2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

• We are in Enemy Territory– Satan is referred to as “prince of this world” – John 12:31– “…the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” – 1

John 5:19– “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

– “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:11-12

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

… I am daily engaged in a personal struggle against a demonically inspired system that comes at me and at my sinful tendencies through the world, through the system that is in the power of Satan who is the prince of this world. It is not that we as believers have demons running round in us, we are the temple of the Spirit of God, we are new creations, we have been transformed and changed. But we are assaulted by the system around us and we have tendencies to fall to that assault because of our remaining flesh, our fallenness which we possess until we receive our heavenly inheritance and leave this world. – John MacArthur

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

• We are in Enemy Territory

• God has left us in the world– John 17:14-16 – I have given them your word and the

world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

2 Corinthians 10:3 -4 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

• What are our weapons?– Ephesians 6:17 – Take the helmet of salvation and the

sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

– Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

• Example in 1 and 2 Timothy

2 Corinthians 10:3 -4 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

• What are the strongholds (fortresses)?

Fortress at Corinth

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

God does not tolerate sin• Revelation 2: 20 - I have this against you….you tolerate

the woman Jezebel…• 1 John 1:5 – God is light; in Him there is no darkness at

all.

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

• Arguments / Pretensions– Speculations (logismos – general word referring to any and

all human or demonic thoughts, opinions, reasonings, philosophies, theories, psychologies, perspectives, viewpoints and religions.)

• 1 Cor 3:20 – “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise are futile”.

• 1 Cor 1:17 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power”.

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

• Colossians 1:10 - so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

• Ephesians 1:17 - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

• In our marriages

• With our children

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

• In our marriages

• With our children

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

John 14:23-24 – Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching…”

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

• We are in enemy territory / we are at war• The WORD is our weapon• We use the WORD to identify and demolish

arguments• We speak truth, the word, to our spouses and

our children• Christ demands obedience of every thought• Obedience is a mark of our salvation