December 7 Click on verses for Full Scripture	previous - - - - - - - - - - next
Today's Pathway: II Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Yesterday Paul discussed the importance of using spiritual weapons in our spiritual warfare as opposed to using carnal, fleshly weapons. Today Paul teaches the Corinthians what using the proper weapons can accomplish. Of course, it must be remembered that it is ultimately God Who wins these victories for His children. The weapons themselves are tremendous, and our use of them is certainly a wise and proper decision, but their effectiveness is wholly achieved "through God", and all glory must go to Him and not to us.

He opens in verse 4 by writing that spiritual weapons can pull down strongholds. A stronghold is a fortress. In that day, every fortified city had strongholds; bulwarks that were impregnable and designed to keep intruders out. In addition, the word also could refer to a prison, which was often locked away inside a fortress, and. of course, was designed to keep its occupants in. Satan's strongholds are designed to do both those things. They attempt to keep the Word of God out, so that they can keep unbelievers locked in. Albert Barnes wrote,

" 'Strongholds' is used to denote the various obstacles resembling a fortress which are designed and adapted to oppose the truth and the triumph of the Christian's cause. All those obstacles are strongly fortified. The sins of his heart are fortified by long indulgence, and by the hold which they have on his soul. The wickedness of the world is strongly fortified by the fact that it has seized on strong human passions; and that great numbers are united. The idolatry of the world was strongly fortified by the protection of laws and the power of the priesthood; and the opinions of the world are entrenched behind false philosophy and the power of subtle argumentation. The whole world is fortified against Christianity; and the nations of the earth have been engaged in little else than in raising and strengthening such strongholds for the space of six thousand years."

It should be noted that the word translated "pulling down" has the idea of demolition and destruction. God does not intend for His (and our) opponents to only be briefly sidelined in this spiritual warfare; He intends for them to be destroyed. The Christian life may be a continual battle, but these verses seem to indicate that the believer is not limited to small victories in minor skirmishes, but he can win total victory in major battles. The same word is used in verse 5 and translated "casting down". Paul states that the proper use of spiritual weapons under the direction and power of God can demolish "imaginations", "high things" that oppose the knowledge of God, and "thoughts". Notice that all of these terms deal with the thinking of individuals, and it is this false thinking that must be destroyed. Allow me to use some examples from our day. We are all familiar with the threat of Islamic terrorism. However, our true enemy is not the suicide bomber: it is the underlying theology and philosophy that motivates the suicide bomber. The ultimate answer to Islamic terrorism is not going to be increased security; it will be the bringing of Muslims to Christ. We as believers stand against abortion. But the problem is not found at the abortion clinic or at the capitol building. It is found in the hearts and minds of individuals who reject the Word of God. We can, and should, close abortion clinics, but that will not solve the abortion problem, because the real problem is a spiritual one. We know this because opponents of the pro-life movement state that if abortion is outlawed, women will have to return to unsafe, "back alley" means to abort their babies. The only thing that will truly stop abortions from taking place is bringing people to Christ so that they understand Biblical principles and no longer want to have an abortion. Because of issues like these, Paul writes that we need to use spiritual weapons to change people's minds. Their minds have been closed to the truth and the lies of the devil have been imprisoned in those closed minds. The flesh can not conquer those obstacles. But the power of God can.