2 Corinthians 10:4–6 (NKJV) 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.

The problem is, even scripturally correct truth cannot always penetrate a soul that is filled with strongholds.  An unrenewed mind, rigid in patterns of thinking formed from wrong sources, can actually taint and distort the beautiful, spiritual truth from God’s word.  That is the reason the apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian believers to “pull down strongholds, to cast down arguments and to take captive thoughts!”

What are these strongholds and arguments in our thought life?

• A house of thoughts, which has become a dwelling place for satanic activity.
• Lies that I believe about God, others or myself that govern my behavior; or a collection of thoughts about God, others or myself that are not true.
• Thoughts attitudes and opinions where unclean spirits are hiding and masking themselves as our thoughts.
• Thoughts, attitudes, opinions and ideas, which are in agreement with evil and are influencing our perceptions and behavior.
• Not every thought originates with you!  Three sources of thoughts are God, Satan, and you. (But even your thoughts are influenced by heaven or hell.) Discernment is needed to determine the source of our thoughts.  We should not give place to every thought!

1)    Pulling down strongholds means: destruction and demolition of wrong thinking.

2)    Casting down arguments and every high thing means: take down, tear down, dethrone and destroy the imaginations contrary to God’s word.

3)    Capturing thoughts means: lead away captive, make a prisoner of each thought.

Strongholds work a double negative impact upon our lives; they will keep you from receiving God’s truth, provision, and healing but will also allow satanic and demonic activity access to your wounds, hurts and disappointments.  Renewing our mind through God’s word is an absolute necessity if we are to win in our personal spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 4:22–24 (NKJV) ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Many people who come to salvation keep their minds stubbornly filled with wrong patterns of thinking, old attitudes, opinions and some very strange ideas concerning God and His Kingdom.  These self-constructed strongholds within a person’s mind, will and emotions protect many of these attitudes, opinions and ideas.

Believers and Christians make a great effort and spend their lifetime trying to co-mingle their concepts, attitudes and opinions with God’s truth. Because of this, many Christians blame and accuse God for their circumstances and problems when in reality, it is their own false concepts about God filtered through their strongholds that are to blame.  Our problem is not God but that men often oppose themselves!

 II Timothy 2:24-25 (KJV) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

I have encountered many believers who “oppose themselves” because of the personal strongholds within their souls (mind, will, and emotions).  The sources of strongholds in our soul come from this sin cursed fallen world, our experiences growing up and false teaching and wrong doctrine.

How do we pull down strongholds?  Repentance! Changing the way and what we think about by acknowledging God’s truth. As we continually humble ourselves under God’s hand, repent, we bring down the patterns of thinking, the lies, and thoughts that are contrary to the will and purpose of God for our lives. Consider these verses and meditate on them.

James 1:21 (NKJV) ²¹ Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) ⁸ 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.

As my friend Dr. Art Mathis says, “Think about what you are thinking about!”  If what you are thinking and meditating on does not agree with God’s truth, pull down that pattern of thinking and replace it with God’s thoughts toward you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(This begins a series of notes concerning Warfare, Pulling Down Strongholds, and Renewing the Mind, and will be a continuing theme for a season of time.)

2 Corinthians 10:4–6 (NKJV) 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.

The weapons God has given to the Church are not “carnal” but Spiritual.  No human sourced entity can solve the problems facing our time.  No military weapon, no judicial edit nor earthly government, no educational philosophy nor psychiatry can deliver us from these strongholds, arguments or “every high thing” that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  These strongholds exist on a personal level, on an ideological and philosophical level and as well as on cultural, geographical, and political levels.  We have need of and God has given to the Church supernatural weaponry to wage spiritual war against the principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places manifesting in these realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) 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.

A major problem in the Church is “For we do not wrestle…” Many refuse to engage the enemy, defend their territory, or simply choose not to fight on any level.  Like it or not, you and I are participants in a war, a wrestling match and a fight! This fight/war is between (and is for) life and death, light and darkness, and good and evil.  There are no sidelines or neutral zones or conscientious objectors, we are all involved at some level in this ancient spiritual battle, again, whether we like it or not!  Why not fight in such a way as to win?  We have many soldiers but few warriors!  While in prayer one morning this past week, (in a vision) I saw many believers dressed in ironed and pressed uniforms, shiny buttons, new rifles and plenty of ammo and supplies, but few believers who were battle-tested, experienced warriors.  I was reminded of a scene from the movie “Black Hawk Down” where an older, battle tested navy seal, who had just exited the battle theater dirty, bloody and scruffy, volunteered to go right back in the war zone to rescue his fellow soldiers from harms way.  This veteran of warfare was eating with one hand while putting magazines of bullets in his pockets and grenades in his backpack with his other hand, for the turn around time was short.  Younger, rookie, soldiers watched him in amazement until some thought we better do what this guy is doing, he has been there before!  They followed his lead, pressed uniforms and all!

In this hour God is transforming His army into a battle-tested and battle-ready unit with leaders who are “warriors,” experienced in battle, who know how to fight and win, and are ready and willing to lead by example.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 (NKJV) ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Ephesians 6:12–18 (NKJV) 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.

     ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —

As my beautiful wife Debi says “God has not given His soldiers 'the whole armor of God' to attend an ice cream social, but to fight a war!”  Warriors skilled in their weaponry, skilled in battle and who understand the tactics and schemes of their enemy are crucial in today’s spiritual environment.

Frances Frangipane, in his book The Three Battlegrounds (which I highly recommend for your reading) mentions something called “Wrong Focus.”  It is a description of Christians who focus on the activity of the devil rather than focusing on becoming Christ-like!  Every believer must maintain focus on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, as the center of our daily attention and activity.  Becoming like Jesus in every way – in our words, in our thoughts, and in our deeds – is the best offense as well as our best defense in this spiritual war.  The more we put on the character and person of Jesus, the more the spiritual war is both fought and won!  We win the war daily by “fighting the good fight of faith” where the enemy is opposing us from becoming like Christ in our personal life and walk as a believer.  Before we war at any other level (Cultural, Geographical, Political, Ideological, Philosophical etc.), we should use our spiritual weaponry at a personal level.  Before we attempt warfare in the “heavenly places,” we need gain victory in our own mind, will and emotions.

(To be continued.)

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The words we speak out of our mouth truly carry life and death. (Proverbs 18:21) But in reality what we believe in our heart is much more crucial and important, for it is from our heart that our mouth is influenced. In other words, what I have stored up, hidden, and meditated on in my heart is what determines my speech, my declarations and my future. The Psalmist records: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14 and again in Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. The “meditation” of our heart is the source of our speech. “Hiding” God’s word in our hearts will set a guard over our mouths. Reading, memorizing, meditating and confessing the scriptures will help us to renew our mind and establish a right heart within us.

I have observed that in the events of life where disappointment, wounding, hurt or frustration are not dealt with, we may become offended at God, other people, or even with ourselves. Bitterness will gain a stronghold in our heart that eventually gives place to doubt and unbelief. This is what will come out of our mouth in the difficult circumstances of our life. Someone once said; “circumstances do not make a man, circumstances reveal the man.”

Romans 10:9&10 Salvation comes by speaking with our mouth what we believe in our heart. Again in Mark 11:23 the word says; For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Any doubt and unbelief that flows out of bitterness of heart undermines our prayers. In the book of Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. Bitterness defiles and causes trouble. Wherever unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger and hatred exist, bitterness is present. This bitterness will lead to hardness of heart with doubt and unbelief as the result. From that place our mouth begins to speak, releasing the trouble and defilement of bitterness into our life. (Just as we believe with our heart the Gospel of Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord with our mouth the opposite effect is also true, when we speak the bitterness, doubt, and unbelief.)

How to we deal with bitterness, wounding, hurt, disappointment and frustration? The only appropriate way is through forgiveness. Forgive every person for his or her sin against you and repent for any response (inward or outward, vows, curses, etc.) that was not rooted in God’s word. Forgiving a person for their sin against you does not deny their responsibility nor excuse their behavior. Forgiveness releases YOU! Forgiveness is more than a feeling, it is a choice! It is choosing to obey God’s commandment! As you release each individual of his or her sinful act against you, God releases you from your sin and the torment associated with it!