CAPTIVITY

Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

 

Jesus came to proclaim LIBERTY to the CAPTIVE. Many times our minds are held captive to satan- but Christ came to set us totally free. Christ did a total work in redemption. He didn't just redeem our souls so we could go to heaven when we die. No- His redemption is a total work- spirit, mind and body. He wants us set free in every area of our lives, including our minds.

 

Ephesians 4:7,8 "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says, 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.'"

 

2 Timothy 2:22-26 "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility, correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having taken captive by him to do his will." 

 

Paul wrote these words to a young minister- but it applies to ALL Christians. To be a Christian is to be CHRISTLIKE! We can not call ourselves a Christian and still act the same way that we did before we got saved. Christ came to redeem us and that means our minds as well! We are to "escape the snare of the devil" who has taken some captive to do his (satan's) will. He led captivity captive! He brought liberty to mankind- if we allow it.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 gives us a solution to this problem-"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

 

It may take some hard work- but it is the only way to correct the problem of an impure mind- we must take every thought that is contrary to the Word of God and cast it down. Take it into captivity and cast it down! When we do this enough times- our minds become renewed. That is what is meant by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). When we were redeemed by Christ- our spirits were immediately changed, but sometimes it takes time for our minds to be redeemed. Our mind has been so used to having ungodly thoughts- that is why the Word says we are to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind".  And there are so many ungodly voices that surround us and bombard our minds on a daily basis. As we read and study and memorized the Word of God, as we spend time in prayer and worship and become active in the church where God has lead us- as we daily die to the things and attitudes of the world- as we deny the ungodliness of the world and embrace the way of the cross- our minds will steadily be renewed. We must take captive all impure and ungodly thoughts. Sometimes this will mean to stay away from others who constantly talk profanely and engage in impure speech and conduct. We must be separated unto God. It doesn't mean we stay away from people, but that we choose our friends wisely and stay away from all impurity of the flesh and spirit icluding what we hear and what we see- television, internet, etc.

 

Christ came to give us LIBERTY! He set the CAPTIVE free! Yes- but on our part- we must not allow those impure thoughts penetrate our minds- we must bring them into captivity and cast them down so that we will "escape the snare of the devil" who tries to take us captive to do his will. We must guard our minds by meditating on the Word- making it an active part of our lives.

 

(Taken from Pastor Keith's sermon February 24, 2013)