Breaking
Strongholds - 2 Corinthians 10:5
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge
of God, and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ. And we will
be ready to punish every act of disobedience,
once your obedience is complete.
“Phrase 1: “divine
power to demolish stronghold” (vs 4).
The Greek word for demolish is kahairesis
meaning “demolition, destruction of
a fortress.” The original word for stronghold
comes from the word echo meaning ‘to
hold fast.’ The derivative, ochuroma,
stronghold means ‘a stronghold, fortification,
fortress. Used metaphorically of any strong
points or arguments in which one trusts.’
You might think of the term this way: a stronghold
is anything we hold onto that ends up holding
us. Now let’s consider what Paul meant
by demolishing strongholds. The word “demolish”
implies a kind of destruction requiring tremendous
power; to be exact, divine power. Much of
the reason believers have remained in a yoke
of slavery is because we swat at our stronghold
like they are mosquitoes. Strongholds are
like concrete fortresses we’ve constructed
around our lives block by block, ordinarily
over the course of years. We created them,
whether or not we were aware, for protection
and comfort. Inevitably, however, these fortresses
become prisons. At some point we realize we
no longer control them. They control us.
At peak strength, human effort is useless
in demolishing strongholds. No amount of discipline
or determination will do it. Satanic strongholds
require divine demolition. Discipline and
determination are often important factors
in opening your life to the supernatural power
of God, but only He can provide the divine
dynamite. Remember, Satan’s power comes
from his power to bluff.
Phrase 2: We demolish arguments
and every pretension” (v.5). The Greek
word for arguments is logismos meaning ‘a
reckoning, calculation, consideration, reflection.
In the Classical Greek writers, (logismos
was) used of the consideration and refection
preceding and determining conduct.’
These arguments are our rationalizations for
the strongholds we continue to possess in
our lives. We maintain excuses for not surrendering
areas of our lives to the authority of Christ.
You’ve had them. I’ve had them.
Never forget that Satan persists where a stronghold
exists. He supplies an endless list of rationalizations
for the things we do and refuse to do. The
other primary word in this phrase: pretension.
The Greek word hupsoma means ‘something
made high, elevated, a high place…figuratively
of a proud adversary, a lofty tower or fortress
built up proudly by the enemy. Pride.’
I believe we can draw three conclusions about
strongholds based on this definition:
*Every stronghold is related to something
we have exalted to a higher position than God
in our lives
*Every stronghold pretends to bring something
we feel we must have: aid, comfort, the relief
of stress, or protection
*Every stronghold in the life of a believer
is a tremendous source of pride for the enemy.
Let that make you made and determine to stop
giving him satisfaction.
Phrase 3: “that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God”
(v 5). The Greek word for the phrase sets
itself up to epairo meaning ‘to hoist
up as a sail…to lift up the eyes, meaning
to look upon.’ Satan’s goal is
to be worshiped. This is what he’s always
wanted. If Satan can’t get people to
worship him directly, he accomplishes his
goal by tempting people to worship something
or someone other than God.
God created us to worship. We all worship
something. According to the definition of
epairo, the focus of our worship can be determined
by the gaze of our eyes – what or who
is the object of our primary focus. Don’t
miss this: whatever we worship, we will also
obey. Look at the first part of the definition:
‘to hoist up as a sail.” Sails
serve both to propel and to determine the
direction of the vessel. Strongholds affect
behaviors!
Phrase 4: “we take
captive every thought” (v.5). The phrase
we take captive comes from the Greek word
aichmalotizo, meaning ‘a prisoner, captive,
to lead captive….By implication, to
subdue, bring into subjection.” The
verb tense in this phrase implies a REPEATED
AND CONTINUOUS ACTION. We are all looking
for a quick fix, but God is after lasting
change – lifestyle Christianity.
Phrase 5: “to make
it obedient to Christ (v.5). God wants us
to be victors. We don’t become victors
by conquering the enemy. We become victors
through surrender to Christ. We don’t
become victors by our independence from the
enemy. We become victors by our dependence
on God. Victorious lives flow from victorious
thoughts. Thinking victorious thoughts come
from setting our focus on a victorious God.”
I believe that 2 Corinthians 10:5 is a powerful
scripture that can help all of us find victory
over the strongholds in our lives. I would
encourage you to read an article on the “articles”
section that is called “What is the
Core?” It addresses the issues of “strongholds”
and how they impact behavior and identity.
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