Pulling Down Strongholds (2)
Notes
Transcript
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Memorial Day Weekend. We thank and honor those who gave their lives for this country and to preserve our values of faith, family, and freedom. Honor those who serve or have served this country in the armed forces, law enforcement, and if you are are a relative - PLEASE STAND.
New Sermon Series: The Weapons of Our Warfare
Introduction:
We celebrate Memorial Day and we think of warfare (talk)
Stronghold in ancient warfare (Biblical Times) is a defensive structure, a high wall or a tall and strong tower.
Anything that can make the people of a city or country safe. In modern warfare in our times, because of the advanced deadly weaponry, walls or towers no longer make a stronghold. But modern technology can build a defense system similar to the iron dome in Israel.
THERE IS A SPIRITUAL WAR HAPPENING FOR PEOPLE’S SOULS. WHEN YOU GO OUT TO THE WORLD, YOU ENTER INTO ENEMY TERRITORY, BEHIND ENEMY LINES. BUT THE ENEMY HAS INFILTRATED THE RANKS, and THERE IS WARFARE HAPPENING INSIDE THE CHURCH IN PEOPLE’S MINDS.
A Stronghold in a spiritual sense is an area in our mind where the enemy is protected and unchallenged.
We are living in a world where truth is constantly being challenged, not only in the public square but even inside the church. The Apostle Paul was no stranger to this. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul shifts his tone. After writing gently about generosity in chapters 8-9, he now addresses a threat more dangerous than financial apathy: the opposition to the Gospel rooted in prideful human thinking. His concern was not just external attacks, but internal resistance within the church—false teachers, distorted minds, and spiritual blindness.
Paul uses a military metaphor to describe a spiritual campaign. This isn't just a minor skirmish; it's full-on warfare for the minds and souls of people. Let's look at three points that arise from verses 4-6, but with the important background of verses 1-3 to set the stage.
Todays Lessons on Strongholds:
Strongholds are Often Internal and in the Mind (Verses 1- 3)
Strongholds Can Only be Taken Down by Divine Weapons (Verses 4 -5)
Strongholds that are Demolished Leads to Obedience (verse 6)
Point 1: Strongholds are Often Internal and in the Mind (Verses 1- 3)
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
Background:Paul begins with a tone of meekness and gentleness—characteristics often mistaken for weakness. His critics were saying, "He writes strong letters, but he's weak in person." But Paul’s humility was Christlike, and it was strategic.
Talk about Unity and Dividers in the Church
Talk about the arrangement with the café. —- We are moving forward united as a BODY!
“we do not war according to the flesh” - the battle is Spiritual. The devil bombards minds with bad thoughts…. (talk)… but in the context of this passage, it is the deeply established ideas in people’s minds that need to be pulled down.
Your philosophy in life affects your values and your values affect your behavior. We see that in families and we see that in the church.
Paul is acknowledging: yes, I may look weak, but don’t mistake gentleness for the absence of authority. This sets the tone for why we must understand that the battle we face is not just physical or visible. It’s ideological, spiritual, and internal.
Takeaway: Opposition to the Gospel often comes through the minds of people—including those inside the church. False ideas, intellectual pride, and spiritual apathy are the real enemies.
These fortresses or strongholds are not just from the outside world but had been built inside the church, brick by brick, and they become deeply held beliefs that exalt themselves against the truth of God, like:
“The Bible is outdated.”
“All religions are the same.”
“I can live however I want, and God will understand.”
“I know better than scripture or than anyone.”
This becomes a strong force but they cannot be broken down by physical means but by a spiritual wrecking ball from heaven.
Point 2: Strongholds Can Only be Taken Down by Divine Weapons (Verses 4 -5)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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,
Strongholds can be issues of the flesh and bondage to sin, but that is not Paul’s focus here.
Arguments - Human thinking, some translations use the word “Imagination”
High Thing - Human Pride
Paul says this battle isn’t fought with worldly weapons—not charisma, credentials, or clever speech. Instead, we fight with:
The Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)
Prayer (Ephesians 6:18)
The power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
Meekness and love (Matthew 11:29; 2 Corinthians 10:1)
Illustration: Think of Jericho (Joshua 6). The people didn’t tear down the walls with bulldozers. They obeyed God, marched, and shouted. It was a spiritual act of obedience that brought physical results.
The "strongholds" Paul talks about are mental and spiritual fortresses: wrong thinking, prideful worldviews, cultural idols, and false doctrines. These are not outside forces only—many exist in the church today.
Strongholds of the Mind come in the form of:
False Ideas:
Traditionalism and Legalism: Jesus plus rules equals salvation.
Cultural compromise: “We need to soften the Gospel to fit in.”
Intellectual pride:
“I know better.” - Deep theology, story of my doctorate - Like Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 - “I resolved to know nothing among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
Opposition to Authority - critical spirit
Spiritual Apathy:
Fear
No heart for the lost
No understanding of the signs of the times.
These are all high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
Takeaway: We must use God's weapons, not human ones, to fight mental and spiritual resistance to truth.
Point 3: Strongholds that are Demolished Leads to Obedience (verse 6)
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
The objective is not just to win arguments, but to win minds and hearts. Paul isn't interested in controlling people. His goal is their obedience to Christ.
There is a spirit that opposes the work of God.
THE MOVEMENT OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE.
“when your obedience is fulfilled” - Until we have exposed, resisted, fought and won over the spirit of opposition within the church. We will be more prepared to fight the enemy outside.
Bringing thoughts into captivity means we evaluate every idea, worldview, and belief system by the truth of God’s Word.
In a culture that says "follow your truth," the Gospel says, "follow The Truth (Jesus)."
Illustration: Have you ever tried to train a wild dog? It takes time, consistency, and love to bring it into obedience. Our minds, if left untrained, are like wild dogs—easily distracted, defensive, and even dangerous. But through the Spirit and Word, we can be transformed.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Paul adds that once the church submits to Christ, he’ll deal firmly with the false teachers. His authority as an apostle is not for personal gain, but for protecting the church.
Takeaway: True victory in spiritual warfare results in obedience to Christ and transformed thinking.
Conclusion:
We are in a war, not with people, but with spiritual forces and ideologies that oppose the Gospel—sometimes even inside the church. Paul models for us the power of humility, prayer, and the Word in confronting this battle.
Questions to Challenge Us:
Are there strongholds in your mind?
Are there "high things" you’ve allowed to exalt themselves over the knowledge of God?
Are you bringing your thoughts into captivity to Christ?
Let us commit to tearing down every false idea that stands against the Gospel—in our culture, in our churches, and in our own hearts.
Call to Action:
Ask God to reveal any mental or spiritual strongholds in your life. Commit this week to confront them with prayer, Scripture, and obedience.
May we, like Paul, fight the good fight not with pride and pretense, but with divine power to demolish the lies that hold people back from knowing Christ.
