Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises- Day 88- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5- Demolish Strongholds- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises- Day 88- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5- Demolish Strongholds- Growing As Disciples

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 10:4-5 (NIV)

Your Weapons

Be very careful about what you allow yourself to think. Why is that? There is a battle going on. What kind of battle is going on and where is this battle being fought? This battle that I am referring to is being fought over your heart and mind. How will I fight and wage war in this battle? What forces am I up against? What weapons can I use in this battle? Those are very good questions. You are up against the forces of evil that are in the world. Your heart and mind are constantly under bombardment from evil thoughts, values and practices that are in the world. It is the world’s plan to try to conform you to its pattern. It is the world’s plan to enslave you to all its sinful desires and set up strongholds in your life. You must stand against this evil that seeks to fight against you. But, you will not be able to fight this battle against evil with your own power and strength. Why not? You must rely on me and use weapons that I have given to you.

I’m not even sure where to begin to stand to fight against evil in this battle. I’m not sure of what you are talking about when you say that I have weapons to fight against evil and tear down strongholds. What’s a stronghold? What are my weapons that I can use in this fight? Again, you have asked very good questions. First, you must stand with me and believe that you really are in a war and are now engaged in a battle. I have no doubt about that. You must also begin to recognize and take captive every evil thought and make them obedient to me. How do I do that? Let’s talk about my word. My word is a weapon. My word is a sword that the Holy Spirit will use to fight in you, with you and for you. Evil thoughts that are not from me set up strongholds that oppose me. These strongholds can be in the world. These strongholds can be in your life. Can you give me an example? Yes, I can. Pride is an evil thought that sets up strongholds. Pride might tell you that you don’t need me and that you can rely on yourself. This kind of pride sets up the stronghold of independence and leads people away from me. Have you ever recognized the stronghold of pride and independence in the world or in your own life? Yes, I have. This stronghold needs to be torn down so that you will humbly come to know and rely on me. Yes, it does. Will you ask me to tear down the stronghold of pride in your life? Yes, I will. When you do that you will be using two more weapons at your disposal. Can you tell me what those weapons are? I think so. I will be using the weapons of prayer and faith. I will be praying in faith as I ask you to tear down a stronghold in my life. Yes, you will. How many weapons have we talked about so far? We have talked about your word, the Holy Spirit, prayer and faith. That’s right. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead. Why do you have faith that I will fight with you against evil in the world? I know that you love me. You are with me to help me. The love you have for me has caused me to place all my faith and hope and love in you. You have mentioned two more weapons. My love and hope in you are weapons? Yes, they are, you will fight with all your heart and mind and soul because of the love and hope you have in me. Yes, I will.

Lord, thank you for giving me weapons to fight evil in the world. Help me to tear down strongholds of evil both in my life and in the world. Help me to humbly take every thought of mine captive and make them obedient to you. Amen

Key Question… What are some examples of evil strongholds that need to be torn down and demolished?

Living It Out… Use the weapons you have been given to tear down evil strongholds as you make your thoughts obedient to Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will make you able to tear down evil strongholds that are in opposition to Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you tear down evil strongholds as you take all your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.

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

Promises – Day 88 – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – Demolish 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                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Power To Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Power To Demolish Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – Power To Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

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 10:4-5 (NIV)

Battleground

That’s where my battles will most often be fought. What battles? Where will your battles be fought? The spiritual battles I will fight in life will often be fought in my mind. You could even call my mind a battleground. Yes, that is true. There will always be external components to the spiritual battles I will face in life. But what I allow my mind to think about spiritual battles and evil strongholds will be critically important. You are on the right track. Tell me what you have on your mind. Let me start by describing different kinds of strongholds. That’s a good place to start. I thought so. There are many different types of strongholds that might take my heart and mind and life captive. Doubt and fear are powerful strongholds. Pride and arrogance are others. Lust and materialism are as well. The list of possible strongholds is almost endless…anger and bitterness, dishonesty and gossip, unforgiveness and resentment, selfishness and self-centeredness, greed and gluttony…it is hard to know where to stop. With each spiritual battle and stronghold a question is asked. What question is asked? What will I allow my mind to think? Will I allow my heart and mind to think doubt filled, fearful thoughts or angry and bitter thoughts or unforgiving and resentful thoughts? The heart of the question is, “Will I allow myself to think earthly and worldly and evil thoughts or will I think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you?” Those are very good questions to ask yourself.

The answer is obvious, I want to think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you. That is a good answer. How will you think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to me? I know me, I can’t just turn off my thoughts. There is no off button. But I do know you and I do know your word. I know that your word can and will push earthly and worldly and evil thoughts out of my mind. Your world will cleanse my heart and transform my mind. Your word will give me new thoughts to think. Your word will demolish strongholds and help me to take every thought captive to you. Your word will fight in me, with me, for me and through me like a sword to give me victory over the spiritual battles and powerful strongholds I will face in life. Yes, my word will fight for you. Yes, my word will deliver you. Yes, my word will lead you in victory. Take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I will face spiritual battles. I know spiritual forces of evil will attempt to set up strongholds in my life to hinder me from fully knowing and loving and following and serving you. Help me to demolish every stronghold with weapons you have given me. Amen

Key Question… When have you allowed a specific promise from God’s word to demolish a stronghold in your life?

Living It Out… Allow God to help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to demolish a stronghold in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the weapons God has given you to demolish strongholds in your life.

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

Day 218 – Becoming Like Christ – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – Power To  Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship 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                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Take Every Thought Captive

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Take Every Thought Captive - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – Take Every Thought Captive – Growing As Disciples

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 10:4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts Have Power

Your thoughts have power. Your entire life will be guided by the thoughts you allow yourself to think. There is nothing you have done, are doing or will do that you haven’t thought about first. You will become who you are based on the thoughts of your mind. It is vitally important that you think very carefully about what you allow yourself to think. You must take control of what you allow yourself to think. That sounds very difficult, maybe even impossible. How can I ever take control of my thoughts? I can’t simply tell myself that I am no longer going to think certain thoughts anymore. I’ve tried that. In my effort to stop thinking certain thoughts I have only thought about them more. My efforts have left me worse off. You can control what you think. This may seem impossible to you. With me all things are possible. Would you like my help? Yes, I want your help.

Your mind is like a battleground. Every day your mind is being bombarded with principles, patterns, and practices that come from the world. The world is seeking to conform you into its image. If you do nothing at all your heart and mind and life will be entirely conformed to the world. You will be ensnared in its evil. You will think worldly thoughts. You will live a worldly life. The world and all that is in it is under the power and control of the devil and all his evil. The world is filled with his evil strongholds, false arguments and proud pretensions. You will want no part of any of these. No, I do not. I want to think your thoughts. I want to walk in your ways. That is very good.

You have powerful weapons at your disposal.  You have a powerful tool that will help you to think my thoughts and walk in my ways. My word is that powerful tool. If you let my word dwell in you richly your heart will be changed. If you meditate on my word day and night your mind will be transformed. My word will push worldly thoughts out of your heart and mind and life. As you feast on my word you will be changed. My Holy Spirit will take my word and fight in you, with you and for you as you take a stand against evil in the world. My word will tear down evil strongholds, false arguments and proud pretensions that have had power over your life. If you remain in my word you will be able to live the life that I have called you to live. You will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Is this what you want? Yes Lord, I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I will let your word dwell in me richly. I will meditate on your word day and night.  I will feast on your word. I will let your word remain in me. Then you will be able to take every one of your thoughts and make them captive to me. My thoughts will become your thoughts. My will, will become your will. My ways will become your ways. That is exactly what I want.

Lord, thank you for giving me powerful weapons that set me free to live my life for you. Demolish any arguments, pretensions, and strongholds that attempt to set themselves up over my life. Help me take every one of my thoughts captive to you. Amen

Key Question…  What battles have you fought with strongholds of ungodly thinking in your own mind?

Living It Out…  Allow yourself to be armed with divine weapons provided by God so you can demolish strongholds of evil.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s power will allow you to demolish arguments, pretensions and strongholds of evil over your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has broken up strongholds of evil over your life.

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

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

The Mind – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – Take Every Thought Captive – 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                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

We Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - We Demolish Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

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 10:4-5 (NIV)

Battleground

That’s where my battles will most often be fought. What battles? Where will your battles be fought? The spiritual battles I will fight in life will often be fought in my mind. You could even call my mind a battleground. Yes, that is true. There will always be external components to the spiritual battles I will face in life. But what I allow my mind to think about spiritual battles and evil strongholds will be critically important. You are on the right track. Tell me what you have on your mind. Let me start by describing different kinds of strongholds. That’s a good place to start. I thought so. There are many different types of strongholds that might take my heart and mind and life captive. Doubt and fear are powerful strongholds. Pride and arrogance are others. Lust and materialism are as well. The list of possible strongholds is almost endless…anger and bitterness, dishonesty and gossip, unforgiveness and resentment, selfishness and self-centeredness, greed and gluttony…it is hard to know where to stop. With each spiritual battle and stronghold a question is asked. What question is asked? What will I allow my mind to think? Will I allow my heart and mind to think doubt filled, fearful thoughts or angry and bitter thoughts or unforgiving and resentful thoughts? The heart of the question is, “Will I allow myself to think earthly and worldly and evil thoughts or will I think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you?” Those are very good questions to ask yourself.

The answer is obvious, I want to think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you. That is a good answer. How will you think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to me? I know me, I can’t just turn off my thoughts. There is no off button. But I do know you and I do know your word. I know that your word can and will push earthly and worldly and evil thoughts out of my mind. Your world will cleanse my heart and transform my mind. Your word will give me new thoughts to think. Your word will demolish strongholds and help me to take every thought captive to you. Your word will fight in me, with me, for me and through me like a sword to give me victory over the spiritual battles and powerful strongholds I will face in life. Yes, my word will fight for you. Yes, my word will deliver you. Yes, my word will lead you in victory. Take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I will face spiritual battles. I know spiritual forces of evil will attempt to set up strongholds in my life to hinder me from fully knowing and loving and following and serving you. Help me to demolish every stronghold with weapons you have given me. Amen

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

Day 218 – Becoming Like Christ – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship 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                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com