Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 10 - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - Demolish Strongholds- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 10 – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Demolish Strongholds- Growing As Disciples

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

Strongholds

This world would like nothing better than to take captive hearts and minds. This world is filled full of strongholds of evil that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. I need to be on guard against strongholds of evil. I must not let my heart and mind be taken captive by the thoughts and values and principles of this world. What are some examples of strongholds of evil? What types of thoughts and values and principles are taking hearts and minds captive? What specifically do you need to be on guard against? First, of all I need to be on guard against any thought or idea or value or principle that sets itself up against you. Strongholds of evil do just that. Strongholds of evil will prevent many from coming to know and love and follow and serve you. Strongholds of evil can even hinder your followers from coming to live fully in the freedom you have secured for them. Nothing will be more depressing or discouraging to one of your followers than to be held captive by a stronghold of evil. Nothing will be more defeating to one of your followers than to allow themselves to be made unproductive or unfruitful, because they are ensnared in a stronghold of evil. Would you like me to name some strongholds of evil? Yes, I would. Strongholds of evil come in a wide variety of types. Fear and doubt, greed and lust can and often are strongholds of evil. Pride and envy and anger can and often are very powerful strongholds of evil. Any one of these can take a heart and mind captive. That’s true.

Where is the battle fought against strongholds of evil? The battle ground is in the heart and mind. What are the weapons that are used in the battle against stronghold of evil? Your word and the power of your Holy Spirit fights against strongholds of evil. How so? Your word changes hearts and transforms minds. Your word is continually changing my heart and transforming my mind. Your word has pushed worldly thoughts out of my heart and mind. Your word has strengthened my heart and mind so that I can take every thought and make it captive to you. That is true. That is right. That is good. But I am not alone in this fight. No, you are not. Your Holy Spirit takes your word and uses it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me. Your word and the power of your Holy Spirit tears down strongholds, they have done so in my life, that is for sure, without a doubt. So, I will continue to allow your word and the power of the Holy Spirit to tear down strongholds in my life and in the lives of others. That will be very good.

Lord, I don’t want anything to be a stronghold that has control over any portion of my life. I want to live in all the freedom you have secured for me. I will allow your word and the power of the Holy Spirit to take my thoughts and make them obedient to you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord broken down a stronghold that once had control over a portion of your life?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit to break down any stronghold that has control in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will break down any stronghold that has control over a portion of your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has broken down a stronghold over your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to help you to take every though captive and make it obedient to Christ.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 10 – 2 Corinthians 10-3-5 – Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 138 - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 138 – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)

Take Every Thought Captive

How will you do that? How will I do what? How will you take every thought captive and make it obedient to me? That is a very good question. I will tell you one thing. What’s that? I will not be able to take every thought captive and make it obedient to you with solely my own strength. I will need your help. You will have my help, as you rely on me. I did notice a word you used. What word? You used the word “solely.” Do you have some key roles in taking your thoughts captive to me? Yes, I do have key roles in taking my thoughts captive and making them obedient to you. Tell me, what are your roles? I must not allow my mind to feed on fleshly and worldly thoughts. There are people, places and things that are not helpful and are in fact very damaging to my desire to take every thought captive and make them obedient to you. So, I will separate myself from whatever would feed fleshly and worldly thoughts in me. That is a very good starting point. What else? I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I will meditate on your word. I will memorize your word. I will study your word. I will pray your word. I will sing your word. I will do whatever will help me take a firm grip of your word so that it takes a firm grip on me. Most importantly, I will put your word into practice as I love and follow and serve you. That will be very good. What else will you do to take every captive and make them obedient to me? I will flee fleshly and worldly thoughts. I will leave them behind as I run to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. As I am in your presence, as I remain in you, you will help me to think your thoughts, speak your words, and take your actions. You will make me able to destroy strongholds in my life, as you help me to take every thought captive and make them obedient to you. Yes, I will, you can be sure of that. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will not allow fleshly and worldly thoughts to be fed and grow in me. I will separate myself from them. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. Help me to take my thoughts and make them captive to you. Destroy strongholds in me. Lead me in victory. Amen

Key Question…  How is allowing God’s word to dwell in you helping you to take every thought captive and obedient to Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to help you to take very thought captive and make them obedient to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to take every thought captive and make them obedient to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are taking your thoughts captive and obedient to Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you destroy strongholds by taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 138 – 2 Corinthians 10-3-5 – Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - Demolish Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

Take Captive

What am I supposed to take captive? I want you to take very one of your thoughts and make it captive to me. I’m not even sure what that means. Can you explain that to me? Yes, I can and yes, I will. You live in the world. I get that. The world is constantly bombarding you with all its thoughts and opinions and values, is it not? That is for certain. Is every thought that the world presents to you helpful and healthy? Is every thought that comes from the world pleasing to me? Are there worldly thoughts, opinions and values that can enslave you? Enslave me, how? Can worrisome thoughts enslave you to fear? Can materialistic thoughts enslave you to greed? Can sexual thoughts enslave you to lust? Can discouraging thoughts enslave you to depression? Can doubtful thoughts enslave you to unbelief? Can comparative thoughts enslave you to envy? I have never thought of my thoughts quite like that before.

It is time for you to change your thinking about your thoughts. How so? You are not required to think about every thought that comes into your mind. You can control what you allow yourself to think. How do you want me to control my thoughts? I want you to take every one of your thoughts and make them captive and obedient to me. That sounds like a difficult and maybe even an impossible task. Taking your thoughts captive and making them obedient to me will not come without battles. But, it will not be impossible.

How do I begin? Where do I start? Where are my words? How can you know my thoughts? I can meet with you in your word. I will find your thoughts and words in your word. Yes, you will. What will happen to you as you meditate and memorize my word? I will begin to know your thoughts and words. I will come to know what is good and pleasing and acceptable to you. Yes, you will. How will your heart change and mind be transformed and your life protected as you allow my word to dwell in you richly? I will begin to think your thoughts and speak your words. Old and worldly thoughts will be pushed out of my heart and mind and life as I allow your world to dwell in me richly. Yes, that is true. I will be set free to live the life that you are calling me to live as your word begins to dwell richly in me. Yes, you will. Will you begin to take every one of your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, even though I live in this world, I will not wage war as this world does. I will take every thought and make it obedient to you. Give me your divine power to tear down and demolish strongholds and every argument that tries to set itself up against you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Spiritual Warfare – 2 Corinthians 10-3-5 – Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com