telling the church to focus on Christ’s obedience. When your thoughts are captivated by the perfection of Jesus’ obedience and His perfect fulfillment of all of God’s Laws, the Devil has no ground from which to fight. He is unable to attack you based on your obedience because you’re resting in Christ’s obedience.

When you have a bad thought (and you will) bring it into the captivity of Christ’s obedience, not Adam’s disobedience. Remind yourself that Christ did not have that thought, and you are justified, forgiven, saved, and blessed by His thoughts, not yours. You are not judged based on the thoughts in your mind. Instead, you are judged based on the thoughts in your Saviors mind. All of His thoughts are “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Exodus 28:36). Rest in the confidence of Christ’s obedience and stand victorious in every spiritual battle!