Mind Control 1 (2 Corinthians 10:1-6)

Putrid Thoughts

Imaginations - Imagination is the ability to form new ideas, images, and concepts in the mind. (Bub making a time machine out of Sadie’s car seat box)

The will working on the materials of memory. (Just as one has the materials to build a house. He can either go by the blueprints, or go by his imagination)

Selecting the parts of different conceptions, or objects of memory, to form a whole that is more pleasing, more terrible, or more awful, than has ever been presented in the ordinary course of nature.

Genesis 6:5 “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.”

Genesis 8:21 “And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”

Jeremiah 13:10 “This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.”

Romans 1:20–21 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Prideful Thoughts

Every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” )

Isaiah 14:12–14 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

When one is prideful, one is like Satan.

In his pride, Moses lost his temper and was kept out of the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1–13). Pride kept Joshua from seeking God’s will at Ai, and he lost the battle (Joshua 7), and Peter’s pride led to his denial of Christ (Luke 22:31–34).

Warren W. Wiersbe

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

Ezekiel 16:49 “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

Daniel 5:20 “But when his (Nebuchadnezzar) heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:”

Hardened - stubborn, inflexible, become powerful beyond the expected

1 Kings 19:1-5

Possessing Your Thoughts

Casting Down - to be removed from a position or office; being physically removed by being brought down from a high location (tearing down so as to make flat to the ground.)

If we are to set our affection on things above and look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, one of our weights that can hinder us is our thoughts. If you’re looking up and think something that can bring your focus down, rip that thing down like a curtain and keep looking to Jesus!

Mark 15:36 “And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.”

Luke 23:53 “And he took it down (body of Jesus), and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.”

We need to render our putrid and prideful thoughts dead so we can take them down!

Luke 12:18 “And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.”

Bring into Captivity - to assume power to influence, direct, or determine someone; catching a bad guy, cuffing him, throwing him behind bars to not get out.

It’s going to take effort to catch your thoughts. We can’t fully control our physical health, but we can sure control our mental health!

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Philippians 4:6–9 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Philippians 2:1–8 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”