April 7, 2024     TEXT:   II Corinthians 10:1-7

I. We are all in a battle (vv. 3-5)
A. The greatest battle we have is in our thoughts.
1. Our mind, the thinking of our brain      mind
2. Our desires that cause us to think about specific things      flesh
3. Our feelings that are associated with our thoughts and desires      emotions
4. Our decisions that result from our thoughts, desires, and feelings      volition
B. The greatest struggle in this battle is keeping ourselves submitted to God.
1. We sin when we allow our thoughts to dwell on temptation to desire it
2. We sin when our thoughts exalt themselves against the truth of God (I John 5:21)
3. We rebel when what we want is against what any authority in our life wants
C. The greatest challenges in this battle are defined for us in Scripture (I John 2:15-17)
II. We cannot win this battle in our own ability (v. 4)
A. Our flesh is working against our spirit even if we have the Holy Spirit in our soul. (Matthew 26:41; Mark 9:24)
B. This world is working against God even though God is greater than the gods of the world (John 15:18-20; 17:14-20; I John 4:4)
C. Satan will do everything in His power to help you sin against God even if you are truly saved and a child of God.
III. We can have victory through the power of God in our lives (v. 5)
A. If we do not have His Son as our Saviour on the throne of our heart we will fail.
B. If we do not listen to His Spirit speaking to us, we will be weak to temptation. (Psalms 139:23-24)
C. If we do not fill our thoughts with God’s truth, we cannot be successful in this battle. (Proverbs 23:7; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:21-24)
D. If we do not learn to force our thoughts to be focused on God and His truth it will wander to lesser things (Proverbs 4:23; 23:19; 28:26; Deuteronomy 4:9)
E. If we hide God’s Word in our heart and think on it, we can experience His help and power in our lives to honor Him over temptation (Psalm 119:11)
F. If we will let the Lord use His church to challenge us and support us we can be strong.