A "stronghold" is an argument that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. In other words, worldly wisdom can become a thought-stronghold in our minds, and can so take a hold of us that the devil gets a foothold in our lives. This happens through believing lies - the "arguments" and logical statements of the world, or our own self-condemnation statements, regrets, thoughts of failure, etc.
Paul wrote to the Colossians that all true wisdom is in Christ, and warned them to reject the fine-sounding arguments of the world:
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Colossians 2:2-4 (NIV)
It's important to note here that worldly wisdom is logical; it is "fine-sounding", it just "makes sense." It can be appealing, logical, coherent, and deadly! These "fine-sounding arguments" of the world's wisdom can become thoughts in our minds that we believe and think about. Maybe we can't get them out of our minds. They can become a stronghold of Satan, set up in our minds, to keep us in defeat and despair.
Some pervasive thought-strongholds I had long ago were the beliefs that “I feel so very sad and stuck. The world says I need to do better and be better than I am. I just can’t lift myself out of this dark place I am in. I try to pray and get closer to God for help by being a decent and good person but I can’t seem to get close to Him”. This type of thinking was nearly my undoing as it kept me looking at myself and my efforts rather than at God’s love and grace. God’s truth says we come to God not needing to perform good deeds to earn His love, not by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps but just as we are, looking at His love for us.
Question 3. What thought-strongholds or non-biblical worldly wisdom are holding you captive?
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Pamela writes: "I do constantly struggle with thoughts that God can’t possibly love me as I am and that I need to be better , or do better to earn His love.... This, yes THIS ,is why coming to the cross daily is so needed. The enemy of my soul knows he lost the battle for my salvation, but of course if he can hinder my daily walk through these mental strongholds he may succeed in hindering me enough to cause me to become unfruitful and ineffective. In our humanness we always think we need to earn love..Our very nature tells us we fall short of the glory of God. Which is the truth, but the gospel of Jesus Christ reminds us that the price has been paid. At the cross Jesus took all of my sin and unrighteousness past present and future upon Himself and gave me His robe of righteousness.He covered me with His blood so I could be in right standing with the Father. Every time I forget this truth the stronghold of trying to earn my own righteousness settles subtly and comfortably back into my thinking and I become locked into its chains again ...you’ll never be better, you can’t do better, you’re not enough they are all true..until I come to the cross and receive His Mercy and grace poured out for me. Then the helmet of salvation guards my mind with His truth,the breastplate of His righteousness protects my heart from giving up, the shield of faith quenches the fiery darts the enemy wants to use to draw me back to the strongholds, the sword of the Spirit and belt of truth help me rightly divide these truths( as the enemy always twists the truth in order to deceive), and now I am prepared to share the gospel of peace with God ,as I am filled with the peace of God ... Thank You Jesus for revealing these truths to me in this moment."
David writes, "That I can work towards being good enough. Jesus took that for me and I don't have to worry about it. God's love shown to me. The world wants me to find help in other ways, materialism, booze, sex, and all the lies of satan. God understands I can't do it. That's why He sent Jesus. I can't do it, God can and did. Wow!! It seems so easy but I have to get to that point, out of my selfish pride and let go."
Harris writes, "I used to believe I have to perform well as a christian to be right with God. Gods love though comes to me as I am and gives me for free Christ's righteousness."
Carnell writes, "I always thought if I lived accordingly God loves me more. But in the video it explains that God loves me just the same in my junk, in my sins. The world wants me to turn to things not of God but I know that would draw me farther away from Him. God knows that I can't live a perfect life if I could Jesus wouldn't have had to come and die on the cross. All I know is He loves me in spite of me."
According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, believers are given divine weapons that are “mighty through God” and that enable us to do these three things:
Pull down all strongholds. Cast down every imagination. Bring every thought into captivity.
You may think at this point, “You have got to be kidding! If you knew how much negativity was in my mind, you’d know it would be humanly impossible to be free of these thought-strongholds.”
Yes, I do understand the struggle. And yes, you’re right! It is indeed humanly impossible to be free of these thoughts inspired by the enemy. That is why “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal”, they are not merely human, but rather “mighty through God!” They are divine! They are supernatural!
God has given all believers His Word and His Spirit, both of which are divine and enable us to “partake of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4) and thereby “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Through God’s Spirit and God’s Word, we are literally able to pull down any thought-stronghold, cast down every imagination of darkness, and take every thought captive to Jesus, the Light of the world.
But how? How do we actually do this? Notice 2 Corinthians 10:5 again:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God
Question 4. According to 2 Corinthians 10:5, what do our imaginations exalt themselves against?
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