Fighting the Good Fight - 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Notes
Transcript
Before I get started tonight I want to thank Dad for giving me the opportunity to preach this evening and for you being here to listen, even though I am nervous as I can be. I’m thankful for a family and a church family that loves and cares about me and is supporting me in my calling, not only that, but is praying for me. I am so unworthy to be here and I just pray that the Lord will use this to encourage somebody. Now, please take your Bibles and turn to 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 10, and we’re going to start with verse one and read down through verse number six. 2 Corinthians 10
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Let’s look to the Lord in prayer.
Introduction
Introduction
By way of introduction we see that Paul is beseeching the church and we’re going to look at some reasons why we fight the good fight. Point number one
Because we do not war after the flesh (3)
Each and every day you and I have to walk in this old flesh. We do not have our glorified bodies. You and I are going to sin and what you struggle with is not always going to be what I struggle with. Something I have to work on, especially at work, is not getting frustrated with people. I don’t know about ya’ll, but sometimes I just want to slap some people. I know that’s not very spiritual, but it might make me feel better, then I can ask for forgiveness later. I’m just kidding. But I know a lot of folks here in the church have physical needs and if you don’t, you know of someone who does. The flesh is weak and we can’t just go somewhere and escape it. The battle is not—the warfare is not—after the flesh.
Because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (4)
I heard of a man who was on a diet, trying to lose weight, but on his way to work he passed a donut shop. He got to thinking just how good a donut and a cup of coffee would be. And he said to himself, “I will only stop if there is a parking place right in the front.” And sure enough, after seven times around the block, there was a parking place right there in the front.
Like this man, you and I both daily have temptations and battles we have to face. But there’s one that is greater than all of them. That is the battle for our mind and it’s a war fought daily between the Lord and Satan. Let’s go back to our text verse 3-5.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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;
Now we see that here that we’re dealing with a war, and that is one that must be fought with weapons. We are called to fight it daily and we can have victory, but we can’t have victory if we sit on the sidelines. The first part of 2 Corinthians 2:14 says
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ
It is only through Christ we can be triumphant in this battle for our thoughts and mind, and that’s by using the weapons that He’s given us.
Because there are things that would challenge the authority of God’s word (5)
There are people and things that challenge the authority of God’s Word. Verse five refers to “every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” The word exalt means to raise high or elevate. Whether it be social media, mainstream news, television, or the music we listen to, Satan wants us to exalt these things—using whatever he can to influence our thinking. His desire is to control our thoughts. If he can distract us from doing our devotions, being faithful to church, or he can get us to think the wrong things, worry, or live in fear, he has won. Satan wants your mind.
Because God will discipline us (6)
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
We must fight the good fight, but how do we do that. Well, let’s go to verse number one. 2 Corinthians 10:1
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
By walking in the meekness and gentleness of Christ (1)
By walking in the meekness and gentleness of Christ (1)
The only two options are walking in meekness and gentleness of Christ or walking in the flesh. The word meek means
Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
We see in the Bible several examples of meek men. Numbers 12:3 says that Moses was meek above every man on the whole earth.
3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Now when you’re walking somewhere and some piece of furniture decides to get in your way and you stub your toe or something. How do you react? Are you meek and gentle in spirit? What do your thoughts go? If you’re walking in the spirit then you’ll think something differently than if you’re walking in the flesh.
Like Moses, we too can be meek in spirit and fall the Lord and handle everything with grace.
I have this guy at work who can be a real thorn in the flesh, so I’ve just been praying about him a lot lately, and the last couple weeks his attitude towards me has been better. You just have to handle people as Christ handles them with meekness and gentleness. Christ died for them just as much as you, and your testimony could be what leads them to Christ. You just have to do what’s right.
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
We see a great example of this in the Bible when David was in the cave with Saul. He had the perfect opportunity to kill his enemy, but he chose not to, trusting that the Lord would handle the situation. This is a clear demonstration of keeping one’s mind on the Lord. David remained meek, even toward someone who was walking in the flesh.
By pulling down strongholds (4)
By pulling down strongholds (4)
We have all have strongholds in our life that keep us away from a relationship with Christ. Whether that be sin or idols.
The definition of a stronghold is: fortress, fort, castle, tower
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Your sin doesn’t even have to be a bad one to be a stronghold. As referenced earlier anything exalted above Christ can be in the way. Whether it’s idolatry, fornication, worry, being self-centered, so on. Anything can be a stronghold, if it keeps you away from your relationship with God.
So many times we worry over health, finances, what people are saying about us, that we’re not good enough and we try to take things that the Lord has in control in our own hands, but we know Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
No some, but all.
If we keep our minds on Christ, he will strengthen us and he will help us.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
We can live however we want to down on this earth, but there are consequences for our actions when it comes to eternity.
Now how do you bring it down? It takes prayer, effort, and verses
Prayer: Ephesians 6:18
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The power of prayer is incredible, and it’s something I make a priority every day. One of my favorite things to do in the morning is to spend time in prayer. It’s one of the most vital weapons we have in our spiritual arsenal.
I’m especially thankful for my mom, who taught me how to pray—specifically and intentionally—for others. If you’re here on Wednesday nights, you know we take prayer requests, which helps us pray more effectively for one another. Our church has many needs, and it’s important that we lift each other up in prayer.
But beyond that, we also need to pray for strength and victory in our daily walk, because we are constantly battling the flesh. Prayer is essential if we want to live victoriously.
Effort: Colossians 3:23-24
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
I know Dad has mentioned this many times before, but using Scripture as a weapon against sin is incredibly powerful. Breaking down strongholds takes effort and work, and one of the best ways to combat sin—whether it’s fornication, smoking, drinking, or even worry—is by turning to God’s Word.
He’s often said that you should write down a verse on a small card and keep it with you. Every time that struggle comes to mind, pull out that verse, read it, and let it sink in. Over time, you’ll start to memorize it, and it will help you overcome temptation.
Personally, throughout my prayer list, I have specific Scriptures for different things I struggle with, and I take time to pray over them. The Lord hears and answers prayer, and I’m so thankful for His goodness.
Scripture:
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
If you’re not in the word and studying and memorizing scripture then how can we tear down the stronghold? For me, it’s a lot easier to pray than to read, and I know for other people, it’s the opposite. I can pray all day long and get through that, but when it comes to getting in the word, Satan really fights me on that. And so, if you’re not getting in the word, then you’re not using all the weapons that God has given you to fight this battle of the mind.
By casting down imaginations (5)
By casting down imaginations (5)
An interesting thing I saw when studying is when we look at the Bible and look at the word imagine/imaginations a lot of times it is negative. We rarely see it used in a positive sense. If you’ll turn over just a page or two in your Bibles to chapter number 11:3
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The devil is subtle, he doesn’t just get out there and show you what’s going to be the consequences for your actions. Here we see that his goal is to corrupt our minds from the simplicity of Christ. He wants to take our relationship that’s supposed to be something pure and holy and corrupt our minds and ruin it.
Look with me in verse number two of that same chapter
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Paul is saying to these Corinthian Christians that he has espoused them to Christ, and he wants to protect them.
When we get saved and we give our lives and souls to Christ, and when we let the devil rule our thoughts and imaginations it’s like cheating. Such as a husband or wife would get jealous over cheating in a marriage, God gets jealous when you’re not spending time with him, or not living for him, when your mind and thoughts are on things it shouldn’t.
You can see by the world we’re living in today that a majority of people have gone corrupt in their thought life. Things are happening here that we couldn’t have imagined even 20 years ago. Things that God burned down an entire civilization for the same things are happening today We read in Genesis 6:5
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
We see in that same chapter and in chapter 8:21, that the thoughts were evil from their youth. The younger the devil gets ahold of you the stronger the hold. The devil is after your kids, your grandkids, and even some of your great grandkids. They have open access to the internet and literally anything at their finger tips. The devil wants to corrupt their minds. He’ll use anything he can to accomplish his goal and to keep them from Christ. That’s why we must protect them at all cost and tell them about the Lord. When we keep our minds on Him he will keep and protect us.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on thee:
Because he trusteth in thee.
The devil wants nothing more to ruin your mind and your thoughts which will in turn ruin you relationship with Christ.
By taking every thought captive (5)
By taking every thought captive (5)
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart
When God speaks to us, he talks to us through our mind. And what you hear is determined on the condition of your heart. A lot of people in churches today want an experience, something they can feel. Well, the church down the street has this many people and all these ministries. But are they preaching the gospel? God doesn’t communicate through your emotions. Now, can God touch your heart during a song, or during a sermon? Absolutely, but charismatics and new age worshipers think they’ve had some kind of experience, but they’re not judging it by the word of God, and so what they’re experiencing emotionally isn’t the God of the Bible, it’s a different god all together.
Just for clarity when I say that God is speaking to you through your mind, it’s not based on your intellect. Some of the simplest folks you’ll ever meet understand the Bible better than “scholars” do. God speaks to you through your mind.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Renewing your mind is a daily thing, and is essential for fighting the good fight!
Conclusion
Conclusion
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We see that our thoughts are directly connected to the condition of our heart. When we’re right with the Lord and we use the necessary tools we can have victory over our thoughts and ultimately over sin . If your thoughts are messed up, there’s no better time than now to fix them.
How do we do we fight the good fight?
By walking in the meekness and gentleness of Christ (1)
By pulling down strongholds (4)
By casting down imaginations (5)
By taking every thought captive (5)
How about you tonight? Are you fighting the good fight? How’s your thought life? Let’s look to the Lord in prayer.
