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Identity, How We View Ourselves (pt 7)
Training in Righteousness: Paul gives us some interesting insight as to how he participates in the process of renewing his mind in a fascinating passage: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy stronghold. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Paul starts off by saying that though he lives in a physical body, he has spiritual weapons with divine power. These weapons destroy strongholds. Strongholds are encampments; places an enemy has fortified for himself that need to be flushed out. This perfectly describes the condition of the mind that is being renewed. There are places where thought patterns sown by the enemy have made encampments into our thinking that need to be broken down and flushed out. How does Paul destroy these strongholds? He gives us three steps:
Not every thought or action has its source in the renewed mind, but Paul admonishes us to make sure that every thought or action does end in the truth. We make sure that no lie of the enemy slips through the crack unnoticed; in everything, we train ourselves in the ways of righteousness.
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