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  • QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF: How does this apply to me right now? What would I have to change to make it possible? Where do I begin?

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. —Romans 12:2

Our prayer to begin 2021: GOD TRANSFORM US!

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 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. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We Knock Down Strongholds

Today we focus on second half of 2 Cor. 10:4 – to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

  • What do the “mighty weapons” of God do? What has God designed them for?
  • It’s awesome to have the weapons; it’s effective to use them for what God designed them for!

Knock Down the Strongholds

  • Knockdown = pulling-down, demolish/destroy/extinction (pretty strong word)
  • STRONGHOLDS = fortify by holding safely, to make something safe and secure by building around it. Like fortifying a castle.
  • So God’s mighty weapons are given to us for a specific purpose; pull-down & demolish the structures we build to keep something safe & secure. What are they? What are the walls?

Human Reasoning & False Arguments

  • HUMAN REASONINGS/FALSE ARGUMENTS = computations, thoughts, imaginations we use as ideas or reasons to live and be.
  • In other words, we have ideas that live in our minds, that motivate our decision life and God wants to change those ideas. But we have set up strongholds to defend them.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. —Romans 12:2

I once thought these things were valuable, but now… —Philippians 3:7

How the Enemy Works to Set Up Strongholds in Our Minds

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. —Genesis 3:1-6

  • One day he started a conversation, question, a thought, a statement; “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

  • What God really said:

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” —Genesis 2:16-17

  • Remember he is after ideas, reasoning’s, imaginations to place in your mind, then build arguments around them (strongholds) to protect them.
  • V.2-3 – Eve quotes back the Scripture, tree in the middle, if we eat we will die. (Good job).
  • But the enemy is ready. HE IS READY WITH THE LIE.
  • V.4 – “You won’t die.” God’s weapons can show us the lie!
  • Now we mix the lie with some truth V.5 – “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
  • Don’t let the world define who God is in your life!
  • V.6 – Eve is convinced! She saw “The fruit” of what the serpent was sharing-beautiful, looks delicious, looks like wisdom (good, pleasant, desirable). YOU WON’T DIE.

Illustration of Eve Building Stronghold in Her Mind

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Begin to Use the Weapons

  • One day a rich young ruler approached Jesus, asking “what must I do to be saved?” Obey the commands? I’ve done that. Jesus said there’s one more thing. When he shared it:
  • Mark 10:22 – The man’s face fell. Jesus broke down his stronghold and revealed to him something he was not expecting-though he was living for God.
  • Do you trust Jesus enough to allow Him to give you a “Falling Face” encounter with Him?
  • You are so sure you are right (because you follow the commands) but He wants to pull down a stronghold in your mind; challenge your idea life.
  • BEGIN TO USE THE WEAPONS