2 Corinthians Tearing down Strongholds

Review

Paul Sent’s Brethren In Advanced to Ensure the Corinthian Saints are Ready, 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

What We Sow Impacts What We Reap, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Being of Good Courage in Confidence, 2 Corinthians 10:1-2

Our Good Courage Towards You, 2 Corinthians 10:1

2 Corinthians 10:1

And I, Paul, myself, encourage you through the objectivity of mind and gentleness of the Christ, who is according to being present on the one hand humble among you, on the other hand absent I am of good courage unto you.

Good Courage is Predominately Used in 2 Corinthians

Being of Good Courage While Being Home in the Body We Are Absent From the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:6

2 Corinthians 5:6

Therefore, while being of good courage always and intuitively knowing that while being at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

Being of Good Courage To be Absent From the Body is to be With the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:8

2 Corinthians 5:8

Now, we are of good courage and are pleased rather to be absent out from the body and to be at home before the Lord

Good Courage in the Obedience of Others, 2 Corinthians 7:16

2 Corinthians 7:16

I rejoice because in all I have good courage in you.

Only Other Occurrence is in Hebrews 13:6

Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV)

So we may boldly (in good courage) say:

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

Paul’s Encouragement is in Objectivity of Mind and Gentleness of the Christ

The Christ is the New Creation in Which Christ is the Head and the Church is the Body, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1: 22-23

Objectivity of Mind is Often Mistranslated as Meekness or Humility

If Paul Had Come to Deal with the Situation it Would Have Been in an Objective Frame of Mind, 1 Corinthians 4:21

1 Corinthians 4:21 (NKJV)

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness (πραΰτητος - Objectivity of Mind) ?

An Aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:23

Galatians 5:23 (NKJV)

gentleness (πραΰτης), self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Mindset of a Pastor Correcting Those Who Oppose the Truth, 2 Timothy 2:25

2 Timothy 2:25 (NKJV)

in humility (πραΰτητι) correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know (ἐπίγνωσιν) the truth,

An Aspect of How We Are to Live, Titus 3:1-2

Titus 3:1–2 (NKJV)

Remind them to be subject ὑποτάσσεσθαι) to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good (ἀγαθὸν) work, to speak evil (βλασφημεῖν) of no one, to be peaceable (ἀμάχους), gentle (ἐπιεικεῖς), showing all humility πραΰτητα) to all men.

While I am Not Present I am of Good Courage in Confidence, 2 Corinthians 10:2

2 Corinthians 10:2

And I implore, while not being present to have good courage in confidence unto you, which I dared to reckon on the basis of some, the ones reckoning us as walking according to flesh.

Paul Put to the Account of Some a Good Courage Towards them Doing Right

They Were Reckoning to Paul that He Was Walking By the Flesh

The Weapons of Our Warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Although We Walk in Flesh, We Do Not Wage War According to the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 10:3

2 Corinthians 10:3

For while we walk in flesh, we do not make war according to the flesh.

Fleshly Lusts War against the Soul, 1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 2:11 NKJV

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

Our Battle is Against Wicked Spiritual Forces, Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual of the malignant evil in the heavens.

The Weapons of Our Warfare are Not Fleshly, 2 Corinthians 10:4

2 Corinthians 10:4

For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but an inherent ability by the God facing destruction of strongholds,

We Do Not Use Law, Which Relates to the Flesh, 1 Corinthians 15:56

1 Corinthians 15:56 NKJV

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

The Law Arouses Sinful Desires, Romans 7:5

Romans 7:5

For when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, the ones [passions] through the law, worked themselves in our members resulting in the fruit unto the death.

Our Sin Nature Uses the Law to Bring Us Back Into Captivity, Romans 7:8

Romans 7:8

But the sin [nature] taking the occasion through the commandment, worked out in me all covetousness, for apart from law sin [nature] is dead.

It is a war for the mind, Romans 7:25

Romans 7:25

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord; therefore then, I myself on the one hand with the mind serve to a law of God, on the other hand with the flesh [serve] to a law of sin

Spoiler Alert: In Christ We Win This War, Romans 8:2-3

Romans 8:2–3

for the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of the sin [nature] and the death.

For the inability of the law, in which it was weak through the flesh, the God having sent the Son Himself in a likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin condemned the sin [nature] in the flesh,

Tearing Down Strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:5

2 Corinthians 10:5

while pulling down reasonings and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of the God, and while taking captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ,

Any Knowledge Set Up Against the Knowledge of God

Taking Every Thought Captive

Starts With How We Frame our Minds, Colossians 3:1-2

Colossians 3:1–2 NKJV

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Identifying Where the Desire is Coming From

The Sin Nature, Romans 6:14

Romans 6:14

For sin will not rule you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Satan, 1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The World System, 1 John 2:15-16

1 John 2:15–16 NKJV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Put on the Proper Defense Against the Desire

The Sin Nature - Know, Reckon, Yield (Romans 6:5-6; 11;13)

Satan - The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The World System - We Are Crucified to it, and Although We Live in it We Are Not of It (Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 7:31)

The Strongholds in Our Minds that Are Built Up Against God

Learning to Take Scripture For What it Says

When in Contrast to Scripture, Every Man is a Liar, Romans 3:4

Romans 3:4

May it never come to be! But the God is true, and every man is a liar. Just as it is written, “Thus You should be justified by Your words and victorious when You Yourself judge.”

Strongholds that have to do with Sin

Strongholds that are from Incorrect Beliefs

Ready to Avenge Every Disobedience, 2 Corinthians 10:6

2 Corinthians 10:6

while holding in readiness to avenge every disobedience, when your obedience should be filled up where it is lacking.

Not the Disobedience of Others, Our Disobedience

Vengeance Belongs to the Lord

Giving Place to Wrath, Romans 12:19-21

Romans 12:19–21

Do not take vengeance for yourself, beloved, but give place to wrath. For it is in a state of having been written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”, says the Lord.

Therefore if perhaps your enemy is hungry, feed him. If perhaps he is thirsty, give him to drink. For doing this you will pile coals of fire upon his head.

Do not be overcome by wrong but overcome wrong by the good.

Scripture Reading

Being of Good Courage in Confidence, 2 Corinthians 10:1-2

2 Corinthians 10:1–2

And I, Paul, myself, encourage you through the objectivity of mind and gentleness of the Christ, who is according to being present on the one hand humble among you, on the other hand absent I am of good courage unto you.

And I implore, while not being present to have good courage in confidence unto you, which I dared to reckon on the basis of some, the ones reckoning us as walking according to flesh.

The Weapons of Our Warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

2 Corinthians 10:3–6

For while we walk in flesh, we do not make war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but an inherent ability by the God facing destruction of strongholds,

while pulling down reasonings and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of the God, and while taking captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ,

while holding in readiness to avenge every disobedience, when your obedience should be filled up where it is lacking.