THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS

KJV 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 3.  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

 4.  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 5.  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The Nature of a Stronghold is wrong or false thinking; here Paul is speaking of the mind in Vs. 4 & 5.

 As we have stated so many times, in our teachings, the Mind is the neutral ground, the place where the battles begin, and are ultimately won or lost! Notice in the previous verses (namely vs. 5), that we are to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 See, Satan cannot invade the soul and will of Mankind, unless there of course is an open door, but he can, and does attack us through our minds. He likes to sow seeds of the leaven of unbelief and doubt, if he can be successful in the cultivating and growth of these seeds, there final state will bring a harvest of everything contrary to God’s word and will.

 This is what he (the Devil) did to Eve in the beginning, he enticed her through reason, and evil manipulation.

The following are two definitions of strongholds as viewed by Bible Scholars.

1. “An entrenched pattern of thought, an ideology, value or behavior that is contrary to the word and will of God.”

2. “ A mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable, situations that we know are contrary to the will of God.”

The process of a Stronghold starts when we give place to the devil, or let him get a foothold on us.

 KJV Ephesians 4:26-27

26.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27.  Neither give place to the devil

In doing this we give an open door, then the enemy begins to attack our mind, if we do not resist, and yield to the enticement, then we are moving in the direction of our adversary, he then wins the battle that started in the mind, by getting us to yield to the temptations at hand. Now the foothold

Has become a stronghold, for a pattern then develops.

1. We Place ourselves in the way of temptation.
2. Satan entices us to give in to temptation.
3. We fail, and Satan strikes with accusations.
4. We listen to the accusations, assuming we cannot change.
5. We lose our hope.
6. Having lost our hope, we again place ourselves in the way of temptation, and lose the battles. Thus until it is broken, the pattern or cycle continues.

KJV Hebrews 12:1

1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 The bible plainly tells us to resist the Devil, to give no place to him. To shun the very appearance of evil!  When he comes at us with these things, we should go straight to the Word of God, do not reason, or think, but let the truth of the Word of God speak!

EPHESIANS 4:27

27        Neither give place to the devil.

I THESSALONIANS 5:22

22    Abstain from all appearance of evil.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

8            Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

ROMANS 12:2

2        And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5

  5    Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: