12 December 2008
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
F.O.B. Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: We are Christians at War, and many of us are battling/warring against little things (that have STRONG holds on us mentally and spiritually) which are hindering our DESTINY IN GOD.
REFERENCES: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) For the weapons of our warfare (are) not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Judges 13:1 (NIV) Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years; Judges 13-16 (NIV); Isaiah 59:1-3 (ESV) Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness; James 1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless; James 3:5-8 (ESV)
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that many of us are battling/warring “little things” that is hindering our destiny in God.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “STRONG holds”
VI. INTRODUCTION: We are a Nation at war in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Thousands of American lives have been loss. For we are fighting a different type of enemy. This enemy, unlike enemies of the past, doesn’t have armed soldiers in full battle rattle. This enemy doesn’t have the huge armor vehicles threatening to take ground from us. This enemy doesn’t have a Navy and war ships attempting to occupy territory on the waters of the world. It doesn’t have an Air Force fighting for superiority in the air or infantrymen fighting for superiority on the ground.
My brothers and sisters, we are fighting a different kind of enemy. This enemy doesn’t fear dying and has little respect for human life.
This enemy is smaller in size but larger in numbers. Like ants, our enemy is constantly on the move. Yet, we (members of the Americans Armed Forces) remain resilient and victorious. Our Commander in Chief, pledged early on that “We Will Never Give Up” and the events of 9-11 will never be forgotten.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: As military members, we have been faithful to that pledge.
a. Every time the terrorist strikes us with one punch; we respond with two punches - right here on his turf (in Iraq and in Afghanistan).
b. As result, terrorism is losing both the battle and the war!
c. Likewise, my brothers and sisters, as Christian we are also at war! For don’t you remember the Bible says (in Ephesians 6:12) we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against the rulers of darkness in this present world …
d. Like our natural enemies – the Muslim Extremists and the Talibans - our Spiritual enemy isn’t always the big ugly Goliaths in our lives.
e. For the truth of the matter is … many of us are battling and warring against “little things” which have a STRONG hold on us mentally and spiritually.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: In the Greek language – STRONG hold is defined as not only a castle or fortress … but … a STRONG hold … is also anything on which one relies.
a. Little things like lying, or talking too much as a strong hold on some us.
b. So much so … that lying and talking too much appears to be second nature. The devil has a STRONG hold on many tongues.
c. And he doesn’t want to release it; because he fears that if you ever start telling the truth (or if you ever stop using profanity) – you’ll find out that God can use you greatly;
d. for others, if they ever STOP talking so much – they will then be able to accomplish what God has destined them to accomplish.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: For some, the devil has a STRONG hold on their mind and their self-esteem.
a. He tells them that they can never achieve great things.
b. For others the devil tell them to eat and eat and eat … because he knows that if they ever get control of their eating habits – they will be able to defeat the enemy in other areas of their lives as well.
c. And they will suddenly have the confidence – and self-esteem to reach people for God that they didn’t have the confidence to do before.
d. Yes, little things have STRONG holds on many believers.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: James, the brother of Jesus, says in James 3:3-8 that “huge ships can be controlled by a rudder;
a. and horses can be brought under subjection with a small bit;
b. but the tongue – is an evil power that no man can control … it takes the Holy Spirit to pull down the STRONG hold of the little tongue.
c. In reference to STRONG holds, I once heard a testimony by T.D. Jakes.
d. He was sharing the fact that he was formerly a cigarette smoker. And, apparently, he loved smoking.
e. He said one day (many years ago) his bishop approached him in a very loving manner and told him that …
f. … “smoking was a mighty small thing to allow to hinder him from what God had destined for him to do.”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: As a result, T.D. Jakes said a few weeks later, he was smoking a cigarette when he suddenly looked at the cigarette and said …
a. … “ this is a mighty small thing to allow to hinder me from what God has destined for me do.”
b. For you see my brothers and sisters …
c. …T.D. Jakes realized that there were some people who would never hear him, if he continued to smoke;
d. and there were places that he would never be able to enter because of the STRONG hold “smoking” had on him.
e. Consequently, T.D. Jakes said he made a New Years Resolution to stop smoking.
f. He prayed to God for help and he told himself that “the devil was a liar”. He could do all things through Christ.
g. Likewise, my brothers and sisters, little things are hindering many of us from our destiny in God.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 6: For who can ever forget the story of Samson – the Nazirite who served as Judge over Israel for 20 years.
a. Now, most of you know of Samson as a Strong man of God who was used by God to…
b. ….defeat thousands of Philistines.
c. Like Jesus, Samson’s mother was visited by an angel who pronounced his birth.
d. For the angel said that Samson would live a life of a Nazirite – one set aside for God by a Vow to abstain from strong drink, from shaving or cutting the hair, and from contact with a dead body.
e. Sampson was special indeed.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 7: But, what you may not know is in spite of all of the great qualities of Samson; the devil had STRONG holds on him in several areas.
a. The devil had a strong hold on Samson’s tongue.
b. “Samson talked too much”.
c. For he shared his birthright secrets with Delilah who subsequently sold him out to the Philistines.
d. And the enemy also had a STRONG hold on his eyes … for don’t you remember Judges 13-16 tells us how Sampson lust after beautiful women and how he slept with prostitutes.
e. In fact, after the enemy used his eyes to lust after women; the enemy then gouged his eyes out.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ****
CELEBRATION: In our text tonight, we find ourselves revisiting the Apostle Paul and his Second Letter to the Corinthians …
Paul reminds us all that our weapons are NOT THE SAME WEAPONS used by the world …
“For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;”
God uses Truth to PULL down STRONG holds in our lives …
God uses FAITH to Pull down STRONG holds in our lives …
God uses PRAYER to Pull down STRONG holds in our lives …
God uses LOVE to Pull down STRONG holds in our lives …
