Spiritual War Requires Powerful Spiritual Weapons

 

By Capazin Thornton

 

 

Our real battles are spiritual. We have to keep the fight in the spiritual realm using powerful spiritual weapons.

Now and then, I want to take people down off their high horse and say, “Shut up and sit down.” But God won’t let me. He always humbles my heart and reminds me:

Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ—2 Cor 10:3-5

This passage reveals:

• two kinds of war
• two types of weapons
• the supreme authority of Christ

Two kinds of war

There are carnal wars or wars of the flesh. And there are spiritual wars.

Two kinds of weapons

In natural wars, soldiers use guns to fight the enemy.

In spiritual wars, Satan uses weapons common to all humans. The devil appeals to the senses, the flesh, the carnal nature, the mind. He fills spheres of influence with lies and intimidation, fearmongering, and hate.

However, the weapons we use to fight our spiritual enemy are not carnal or of the flesh. On the contrary, they are supernatural, mighty in God. They are capable of pulling down and destroying strongholds!

What is a stronghold?

Stronghold is a military term. It speaks of a heavily fortified, well-defended, well-protected position.

Spiritual strongholds are deeply entrenched thoughts, attitudes, and emotions in one’s soul, often from unhealed hurts, unmet needs, unresolved issues, and wrong teaching. The person with spiritual strongholds cannot break out into free-thinking and healthy feelings.

The apostle Paul uses the word stronghold only once in his writings. However, we can identify at least three different kinds of fortresses in the world today.

1. personal strongholds – thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and patterns of behavior that are self-defeating, destructive, demonic.

2. ideological strongholds – worldview, philosophies dominated by culture, tradition, and society (such as Darwin’s theory of evolution).

3. territorial strongholds – hierarchy of dark beings assigned by Satan to influence and control nations and regions.

Spiritual Weapons to destroy strongholds

God has given Christ believers defensive armor and offensive weapons to keep the devil underfoot. Here are three potent weapons to destroy strongholds:

1. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17)

God’s Word will break down carnal defenses in you or the enemy. Like a hammer, it will destroy strongholds. Speak, sing, or shout out the Word the Spirit gives in the face of the enemy.

2. THE NAME OF JESUS (Phil. 2:9-11). You have authority in Christ to spiritually pull down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ.

Everything is subject to the Name of Jesus Christ—the holiest Name in Heaven, in the earth, and the world below. Every knee must bow—not just in the future, but right NOW! [NOW faith is…]. Every contrary thing exalting itself against the knowledge of the Anointed One and His Anointing has to come down—NOW!

3. PRAISE. Strong expressive breaks yokes. Faith-filled praise and prayer can pull down strongholds over individuals and nations.

Tear down Arguments

With powerful spiritual weapons, tear down and destroy images, arguments, reasoning, thoughts, and words that exalt themselves against the revealed knowledge of God. We can break through confusion with the light and truth of God’s Word. Declare it. Decree it.

Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

Always capture your thoughts and make them submit to God’s Word.

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Capazin