Today’s Reading:
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
“Now, I Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ – though I realise you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come, I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapon, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”
Paul must have been dealing with the Corinthians with meekness and gentleness (v. 1) that they took these as a sign of weakness. This made a few of the Corinthians that were his opponents to question his authority and they accused him of being a coward while face to face with them but, bold in his writing when far away from them. They thought this behaviour was moved by human consideration whereas it is the people that were worldly minded. He realised the church in Corinth was in a big danger of deviating from the Gospel, as many believers in the world have today. Paul admitted that he was truly human, but he does not live by human principles. His weapons of warfare are not humanly built, but divine power in God’s eyes and are wielded only for God (v. 4). With the mighty power of God as weapon, the apostles were able to demolish strongholds (Isa 2:11-18), which are arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. With the power of God, they were able also to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (v. 5).
As believers, and ministers of God, we should not engage in any warfare with our limited human reasoning. God’s mighty weapons are available to us as we war against the strongman (Luke 11:21), Satan and demolish his strongholds which have been built in our minds and making every thought obedient to Christ. He is the one that is drawing our minds away from the knowledge of God. He is blocking people from listening to the word of God. We are to pull down the strongholds that have been formed in the minds of people, thereby bringing every thought obedient to Christ our Saviour.
Our victory in Christ is sure when we always put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:13-18), and use His mighty, powerful, and effective weapons He has provided which are:
The Holy Spirit – (Acts1:8)
Blood of Jesus - (Rev. 12:11)
The Name of Jesus -
Putting on righteousness as a breastplate;
Putting on shoes in readiness to proclaim the Gospel of peace;
Taking a shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:14)
Putting on the helmet of our salvation
Taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
Praying all manner of prayer with our requests, and pray in the spirit on all occasions
With all these in mind, we are to stay alert and keep on praying for all believers, especially those on the mission field, that whenever we open our mouth, words may be given to us to fearlessly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel as ambassadors of Christ (2Cor. 5:20; 7:15). Our authority in Christ Jesus builds them up and gives us the boldness to do exploits for the kingdom of God. As workers in the vineyard of God, every time we preach or teach the word of God, our objective/goal is to be committed in using the mighty weapons God have been made available to us to reach out to the minds of people, to pull down strongholds of human reasoning, false human arguments, and every proud obstacle that is keeping the people from knowing God.
In all locations there are strongholds and strange altars hindering people from accepting the truth of the Gospel. These will help us to appreciate the value of thinking the thoughts of God and applying His truths in our daily living. Unless the words of God transform our thinking, we will continuously harbour worldly thoughts in our minds.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank for the blood that was shed for us on the Cross at Calvary, in Jesus’ name.
We pull down and smash against the Rock of our Salvation, every stronghold of wickedness destroying lives, properties, and nations, in Jesus’ name
Father, bring every power asking ‘where is my God to their knees before Christ, in Jesus’ name.
Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, walk through the length and breadth of Christian homes facing challenges, in Jesus’ name.
God of Heavens Armies, You have the last say over all Your creation, bring down Your judgement of fire over nations that do not fear You as the God of all flesh, especially our nation, and by the power in the blood of Jesus, bring down the proud, the mighty and the terrible from their height, in Jesus’ name.
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