Tearing down fortresses ∙

Tearing down fortresses ∙

If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you! – Jeremiah 15:19

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds (fortresses) of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Our present is not only shaped but frequently dominated by our history. We often find ourselves confined by our past. Reflecting on our past, we recall numerous disappointments, failures, poor choices, and their repercussions. These memories, along with subconscious wounds and traumas to our souls, can be acknowledged and dealt with.

So, what should we do? Our trials and frustrations can serve as the building blocks and a foundation for a better present and a more fulfilling future.

Life is a journey, and we must make the best of it. “Your journey will be much lighter and easier if you don’t carry your past with you (Anonymous).”

“The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited, and or erased. It can only be accepted” (Anonymous).

“Every pain gives a lesson, and every lesson changes a person” (Anonymous).

“Forget the mistake. Remember the lesson” (Anonymous).

“The past is meant to teach you, and the hard times are meant to strengthen you” (Anonymous).

“Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence” (Anonymous).

Contemporary counseling and psychology provide extensive guidance on creating life strategies to overcome past issues by learning to “take out the garbage.”

The Scriptures are replete with wise counsel from the Father on how to achieve this. The true enemy is not seen but invisible. Our struggle is not physical but spiritual. The Father has equipped us with supernatural weapons for this battle.

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

We must separate what is essential from what is superficial, trivial, and superfluous. Our goal is to focus on the wheat and eliminate the chaff.

Jeremiah 15:19 If you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin” (Mother Theresa).

Father, I acknowledge that I have accepted many lies and falsehoods. Strengthen and encourage me to recognize and identify my false, erroneous basic life beliefs and exchange them for the Truth of the Word of God.

INSIGHT

Paul advocates waging a spiritual battle with the Father’s mighty weapons to identify and knock down strongholds, fortresses of human reasoning, and false beliefs.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds (fortresses) of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

In ancient times, physical fortresses were commonly constructed from stones and bricks. Similarly, spiritual strongholds are built from spiritual “bricks,” which are often called basic life beliefs. Basic life beliefs are what we believe, whether true or false, which shape how we live our lives.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

As we transform our basic life beliefs, our thoughts and actions follow.

But where do these basic life beliefs originate? They are often absorbed rather than taught during our early childhood. These beliefs are typically shaped by our society, family, or the influences of our social environment. The mastermind and strategist behind this programming is the enemy of our souls. Consequently, much of what we believe is erroneous. Sadly, much of our personal belief system is based on lies.

The Father has given us an extraordinary process to eliminate the lies we believe. This starts with identifying these false beliefs and the triggering events that led us to accept them. This revelation often comes through prayer, reading the Scriptures, or the wise counsel of spiritual advisors.

Once a lie is identified, we find a corresponding truth in God’s Word to replace it. By an act of the will, we exchange the lies we hold for the truths of God’s Word. We discard the false beliefs and replace them with the Truth. It’s like removing a false “brick” implanted by the enemy and replacing it with a biblically-based brick from the Word of God.

For example, if we believe the lie that we are unlovable and unacceptable, we search the Scriptures for the truth to counteract this false belief. Here are two scriptures related to being loved and accepted.

Ephesians 1:6 He has made us accepted in the beloved. (KJV)

Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.

Like it or not, the enemy has declared war on the children of the King. We are in a battle, and it takes place in our minds. The Father has endowed us with all the power necessary to fight this war effectively. His power takes captive and demolishes strongholds and fortresses. These strongholds are anything we depend on for security, self-worth, or survival.

The Greek term translated as “strongholds”or “fortresses”is ochuroma. Ochuroma is found only in 2 Corinthians 10:4. Outside of the New Testament, it is used in both a literal and figurative way. Military strongholds provided the imagery used in Cynic and Stoic philosophers, and in particular by Seneca, a contemporary of Paul. Ochuroma was used to describe the fortification of the soul with reasonable arguments to render it impregnable under the attack of adverse circumstances (Kruse). These “mental walls” fortify people against the invasion of the Truth and, ultimately, the knowledge of God (Wiersbe).

The enemy uses lies, false information, and speculations to contradict the truth of God’s Word, implanting his false belief system in our hearts. It is our responsibility to identify and remove these false basic life beliefs (bible.org/seriespage/lesson-8-tearing-down-walls-2-corinthians-101-18).

The weapons provided by the Father enable us to “put an end to the strength of the enemy” or “tear down defenses that are difficult to destroy” (UBS).

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Just as we exchange our sin for God’s righteousness, we also replace our false beliefs with the Truth. By learning and internalizing the Scriptures, we consciously replace our false beliefs with His Truth.

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© Dr. H 2024