It’s All in Your Mind: Captivated

“You cannot change what you do not confront.” -Craig Groeschel

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• Locations and TimesReview – Week 1-We are focusing this series on the battle in our minds. We believe God gives us victory in this battle. We will not waste another day losing a battle we can win.-There are a lot of ways God’s Word could challenge us to be transformed, but it clearly states we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).-Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind.-This transformation isn’t optional – only for some people – but for anyone who wants to mature in the faith. It’s for anyone who wants to experience victory.-Without a renewed mind we are adrift, not able to know the Will of God.-When we are in Christ, we have access to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).-A transformed mind isn’t just your mind cleaned up a little – it’s HIS MIND IN YOU.-Our declaration of truth: Change your mind, change your life.Add your private notes…• • •The question for us today: What does it look like to have our minds transformed?If we are to be transformed by our mind’s renewal, then what does that look like on a day by day and moment by moment basis?Add your private notes…• • •2 Corinthians 10:3-5NIV

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The word used here for war literally means….war. The word used here for weapons literally means…weapons. Paul’s readers would have been thinking of actual war.-While the opening sounds like an instruction on waging an earthly war, it might surprise you when, in verse 5, Paul writes that we are not fighting people, but “arguments and every pretension”-The word for “take captive” is also a military term, indicating that you have overcome an enemy and that enemy is now under your control.-It appears there are two options presented in the text: you control your thoughts or your thoughts will control you.

The good news:-Just because a thought is in your head does not mean it’s your thought .It does not mean you put it there. It does not mean that it’s true.-Just because a thought pops into your head doesn’t mean you have to accept and believe it.-You actually have the power to CHOOSE what you believe and what you allow into your mind.

How we ‘take thoughts captive’:1. First we must ask ‘what is the lie’?2. Next we must ask ‘what does God’s Word say’?3. We must proclaim truth over our lives.

Taking every thought captive means that we take control of what we think. We think intentionally, not accidentally

Stronghold: God doesn’t exist.
The Truth:-The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1-The heavens declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2-Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” John 14:9-You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13Add your private notes…• • •Stronghold: I’ll never know God’s will. He has abandoned me.
The Truth:-Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6-Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10-The Lord has said “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” Hebrews 13:5-6

Stronghold: God ignores my prayers completely.
The Truth:-This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14-The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16-And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 (NLT)

Stronghold: I’m a failure and always will be.
The Truth:-For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13-I don’t want self-confidence anyway – my confidence is and always will be in Him. (But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7)-Jesus said “He must greater and I must less.” (He must increase, I must decrease) John 3:30

Stronghold: God won’t meet my needs.
The Truth:-Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ” Matthew 6:26-Jesus taught us to pray ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.’ Matthew 6:10-11-And my God WILL meet ALL your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Stronghold: Lust will always be a part of my life. Might as well just get used to it.
The Truth:-We know that our old self was crucified … so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6-No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Stronghold: Other people can trust God for a bright and hopeful future, but that’s for them, not for me.
The Truth:-Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8-Cast all your cares on Him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7-If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Church of the Nazarene- East Rock

It’s All in Your Mind Part 2
It’s All In Your Mind: Captivated

Welcome back to series- It’s all in your mind

“Most of life’s battles are won or lost in our minds”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3‬‬
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬‬
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

From the very beginning, to follow Jesus means to live differently, to engage the battle differently than the world around us.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬‬
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

“Not” here is in the strongest tense in the original language.
“The weapons we fight with are absolutely not the weapons of the world…”

“Victory in the battle of the mind, begins with surrender”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:24-25‬‬
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

“Our commitment to Jesus must rule over our desire to realize our own fulfillment”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬‬
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

What does this look like in our everyday lives?
1. First, we must ask “What’s the lie?”
2. Next, we must ask “What’s God’s Word say?”
3. Finally, we must proclaim truth over our lives. (Counter attack!)

It’s All In Your Mind: Part 1: Transformation
Welcome to our new series- It’s all in your mind

“Our mind is the control center of our attitudes, our thoughts, our perceptions, our feelings, our affections, and our actions.”
What we think about matters!

-We are focusing this series on the battle in our minds. We believe God gives us victory in this battle. We will not waste another day losing a battle we can win.-There are a lot of ways God’s Word could challenge us to be transformed, but it clearly states we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).-Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind.-This transformation isn’t optional – only for some people – but for anyone who wants to mature in the faith. It’s for anyone who wants to experience victory.-Without a renewed mind we are adrift, not able to know the Will of God.-When we are in Christ, we have access to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).-A transformed mind isn’t just your mind cleaned up a little – it’s HIS MIND IN YOU.-Our declaration of truth: Change your mind, change your life.