Strongholds and Fortresses
In 2 Corinthians 10:3–5, Paul reveals the devil’s primary battle strategy:
“Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.“
What Paul wants us to know first is that we can’t use secular or fleshly weapons to fight spiritual battles. The reason so many Christians are losing the battle is that they are trying to beat the devil using the world’s weapons. They’re looking to the secular world to help them with their spiritual need. If your problem, your struggle, your need is induced and orchestrated by your spiritual enemy, your flesh can’t win the fight. Unless you choose a spiritual response, all the time, effort, and resources you spend trying to fix the problem will ultimately be a waste of time, a Band-Aid on the situation.
The text we cited above tells us that Satan targets his attacks on our minds because Paul talks about “speculations,” “the knowledge of God,” and “taking every thought captive” (2 Cor. 10:5). Where do speculations come from? The mind. Where is knowledge rooted? In the mind. Where do thoughts come from? The mind. It is all in the mind. So, the Christian who wants to trade his or her spiritual POW status for freedom must learn to think differently.
When Satan attacks a Christian’s mind, he starts building what Paul calls “fortresses” (“strongholds,” niv and kjv). The devil builds a place from which he can operate, and he means for that fortress to be permanent. He plans to take up residence there.
A fortress or stronghold is a mindset that holds you hostage. It makes you believe that you are hopelessly locked in a situation, that you are powerless to change. That’s when you hear people saying, “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” The only reason you say, “I can’t,” when God says, “You can,” is that Satan has made himself at home in your head.
Those walking with Christ are free from enemy authority and control (Colossians 1:13). The only way he can influence us is through lies and deception if we allow him. Therefore, we need to put on our armor, take those thoughts captive, and stand strong against the deceptions of the enemy!
How do we become a formidable force in the Kingdom of God?
We have established that every one of us is part of a spiritual battle, whether we are
aware of this or not. Also, we know that we have been given the authority in
Christ and the powerful weapon of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. There are
some basic 101 principles we need to be aware of to be effective.
1. Know who you are in Christ. Are you convinced of the authority of Christ? Don’t try and wage warfare in your strength. Rely on His power and take direction from the Holy Spirit.
2. Agree with the Word of God. In this world, you will find that it is becoming more
and more unpopular to agree with the Word of God. The Word of God is
consistent, and it does not change. The truth in God’s Word should shape our
thinking and our decisions. Learn the truth in God’s Word, and in applying that
truth, you will find yourself on the right side of the spiritual conflict,
regardless of what others think of you. God’s Word is powerful and sharper than
a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).
3. Agree with the Holy Spirit quickly. Every time you exercise self-control instead of
losing your temper, you engage your enemy. Every time you choose to forgive
instead of harboring bitterness is a battle fought and won. Whenever you decide
to consider others’ needs before your own and make unselfish decisions, you
train yourself for battle and become a formidable warrior. You cannot fight the
enemy while at the same time giving him ground in your own life. If, however,
you are aware of the battle and submit to the Lordship of Christ, you will grow
in your ability and effectiveness to exercise Christ’s authority and see the
Kingdom of God made manifest in our world.
4. See the Possibilities. What areas of your life do you see the enemy
infiltrating? Do you need to be more active in this spiritual battle for
members of your family or friends? The enemy would have us think that we have
to accept the way things are, but if we look at things from God’s perspective
and agree with His Word, we can start to do battle in these situations! Do not
accept defeat but allow God to enlarge your vision of what He wants to do in
your life! Ask God to help you see the possibilities and exercise your faith in
Him and His Word to see a change in your own life, your family, and beyond. The
forward advance of God’s will and purpose is warfare, and God is for you! Every
time you draw close to the battle lines in prayer, you are waging war. The
beautiful thing is that we can proclaim the victory Christ has already won on
our behalf. If God is for us, who can be against us?