BRINGING THOUGHTS INTO CAPTIVITY

TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST

2 Cor. 10:5

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Henry Ford: "Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is
      probably the reason so few engage in it."
      1. It's easy to act without thinking. It's also dangerous. It  
         can get us into trouble.
   B. God wants us to think. His holy Word helps us in our thinking. 
      1. "Let us think about what the Bible thinks about thinking."

I. GOD KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS. 1 Chron. 28:9; Luke 16:15
   A. Jesus, being God, knew the thoughts of others. Matthew 9:4
   B. Men do not know the hearts of others. 1 Cor. 2:11

II. GOD KNOWS WHEN OUR THOUGHTS ARE EVIL.
   A. One's thoughts can be evil continually, as was in the days of
      Noah. Genesis 6:5 
   B. The wicked do not have God in their thoughts. Psalm 10:4
   C. Evil actions proceed from evil hearts. Matthew 12:34-35

III. GOD KNOWS WHEN OUR THOUGHTS ARE MISTAKEN.
   A. Eli thought Hannah was drunk. 1 Sam.1:13-17
   B. Naaman thought Elijah would do differently. 2 Kings 5:11
   C. God knows when we follow our own thoughts. Isaiah 65:2
      1. Even when we think we are right, but we can be wrong.
         Prov. 16:25; John 16:2; Acts 26:9

IV. GOD KNOWS WHEN WE ARE THINKING RIGHT THOUGHTS.
   A. He knows when we are thinking about Him.
      1. Especially during worship. Psalm 48:9
      2. During depression or anxiety. Psalm 94:17-19; Phil. 4:7
      3. When we are praying. Ephesians 3:20
   B. God knows when we are thinking in the right manner. Isa 55:6-9
      1. We must think humbly of ourselves. Romans 12:3
      2. We must think maturely. 1 Corinthians 13:11
      3. We must meditate on pure and holy things. Phil. 4:8

V. ONE CAN EASILY HAVE A DISEASED HEART (OR MIND).
   Isa. 1:5-6
   A. Multiplied thousands die each year of heart trouble. It is the
      leading cause of death.
      1. Some are born with defective hearts, but a large percent of
         heart problems are self-induced; e.g., smoking.
      2. Many undergo heart surgery of one kind or another,
         including complete transplants.
   B. Of a more serious nature and eternal consequence is spiritual
      heart trouble. It is 100% self-inflicted, and unless corrected 
      100% fatal.
      1. Thankfully, there is a remedy for a diseased spiritual      
         heart, but you do have to be able to diagnose the problem.

VI. THE DIAGNOSIS.
   A. Foolish heart.  Romans 1:21
   B. Wicked heart.
      1. Of unbelief. Heb.3:12
      2. Perverse. Proverbs 11:20
      3. Desperately wicked. Jer. 17:9
   C. Weighed down heart. Luke 21:34
   D. Anxious heart. Proverbs 12:25
   E. Prideful heart. Daniel 5:20; Ezek. 28:5, 17; Prov. 21:4; 16:5
   F. Covetous heart. 2 Pet.2:14; Col.3:5                            
   G. Self-deceived heart. James.1:26
   H. Dull, Hard heart. Mat.13:15; Mk.3:5; Mk.16:14; Lk.24:25
   I. Impenitent heart. Rom.2:5

VII. THE CURE
   A. Let God, who knows our hearts, do the surgery. Psalm 86:11
      1. Let His Word do its work. Heb. 4:12
      2. Let the Lord direct our hearts. 2 Thess 3:5
   B. We need to do our part.
      1. Obtain a "new" heart. Ezekiel 18:31
      2. Draw near to God with a true heart. Heb. 10:22
      3. Pray for a clean and pure heart. Psalm 51:10
      4. Pray that our evil thoughts might be forgiven. Acts 8:22
      5. Rend our hearts, not our garments. Joel 2:12-13
      6. Present a broken and contrite heart before God. Psalm 51:17
      7. Obey God from the heart. Rom.6:17

Concl.
   A. Thinking may indeed be the hardest work, but thinking like God
      wants us to think is the challenge.
   B. More importantly, turning that thinking into action is the
      ultimate challenge.
   C. Let us close by citing our text once again - 2 Corinthians     
      10:5.

Chart:
THE DIAGNOSIS OF A DISEASED HEART (MIND)

1. Foolish heart. Romans 1:21
2. Wicked heart.
   a. Of unbelief. Heb.3:12
   b. Of perverse, evil actions. Proverbs 11:20
   c. Desperately wicked. Jer. 17:9
3. Weighed down heart. Luke 21:34
4. Anxious heart. Proverbs 12:25
5. Prideful heart. Daniel 5:20; Ezek. 28:5, 17; Prov. 21:4; 16:5
6. Covetous heart. 2 Pet.2:14; Col.3:5                          
7. Self-deceived heart. James.1:26
8. Dull, Hard heart. Mat.13:15; Mk.3:5; Mk.16:14; Lk.24:25
9. Impenitent heart. Rom.2:5