Winning Over Strongholds 2 Corinthians 10:3-6NKJ
Michael Jordan: I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Sadly people assume the role of policing their minds, but the fact is, a life submitted to Jesus Christ has already been policed.
One man said, “you can’t help what goes through your mind, but refuse to allow those thoughts to build a nest, and make it their permanent address.”
As a born again Christian why do I have wrong thoughts? Adam can be blamed for that, when he partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
In this passage, two things are immediately evident:
One is that we cannot and we must not ignore these problems. "We live in the world," says the Apostle Paul. We must not try to evade them or ignore them.
Secondly, it is apparent that we do not, and must not attack these social problems in the way the world does. Says the apostle, "We live in the world but the weapons of our warfare are not worldly." We do not face life the same way. We fight in another dimension, and yet our fighting is not weak; it is powerful. It wins, it succeeds, it is mighty.
To win over strongholds, one must be born from above, and at that moment the Holy Spirit enters into that person. However, one shouldn’t stop their Christian growth at that point, or any point, because the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised, brings much more power and wisdom. He can, and will break down barriers, destroy strongholds, as well as blast away sin. He brings signs and wonders, He opens windows of glory, and shatters preconceived ideas, plus He removes the smoke and haze of foggy sin that’s over the earth, so we see heaven clearly.
2 Corinthians 10:3TM The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will.
As you begin your journey as a believer you quickly learn that the same battles lurk around the same old places. Moreover, One quickly learns that the mind is a lot like a computer, it’s not the computer that brings the bad or the good information, but it’s the programs that are fed into the computer, and the fingers that do the typing. Your brain is a lot of grey matter that’s all; however, the game changer is the bad or good data that is gathered into the brain.
Romans 12:2NLT 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.
The fact is, we were all born into sin, plus everyone receives bad data, it’s all around us! Rather quickly though, we all should take note that the only way to escape becomes a submitted faith in, and through Jesus Christ.
That’s why Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5NKJ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, what kind of mind does Christ have?
Humble.
Submissive.
Obedient.
Honor others.
Back to the text, Paul writes: Pulling down… Strong holds; Casting down imaginations…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Again, What are you to pull down? Strongholds.
What are strongholds? Areas in your life that are held in grip by the enemy. Maybe it’s an area in your mind that hasn’t been fully submitted to the Jesus. (You might even think, it’s kind of fun going there, it’s my release.)
2 Corinthians 10:4TM We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God,
In the Spiritual sense, strongholds become anything that brings a wedge against you and God. Strongholds are a direct attack against God!
Here’s the key that defeats strongholds. Ephesians 6:10-13NKJ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Life Key: Here’s a list of all of God’s armor given to you found in Ephesians 6:14-18 the belt of truth (God’s word). Body armor of God’s righteousness (Jesus made you righteous) Peace by learning God’s word. Hold up faith at all times. Remember, your salvation, and the word at all times. Pray in the Spirit and stay alert and persistent while fellowshipping with other believers.
What are you to cast down? Imaginations.
Everyone has an imagination. An imagination un-submitted, always fears the worst, instead of believing God for the best. It makes mountains from molehills.
Here’s a great practice. Look with me at Philippians 4:8NKJ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
What are you to take captive? Thoughts.
Thinking that doesn’t line-up with God’s word, or submit to the rule of Christ in your life.
The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter 3, they came across verse 3 which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out more about the process of refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible study.
The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him while at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that’s easy--when I see my image in it.” Remember, You we’re made in the image of God!
2 Corinthians 10:5TM fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
Recognize that you are in war. Old issues and thought patterns will constantly try to reestablish control over you. (Refuse them, by staying submitted to Jesus Christ!)
Another nugget, If you’re not growing you might want to choose new friends. Who are your friends?
I want you to listen closely to what I’m about to say. “So long as old issues reign in your life, Christ’s seat is taken. If they are on the throne, Christ is still on the cross. Put Christ on the throne and your past on the cross!” P.H.
In the OT, in the book of Leviticus 22:3-4, The priest could not come into God’s presence if he had touched anything dead. That means if you’re going to walk with God you must bury your old lifestyle.
Remember, Don’t even touch those old dead issues anymore.
2 Corinthians 10:6TM Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Hear this final word, “God is more than able to take the sting out of the memory and leave the sweet taste of victory intact.”
Benediction.
