are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Yep that sounds easy enough - I destroy strongholds and I can control what I think about... until the moment comes when I have to apply it and ughhhh... what do I do?? AHHHHHHH
But what is a stronghold... Beth Moore, describes them as “anything in our lives that we hold on to that ends up holding us.” They are formed when thoughts or habit patterns “echo” time and time again in our minds. They are negative thoughts that are burned into our minds through repetition. These thought patterns have the potential to grab hold of a mind and rule a life. Many strongholds are built brick-by-brick for protection, but inevitably they become prisons. Beth goes on to say, “No matter what the stronghold may be, they all have one thing in common: Satan is fueling the mental tank with deception to keep the stronghold running.”
What are some things that grab a hold of our minds... Thoughts of arrogance, sex, pride, selfishness, coveting, creating discord, lies / deceit, evil imaginations. These thoughts can be from a result of many things. Maybe a conversation we had with someone, or a movie we saw, or music we heard, something we saw or read... We have to be so careful what we let enter our minds - we can glance at something and before we know it - that though has taken root in our minds.
The only stronghold we should have is our God.
The bible instructs us about the things that should occupy our thoughts:
The only stronghold we should have is our God.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The bible instructs us about the things that should occupy our thoughts:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Phillippians 4:8
We are also told that we have to demolish / destroy every stronghold and argument and opinion against God - but you see this is where we have to focus - it can't be done on our own power...I can't destroy these strongholds, they are bought upon by the enemy and it is only through the Word of God - the Holy Spirit that they can be destroyed... if not its like we are just pushing it back toward the background and little by little it will come creeping back...
Ephesians 6 teaches us that God has given us a mighty weapon. This weapon is the Word of God: the Bible. Since its a mighty weapon, let’s use it.
and take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Ephesians 6:17
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
We have to ask ourselves, “What does God’s Word say about this thing that I am thinking on? What lies am I believing that I can replace with the truth that God’s Word teaches?” It is so easy to slip into a mindset that is not biblical or pleasing to God. Consider temptation: where does it start? It starts with a thought and ends with an action.
Sharon Jaynes gives this example: I believe that Satan sends us e-mails all day long (evil-mails). If you get a seductive e-mail on the screen of your computer, is it your fault? Not unless you’ve placed yourself on some bad e-mail lists. When does that e-mail become a sin? The moment you click on it and accept the invitation.
So, a sinful thought pops into our heads, and we allow it to sit there as we think about it over and over. Before we know it we have not only spent a great amount of time thinking on something that is not pleasing to God, but now the thought is stronger and you know something - soon it will become an action. Now we are thinking on and acting on something that began as a sinful thought, and when it gets to this point its just so much harder to destroy and we tend to give up thinking it was a one time thing and its done with until it creeps back up again. You know what I'm talking about. I am sure that there has been something that we have entertained in our minds - it started off very innocently and before we knew it we were struggling with it.
We need to seek spiritual things.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2
Acknowledge that you have the capacity to think rightly.
For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16
Oh the Word of God - we need to feast on it each and every single day.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16
Taking thoughts captive is not an easy thing but with it comes great freedom! This means replacing the lies we have been believing with the truth of God’s Word. We need to be actively working to take captive our thoughts and think on things that glorify God and draw us closer to Him.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
Romans 12:2
Jesus Christ can come into your heart and transform you, change your nature...
“If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
1 John 1:9
Its in the Old and New Testament - and its not given to as an opinion or suggestion - but something we are to do:
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength
Mark 12:30
One of the words used in these two verses is that we are to love the Lord with all of our mind -
What does it mean to love God with all of our mind... I love how John Piper puts it:
"There are several components to intellectual love for God.
Dedicating our minds to knowing him.
Thinking clearly and truly about him so that we don't have false ideas in our minds.
Not being satisfied with merely an intellectual awareness of his attributes, character, and acts but intentionally devoting that mental effort to serve the affections (emotions) for God.
If a person doesn't move from intellectual awareness of God and right thinking about God to an emotional embrace of God, he hasn't loved God with his mind. The mind has not yet loved until it hands off its thoughts to the emotions where they're embraced. And then the mind and the heart are working in what feels like such harmony, and you experience it as both intellectual and affectional love for God."
Let us be careful and protect our hearts and mind and fill it with Jesus!
