I dont think we can bring thoughts captive.What is your opinion?

[nephilimiyr]

I understand.You are an open minded man.Open thoughts?

A week or so ago I made a poll thread in the regular forum where I asked people if they believe that a verse can teach two different things and both be correct in truth. Some agreed and some didn't, and I do believe that and I can see where this passage maybe an example of what I was saying.

There are different levels of the prophetic in passages as well as different levels of truth and meaning is what I'm saying. There is more than one lesson to learn.

 

[ARBITER01]

A pastor used to always tell us in his church,they had to bring every thought captive because they are powerful things,that can create circumstances.

In my opinion the whole idea of bringing every thought captive is ridiculous.No one can.They often come as fast as a lightning bolt anyway,and sometimes as fast as you get rid of one, there is another to replace it.

It says in Philippians to dwell on good things,amen to that.

Often people will misquote 2 Corinthians 10:5.
There Paul was saying he would bring every thought captive.It was not his own thoughts. He meant it as if to say,I will bring down every argument,and all your thoughts,as per your false ministry.As he was going to confront them,not his own arguments or thoughts.

So anyway,I don’t know if this is debate worthy or not.To me,thoughts are not that powerful as far as affecting things in a supernatural way.Yes,they can make us not realize our potentials and such.I just don’t hink they matter that much,or in a “magical” sense that he implied.Like those in the church were making things happen by their thoughts 'out there" if you understand what I mean.Thanks.

What are your thoughts?

I think I gather what you are getting at.

Everyday I'm rebuking thoughts in the name of Jesus out loud that I consider to be from satan and his forces. That is my way of taken them captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm trying to hear GOD from my heart, not be distracted by my mind.

I don't know, maybe someone will disagree with that, but I do have results with it and will continue to do such.

 

[nephilimiyr]

I think I gather what you are getting at.

Everyday I'm rebuking thoughts in the name of Jesus out loud that I consider to be from satan and his forces. That is my way of taken them captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm trying to hear GOD from my heart, not be distracted by my mind.

I don't know, maybe someone will disagree with that, but I do have results with it and will continue to do such.

I agree and sometimes do the same, but I don't rebuke those thoughts out loud, just in my mind.

 

[JimB]

I think I gather what you are getting at.

Everyday I'm rebuking thoughts in the name of Jesus out loud that I consider to be from satan and his forces. That is my way of taken them captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm trying to hear GOD from my heart, not be distracted by my mind.

I don't know, maybe someone will disagree with that, but I do have results with it and will continue to do such.

If that works for you, great. Keep it up. It is just not what the Apostle has in mind in 2 Cor. 10.5..

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

​

 

[Rising SON]

where have you heard the notion that we can prevent getting them?

I've never heard anyone say that...

Hi.
I have.Often by way of thinking of something else.What I mean is,someone always trying to think of good things,in order to not get bad thoughts.Then it almost becomes a religion in and of itself.Me personally,I dont want to live in my head,I would rather live in my Lord,and his love.Perfect love,casts out fear,and yes,that makes the heart grow fond.Not only that,but the darts come also from the devil,I dont want to spend the day counting them.

 

[ARBITER01]

I agree and sometimes do the same, but I don't rebuke those thoughts out loud, just in my mind.

I hear ya. I got into the practice of speaking out on my own. I do that with my bible reading also, not yelling of course, just speaking it out as I read.

I feel it is a part of learning to lean upon The Holy Spirit and rejecting that which isn't of Christ after He reveals it to be false, a sort of ongoing communion that is ever present.

I wouldn't know what else would be the spiritual application of that passage into our lives except for that which I learned and explained here. I understand that anyone could scrutinize it and try to ascertain it through historical means instead, but for me, I want that spiritual application of the word that has actual results,... and it does for me.

 

[Rising SON]

I think the confusion is in the definition of the word "captive". The idea here is not to prevent bad thoughts from ever occurring. We're carnal by nature and that nature will rear its ugly head more often than not. The definition of "captive" implies action taken once the thought has occurred.

It is one thing to think a bad thought. It is another thing entirely to entertain those thoughts. Once we begin to entertain thoughts, that's when the real trouble begins.

That's why Jesus taught looking at a woman to lust after her was the same as committing fornication. He was trying to draw the line in the thought processes instead of in the bedroom. Most people would reason the sin is in the action. God knows that sin is birthed in the brain (heart?) and needs to be dealt with there before it becomes action.

So, we are instructed to capture our thoughts before they become actions.

Good post.
Yes,there is an element of setting our hearts and minds on things above.
The dynamics of the law,are not just necessarily of Moses.The more I get a consciousness of something,and then the more I try to stop it in my own strength,the next thing I know,the thoughts get stronger, then I feel condemned.The more I say,here Lord,what the law could not do,weakned by my flesh,will you please do.The next thing I know,I am going about my day without the consciousness of thoughts..Praise God for his Love!

 

[Rising SON]

I think I gather what you are getting at.

Everyday I'm rebuking thoughts in the name of Jesus out loud that I consider to be from satan and his forces. That is my way of taken them captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm trying to hear GOD from my heart, not be distracted by my mind.

I don't know, maybe someone will disagree with that, but I do have results with it and will continue to do such.

Good point ,we are more than just our minds.I like what you said,matters of the heart are where it is really at.Head,mind,they have there place,but your right.Jesus said out of your inmost being,is where the water is.God bless to you.

 

[Rising SON]

If that works for you, great. Keep it up. It is just not what the Apostle has in mind in 2 Cor. 10.5..

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

You brought out a good point before worth repeating.The victory was through the power of God,not Paul's strength.

 

[Svt4Him]

The other day I lost my keys. I thought it was carelessness on my part, now I realize someone took my thought of where I put them captive. Hate it when that happens.

 

[map4]

I have prayed, especially for my boys when they were younger, that nothing that goes against God or His word would 'get in' them....meaning that if they heard something that didn't line up with God or His word that they wouldn't accept it and believe it. Basically asking the Holy Spirit to guard their minds.

Actually, I should probably do that more now that they are teenagers...

 

[FoundInGrace]

A pastor used to always tell us in his church,they had to bring every thought captive because they are powerful things,that can create circumstances.

In my opinion the whole idea of bringing every thought captive is ridiculous.No one can.They often come as fast as a lightning bolt anyway,and sometimes as fast as you get rid of one, there is another to replace it.

It says in Philippians to dwell on good things,amen to that.

Often people will misquote 2 Corinthians 10:5.
There Paul was saying he would bring every thought captive.It was not his own thoughts. He meant it as if to say,I will bring down every argument,and all your thoughts,as per your false ministry.As he was going to confront them,not his own arguments or thoughts.

So anyway,I don’t know if this is debate worthy or not.To me,thoughts are not that powerful as far as affecting things in a supernatural way.Yes,they can make us not realize our potentials and such.I just don’t hink they matter that much,or in a “magical” sense that he implied.Like those in the church were making things happen by their thoughts 'out there" if you understand what I mean.Thanks.

What are your thoughts?

I think we can definitely bring every thought into captivity/ renew our minds/ etc because with every thought we have a choice - whether to examine it and replace it with the truth if it is not in line with the truth (ie putting it under the Lordship of Christ) or to keep it and reap accordingly.

I agree with you though about thoughts not being a magic type thing, there is some weird beliefs out there about that. I think it is a general principle though that we live what we believe and therefore we really need to be conscious of our thoughts and catch them if they get off line with the truth of the Word of God and keep renewing our minds with what is pleasing to God because we will reap good things from that in our minds and lives.

The truth is very powerful, it does transform us. When the truth breaks a stronghold of lies in our lives it is amazing what change can happen. We have a choice to meditate on Gods love and truth or not with every thought.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord.

 

[KingZzub]

There are other Scriptures as well.

Isaiah 26.3 says the Lord will keep in perfect peace someone whose mind is fixed on Him.

If we cannot control our thoughts how can we fix our mind on cross.

Jesus tells us to Take no anxious thought, again showing we can control what we think.

Php. 4.8 still shows that we can choose what we think.

As the old preacher said "We can't stop the birds flying over our heads, but we can stop them building a nest there."

Blessings,
Ben

 

[Rising SON]

I have prayed, especially for my boys when they were younger, that nothing that goes against God or His word would 'get in' them....meaning that if they heard something that didn't line up with God or His word that they wouldn't accept it and believe it. Basically asking the Holy Spirit to guard their minds.

Actually, I should probably do that more now that they are teenagers...

I think we can definitely bring every thought into captivity/ renew our minds/ etc because with every thought we have a choice - whether to examine it and replace it with the truth if it is not in line with the truth (ie putting it under the Lordship of Christ) or to keep it and reap accordingly.

I agree with you though about thoughts not being a magic type thing, there is some weird beliefs out there about that. I think it is a general principle though that we live what we believe and therefore we really need to be conscious of our thoughts and catch them if they get off line with the truth of the Word of God and keep renewing our minds with what is pleasing to God because we will reap good things from that in our minds and lives.

The truth is very powerful, it does transform us. When the truth breaks a stronghold of lies in our lives it is amazing what change can happen. We have a choice to meditate on Gods love and truth or not with every thought.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord.

There are other Scriptures as well.

Isaiah 26.3 says the Lord will keep in perfect peace someone whose mind is fixed on Him.

If we cannot control our thoughts how can we fix our mind on cross.

Jesus tells us to Take no anxious thought, again showing we can control what we think.

Php. 4.8 still shows that we can choose what we think.

As the old preacher said "We can't stop the birds flying over our heads, but we can stop them building a nest there."

Blessings,
Ben

Thanks everyone for your replies.
What I am trying to say is yes, why dwell on negative things or lies and such.But also we cant stop thoughts from coming either,and for my life I have found that they dont really matter.They seem to be just that..thoughts,nothing more nothing less.And when I was trying to bring every one of them under control I saw they increased,and I was spending way tooo much time under a law I devised that made things worse.Now I find by grace,they are no longer an issue.LOL.

And the misuse of 2 Corinthians 10:5,only made matters worse,as Paul was mearly saying he would take on THEIR teachings and arguments.And I believe when he said every thought captive,he meant it to say down to the smallest letter or dot,not that he thought he would control their every thought.Let alone we cant even prevent our every thought.

Yes,as per my op,it is good to dwell on good things.I also dont think that a thought will make something happen in a telekinesis type manner.

I guess I have also learned a little simple truth when bad thoughts come.I say so what!

 

[visionary]

I believe our brains sometimes work like sieves, not much sticks sometimes, but it is a good thing that the Word is like water, washing us clean.

 

[Rising SON]

I believe our brains sometimes work like sieves, not much sticks sometimes, but it is a good thing that the Word is like water, washing us clean.

Good word,thank you for this.

 

[Yodas_Prodigy]

This was one of the things that I carried with me out of Word Faith. Taking a thought captive is a simple act. To this day, I quote that verse when I have thoughts that come in my mind whether it is lust or thinking badly of someone or whatever.

Really, by quoting that verse, I overide or erase the sinful thought that was clogging my mind. Amen...

A pastor used to always tell us in his church,they had to bring every thought captive because they are powerful things,that can create circumstances.

In my opinion the whole idea of bringing every thought captive is ridiculous.No one can.They often come as fast as a lightning bolt anyway,and sometimes as fast as you get rid of one, there is another to replace it.

It says in Philippians to dwell on good things,amen to that.

Often people will misquote 2 Corinthians 10:5.
There Paul was saying he would bring every thought captive.It was not his own thoughts. He meant it as if to say,I will bring down every argument,and all your thoughts,as per your false ministry.As he was going to confront them,not his own arguments or thoughts.

So anyway,I don’t know if this is debate worthy or not.To me,thoughts are not that powerful as far as affecting things in a supernatural way.Yes,they can make us not realize our potentials and such.I just don’t hink they matter that much,or in a “magical” sense that he implied.Like those in the church were making things happen by their thoughts 'out there" if you understand what I mean.Thanks.

What are your thoughts?