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Back again today in our discussion regarding our weaknesses and infirmaries and how God can use these things to bring glory to Himself. Yesterday, we looked at how Paul boasted about his weaknesses and finally accepted his "thorn in the flesh" that kept him dependent upon the Lord. Today, I'd like to discuss the other option available to us when we consider our weaknesses and infirmities in this life. Perhaps these things are NOT to be embraced, but rather thrown off in order to experience full and abundant life in Christ (John 10:10). Perhaps they are not "thorns," but rather "strongholds."
Let's continue to examine the writings of the apostle Paul, backing up a few chapters before his discussion of his "thorn in the flesh." He states in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: "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..."
Now, let's consider what a stronghold is and what it does in our lives. Paul did a masterful job of explaining it in verse 5 above, but let me quote a concise summary of this verse by Bible teacher Beth Moore:
"Basically, a stronghold is any argument or pretension that 'sets itself up against the knowledge of God.' The wording in the King James Version draws a clearer image of a stronghold: 'every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.' A stronghold is anything that exalts itself in our minds, "pretending" to be bigger or more powerful than God. It steals much of our focus and causes us to feel overpowered, controlled, mastered. Whether the stronghold is an addiction, unforgiveness towards a person who has hurt us, or despair over a loss, it is something that consumes so much of our emotional and mental energy that abundant life is strangled--our callings remain largely unfulfilled and our believing lives are virtually ineffective. Needless to say, these are the enemy's precise goals." --excerpt from Praying God's Word
Based on the passage from 2 Corinthians above, strongholds are broken only ONE way: they have to be destroyed. How? By using spiritual weapons, such as the Word of God and prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Oftentimes, this battle wages on the battlefield of our minds. The goal of our warfare (as stated in verse 5) is to steal back our thought life and take it captive to Christ! How is this done? By choosing, through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, to think Christ's thoughts by renewing our mind through the power of God's Word (Romans 12:2). I would also submit to you that prayer and fasting are mighty weapons in our arsenal against the evil one as children of God (Mark 9:29)!
So, I will leave this open for us to consider on an individual basis, dear friend. Are the weaknesses and shortcomings in our lives "thorns in our flesh" to help us cling closer to the Lord and boast in His all-sufficient grace and strength? Or are they "strongholds" to be demolished, serving only to steal our joy and rob us of the abundant life promised in Christ? I would encourage us as believers to prayerfully consider both of these options before the Lord, as we deal with each of our weaknesses in this life!
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