A Battle Of The Mind

“The Battle for the Mind” 6/22/25 a.m. 2 Cor. 10:1-5

I don’t think we realize the BATTLE that is being waged today.

I’m NOT talking about the war in the Middle East. Iran vs. Israel. That’s definitely something that we all need to be praying about.

I’m NOT talking about the war on ILLEGAL DRUGS. That’s definitely a war worth fighting. Meth, Cocaine, Heroin and so on, are destroying the lives of THOUSANDS of people.

And I’m not talking about the POLITICAL WAR that’s raging today. The DEMOCRATS vs. REPUBLICANS. LIBS vs. CONSERVATIVES. Most of you know my political views. I’m a RABID CONSERVATIVE but it’s not my calling to preach politics. But it is my calling to preach against SIN and to preach how God expects us to live MORALLY and according to HIS WORD. But I won’t be preaching on those things today.

No, today I want to preach to you about a BATTLE each one of us will FIGHT. I FIGHT IT on a DAILY BASIS. And to GIVE IN while we’re fighting this BATTLE is SURRENDERING to the ENEMY.

Rachel and I were laying in bed on Thursday evening and we were talking about things going on in people’s lives and the BATTLE that RAGES for our MINDS. It’s a BATTLE that our young people face. It’s a BATTLE that middle aged people face and it’s a BATTLE that even us older people face. ALL OF US!!!

And listen, if we don’t FIGHT this battle we’re gonna lose. Do you hear me this morning? We have to fight or we’re gonna LOSE. I know too many people who gave up fighting and just LAID DOWN. And the ENEMY CAPTURED THEM.

So I want to read from 2 Corinthians, Chapter 10 this morning. We’ll begin reading at Verse 1 and we’ll read down through Verse 5.

“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Looking at Verses 1 and 2, it’s interesting that Paul feels the need to clarify some things. Yes, he was BOLD in what he wrote in his letters to the people in Corinth. Yes, he had to say some HARD things in his letters. This church was MESSED UP.

That’s pretty clear when you read through 1st and 2nd Corinthians. But he spoke these things in these letters with the LOVE and GENTLENESS of Jesus. I kind of think he was hoping that his letters would STRAIGHTEN them UP so he wouldn’t have to be SO BOLD when he saw them in person.

Things really haven’t changed too much in the last 2000 years when it comes to human psychology. Paul didn’t want to be the BAD GUY. He didn’t always want to be the BEARER of bad news. Always having to GET ON TO the people of Corinth. But boy what a mess they had there. Like I said, there was a lot of problems in that church.

And I kind of feel the same way at times. Not that I feel we have a lot of problems in our church. WE DON’T. But I like to preach uplifting messages that encourage us. I like to preach about Heaven and what it’s gonna be like. And there are times that God allows that. He likes for us to be encouraged.

But sometimes, like today, I have to bring a message that God has given me that’s not fun to preach. A couple of things happened this week in our community that BLEW my mind. And BOTH of them came down to a BATTLE that was FOUGHT in the MIND and eventually LOST.

And so this morning I want to bring a message on this subject. “The Battle for the Mind” But before we do let’s pray.

Brother ___, would you lead us?

I. The BATTLE for the MIND is just as REAL as a FLESHLY BATTLE. Let’s read Verse 3 again.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”

You know, sometimes I think that a FLESHLY BATTLE might be easier to fight. I don’t like to FIGHT. It HURTS to get HIT. I’ve known people who like to fight. They enjoy the challenge. But I don’t like it!!! Now I like to watch a good fight.