Strongholds

14 September  2012     

      

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

There are many times that we come against strongholds that are found in people, now there is no problem with a stronghold, but rather whose and what kind of stronghold is it? So within each of us I presume we have spiritual strongholds where the ownership and control is that of Jesus Christ, then there are others where the stronghold is ourselves, and the third where the stronghold is demonic.

To understand this we need to recognise the difference, Jesus is about love, peace and joy and about putting others first, but at the same time recognising that we please, worship and love God first. The second is when we put ourselves first and our own interests above others, and we go into our stronghold of fear, yet we are still in control. The third stronghold is where the control is given over to the demonic, where Jesus and self are second which hurts others and ourselves, you are no longer in control. These are like addictions, where we rather fight than make peace, where nothing is more important than the stronghold at any cost, this is a stronghold often seen as power and having power over you. Many times we find these negative strongholds break down the unity and peace in a church or community. Sometimes we think a person has a strong personality, but it may just be a stronghold that is manifesting.

Be encouraged today to examine the strongholds in you life and is Jesus in control of them?

David

Point to ponder: Surrender your strongholds to Jesus.

Question to consider: What is your strongholds?