"Harnessing your thoughts on Jesus Christ"

Bible Passage:

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 New King James Version

The Spiritual War

10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you but being absent am bold toward you.

2 But I beg you that when I am present, I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]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,

6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

*SAY A PRAYER:

*TELL THE AUDIENCE “YOU MAYBE SEATED AT THIS TIME”.

Harnessing our thoughts on Jesus Christ, is the subject title of my sermon today

Illustration:   Can you think of a time when you’ve faced some overwhelming negativity, perhaps during a challenging season of your life. Those thoughts may have felt like a powerful fortress around you. Some of you may even recall a time when you prayed and meditated on God’s Word and by doing that you begin to dismantle those strongholds. Can I get a witness?

 You may have even realized that you had the authority to cast down imaginations that don’t align up with God’s promises.

That personal experience some of you may have had to deal with, echoes of Paul’s message today in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, reminding us that we must intentionally wage war against the lies of satan, that can overwhelm us.We must get out that special key, I’m talking about the key to the arsenal (BIBLE) choose God’s powerful weapons (WORD OF GOD) instead!

Doing this harness our thoughts on Jesus Christ our Savior.

Summary:

In this passage, Paul was defending his apostolic authority against the challenges posed by false teachers. Paul begins by writing a letter to the Corinthians against the false teachers, hoping that he might prevent a major conflict once he arrives. Paul challenges believers to seek spiritual strength in meekness, a contrast to worldly power reliant on aggression.

You see Paul’s opponents didn’t think he had enough boldness and power to even be an Apostle, they criticized Paul regarding his Apostleship and authority. They perceived Paul meekness and gentleness as being weak, in other words being soft or a coward, some would say.

Paul tells us that he and his fellow warriors will take the Corinthians' very thoughts captive, allowing them to once again believe what is true and return to obeying Christ.

With their spiritual weapons and God-given authority as Christ's representatives, they stand ready to punish every disobedience against Christ. This includes both the deceptive false teachers and any believers living in sinful rebellion.

Paul also goes on and explains that as believers, we are engaged in a spiritual battle, and our weapons—which are not physical but spiritual—have divine powerto demolish strongholds. Strongholds in this context refer to mental, emotional, or spiritual barriers (like sinful patterns, lies, or ungodly beliefs) that keep people captive.

This passage also emphasizes  the power to break strongholds comes from God and is available through spiritual warfare.

To harness your thoughts means to take control of your thinking in a deliberate, focused way. It involves becoming aware of what you're thinking, directing your mental energy purposefully, and using your thoughts to support your goals rather than letting them run on autopilot or become dominated by distractions, negativity, or anxiety.

But to "harness" your thoughts on Jesus means to intentionally cultivate and direct your mental focus toward Him. By choosing to think about Jesus, His teachings, and His presence in our lives, rather than letting our mind wander on other things of the world.

It’s similar to harnessing a horse, you're guiding something powerful and potentially wild to move in the direction you choose.

Paul is saying in this letter that our battle isn’t just physical or external—it’s mental and  spiritual. Thoughts, beliefs, and worldviews are battlegrounds. So "harnessing our thoughts on Jesus it involves a process

· Identifying lies we believe

· Challenging our toxic thinking

· Rooting ourselves in the truth of Christ

Harnessing them on Jesus also implies wrestling them down, putting them in submission to Christ.

What thoughts are you letting roam free?

Are your thoughts aligned with God’s truth or the world’s assumptions?

Harnessing thoughts also means submitting every mindset to the authority of Jesus not just some.

The bible tells us in Romans 12:2— “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Also in Colossians 3:2 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth

Now I’m going to tell you, harnessing your thoughts isn't about positive thinking or self-help alone—it's about using Gods divine power: I’m speaking from experience.

 Here’s 4 things I want you to write down that can help with harness those thoughts.

Scripture (truth as a weapon)

Prayer/meditation of God’s word

Worship

The Holy Spirit’s guidance-allowing the holy spirit to guide you.

We can’t fight anxiety, fear, or deception with human strategies of this world we live in by ourselves—we need to fight with God’s power and HIS presence.

Someone may be asking how can I harness my thoughts and what steps can I take? I’m glad you asked as Pastor Smith would say. Here's how you can do it:

1. Make it a Priority:

Schedule Time:

Dedicate specific time each day to intentionally focus on Jesus, whether it's through prayer, scripture reading, meditation, or simply quiet reflection.

Be Intentional:

Don't just passively allow thoughts about Jesus to occur; actively seek them out and dwell on them.

2. Engage with God's Word:

Read the Bible:

Regularly read and meditate on passages about Jesus, His life, teachings, and the promises He offers.

Study the Gospels:

I learned that the Gospels provide a rich account of Jesus' life and teachings, offering opportunities for reflection and understanding.

3. Foster a Relationship with Jesus:

Pray:

Engage in open and honest conversation with Jesus, sharing your thoughts, feelings, and needs.

Listen for His Voice:

Pay attention to the inner thoughts and feelings that arise during prayer and meditation, recognizing that God may be speaking to you.

Worship and Praise:

Engage in music, prayer, or other forms of worship that express your love, gratitude, and adoration for Jesus.

4. Cultivate a Mindset Focused on Christ:

Reflect on Jesus' Example:

Consider how Jesus lived, what He taught, and the values He exemplified, and seek to emulate them in your own life.

Seek God's Guidance:

Pray for wisdom and discernment, asking God to help you understand His will and to discern His presence in your thoughts and feelings.

Challenge those Negative Thoughts:

If you find yourself struggling with negative or unhelpful thoughts, actively challenge them starting today and replace them with thoughts that are focused on Jesus and His love.

Proverbs 23:7 It says, as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he. In other words, I like to say it this way: Where the mind goes, the man will follow.

So, it’s imperative that if we want to live for Christ, we must Harness those thoughts on Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage you that being consistent and practicing these strategies, you will learn to harness (take control of) your thoughts  and put them on Jesus Christ , cultivating a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him, which will bring you joy, peace, understanding, clarity, discernment, protection, I can go on and say more..

 Our mission as being Christians in spiritual warfare is to tear down the arguments and false ideologies that stand against the knowledge and word of God.

The world we are living in now the enemy wants us to believe lies—about ourselves, our identity, and the nature of God.

 But in today’s message God’s truth can demolishes these arguments, bringing every thought into captivity to Christ.

True spiritual authority comes from Christ not from man, and through Him, we can possess the power to overcome the strongholds of this world and elevate our minds and hearts toward Him.

This week I want you to take an inventory of your thoughts. Don’t just let them run wild. Ask yourself: Is this thought leading me closer to Jesus, or pulling me away from Him? Is it grounded in truth, or rooted in fear, pride, comparison, or insecurity?"

When a thought doesn’t line up with who Jesus is or what He says—don’t entertain it, don’t rehearse it—take it captive. Put it under the authority of Christ!

You don’t have to fight that battle alone. We’ve been given 4 divine weapons  that are very powerful together—Prayer, Scripture, worship, and community.

Why These Four Weapons Work Together?

When these four weapons are combined, they form a powerful defense against spiritual attacks. They provide protection, strengthen your spirit, and give you the ability to discern and respond to the enemy's schemes. Together, they:

Strengthen your relationship with God through communication (prayer) and understanding (scripture).

Empower you to stay grounded in truth through worship, which centers your heart on God's sovereignty and majesty.

Provide a support system in community, ensuring you're not fighting alone but have brothers and sisters in Christ praying with you, encouraging you, and holding you accountable.

So, when you wake up anxious—harness your thoughts. When comparison starts creeping in—harness your thoughts. When the enemy whispers lies about your identity—harness your thoughts.

Bring them to Jesus. Let Him rule your mind, not just on your Sunday morning. Because the battle is real out there—but so is the VICTORY IN JESUS.

Conclusion: IN MY CLOSING

The battle is not against people or circumstances; it’s against the spiritual forces that try to hinder our walk with Christ.

 When we become children of God, we will become equipped with divine power to break strongholds and take every  negative ungodly thought captive.  But we must also be mindful that this battle requires humility, obedience, and the use of spiritual weapons—prayer, truth, and the Word of God. God has the victory here today to tear down those strongholds, AMEN!

Say: stand to your FEET!

Perhaps there’s someone here today that maybe saved but your mind just has been all over the place, if isn’t one thing it’s another, God already knows what you’re dealing with He just waiting for you to surrender it to HIM. Today is the day to Harness those thoughts and cast them to Jesus. If that is you bring them to the alter and surrender them to the Lord , if your not able to come just stand where you are and lift  your hand. Perhaps there’s someone online that’s ready to harness their thoughts on Jesus Christ your welcome to join wherever you are.

Say this PRAYER: “Lord, today I give You, my thoughts. Shape my mind to reflect Your truth. Help me recognize satan lies and give me the strength and the ability to take them captive. I want a mind that honors You—because when You have my mind, I know you’ll have my life.”

ALTER CALL: Perhaps there maybe“Somebody today may have walked in today with a battlefield in their mind. You've been weighed down by anxious thoughts. You've believed lies about your worth, your purpose, your future. You've been replaying old hurts, feeding fear, or letting comparison rob your peace.

But today—God is calling you to take those thoughts captive. Today is the day to stop letting your thoughts lead you and start letting Jesus lead your thoughts.

So, here’s the invitation:

If there’s something in your mind you need to surrender to Jesus… If there’s a thought pattern that needs to be broken… If you’re ready to trade confusion for clarity, fear for faith, chaos for peace…By giving your life to Christ

Then come forth. Let this be the moment your mind begins to be renewed. The day you may never forget.

Because the Spirit of God is here to fight with you. And you are not alone in the battle."

CLOSING Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for the weapons You have given us to fight the battles of our minds and hearts. Help us to walk in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, relying on Your strength, not our own. Empower us to tear down the strongholds of the enemy and to bring every thought into obedience to You. In Jesus' name AMEN!!

Communion:

Offering:

Benediction: