“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 10:5).

If we do not take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, our thoughts will take us captive to make us obedient to it.

Our thoughts are not always good. In fact, our thoughts can be quite destructive and dangerous. Our thoughts need to be checked and managed. Imagine if you acted out on every thought you have on a typical day. It would be catastrophic.

Our thoughts need something outside it that it can be measured by. It needs God’s truth as the rule by which it can be measured. That’s what it literally means to be ruled. It means that the rule of Christ is the measure by which we determine what is good and what is not.

The words “demolish” and “take captive” are written in the present participle active.

• Present participle – not a one time act but an ongoing, never-ending demolishing and taking captive whenever there are “arguments or pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” Whenever it happens, before we allow ourselves to be taken captive by its enticements, we are to demolish and take captive those thoughts that go against God’s truth revealed in God’s word.
• Active – you have to do it. You have to make it happen. It won’t happen unless you do it. If you do nothing, you have failed to “demolish” and “take captive”. And when we fail to “demolish” and “take captive” our thoughts, our thoughts will demolish and take us captive.

The word for “demolish” in the Greek is literally “overthrow”. I wish the NIV committee kept the original word. You see, thoughts that go contrary to God’s truth revealed in God’s word want to rule over us. It wants to reign over us. Ungodly thoughts are not neutral toward us. It is actively working to overthrow and demolish God’s rule.

If we do not take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, our thoughts will take us captive to make us obedient to it.

So, whenever we come across a thought that is contrary to God’s truth revealed in God’s word…demolish and take captive those thoughts to make them obedient to the rule of Christ. How do we do that? Measure every thought against the truth of God’s word.

“Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD” (Psalm 117:1-2).

Praise the LORD is one word in Hebrew. You already know the Hebrew word without even knowing you know it. The word is “Hallelujah!”

Hallelujah literally means “Praise the LORD!”

When we praise and sing worship songs it’s not to get us in the mood to worship God or to hear God’s word. Oh, no. It is so much more. When we praise and sing to God it is a declaration of war against sin and satan. Satan hates when God’s people worship him. You know why? It’s impossible to sin when you’re praising God.

I mean it. It’s impossible. You cannot praise God while sinning!

Singing songs of praise to God is a declaration of war. It is spiritual warfare at its best because that’s when God’s people are at their best.

Praise the LORD!

Hallelujah!

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).

When we pray and when we read God’s word, we are seeking God’s will.

Here is what that means.

When we pray and read God’s word we are not asking for God’s advice on things. You see, advice is something we can take or leave. It’s only advice. That’s not why we pray or why we read God’s word. The reason why we pray and study God’s word is to know God’s will.

The purpose of praying and seeking God’s will through the study of God’s word is so that we can obey it. If it is God’s will, we have no other option but to obey. Disciples obey. Disciples follow. That’s what makes us disciples. Remember, disciple literally means “follower.” We follow Jesus. We follow what Jesus says, and we follow what Jesus does.

Blessed are you who reads God’s word. Blessed are you who pray to seek God’s will. And, blessed are those who hear and take to heart what God reveals. Blessed are you who obey.