THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS

II Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 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;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Intro: Dejected Christians result in run-down churches, dwindling numbers, an aura of defeatism, and a lack of souls saved. It is often reflected in our speech; “It’s just the age we live in and we can’t do anything about it” HOGWASH!
“ I know my children are being brain-washed at school, but - - - - - - - - -
The lost might not be able to do anything about it, but OUR weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!
I Sam 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

I. Some general Principles
A. God’s people can do ANYTHING He has ordered!
I Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God never led Israel to a river they couldn’t cross, nor a battle they couldn’t win. “Figuring the odds” is man’s invention. With God, everything is a ‘sure’ thing!

B. The true believer has a great promise
Jno. 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Question: Can one have faith without being faithful?
Question: How much can one willingly disobey and still be counted faithful?
Many saved people need to pray , “Lord, help thou my unbelief” (Mark 9:24) Victorious lives and churches might result!

C. We DO have a powerful enemy
Eph. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Only a fool would tackle him alone, but. . . . .
I Jno 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
When we resist , steadfast IN THE FAITH (I Pet 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Jude 1:Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.) we can expect the results promised in:

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

II The devil has some specific strongholds. (Some would like to get rid of the devil, but leave his strongholds intact, while others try to overcome the strongholds without antagonizing the devil)
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

A. Man’s depraved nature is the devil’s first line of defense and offense.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

1. In the lost, WE can pull it down with the gospel, prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2. In the saved, it must be combatted with Truth, Prayer, and the help of the Holy Spirit.
I Jno 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

B. Because of our depraved nature, he sometimes is able to establish a stronghold INSIDE one of the Lord’s Church. It can and must be pulled down with the word of God.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

C. He has established strongholds in our public schools.
We DO NOT have to put up with it! Our children need to be prepared for life, but not at the expense of being unprepared for eternity!
You will have to expect to be called ‘narrow-minded’, foolish and ignorant by those who are narrow-minded, foolish and ignorant of divine truths. ( It might cost you some cash too!) Are you ready?

D. He has strongholds in government
The first church turned cities upside down , and made the throne of Caesar to tremble . They did NOT do it by marching around advocating the overthrow of either government or social order, but simply by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (The gospel confined to the church house will never shake city-hall)

II Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
II Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

E. The devil has personal strongholds in our lives:
Loose tongues, an unclean habit, hatred toward another, a rebellious heart toward some truth, a doubtful nature. These strongholds can be pulled down only when we are completely crucified with Christ.

III Will you now claim victory through Jesus Christ?
Every act of willful disobedience, rebellion, rejection, etc, is another stone added to the devil’s stronghold.
You cannot tear it down one stone at a time; it must be total destruction by complete repentance, and commitment!

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.