“Department of War – Part 2”
For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
I recall the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 where the Soviet Union was establishing a nuclear strike force, a stronghold if you will, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. This is considered to be the closest the world has come to a full-scale nuclear war. Through a show of military force and tense negotiations, after 13 days the stronghold was dismantled.
In our previous devotional we established that, as citizens of heaven and soldiers of Christ, we continue to wage a spiritual war against the strongholds the enemy establishes in our hearts and through the establishment of societal norms from which he launches attacks to steal, kill, and destroy our faith, peace, and relationships.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy… – John 10:10
Personal Strongholds – Devoted for Total Destruction – Personal strongholds allow for an enemy encampment to be embedded in our heart and act as saboteurs to undermine our testimony and witness for Christ. These strongholds must be utterly destroyed, and the territory reclaimed and cleansed through repentance and the transformation of our mind.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…- Romans 12:2
We cannot be effective ‘soldiers for Christ’ when we are compromised by the enemy’s strongholds. Allow Jesus to set you free from the enemy’s embedded encampments.
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
Allow nothing for the enemy to return to and reoccupy that stronghold. Do not leave one stone upon another.
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also, will it be with this evil generation. – Matthew 12:43-45
That means you have to make changes – You have to intentionally and purposefully avoid places that you used to frequent where temptation to sin was present. You must avoid feeding your mind with sinful music, movies, games, and even relationships that are toxic to your soul.
Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals; Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. Flee from sexual immorality. – 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 6:18
You have to want to destroy these strongholds. You have to love Jesus more than the sin that the stronghold represents.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. – John 14:15
You have to want to wage war against the enemy of your soul and the souls of others. Are you willing to be ‘boots on the ground’ for Christ?
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62
Spiritual Warfare – Obedient Thought Life bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The front line of this war is in our mind. We must take every thought captive, pull down the stronghold, and leave nothing from which it can be reoccupied or rebuilt. The helmet of our full armor of God protects our mind and the sword is the Truth of the Word that destroys falsehood.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – Ephesians 6:17
We battle against ungodly philosophies that place obstacles to people knowing the Truth of God: evolution, secular humanism, existentialism, cults, occult, and false religions.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4
Semper Fi – Always Faithful – As it is with the Marine Corps motto, so it should be with us as soldiers for Christ.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might; Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.; – Proverbs 3:3; James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10
Sword of the Spirit 