Captivity or Capture, by Senior Pastor Fred Garcia (6-21-20)

<p>Pastor Fred reminds us that we are called to take captive every thought in <strong>2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NASB)</strong><em> 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 of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.</em></p> <p>But what exactly are we capturing???</p> <p><strong>SPECULATIONS: Demonic thoughts that start with WHAT IF...</strong></p> <p>ie. What if…God doesn’t provide…the washing machine/car/house breaks…we don’t have enough to cover/can’t afford...God doesn’t protect…I, kids, spouse gets hurt…a tornado, fire, famine, virus comes...I’m not who He says I am…God doesn’t love me like…I’m not good, strong, smart, fast enough...I cannot overcome my thought life, my sinful tendancies, habits, this obstacle, etc...I’m not close enough to God…I can’t hear His voice like…I don’t experience His presence like…I don’t work in the gifts like…</p> <p><strong>LOFTY THINGS: Demonic thoughts that says "Devil big….God little" about all of our situations...</strong></p> <p>ie. I will never overcome this addiction, habit, sin...Not even God can help me with this…I will never get out of debt, be free, able to fix this relationship, be healed, be loved, own a home…</p> <p><strong>THOUGHTS: Random Ideas (Impulses that go entirely counter to who we are and what we would normally do…)</strong></p> <p>ie. Drive your car into that tree...Hit that person...stab yourself with that knife...Go have an affair</p> <p>These are not your thoughts. Truth: I am a new creation, these thoughts are counter to my new nature</p> <p>When confronted by these thoughts the choice is to be Captured by the thoughts so that we cannot function effectively In Him, deflect the thoughts or Capture the thoughts.</p