How To Stay Sane In An Insane World, Part 4

As promised in my last blog, I am going to begin covering the four-part prescription that I mentioned previously. This four-part “medicinal remedy” should be administered three times daily until your thinking comes into alignment with God’s Word. When all of the elements begin working together, you can experience a level of healing that you may have never previously attained.

NUMBER 1

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ 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.”

We’re fairly familiar with these verses, but when it comes to the portion of Scripture that talks about the pulling down of strongholds, we may not be completely sure of what the Word is talking about there. We always want to spiritualize this passage and twist it to say, “tearing down the devil’s strongholds.” That is conjecture! Paul may or may not be talking about spiritual strongholds because there is no indication that he is referring to the devil or demons. He is talking about warfare, a battle, and a battlefield. He makes it very clear in the next verse when he says, “Casting down imaginations (KJV)."

Christians have some of the most vivid imaginations of any of the human beings on the earth. We imagine all sorts of things. We need to learn to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Where do we find the knowledge of God? It’s in the Word of God! So if anything is elevating itself above His Word, Paul tells us that we are to cast it down. Cast down whatever is setting itself higher than the Word of God in our lives.

Now, are there ever times in your life when there are things that seem to be more important than the Word of God? The Bible says to cast down arguments and every high thing and bring nearly every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Isn’t that what it says? No! Or does it say, “Bringing a lot of thoughts into captivity”? No! It says to bring every thought! How many would that be? Every thought is just that: every thought! Just think, this is only step #1.   

It’s not as difficult as it sounds, although it is challenging. You might ask, “Well, how do I know that it is contrary to the Word of God?” Well, you need to find out what the Word says! What’s more important to you? What the world says, what you say, or what the Word of God says? Hello??!! How are my thoughts stacking up in light of the Word of God? Am I thinking in opposition to God’s Word? To the degree that you think contrary to the Word, you’re going to live a contradictory life. As a man thinketh, so is he; you become the fruit of your thoughts.

Now, for some of us, if we cast down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, there isn’t going to be much left up there! We just might create a big vacuum, but God has not called us to be empty-headed or airheads.

So, just to recap, the first thing we need to do is take every imagination and every high thing that is taking place in our thought life, and we need to cast it down. You can do this deliberately, and I know that you can because I can. Don’t think this is impossible; it is very practical. When you are thinking contrary to the Word of God, take authority over those thoughts and stop making excuses. Excuses are not going to gain you the victory. “Well, God knows that we’re just weak.” Yes, that’s why He’s made you strong! We need to stop with our Christian excuses. They’re not valid, Scriptural, nor pleasing to God. He has given us everything we need to live an overcomer’s life. It is up to us to implement the plan and utilize the tools. The tools are of no effect in our lives if we refuse to use them. At the same time, to the degree that we do use them, we will bear much fruit!

We will cover the other parts throughout the next couple of weeks. For now, begin to apply 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Every time you catch yourself thinking a thought that you know is contrary to the Word of God, dispel it immediately from your mind and replace it with something that is Christ-centered and lines up according to His Word.

Grace and Peace,

pg