Bible League: Living His Word The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.— 2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV Christians should do what the Apostle Paul urges. We should "demolish strongholds." What is a "stronghold?" Literally, a stronghold is a physical fortress with defensive and offensive capabilities. It both defends against attacks and serves as a base for attacks. As used figuratively by the Apostle Paul, a stronghold is a demonic spiritual fortress that hinders people from being influenced by the work of the Holy Spirit and that inspires them to attack the work of the Holy Spirit. Since strongholds are demonic spiritual realities, they influence the soul of a person. Since everything we do flows from the soul (Proverbs 4:23), a demonic stronghold can have an impact on any area of life. The particular area that Paul has in mind in this context, however, is the area of knowledge and understanding. In the next verse, he says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God" (v. 5). Paul worked to demolish the demonic strongholds that Satan had set up in the souls of his converts that would hinder them from knowing God. How was Paul able to demolish them? First, he accepted the fact that the "weapons of the world" would never be able to do the job. What are the weapons of the world? They are sword and shield or talent and ability. Using these weapons on their own would not be very effective. Second, Paul accepted the fact that he would need weapons that have divine power backing them up. That is, he would need weapons wielded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His education, knowledge, eloquence, arguments, and the like would still be the weapons of choice, but he would not depend upon them alone. Instead, he would depend upon the Holy Spirit to do the job through them. He would use his shield of faith and his sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:16-17). He would not let demons deceive him into thinking that he could demolish strongholds in his own strength. If we want to be effective demolishers of strongholds like Paul, then we must use the weapons we have been given by God, combined with the inspiration and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 17, 18, 19 Jeremiah 17 -- The Sin of Judah; Keeping the Sabbath NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 18 -- As the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 19 -- The Broken Jar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Timothy 6 1 Timothy 6 -- Respect for Masters; Love of money; Charge to Timothy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.Insight How can anyone pray on all occasions? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God's desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. Challenge You don't have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God's powerful influence. Praying for “all believers everywhere” means praying for all believers in Christ; so pray for the Christians you know and for the church around the world. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.Everything sublunary is on the move, time knows nothing of rest. The solid earth is a rolling ball, and the great sun himself a star obediently fulfilling its course around some greater luminary. Tides move the sea, winds stir the airy ocean, friction wears the rock: change and death rule everywhere. The sea is not a miser's storehouse for a wealth of waters, for as by one force the waters flow into it, by another they are lifted from it. Men are born but to die: everything is hurry, worry, and vexation of spirit. Friend of the unchanging Jesus, what a joy it is to reflect upon thy changeless heritage; thy sea of bliss which will be forever full, since God himself shall pour eternal rivers of pleasure into it. We seek an abiding city beyond the skies, and we shall not be disappointed. The passage before us may well teach us gratitude. Father Ocean is a great receiver, but he is a generous distributor. What the rivers bring him he returns to the earth in the form of clouds and rain. That man is out of joint with the universe who takes all but makes no return. To give to others is but sowing seed for ourselves. He who is so good a steward as to be willing to use his substance for his Lord, shall be entrusted with more. Friend of Jesus, art thou rendering to him according to the benefit received? Much has been given thee, what is thy fruit? Hast thou done all? Canst thou not do more? To be selfish is to be wicked. Suppose the ocean gave up none of its watery treasure, it would bring ruin upon our race. God forbid that any of us should follow the ungenerous and destructive policy of living unto ourselves. Jesus pleased not himself. All fulness dwells in him, but of his fulness have all we received. O for Jesus' spirit, that henceforth we may live not unto ourselves! Daily Light on the Daily Path Malachi 2:15 "But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.Luke 9:49,50,54,55 John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us." • But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." • When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" • But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; Numbers 11:27-29 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." • Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, "Moses, my lord, restrain them." • But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, • gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:24-27 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. • If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. • Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. • Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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