SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1375d

Recommended Reading: The Cross In The Shadow Of The Crescent – Erwin W. Lutzer https://amzn.to/3MLJ4y8

“Department of War – Part 4 of 4”

(Demolish Societal Strongholds)

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

Having dealt with our personal strongholds, we are better equipped by the Holy Spirit to focus our attention to the world around us and demolish the strongholds that the enemy has established: Throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God.

Imaginations/Arguments – logismos – This is ‘bottom-line reasoning’ that reflect someone’s values, thoughts, and speculations about God. These are the ‘filters’ through which people view God and their relationship with Him.  These filters can be strongholds that distort the Truth about the Father and create a barrier hindering our close relationship with Him. Our Spiritual weaponry to destroy these strongholds is the Truth of the Word of God wielded in prayer.

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12

Some examples of ‘bottom-line reasoning’ that we are indoctrinated to believe are: Marriage is whatever we define it to be; Homosexuality is normal; Sexual identity is what I define it to be; Abortion is a choice, not murder; Divorce for any reason; Morality changes with the times; God cannot forgive you.

High Thing/Lofty Opinions – hupsoma – Worldly Wisdom – These are barriers created by our self-inflated, prideful view of our worldly knowledge and wisdom. These strongholds of lies perpetuated concerning God become barriers to getting to know Him through Jesus, the Living Word of God.

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God… – 1 Corinthians 3:19

Such lies are: God is dead; There is no God; Jesus is not God; We evolved by chance; There are many ways to heaven.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:1,14

Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

High Thing/Lofty Opinions – hupsoma – Societal Laws – These are barriers created by a system of laws influenced by Satan in order to raise up generations without our national identity that will readily accept a false god and doctrine because they were prevented from the foundational knowledge of the one, true God upon which our nation was founded.

Such societal strongholds and barriers are: Bible reading was banned in public schools in 1963; Prayer in the Name of Jesus in public schools or government meetings has been banned out of fear of violating the establishment clause or causing offense; The public display of Scripture has been banned if viewed as ‘religious endorsement’ or offensive to others.  

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

Christian Businesses have been sued for refusing to provide services that violated their biblical moral principles based upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Public schools cannot require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or salute the American Flag starting in 1943; The phrase ‘One Nation Under God’ is being challenged to be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Word of God is banned when it offends and is considered to be non-inclusive by one group or another. Indeed, the Truth of the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, is absolute and not inclusive when it comes to embracing sin and false doctrine.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. – Matthew 10:34

The Boiled Frog Syndrome – This is a metaphor for how people fail to react to a significant threat because it develops gradually, making them complacent. We are reaping what we have sown. We have raised up generations that are embracing the ideology of Communism, Socialism, and Islam because they have come to trust and depend upon government instead of God.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. – Colossians 2:8

Islamic Strongholds – The seat of Christianity was displaced by Islam through military conquests in the 7th century. Over time, socio-economic and political factors gradually imposed Arab culture to solidify the shift in Europe and it is now taking root in our country as well.

The Quran may indeed promote peace and tolerance. However, when taken in totality with the Hadith (the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings) and Sharia (The laws and path to live by) we get a different picture. Sharia Law is flat out incompatible with American Law.

The heat is gradually being turned up under the melting pot of our country. Like a boiled frog, are we foolishly basking and relaxing in the ‘hot tub’ of the immorality, affluence, and materialism of our society, oblivious to what is happening around us until it is too late?

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Where is the church Body of Christ? Why are we not sounding the alarm as appointed watchmen?

Why is the voice of Truth not ‘heard’ from the pulpits to the polling booths of America?

Is the church cowering in fear of ‘offending the enemy’ by proclaiming the whole Truth of God?

Is the church body so fearful that it does not reach out to Muslims with the Gospel?

Is the church body so fearful of Sharia that it would turn away Muslim converts to Christianity?

I have made you a watchman…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Ezekiel 3:17; Joshua 1:9

Why has the church Body of Christ become lackadaisical and cavalier in our attitude toward the Word of God and prayer?

Why are we not as devoted to the reading and study of the Bible as Muslims are to the Quran?

Why are we Christians content to being spoon fed ‘feel good’ sound bites of the Word of God without having the discernment to recognize false doctrine?

And he gave… the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints… for building up the body of Christ… to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. – Ephesians 4:11-14

Has the church Body of Christ become so embedded and infiltrated by the secular world that our Christian faith is unrecognizable, diluted, compromised, and ineffective to demolish strongholds? Are we Christians in name and symbolism only? For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. – 1 Corinthians 4:20

Jesus speaks to us today as He did to the Seven Churches. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. – Revelation 3:2

Jesus calls us today to put on His full armor and engage the enemy to demolish strongholds through prayer and the power and testimony of the Truth of His Word.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8