2 Corinthians 10:5,6

Introduction

We are in a war for our minds and we have the weapons to WIN

I. Our Weapons Have Power to Destroy
v.4b - “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy…”

Our weapons are these?
Our weapons are the Holy Spirit, our gospel message, armor of God, prayer, fasting, meditation and obedience to Scripture, etc.

Our weapons have divine power – dunamis – dynamite; our weapons have sufficient power to accomplish the objective of tearing down strongholds.

Our weapons are meant to destroy -
“Paul says our spiritual weapons can destroy Satan’s fortresses. Weapons such as prayer, reading the Word, obedience, meditation on Scripture, fasting, and service can blow up the devil’s strongholds. And that’s what we must do. These fortresses don’t need to be remodeled. God doesn’t tell us to capture them, change the locks, and use them for Him. Satan’s fortresses must be torn down.” Tony Evans

II. Destroy Strongholds, Arguments and Lofty Opinions
v.4b-5 – “…to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God…”

Strongholds/Fortress – final defense

Arguments – one’s thoughts, plans, intentions designed to justify one’s calloused belief in God.

“He (Paul) is saying that our weapons ‘destroy the way people think, demolish their sinful thought patterns, the mental structures by which they live their lives in rebellion against God.” DA Carson (Sam Storms Book of Spiritual Warfare)

Lofty Opinions – highly exalted thoughts or imaginations that fortify themselves
In human pride and resist the knowledge of God.

III. Destroy and Take Captive
v.5b – “…and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”

“The picture is of a military expedition into enemy territory, an expedition so effective that every plan of the enemy is thwarted, every scheme foiled, every counter-offensive beaten.” DA Carson

“Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . ." God will not bring our "arguments . . . and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" — we have to do it.

Don’t say, "Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts." Don’t suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.” Oswald Chambers

IV. Conclusion
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think (dwell) on these things.” Philippians 4:8