Page 43 - The Importance of Prayer Student Textbook

Strongholds

We have now discovered that the battlefield is the mind and that the enemy
launches his attacks against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the
pride of life. (I John 2:16) Now I want us to notice that our Lord calls these
attacks, battling strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the
flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our
warfare 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. In war generals seek to
identify the key objective that will most limit their enemy’s ability to fight.
Experienced generals do not randomly attack their foes. They want to
capture or destroy the vital areas that determines the opposing army’s
capacity to wage war. Satan knows the value of capturing the mind. (See
Acts14:2; 2 Corinthians 24:4; 2 Corinthians 11:3)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Notice
that Paul tells us that divine power is needed to destroy strongholds. Now a stronghold is any idea and
thought pattern that opposes God and that hold persons in bondage. Our response, according to Paul, is
to “take every thought captive to obey Christ”. A stronghold seldom, if ever, develops overnight. The
only way to break these strongholds is with encounters described in the next paragraph.

Here is where Christian writers divide as some talk about Truth Encounters others speak of Power
Encounters. Some warfare writers emphasize that this warfare is a power encounter and visible displays
of God’s power, such as physical healings or exorcisms must be displayed. Others view this warfare as a
truth encounter which is an internal application of Biblical truth to life so that we might overcome the
lies and power of the enemy. This approach most readily brings freedom from strongholds in the mind.
A careful study of the life of Christ and the book of Acts we can see the early church using both
encounters. However, for long term transformation I recommend you study these truth encounter
passages. (John 8:32; 14:6; 16:13; 17:17) Some would suggest that we just need to pray and bind the
enemy for deliverance. My argument would be that this warfare is ongoing and demands a daily taking
up of your cross (Luke 9 :23) and a daily submission of ourselves and a daily transformation of our mind.
(see Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:5) Capturing thoughts is more than just deciding not to think
about things that are displeasing to God, and then by living disciplined Christian lives built upon that
Christian thinking. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Probably the passage of scripture that most captures this warfare is found in Ephesians 6:10-20. To put
on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11,13), believers had to decide to wear the armor, it is not
automatically on them. Notice Ephesians 6:16 in the KJV. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. It is impossible for God to be anything other
than what He has described Himself to be in the scriptures. Therefore, above all, in faith, we need to call
upon God to be who He is. Ephesians 6:18 in the Message translation says that “prayer is essential in
this ongoing warfare”. ESV teaches us to pray with all kinds of prayers. Therefore, let me once again
encourage you to run into the various names, titles, and descriptions of Good in the appendix and let
God become real to you in this spiritual war.

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