Strong Holds
Pastor Ken Crow
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (King James Version)
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting 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;
The problem we have as Christians is that many times we continue to do battle in the flesh the same way we did battle before we were a Christian.
We talked recently about David as he faced Goliath. David was successful against Goliath because he was able to transfer a very physical, fleshly circumstance from the carnal realm to the spiritual realm.
David would have been defeated soundly if he tried to face Goliath without God.
1. Moses when he faced Pharaoh would never gain the freedom of his people unless the captivity of the children of Israel was dealt with in the spiritual realm by the hand of God himself. It was a spiritual thing that the captivity had taken place. It would take a spiritual thing to get them out of Egypt.
Most captivating circumstance or addictions in our lives are rooted spiritually.
We will never pull down that strong hold with fleshly answers.
That is why so many secular programs do not work.
Society tries to deal with a spiritual thing with carnal methods.
Disobedience and idol worship had brought on the captivity as sin does today in the lives of people. Sin is manifested in the flesh but is rooted spiritually.
A. The children of Israel were instructed to apply the blood of a spotless lamb.
At that point each family was now turning their captivity from the carnal realm to the spiritual realm. Moses had already done that . God had already done that. But now it was everyone.
B. The blood had to be applied here . Before we can pull down the strong hold of captivity the blood of Jesus must be applied.
2. Acts 16:25-26 (King James Version)
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Paul and Silas were in a seemingly impossible situation. If everything had remained in the carnal realm they were. They were never going to get out of those stocks and bands by struggling in the flesh.
Nor were they going to get out by entering into a pity party.
When we pray and praise God we are again transferring our strong hold from the fleshly way unto the spiritual way.
When we do that God will use things beyond our own capabilities to accomplish the pulling down of the strong hold.
We must for successful Christian living realize our text .For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
3. In the case of Paul and Silas the strong hold was due to their stand for Jesus Christ.
Again it was rooted spiritually.
Their being imprisoned was a carnal manifestation of spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12 (King James Version)
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Spiritual wickedness transfers a spiritual thing to where it will be most noticed , a carnal or fleshly manifestation.
Ephesians 6 gives us the answer to deal with this.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (King James Version)
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
God Bless and Amen
