Destroying strongholds
January 12, 2009 The apostle Paul wrote that we have divine power to demolish strongholds. What strongholds?
The word stronghold refers to a fortress or fortified city. Paul wasn't referring to literal strongholds; he was speaking of strongholds in our minds. These strongholds are fortified arguments that are in opposition to God's word, nature or character. In other words, they aren't just "thoughts", they're lies that have taken root. Upon discovery they are to be demolished through the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. The reason: they interfere with our ability to walk in the light and have uninhibited fellowship with God and our fellow man.
Romans 12 exhorts us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation takes place as he reveals lies to us that need to be destroyed by the truth. He then gives us revelation of the truth that we must chose to believe and put into practice. As we do the strongholds are demolished. In that specific arena of truth we are now being conformed to his likeness.
This process never ends.
Jesus told us to be careful who we listen to, who we "hear". He said this because stongholds begin as seeds planted by an almost infinite numbers of sources. Obvious ones would include our parents, siblings, teachers and media. In reality, anything heard or read can plant a seed that can grow into a stronghold, even our own words. He knew that what we give heed to, what we meditate on and eventually chose to believe, becomes a stronghold, good or bad.
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
We are to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Imagine someone invading your home. You don't just let the intruder ransack your home and take whatever he wants or take up residence with you! You confront the intruder, shackle him if possible, and determine if he is friend or foe. Only when you find that he is safe do you trust him and release him.
It is the same with any information we hear, read or speak. We confront it, isolate it and test it. We must treat it like something we're considering putting in our mouth and swallowing. Most people look at their food and then smell before they put it in their mouth. Then they taste it before they swallow it. These are natural mechanisms to help prevent bad food from being injested.
Follow the same rules for information. Look at it, smell it and taste it before swallowing. If you're not sure about it have someone else do the same thing. It's far easier to spit it out before you swallow it than after.
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