0951 Fight Back - Breaking Down Strongholds

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4-5

“Overlooking ancient Corinth was a hill 1,857 feet high. On top of it was a fortress.

Paul used that imagery as an illustration of the spiritual warfare he waged. He destroyed strongholds, cast down towers, and took captives.” - Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary

“Citadel - a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege. Any strongly fortified place; stronghold.” - dictionary.com

According to Bob Larson, A legal right is how a demon gets in, a stronghold is how he stays in. 6 main strongholds are:

1. fear - yielding to the real or imagined possibility of impending danger rather than trusting in God by faith.

2. anger - aggressiveness based on some perceived injustice that gives way to wrath.

3. rejection - allowing the act of abandonment to instill feelings of worthlessness.

4. depression - being overwhelmed with sadness and despair to the point of hopelessness.

5. abuse - victimization which gives way to anger and resentment.

6. self-hatred - intense aversion to one’s own self that denies the worth and value of humans as unique creations of God and worthy of His love.

Spiritual WALLS are broken when we confront the lie and conform to the truth. Spiritual WALLS are build when we conform to the lie and criticize the truth.

God called them an army but they saw themselves as grasshoppers.

These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. Exodus 6:26

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:41

And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. Exodus 12:51

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:17-18

God doesn’t call us based on where we were but on where we’re going. God doesn’t call us based on who we are but based on whose you are.

There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33

Contradiction between what God said and what we see creates conflict. We have a choice to what weI conform to.

Acting is a huge industry. Acting is a powerful profession; by pretending to be somebody else, actors are able to trick people into believing that the character they are playing is actually real. Actors influence emotions, trends and critical discussion.

Actors get so good that they become stars. Stars become so popular they become superstars.

God called the land, good, large and flowing with milk and honey but they saw it as a land that devours its inhabitants.

So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey… Exodus 3:8a

The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants,… Numbers 13:32a.

Adjust the attitude to the truth and attack the lies.

Atmosphere can’t change if attitude is not adjusted.

They couldn’t have a military victory with a mental defeat.

But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah. Numbers 14:44-45

Those who don’t win in their mind will lose in their life.

"If you don’t control what you think, never control what you do.” Craig Croeschel

If we’re not willing to work on our mind, why work on our marriage?

If we’re not willing to work on our mouth, why work on our business?

Consequences are confirmation.

How to Apply this principle:

A. Commit to study the Word. B. Conform to the Word by confession.

C. Confront the lies by confession.

Spiritual TOWERS are build by exaggerating the problem. Spiritual TOWERS are broken by exalting the promise.

The reference to the descendants of Anak as Nephilim was designed to instill fear in the hearts of the Israelites. The Nephilim, “fallen ones” are noted in Genesis 6:4 as the offspring of the “sons of God” (“angelic beings” or “divine warriors”) and the “daughters of men.” The Nephilim were of large stature, but they all would have been destroyed in Noah’s flood (Genesis 6:11), so it is best to conclude that the frightened spies gave an exaggerated report.

If we don’t exalt God, we will exaggerate our giants. Exalting God brings peace. Exaggerating giants brings pain.

So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. Numbers 14:1

Exalting God causes delight in good things. Exaggerating giants causes us to despise the good things.

But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. Numbers 14:31

If we don’t exalt God, we will exaggerate our past.

And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” Numbers 14:2-4

Whatever is exalted above God is exaggerated.

We can’t exaggerate God by exalting Him.

How to Apply:

A. Exalt God’s presence. B. Enjoy the present.

C. Exercise patience in the process.

We are either CAPTIVE to our thoughts or keep our thoughts CAPTIVE.

We ought to capture our thoughts before we make them captive.

Before we can take our thoughts captive, we first have to be aware of them, which is called mindfulness.  Listen to your words because they reveal your thoughts and ultimately what is in your heart.

Your mind does the thinking. Your brain is what you think with. Relationship between brain and mind is like between piano and pianist.

b. We should train our thoughts instead of trusting them.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

THINK (By Rick Warren)

Test every thought Psalm 139:23 (Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;)

Helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17 (And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;)

Imagine great thoughts

Nourish your mind daily Psalm 119:15 (I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.)

Keep on learning 1 Timothy 4:15 (Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.)