Yes, Scripture commands believers to control their thoughts, and Les Feldick emphasizes this as essential for spiritual victory.
The Bible reveals that the mind is a battlefield. Les Feldick explains that our greatest problems originate in our thought processes, and we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is part of spiritual warfare, not physical conflict.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 — This passage directly commands believers to cast down imaginations and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The Bible teaches that our thoughts are in need of control. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul writes: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh... 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." This indicates that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle that involves the mind. Scripture also warns about the consequences of wrong thinking. In Romans 1:21-22, when people choose to exclude God from their thoughts, their foolish heart is darkened, and they claim to be wise but become fools. This shows how thought patterns can lead to spiritual downfall. Additionally, the Bible emphasizes the importance of meditating on God's Word. Joshua 1:8 instructs that the book of the law shall not depart out of the mouth, but one should meditate therein day and night, leading to obedience and prosperity. Jesus Himself quoted Scripture when tempted by Satan, showing the power of God's Word in guarding the mind.
Les Feldick teaches that the believer's primary struggle is in the mind. Our thoughts are the source of our biggest problems, and we must actively bring them into captivity to Christ. He emphasizes that this is a spiritual warfare, not physical. We are to use God's Word as our weapon and stay in the Book to maintain our guard against the evil one. Les also stresses that our priorities must be correct—spiritual things over physical appetites—and that we must keep old Adam (the sin nature) under control, reckoning him as dead. Les points out that even Jesus, when tempted, answered with Scripture, demonstrating that we too must rely on God's Word to counter the enemy's attacks. He highlights the danger of humanism, where people think only in the realm of the human, darkening their hearts (as in Romans 1). For the believer, the key is to meditate in the Book and let it cleanse us.
Les Feldick teaches that the warfare for believers is in the spiritual realm, not the physical. In 2 Corinthians 10:3, Paul says we walk in the flesh but do not war after the flesh. Our battles are spiritual, and the mind is a primary target. Satan attacks our thoughts, and we must counter with the Word of God.
Les explains that we maintain our guard against the evil one by staying in the Book. Jesus, when tempted, quoted Scripture, showing us that we must rely on God's Word to counter temptation. The Word also cleanses us, as we are washed by the cleansing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). Meditation on the Book is essential for obedience and prosperity.
Les teaches that when people choose to put God out of their thinking, their foolish heart is darkened, as in Romans 1:21-22. They become secular humanists, thinking only in the human realm. This can lead to spiritual ruin. For believers, failing to control thoughts gives room to old Adam, the sin nature, leading to sin.
Spiritual Warfare
Les explains that the believer's warfare is in the spiritual realm, not physical, and that our battles are fought in the mind against spiritual forces.
Meditation on the Word
Les highlights Joshua 1:8, showing that believers must meditate on the Word day and night to be obedient and prosperous, and that we need to spend time in the Book.
Darkened Heart from Wrong Thinking
Les connects choosing to exclude God from thoughts to secular humanism and a darkened heart, as in Romans 1.
Jesus' Use of Scripture
Les shows that Jesus countered Satan's temptation by quoting Scripture, demonstrating that we too must use the Book to guard our thoughts and life.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
You know, when Peter was concerned about tax money, what did Jesus tell him to do? Go down to the seashore, and there will be a fish with enough money in it for your taxes and mine both. And what does that tell you? He's got control, even of the fish, of the animal kingdom. He is totally a controlling God.
Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25
So we have to go by what the Scripture says, and then not give in to old Adam, but keep him under control, as Paul says, I then do not beat the air, but I'm going to keep my body under control. Now verse 17, Now then, as a believer, when I do things that I know are wrong, it's not the true I that I have now become in Christ, but who's going to do it? Old Adam.
Genesis 2-3 Bible Study: How the Fall of Man Changed Everything
But you see, within the human makeup there's also that desire that if only they could have complete control of everything, if they could only be their own God. And that appeals to the human mind. To be like God, to have control of my own—and isn't that what they teach? Sure. You can be whatever you want to be. You can have whatever you want to have. Just think it within your heart.
Priorities and Physical Appetites
Les stresses that we must keep our priorities straight, tempering physical appetites with spiritual truths, as Jesus did when he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;
This is the key verse directly commanding us to bring every thought into captivity to Christ.
Joshua 1:8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Shows the importance of meditating on God's Word for obedience and success.
Romans 1:21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Illustrates the consequence of excluding God from thinking.
Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Jesus' response to temptation, showing the power of Scripture over physical appetites.
Bringing every thought into captivity means taking control of our thoughts and aligning them with obedience to Christ. Les Feldick teaches that our mind is the primary battlefield, and we must actively reject thoughts that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, using Scripture to counter them.
Les emphasizes staying in the Word of God. He points to Jesus' example of quoting Scripture when tempted, and to Joshua 1:8 which instructs meditation on the Book day and night. The Word cleanses and guards our minds against the evil one.
According to Les, our thoughts are the source of many of our problems. If our thinking is wrong, our actions will follow. The Bible shows that wrong thinking darkens the heart (Romans 1:21), so controlling thoughts is essential for obedience and pleasing God.
Watch the Teaching: The Weapons of Our Warfare — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Explained