News from July 2009
Demolishing Strongholds Inside!
Posted on July 9, 2009 by Pastor Tom
We are talking about “Becoming a church that lives on the Jericho Road in St. Albert and the World.” This assumes our complete dependece on Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus says “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing!” Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” Yet we need not fear because God entrusts us with weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:3–4. I believe these weapons to be God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and prayer.
When I think of strongholds, I think about the community and what areas Satan has held for a long time. But I came across this piece today by Joni Eareckson Tada that reminds us of strongholds in our hearts. Enjoy!
Strongholds Demolished!
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
Fantasies. Silly thoughts. Vain imaginations. Useless daydreams. These will
puff themselves up so high in your head that you would swear they were true. A
furtive thought lingers in your mind and begins to wear a rut, repeating
itself time and again. It could be a false hope, an unfounded fear. Whatever
it is, it doesn’t belong in your head. It’s a vain imagination.
I know from experience that if you let vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become powerful strongholds. Every time you re-play that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher. Then, when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. You try the turning-over-a-new-leaf routine: “I’m not going to think those thoughts. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” Trying to single-handedly dismantle strongholds in your mind that way, doesn’t work. That’s why I am so grateful “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.”
Christians have divine power. That’s the key, divine power, to tear down every vain imagination. It’s possible. You really can make your thoughts obedient to Christ. It may take some time, but by God’s grace, that high tower can be toppled.
- * * *
“Grace… teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions…” (Titus 2:11,12). After the stronghold is knocked down, the rubble still needs to be cleared. Every time I say “No” to some tempting thought, a few more bricks lying around are smashed to bits. But every time I let something linger in my mind that I shouldn’t, I can almost see that stronghold begin to build itself again.
Is there some vain imagination, some stronghold in your mind? Don’t rehearse those daydreams or entertain wrong thoughts. Demolish the stronghold with divine demolition.
Jesus Christ, Conqueror of our weaknesses, teach me not to let fantasies and wrong thinking build great edifices in my mind. Give me the power to demolish those thoughts and to replace them with obedience to You.
Taken from More Precious Than Silver. Copyright © 1998 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530