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Pulling Down All Strongholds
Song: 1. Blessed be your name, oh Lord (x2) 2. Satan shame unto you Introduction “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Literally, stronghold is a fortified place. But I am considering stronghold from the angle of the evil forces that have held people captive in our present days. These strongholds have a considerable effect on the minds and the senses. The battle is so subtle and most times goes on unnoticed. No little wonder St. Paul said: “In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11). We are daily faced with varieties of battles. There is a big fight between the flesh and the spirit/soul; because they both have different origins and ultimately, different destinations. The older a man/woman grows, the more burdens he/she must bear and the more battles he/she must fight. The devil will never give up the struggle because he wants to get mankind into his kingdom of eternal darkness and punishment. “ 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” (Galatians 5:16-18). 14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The strongholds to pull down a. Spiritual Laziness/Complacency “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25). “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) b. Faithlessness/Distrust in God “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, 5 This is what the LORD says: 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water c. Worldliness/Pleasure “ 15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” (1 Timothy 5:6). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). “ 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15). You can only overcome it by being heaven conscious: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “ 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:17-21). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). And you also need to be self-controlled: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7). You need to be moderate in all things you do: 33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33). d. Discouragement/Defeat: Vision includes optimism and hope. No pessimist ever made a great leader. The pessimist sees a difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty. Never admit failure until you have made your last attempt. Never make your last attempt until you have succeeded. “A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14). e. Fear. The phrase, ‘do not be afraid,’ is repeated 365 days in the scriptures. So the Lord is daily telling you to fear not. How to pull down all strongholds The Armour of God 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18). Exhortation “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:10). 13He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” (Matthew 15:13). God bless you Evang. John B. Oseh |