2 Corinthians 10: 4 – 5
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
According to this scripture, we have weapons of warfare. These weapons, however, are not as we would initially expect. Paul tells us that they are divine weapons, imbued with divine power. What are these weapons and from where do they draw their power? What kind of fortresses are they able to destroy?
Even a novice would speculate that the source of power for these divine weapons is the trinity, specifically, the Holy Spirit who is the power of God. He has given us weapons that he has empowered. Notice something interesting here. These are weapons of destruction. They are not weapons of defense. Isn’t that interesting? These weapons have offensive capabilities.
Verse four says they are used for destroying fortresses. What are these fortresses? Other translations call them strongholds. Verse five begins to reveal what these strongholds are. One translation reads, “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God.” Another says, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.” To state it plainly, these divine weapons are empowered to destroy false ideas and beliefs.
Here is the coup de grace, and it is in the last phrase, “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” That is the final blow, the death strike. We cast down these vain imaginations that attempt to stand above the truth of Christ. The reason I call it the coup de grace is because it is in this final stroke that we realize the battle is not against the reasoning and arrogant arguments of others. Instead, the weapons are formed, by God, to give us power to take our own thoughts captive in obedience to him. Now, that should set you free.
Look, other people’s thoughts aren’t really your responsibility. The challenge is the space between our ears. That is where the battle takes place. We must take our own thoughts in hand and make them bend their knee to the truth in Christ. When your mind says you cannot be healed, you are going to have to have your knee replaced, you will live with this condition all your life, you must arrest those thoughts and ask, “What does Jesus say about this?” Only what God says is important. When you know what He says, then you lasso your thoughts and make them come into line with Him. Those speculations, wonderings, worries, all those mental gymnastics, must be brought to kneel at Jesus’ feet. The strongholds or fortresses are our beliefs. Over the years we have each built a paradigm of beliefs and, frankly, Jesus’ Word doesn’t fit into that paradigm very easily. It is a battle to wrestle those old beliefs into submission, allowing our minds to be transformed by the Word of God.
So here are your guiding questions: 1) What does Jesus have to say about this problem you are facing, 2) What does the Word say? The world says one thing and the Word another. God has given you power to destroy the thoughts, imaginations and opinions of the world. Take those thoughts and mental images captive. Put them in chains. Create a new picture of a healed you. How does your body move when Jesus’ truth touches it? How do you feel and what does that look like? Wrap words around your revelation but create pictures too. See yourself doing what was difficult. Take every thought and imagination captive to the Word of Christ so that you can defeat the strongholds in your own mind. Destroy the fortress of doubt that says you cannot, will not be healed. By his stripes you are!
