"SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The FLESH NEVER FORGETS!"

DANGER. DANGER. DANGER! "Thought easily influences action." 

3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." 
                                                                         (2 Cor. 10:3-5)

The mind being held in captivity represents "STRONGHOLDS" (barriers to the heart and mind of God). The mind is held captive by the enemy (in this case the "enemy is NOT the devil, but any disobedient behavior contrary to the will of God), and can only be freed by the Spirit of God.

Many rebellious thoughts are housed in these strongholds. They can be likened to a "CITADEL" (which is a city located on a hill surrounded and protected by an impenetrable wall).

The carnal mind (the mind without God) is inherently weak, childlike and impressionable and with little or no effort it can be derailed off of the path of righteousness lest the light of the glory of Christ shine on them (2 Cor. 4:4). You are either submissive to the Prince of Darkness of the Lord of the Light. You have to pick a side!

The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God (2 Cor. 3:14, Eph. 2:3, Rom. 8:7). The genesis of the mind is the stronghold of the enemy from the beginning. This "infiltration" is innate in all mankind and germinates out of control in the life of a sinner. It eventually overtakes the will, emotion and body by entering into the body through the mind, which is the weakest (or strongest) entry point depending upon your relationship with Christ.

Temptation is always presented to a man through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and then the pride of life. These are the same tricks used on Adam in the Garden and Jesus in the Wilderness. You can't really blame the devil. He has had overwhelming success using the same "cheap magic trick" on Christians for centuries! 

Here is how "it" works:

1. Temptation is presented to the eyes, mind and body as SIN;
2. The Consent of Man: the "flesh" is used to secure the transaction because "The flesh never forgets"; unless it is crucified daily'
3. Temptation (sin) and thought are inseparable;
4. Our "intellect" obstructs our ability to apprehend God through repentance;
5. Repentance creates a significant breech in the mind's stronghold;
6. The result is the transformed Believer will receive a new mind and a new heart and thus be able to bring every thought into captivity that is unlike God.