2 Corinthians 10: 1-5



2 Corinthians 10: 1-5 Battle

Intro: J. Oswald Sanders, “If a man is not willing to pay the price of

Fatigue for his leadership, it will always be mediocre.”

• A Good Tired

Spiritual goals can only be achieved by spiritual people Who use spiritual means.

Means = agency, instrument, method; Means to an End.

#1 Mean = Prayer

2 Thes. 1: 11-12 – A Pattern of Prayer for someone striving for Christ.

2 Cor. 10: 3-5 –

A Pattern of Prayer for One striving Against Christ.

Lost; or at least Like Jacob… wrestling with the LORD

Deception or False Doctrine

Alienation from the Church; vulnerable

Rebellion; a sinful relationship

Division; a ruptured relationship

PRIDE

A Pattern of Prayer for One Striving Against the LORD.

Summarize Vs. 1-2 (context)

“Trying to understand all of the nuances of 2 Corinthians is like an Amish farmer trying to understand a Doonesbury comic strip!”

---We have to try to reconstruct an extensive dialogue!

Two attacks on Paul

a) Weak – mistook meekness for weakness (not overbearing)

b) Worldly – No secret mysteries, ecstatic utterances, …

--- An ordinary guy! (kind of ugly and simple)

Paul Responds 2 Corinthians 10: 3

Vs. 3 – I am just a guy; but I am waging an out of this World War!

• Image of a Major Campaign!

--- All other phrases support this Campaign!

READ vs. 4-5

The Battle Objective (5) == every thought…all people living in

Obedience to Christ!

(Paul uses to refer to salvation)

(refers to false teachers and Church)

• Picture People captive, serving falsehood; now set free to serve Jesus Christ!

The Battle Field (5) === The Minds of People

Speculations, knowledge, Thoughts

• We often think of spiritual work/warfare as taking place in the Heart. Paul focuses on the Mind!

• A battle of Ideas!

Peter, “Gird your minds for action”

Proverbs, “As a man think, so He is”

The Battle Plan (4-5) === Destruction of fortresses

--- speculations (imagination/theories)

--- every lofty thing (pretension)

• First tear down fortresses that oppose the truth of Christ; then, bring every thought captive in Obedience to Christ!

• Paul battled Ideas === legalism, Gnosticism, syncretism…

• Today === It’s better not to know so much, than to know

So many things that just aren’t so!

Theological – Cult; Agnostic; “organized religion”

Practical – If I could get out of this marriage, I would be happy

More stuff will make me Fulfilled.

ILL – Nazi Tanks rolled into Poland in September 1939

--- a brigade of Polish soldiers (lances, swords on horseback)

Charged a formation of German panzer tanks!

--- they were all slaughtered!

(Imagine)

T/S – Right Battle; Wrong Weapons

The Battle Weapons (4) === Not of the flesh, but divinely powerful!

• Flesh/human/world = cleverness, personality, money; charm, eloquence; passion; … manipulate or convince

• Weapons Mighty through God

--- Seven spiritual weapons of Eph. 6 –

Truth; Righteousness; Gospel;

Faith; Salvation; WORD of God

Prayer

Spiritual goals can only be achieved by spiritual people Who use spiritual means.

Application: Use this Prayer Pattern to pray for someone who is

Striving Against God.

Invitation… Instruments Play…

• Come pray for Brethren Striving For Christ; or Striving AGAINST Christ.

• Minister available for prayer or public response.

Prayer

Close with Song

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