PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS

PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS

In order to keep the enemy of our soul at a distance, we have to
bring down strongholds in our lives. We can pull them down with
God's help. Strongholds are like a veiled wall above us that need to
come down if we are to serve the Lord with pure hearts. There are
many strongholds in our lives that bind us. WE need to be SET FREE
from them.

2 Corinthians 10 outlines how to do this. Turn in your bibles and
read this chapter.

Starting at verse 1, follow along now......

[1] Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold
toward you:

[2] But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with
that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which
think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

[4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;

[6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your
obedience is fulfilled.

[7] Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man
trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this
again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

[8] For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which
the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your
destruction, I should not be ashamed:

[9] That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

[10] For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his
bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

[11] Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by
letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are
present.

[12] For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare
ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
are not wise.

[13] But we will not boast of things without our measure, but
according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to
us, a measure to reach even unto you.

[14] For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we
reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in
preaching the gospel of Christ:

[15] Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other
men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that
we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

[16] To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to
boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

[17] But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

[18] For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the
Lord commendeth

FIRST we must pray constantly and keep a close relationship to our
Lord and Savior.

SECOND we must cast down imaginations. Take a stand against evil. We
are all called to preach the gospel, not just the minister behind
the pulpit, but all of us can witness of our Savior. We are not
called to make people feel COMFORTABLE, but rather make them feel
UNcomfortable in their sin and show them they must submit to God.

Deut. 13:4 - Tells us to WALK AFTER THE LORD. Bring into captivity
every thought, and every unpure imagination. In other words,
STOP the very THOUGHT of sin before it takes root. The mind is the
very gateway to the Spirit.

How do we do this?

1. Don't receive any thought that is against God's will and His
Word.
2. Don't let things destroy your relationship with God. We need to
WALK IN VICTORY; we need to keep the JOY OF THE LORD. We must defend
against any type of disobedience.
3. Do not condemn people. Don't come against them,
but against the SIN in their lives, against the evil one who is it
the enemy of our soul.

Satan speaks lies and partial truths, even twisting Scripture to his
own purposes. Remember how he tempts Jesus to throw Himself off the
top of the temple, quoting Psalm 91 to "prove" that Jesus will not
be hurt. This is his normal procedure. He will take good desires,
good words, good advice – and twist them seemingly just a little bit
to tempt us to follow him. How effective is he at this? He is a
master. Indeed, none of us can fight him alone. He will always win.

Revelation 12:9 we are told that Satan deceives the whole world.

Matthew 24:24 clarifies the meaning of that statement.

One of the practical steps we can take to maintain a sound mind is
to remove the filters and strongholds that distort reality in our
minds. (2 Corinthians 3:13-16; 10:4,5 )

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all misunderstanding vanished?
Think of the tears you've shed because you misunderstood another
person or they misunderstood you?
There's another dimension to consider, think of the tears you've
shed because you misunderstood God.

There are many filters that either enhance or impair our thinking
0process. For example poverty and wealth are filters that can alter
the way we view life.

The wise man of proverbs prayed:

Proverbs 30:8 - "Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me;

(verse 9) "Lest I be full and deny thee and say, Who is ithe Lord?
or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my G in vein"."

Our religious background is like a filter through which we view
life. Paul explains that to the Corinthian Christians by reminding
them of an event that happened in the life of Moses approximately
1300 years before their time. God called Moses up Mount Sinai to
receive His commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai his
face shone with the glory of God.

You can pull down the strongholds in your life that bind you.
Cigarettes, sex, alcohol, pornography, whatever stronghold has you
bound, you can be set free in Jesus name. Even UNFORGIVENESS
can be a stronghold that will bind you.

Ok let's reach our hands up now. Come on! UP, UP, UP! Ready!
Start pulling these strongholds down and say, in Jesus name I'm
free! In Jesus name I'm free! If you believe in your heart as you
physically pull at these strongholds, you will be free.

I trust these few words will give you insight how to grow in the
Lord. Put it to practice and you will be able to fight
the enemy of our soul. God bless you all is my
prayer.
COPYRIGHT©2004 Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
all rights reserved