HOW TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS! (Some thoughts on Spiritual Warfare)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Are there any strongholds in my life? Are there areas where the enemy continually tries to trip me up in my walk of faith? Are there strongholds that are affecting the lives of the ones I love? Is there any hope for overcoming these strongholds and experiencing true freedom in Christ?

Over the years, I have observed my personal struggles and the struggles of others. When you pastor a church, you are daily confronted with your own weaknesses, and you are called to help others with theirs. We all struggle in certain areas of our lives. Most of us have areas of weakness that we keep to ourselves. “We should not be struggling with this at this stage in our lives!” we tell ourselves. These weaknesses, if not dealt with, will become strongholds!

A stronghold is an area in our life where the enemy and our old nature seem to have an advantage. In moments of crisis, we are often tempted to yield to these areas. If we continually yield to them, it is like a bruise that keeps getting bumped over and over again. The bruise grows deeper, is aggravated more frequently, and at the slightest provocation. We have tried proclaiming, “I rebuke you in Jesus’ Name!, only to find ourselves once again at square one.

Is there any hope?

Paul boldly proclaims to the Corinthian believers,

“…the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.”

Paul shares two important truths.First, we are not fighting a physical battle. Although our strongholds may be of a spiritual or emotional nature, they always take on a physical component. The health of our spiritual and emotional lives is reflected in our physical lives. Since the root cause of our struggle can be veiled by external circumstances, we are tempted to fight them with external means. Just watch any television show, and you will find most of the commercials are filled with ads for the latest drug or supplement to deal with the struggles of life.

Second, we have weapons to fight this battle. These weapons are not pills or supplements. They are not formulated prayers or spiritual techniques. Our victory does not come because we give money to someone’s ministry. The enemy is not threatened by how loud we speak, and our flesh is not overcome by anything we do to tame it. Without the proper weapons, we are caught on the Ferris wheel of – forgiveness…failure…repentance…forgiveness.

We want this ride to stop, but it keeps going around and around!

As we study the Bible, we learn that we only have two offensive weapons in the battle of life. These weapons are the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and praying in the Spirit (prayer that is led and empowered by the Holy Spirit), Ephesians 6:14-18 and 1 Corinthians 14:14-15. The truth of God’s Word and Spirit empowered and directed prayer are the weapons of our warfare. These are our spiritual weapons and the only weapons that will demolish the lies of the enemy and break the power of sin and brokenness in our lives!

GOD’S TRUTH is the only thing that will truly set us free!

• John 8:31-32:“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth,   and the truth will set you free.” CSB

• Psalms 119:11:I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” CSB

• Psalms 1:2-3:“…His delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season,  and its leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.” CSB

PRAYER will keep us from temptation and overcome the power of both the enemy of our souls and the weakness of our flesh!

• Matthew 26:41:“Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” CSB

• 1 John 5:14-15:“This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask,  we know that we have what we have asked of him.” CSB

• James 4:7-10:“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” CSB

When you think about this, suddenly you realize why we struggle with the two most important disciplines in our lives: Reading and meditating upon God’s Word and Prayer. Our Bibles become dusty, our prayers are limited to meals and bedtime, and we wonder why we cannot overcome the strongholds in our lives. The more I hide God’s Word in my heart, the more I continue in prayer and talk to God, the more I listen to His still, small voice, the more the shackles and strongholds of life are broken.

These strongholds are not demolished because of what I do. They are demolished because of what He is doing in me as I abide in His Word (Jesus) and His Word (Jesus) abides in me. As I offer my heart in prayer, as I worship in spirit and truth (God’s Word), He breaks every yoke, demolishes every stronghold. My victory is the power of Christ in me. It is not because I struggle with sin, flesh, and the devil. It is because I surrender to the truth of His Word and the power of humble, sincere, Spirit-led prayer.

What I can not do in my own strength, Christ does through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and His Word working in my life!

I am ready to see some strongholds broken in my life and the lives of the ones I love! Heavenly Father, help me to surrender every area of my life to the truth of Your Word and open my spiritual ears to hear Your voice as I offer my prayers before You in true repentance, humility, and sincerity. May Your victory in my life help be a beacon of hope to those I love and lead them to the same victory through Jesus Christ, my Lord!

In Jesus’ Name!