This will help us live free from defeat, despondency and discouraged.
YOUR WEAKNESS MAY BE YOUR STRONGHOLD
It’s not what happens to you that matters, it’s what happens in you that matters.
by Pastor George Lehman
2 Corinthians 10:3- 6 (Amp) – 3For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, 6being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.
John 6:63 (NIV) – The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you- they are full of the Spirit and life.
In truth, many times we don’t have weaknesses.
What we really have is a stronghold.
What is a stronghold (vesting)? The word used in the Greek is Ochuromǎ.
Meaning: – To strengthen through the idea of holding safely: A Castle
We all know that castles don’t just appear.
They are built, they are developed – Brick by Brick / One layer at a time / One bad choice at a time.
For as long as you go through life knowing something is a stronghold in your life and you call it your weakness.
(You will never do anything about it.) You will even quote that scripture:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
The problem is as we grow up – Throughout our lives – in our Spiritual life we are taught that: –
We are only human (I’m only flesh and blood)
ii) We all have some weaknesses.
iii) We all have short comings.
iv) We all have these areas in our lives, which is a weakness.
When in truth many times it’s not a weakness, it’s a stronghold.
As long as you think and nurse it as your weakness – You will never do anything about, and you won’t break free from it. It will hold you in bondage.
There’s a big difference between an inability (onvermoë) and weakness (swakheid)
Inability: – is, even if you prayed and fasted about it, you will not be able to do anything about it.
i) I will never be able to sing like Elvis – even if I wanted to.
ii) I will never win the gold medal at Comrades Marathon.
I will never win the GP Motorcycles race – Why? Not because it’s a weakness, no it’s an inability.
Weakness: -on the other hand is areas in our lives where we have personality traits, or habits or certain believe systems, hang-ups, attitudes.
The truth is many times it’s not a weakness but a stronghold – which we can overcome.
It’s not an inability (onvermoë) that’s causing us trouble on our journey to the promised land, that’s preventing you from fulfilling your destiny; plan and purpose that God has for your life.
It’s a stronghold – something you need to break free from
Strongholds can mess up your health; future; money; relationships – It can be
the very source of rebellion in your life.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) – Casting down imaginations (reasoning’s) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Paul shows us here how-to pull-down strongholds.
Strongholds are built by 3 components: –
Satan brings a suggestion a thought (Remember the bible calls him a liar, deceiver, destroyer, tempter)
It then becomes a contradiction if not dealt with at this point.
Then comes what the bible calls an imagination / reasoning which becomes your
Here’s a wonderful example –
Genesis 3:1-6 (NIV) – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2The woman said to the serpent. “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4”You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5”For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Note verse 1 – Satan only makes a suggestion – Just a thought. (Did God really say?)
What should Eve have done right there? She should have brought the thought into captivity – “Satan, God said it, and that does it”.
We should have the USA Military attitude, which says “it’s not for me to ask who or why, it’s just for me to do or die.”
Satan won’t tell you to forgive that person for what they’re done. He will
suggest that was nasty, unfair, ugly, unfriendly, how can you forgive something like that. Just a suggestion –
No one gets up one morning and say’s – “I’m going to be a drug addict or an alcoholic, or a pedophile, or an adulterer or offended.
No matter what it is: – Fear, doubt, depression – It all starts with a suggestion a thought.
Verse 4: – Satan said: – “You shall not surely die”. Here comes the contradiction. –
Satan say’s if you forgive that person, they won’t feel the pain I’ve been through, I will appear to be a weakling.
You go against the truth – Contradiction – tells you something that’s wrong is not really wrong.
Verse 6 say’s “when she saw that the fruit was good”. It could have been bitter as lemons but now it looked good. She ends up with an imagination /reasoning.
Justify it (regverdig) It becomes a stronghold.
None of us ever plan to allow a suggestion a thought to lead to a stronghold –
The biggest problem in the church is when you have a stronghold.
i) You think I will just pray and cast it out
ii) The truth is all the praying in the world will not help you until you decide to change your thoughts and take them captive to be obedient to Jesus Christ.
iii) Otherwise, its empty hands, on empty heads.
The only way to tear down strongholds.
Question:- How do you tear down a building?
Brick by brick right to the foundation.
All the way to the foundation to the suggestion / thoughts.
Admit you have a stronghold not a weakness – then be willing to do something about it.
You cannot change unless you recognise the fact that you need to change.
Otherwise, all the help you get is just a waist of time.
We need to change – get new mindsets. New thoughts.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Living sacrifices – crawl off altars because they are alive.
NB – This world is aggressive towards us and is trying to conform us to what it wants us to be – (It all comes with a thought, a suggestion)
Notice Romans 12:2 – Do not!!! “STOP” put an end to this process –
It’s a conscious (bewustelike) decision you make (we have the mind of Christ
I Corinthians 2:16)
You can put your mind on what ever you want to put it on.
A thought may come “But you can choose not to put your mind on what the world system is throwing at you.
The question is: – How do you get new thoughts? It’s very simple – the same
way you got the old thoughts.
By what you look at!
By what you listen to!
By what you read!
By the environment (omgewing) you’re in.
By the people or things, you associate with.
If you want to change, you have to change your information source.
Read the word of God (get into the word)
Get into godly uplifting books
Listen to Gospel music (Praise and worship)
Don’t miss church or home cells or online sermons
Fill your thoughts with good things – Philippians 4:8
You can build a “stronghold” a castle of good thoughts and attitude into your life.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
It’s only the Word of God that can go deep into our hearts to clean and restore our thoughts or strongholds.
Move out of your Stronghold and move into Gods Stronghold.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God,
my stronghold[a] in whom I take refuge, my shield, the glory[b]
of my salvation, and my high tower.”
