Don’t Let Your Thoughts Keep You Captive - Bill Johnson

Spiritual warfare happens in your mind. Lies grow into strongholds that resist God’s purpose. Scripture calls us to capture these thoughts and replace them with truth. Repentance means changing how we think. Miracles reveal God’s nature and strengthen faith. Ignoring God leads to “practical atheism.” God equips us with armor to protect the mind and extinguish lies. Scripture should move us from information to encounter. In Christ, we are dead to sin. Renew your mind. Stand firm. Live aligned with God’s truth.

Bill Johnson teaches that spiritual warfare is won or lost in the mind. Scripture consistently affirms this renewal of the mind as essential to following Christ.

The Mind as the Battleground

Johnson notes that the enemy attacks not only through isolated thoughts but through patterns of thinking that resist God’s purpose (2:24, 3:06).

• Paul teaches the same in Romans 12:2, urging believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” so we can discern God’s will.
• Peter echoes it: “Prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13).
• Jesus identifies the heart-mind connection when He says, “From within…come evil thoughts” (Mark 7:20-23).

These patterns, when left unchallenged, become spiritual strongholds.

Pulling Down Strongholds

Citing 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Johnson teaches that strongholds are arguments and high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
These include lies, anxieties, false identities, and self-exalting thoughts.

• Paul elsewhere warns that these thought patterns can “darken understanding” and alienate believers from the life of God (Ephesians 4:17-18).
• To defeat them we “bring every thought into captivity” to Christ through truth, prayer (Philippians 4:6-8), and obedience.

The Danger of Lies

Johnson warns that believing anything about ourselves that contradicts God's Word is partnering with a lie (5:51-6:04).

• Jesus calls the devil “the father of lies” whose goal is destruction (John 8:44).
• Paul says the mind set on the flesh leads to death because it refuses to submit to God (Romans 8:6-7).
• Lies erode identity, distort calling, and weaken faith.

Repentance as Changing Thought Patterns

Repentance is not merely sorrow. It is a change of mind (Greek: metanoia).

• Romans 2:4 says God’s kindness leads us to repentance, meaning He invites us to new thinking that aligns with truth.
• Colossians 3:2 calls believers to “set your minds on things above,” breaking agreement with old patterns (22:42-22:54).
• Johnson frames repentance as breaking partnership with lies and embracing God’s reality.

Miracles Reveal God’s Nature

Johnson explains that God’s miracles reveal who He is (11:13).

• Psalm 103:7 says God “made known His ways to Moses, His acts to Israel,” highlighting that miracles teach His character, not just His power.
• The “two trees in the garden” picture (Genesis 2:9) shows God gives real choices and rewards faith-filled obedience (Hebrews 11:6).
• A hardened heart forgets past provision (Mark 6:52) and embraces fear (26:02-27:00).

Practical Atheism

“Practical atheism” happens when believers make decisions without acknowledging God (19:00).

• James warns that such self-confidence is evil: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:13-17).
• Proverbs 3:5-6 calls believers to trust God in all their ways.
• Ignoring God in daily decisions is functionally living as if He does not exist.

The Armor of God

Referencing Ephesians 6:10-18, Johnson highlights:
• Helmet of salvation protects the mind (v.17).
• Shield of faith extinguishes the enemy’s fiery darts, often whispers or suggestions (v.16).
• Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is the tool for removing lies that have already landed (v.17).
Jesus models this in Matthew 4:1-11 as He counters every temptation with Scripture.

The Christian Code of Conduct for the Church Militant

The Word of God Leads to Encounter

Studying Scripture (“black and white”) should lead to relationship with God (“the person”) (33:16-34:19).

• Jesus says the Scriptures “testify about Me” (John 5:39-40).
• Transformation comes from beholding Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Our past, present, and future must declare the power of Jesus’ blood (Revelation 12:11).

Dead to Sin

From Romans 6, Johnson urges believers to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God” (Romans 6:11).
This mindset shift aligns with Ephesians 4:22-24, which calls believers to put off the old self and put on the new.
Identity fuels behavior. We fight sin by embracing God’s truth about our new nature (37:15-38:32).