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We often hear of strongholds that must be torn down, but do we know what a stronghold is?
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
Paul tells us exactly what a stronghold is. It is an “imagination”, and a “high thing”(barrier) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. It is a thought!!
A stronghold is a system of belief that has been constructed in the mind of a person that goes against the truth of God and His Word. Strongholds include cultural customs, false religions, the bondages of sin, the philosophies of men, political arguments, scientific claims and everything that denies or ignores the reality of God and His truth.
These strongholds represent the battleground for the life of the believer. As long as they stand there will be no victory. A believer will continue in a perpetual struggle, the war raging in his natural mind and flesh as each one attempts to gain the mastery over the weakened Christian.
But, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal!!! It is the revelation of the truth that sets us free. The fact that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, the truth that the gospel is the power of unto salvation, the potential of faith to move mountains, the reality of our salvation and reconciliation with God, the power of Holy Spirit who lives in us and anoints us, and the power of prayer are more than enough to tear down every stronghold that exalts itself against God (Eph. 6:10-18). We are well equipped to win this warfare!
It is God’s Truth that sets us free. A stronghold is a lie that has influence over our lives to the degree we submit to it. In the same way, as we submit to the truth of God’s Word and act on it, the lies will come tumbling down and we can be truly free.
The writer is a Dean of Instuctors at Charis Bible College in Colorado. Author reserves all rights to this publication.
