SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1375c

“Department of War – Part 3 of 4” (Environmental Influence)

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

We are citizens of Heaven and are engaged in prayerful spiritual warfare here on earth to demolish strongholds.

Pray without ceasing; The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16

We must deal with our personal strongholds before we can effectively engage the enemy on other fronts and on behalf of others in prayer.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…- Romans 12:2

Personal strongholds are first established through our thought life.

We have a choice: entertain that thought or take it captive unto Christ. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

We have a choice: feed our minds the trash and sin of this world by what we choose to see and hear or feed our minds on the Word of God.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

Personal Strongholds stem not only from our thoughts but also from our environment e.g. our family and chosen circle of relationships.

Family Environment: We must never underestimate the influential power of parental behavior on their children. Dysfunctional families can and do breed dysfunction in the families of their children through established strongholds from their childhood.

We cannot choose our family circle of relationships, but we can choose how we are shaped by them going forward.

We do not have to remain a ‘victim’ of dysfunctional family relationships. The ‘generational curse’ can be broken by the power of Jesus Christ. The strongholds of dysfunction are demolished when we are born-again into the family of God.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are. – 1 John 3:1

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Social Environment: We must also never underestimate the influential power of peer pressure by our chosen circle of friends and relationships. My mother would warn my brother and me regarding our choice of friends with the proverb, ‘If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas’. This secular proverb conveys a Truth stemming from the Word of God.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. – Proverbs 13:20

Our choice of social environment from childhood into adulthood can allow the enemy to establish strongholds that will torment us until we demolish them through the power of the Holy Spirit.

These strongholds are like sand spurs that silently and insidiously embed themselves in your clothing when you walk through fields in Florida having deviated from the established path. You do not know they are there until they jab you. If you have ever experienced these, you know how painfully difficult they are to remove.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. – Colossians 4:5

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh; Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children – Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:1

May you be fully committed, equipped, and prepared for spiritual warfare, having been born-again by the Spirit and cleansed from the enemy’s strongholds that hindered your personal life walk with Jesus.