Unstoppable Power Over Our Thoughts
Ben Johnson – April 26, 2026
Romans 8:11 (NLT) – The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Big Idea: Because the Spirit of God is in me, I am not a PRISONER to my thoughts; I have POWER over them.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT) – And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
1. IDENTIFY the BATTLE. (Awareness)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (GNT) – It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives. The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
A stronghold is not just thoughts, but a REPEATED, REINFORCED pattern.
Takeaway: I can’t take CAPTIVE a thought I haven’t IDENTIFIED.
2. INTERRUPT the PATTERN. (Intervention)
Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT) – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
NOTICE → NAME → REDIRECT
Takeaway: I can’t win the battle by trying HARDER; I win it by interrupting SOONER.
3. REMOVE and REPLACE. (Renewal)
Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) – Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Takeaway: I don’t just stop THINKING old thoughts, I put on NEW ones.
4. TRAINING over TRYING. (Consistency)
Romans 12:2 (NLT) – Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Takeaway: I won’t DRIFT into a renewed mind; I have to TRAIN for it.
One Last Thought: I’m not fighting FOR victory; I’m fighting FROM it. The Spirit in me is already GREATER than the battle in my mind.
Life Group Discussion & Questions
BREAKING THE ICE: What’s something that tends to run through your mind on repeat during a typical week? It could be a worry, a phrase, a pressure, or even something funny.
DIGGING IN: Read the key verses from the message together. Have each person share which one stood out most and why.
1. When you think about your thought life, what feels most true right now: peace, noise, pressure, negativity, distraction, or something else? Why?
2. The message talked about strongholds being repeated and reinforced thought patterns. What is one thought you find yourself coming back to again and again?
3. Which part of the process do you struggle with most right now: identify, interrupt, replace, or train? What makes that step difficult?
4. Think about the pattern: NOTICE → NAME → REDIRECT. What would it look like to actually practice that this week in a real moment? Can you think of a recent situation where this would have helped?
5. What truth from God do you need to tell yourself over and over again this week?
BRINGING IT HOME: Romans 8:11 reminds us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. That means we are not stuck with the thoughts we’ve always had. We have power to change! Where have you been believing a thought for so long that it just feels true? What would it look like this week to stop agreeing with that thought and start agreeing with God instead? Take one minute and answer this personally: What is one thought I will take captive this week? What truth will I replace it with?