Breaking Down Strongholds
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (II Corinthians 10: 4 – 6)
Spiritual strongholds refer to those areas of thought that are contrary to the will of God. They are entrenched habits of conduct that result.
Descriptively the pattern for developing them over years is:
A stronghold starts with a thought;
A thought becomes an idea;
An idea becomes an attitude;
An attitude becomes an action;
An action, if repeated, becomes a habit;
A habit becomes a stronghold.
Note, it all starts with a thought. Of course, Scripture confirms it: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. (Proverbs 23: 7)
As it is a thought that starts the building of a stronghold it is a thought that initiates breaking down one. An action for doing it requires setting a goal and establishing a pattern for doing it. Step one, do you think you have an unacceptable spiritual and behavioral stronghold? Is there an attitude or action unpleasing to the Lord? If so, go back and read the Scripture above that initiates this Post. Focus on “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God….”
Don’t overlook the companion to a stronghold is the defense tower of “arguments” against the logic of what God wants to enable you to do and to become. The source of every such argument is against God. If not, from where does the resistant argument come other than from the devil.
“Stronghold” means “to make firm.” It is used metaphorically in II Corinthians 10:4, of those things in which mere human confidence is imposed. An argument is a defense of that position.
To cast down a stronghold and overcome an aberrant thought insert a “God thought” on the subject before leaving it. Superimpose the God thought on the topic before going on to another. Do this every time the stronghold and an overpowering evil thought comes up. Slam it!
A contrast of thought patterns is noted in Proverbs 15: 26: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.” You chose which thought pattern is to prevail. Choose wisely because that thought will become your character, the real you.
“Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12: 21)
“For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith.” (I John 5: 4)
What do you think?
You Are a Miracle
I have written this Post about you. Well, truthfully it is about you, but I didn’t write it. You deserved a better biographer than I can write. It was written by your true author, the Lord. Enjoy all the nice things He has said about you.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1: 26, 27)
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139: 13 – 18)
Scripture teaches that you were created in the image of God. It reveals also that God wove you together in the womb. You are, therefore, not a product of randomness or nature, but of God’s omnipotent handiwork. God crafted you in your mother’s womb to be a distinct individual. You owe your existence to Him and not to happenstance.
The fact that God knows and cares for children even in the womb means that God’s concern for life begins at conception. It means that God’s people have a responsibility to also know and care for children in the womb.
Psalm 139 teaches that God considers that is a person in the mother’s womb. In Scripture the Greek word “brephos” is used for a young child in the womb and as well as those already born. This evidences the sanctity of the lives of both.
You can confidently say, “For you have possessed my reins.” The word “reins” signifies the kidneys, which by the Hebrews were supposed to be the seat of the desires and longings; but it indicates the most hidden and vital portion of the man; it is His own reins; God is as much at home there as a landlord on his own estate, or a proprietor in his own house. Figuratively this is that God shaped place in which only God fits, though others often seek to fill it with things.
Resolve to be the very best you, you were created with the ability to be.
You are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
A Short Course on the Significance of Suffering – Part Four
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1: 2, 3
Put downs and knockdowns alike often leave us wounded.
Some major trials necessitate that we “walk” as Isaiah 50: 10 says, “in darkness.”
Different people walk in darkness in different ways. Not always, but basically, have you ever thought how men and women walk in physical darkness in different ways? A woman who walks in a dark room at night may stump her toe. How does she react? She grabs it and responds, “Oh, oh, I hurt my toe.”
How does a macho male react? He stumps his toe and hops around grumping, “Who put that chair in the middle of the room.” In reality, he put the chair there about two years before.
Those two types illustrate the diverse manner in which we respond to trials.
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? You do what you know to do. Then God reveals what to do about what you don’t know what to do.
You “trust” and “rely upon… God.”
When trials come, “count it all joy.” “Count” is an accounting term meaning to add things up and reach the right answer. Reason results in rejoicing.
Our tests vary.
Our attitude remains constant: “joy.”
Here and now is the time to predetermine your response to what is as of yet indiscernible.
Jesus gave us a classic example. He spoke of a condition none of us like. Have you ever had anyone misrepresent you? Has anyone ever maligned you by distorting half-truths? The danger in half-truths is most folks believe the wrong half. Jesus knew what it was like and warned His followers it would happen. Then He said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5: 11). “Blessed,” come on Jesus, you have got to be kidding. He didn’t stop there, He continued: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…” (V. 12).
The Scripture is realistic and I Peter 1: 6, 7 chronicles our response on occasion: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that (purpose clause) the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to the praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In summary, “Glorify God in your body.” Warehouse it!
The only thing you can really control in this life is your mental attitude.
Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional. The choice is yours.
Reflect now on James 1: 2, 3: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
A Short Course on the Significance of Suffering – Part Three
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1: 2, 3
The text refers to “various” or “diverse” trials.
In order not to make robots out of us God allows diversity in personalities and predicaments. How you look at a thing is important. The word means different or assorted ways.
Preset the control board of your mind to expect various adversity. Your assortment of suffering may make you look like a walking Baskin-Robbins of trials. However, as you step into every new never-been-lived-before day, face it knowing any day above ground is a good day.
Consider these philosophical responses to trials.
A man fell in a pit and couldn’t get out.
A subjective person came along and said:
“I feel for you down there.”
An objective person came along and said:
“It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”
A Pharisee said:
“Only bad people fall into pits.”
A mathematician
calculated how he fell into the pit.
A news reporter
wanted an exclusive story on the pit.
A fundamentalist said:
“You deserve the pit.”
A charismatic said:
“Just confess that you are not in a pit.”
An I.R.S man
asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A self-pitying person said:
“You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”
An optimist said:
“Things could be worse.”
A pessimist said:
“Things will get worse.”
Jesus, seeing the person in the pit took him by the hand and lifted him out.
You may have had a variety of advisors regarding your time in your “pit,” but Jesus does more than advise us, He lifts us when we trust Him.
He takes no pleasure in you being in a pit, but he doesn’t want you to merely be in a pity-party. He wants you to align with Him and be lifted. Tell Him now if you need picking-up.
A Short Course on the Significance of Suffering – Part Two
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1: 2, 3
When trusting the Lord there is much to be learned. Even adversity offers us advantages to learn. Out of struggle comes strength.
George Washington, the patient statesman, learned from the snows of Valley Forge.
Lincoln, the liberator, learned from his poverty.
Theodore Roosevelt, the disciplinarian, from his asthma.
Edison, the inventor, from his deafness.
Walter Chrysler, the genius, from the grease pits of a train roundhouse.
Sir Walter Scott, from his lameness.
Robert Louis Stevenson, the poet of pathos, from tuberculosis.
Helen Keller, our inspiring example, from her blindness.
Without suffering these would not stand out on history’s horizon like Mount Vesuvius on a lily pond, and we would be robbed of their greatness.
The certainty of trials is noted in the text by the word “when” not “if” trials come. They are undesirable, but inevitable for all.
Trials is the reference. The Greek word “peirasmos” translated as “trials” can also be properly translated “temptation.” When it relates to Satan, it always means an appeal to do evil. When associated with the Lord, it always means an occasion to prove one’s character and faith.
Temptations come from Satan and are intended to bring out our worst.
Trials come from God and are intended to bring out our best.
This contrast is seen in James 1: 13, 14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God;’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”
During the time Moses was leading God’s people out of slavery it was written, “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’”
Dan Jansen was anticipated to be a sure gold medalist skater in the Olympics, but he fell in two races. He was no quitter. His perseverance in his last race resulted in him winning his well deserved gold medal.
Some “trial,” some fall, may have robbed you of a golden moment. Failure or suffering of some type may have interrupted your life quest. Now is your opportunity to let the Lord use it to enable you to achieve what you could never have accomplished without it. In these moments of heartbreak we need to have on our cranial overhead projector, the words of I Corinthians 6: 20, “GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY.”