“For though we walk
(live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh
and using mere human weapons.
For the weapons of our warfare are not
physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the
overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
[Inasmuch as we]
refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing
that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every
thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the
Anointed One),”
II Corinthians 10:3-5
(Amplified)
If you and I are ever
going to experience biblical transformation in our lives we need to understand
the necessity of demolishing those evil strongholds that come to take our lives
captive.
Some may read the
passage above and then lean back on their sofa and say –
“Thank you Lord for
the battle is yours and I don’t have to do a thing!”
Read it again.
It sounds very much
to me that we have an active role to play.
Did you notice the
word “we”?
Did you see the
phrase “our warfare”?
Did you read the last
part “we lead every thought and purpose away captive…”?
Perhaps we think that
because Jesus did a complete work on the cross, we don’t have to do a thing.
It’s true, He did do
a complete work.
He purchased our
salvation.
He brought us back
into fellowship with the Father.
But salvation and
fellowship are starting points for us in the on-going work of sanctification.
The enemy didn’t
shrug his shoulders and walk away the day you got saved.
On that day he
re-doubled his efforts to sow seeds of rebellion and disobedience in your life.
Those seed thoughts
can become strongholds in our lives to thwart the work of God.
God has promised to
finish the work that He has started in each of us but that is not something He
will do apart from our cooperation.
He will not force His
plans on your life.
Hence, Pauls’
admonition to us to take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ.
We often talk of
freedom of will but that freedom of will
that we have extends to our thought life as well.
I can choose to think
on things that strengthen my walk with God and further His work in my life.
I can also choose,
sadly, to think on things which hinder that relationship.
I can move as far
forward in my walk as my thoughts allow.
Proverbs 23:7 tells
me –
“As a man thinketh in
his heart, so is he…”
Are the strongholds
being established in your life through your thoughts strongholds for God or
strongholds of the enemy?
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