Pulling Down Strongholds

Cyndee Pillow

Below, I have enclosed a few statements taken from the writings of R. C. Stedman on titled Pulling Down Strongholds. My comments are in the bold black.

For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. {2 Cor 10:3-4 RSV

"we have divine power to destroy strongholds." This is the only place in the New Testament that this word in Greek occurs, but it is an easy word to understand because it is made up of root words which literally mean "a place of strength," a place which is essentially and inherently strong. That is, it is a place where evil is entrenched, where it is fortified, protected behind strong defenses. It is not out in the open easily exposed and overthrown, but it is encastled, well defended, a fortress with walls and moats and turrets, difficult to attack.

I believe that there are these types of strongholds in some of us trying to hide behind a wall or barrier.  We need to understand that less the Lord, in HIS time, shine light on these areas, they remain hidden.  Some of these things lay seemingly dormant for years in people. Mr. Stedman goes on to say:

We saw in our last study that these weapons are revealed to us in various Scriptures.

They are essentially four:

First, there is truth, i.e., the revelation of reality, the exposure of things as they really are.God's light shines inside of us and reveals something hidden to expose it so we can come to a place of deliverance from a stronghold. Often one used in aiding a person in being set free will see the stronghold also. In Romans 13:12 this is called "the weapon of light." Turning on the light is a marvelous weapon for helping to dispel the darkness of these areas where entrenched evil is rampant, in our day or any other day.

Truth is the first of the weapons.

Then love is linked with truth. It is essential that we walk in love and truth and the finished work of Christ when we face the strongholds.  Knowing the Love of Christ which passes our understanding and choosing to grasp the word of truth in us and declaring our liberty from bondage by His saving grace.  Christ the living word will set us free.  "He has come to SET the CAPTIVE FREE." Everywhere in Scripture you find these two great forces linked together, truth and love. Paul writes to the Ephesians and exhorts them to "speak the truth in love" {Eph 4:15}, and in the second letter of John we read,

Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love. {2 Jn 1:3 RSV} We MUST believe this.

This is just a few things to get you to see how God deals with us as individuals.  Often when we see something in us that is uncomfortable, the enemy tries to use condemnation and discouragement.   Then we will fortify the wall with those things.  We MUST see that this is a trick to keep us in bondage.

We should rather rejoice that the Lord has chosen to show us this hidden part and submit to His leading.  This is a sure sign that it is TIME to be set free.  So, don't give up but rejoice and know that as this day marks LIBERTY and FREEDOM FOR ALL, you are also being set at LIBERTY by Your Lord.

God bless you,

Cyndee P.