But, we are not alone in this battle. There would be no hope if we were fighting in the flesh. Apostle Paul warned us of strongholds in this struggle for spiritual success. This area of the believer’s walk is of great importance. Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” (II Corinthians 10:3-4). This is exciting. How many battles have we lost because we forgot this basic truth of spiritual victory? A saint of God that cries out day and night, travailing only in the power of the Spirit, will gain the triumph over every foe.

Before we proceed further with this context, let’s view what Paul said by the Spirit to the Ephesus church, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Evil spirits on different levels of authority are everywhere. Satan is the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4). He is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). Our struggle is not with people but the power behind the people. Pope Benedict would have no power to destroy truth if there were not powers of darkness and deception behind his ecclesiastical position. The truth of God’s promise is to those that labor in the Spirit to defend the Word of God and to pull down the “strongholds of error.”

All men are equal in God’s sight and there are no powers that can destroy the Word of God or the saints of God who are always hid in God’s armor of protection. Never allow yourself to attack people. Do not judge or discern on the basis of flesh but look at all things through the wisdom by the Spirit. That wisdom will always be peaceable and gentle. We all must yearn for this beautiful place of God’s love. This “mighty through God” promise is only given to the Godly saints who have crucified their flesh and submitted to a Spirit-led life. Listen as he continues to describe this warfare of the kingdom. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (II Corinthians 10:5).

“Strongholds” are ideas, doctrines of error, demon-powered representatives of Satan, and any destructive plans in Satan’s arsenal. It may be on a personal level against a church or a larger group of individuals. Satan can only succeed when those he fights fail to use God’s plan for victory.

The thought life of the human family is either a place of incredible victory or a place of utter defeat. The Scripture above plainly states that the imagination of man is the battleground. False doctrines always start in somebody’s head, proceed to take their heart, and then spread to others. We can fight with someone who thinks according to a stronghold in their mind until all is lost, or we can fall on our knees and cry out to God. The same spirit of error and evil with which we are struggling was the destruction of the world in Noah’s day. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Matthew 24:37).

This is the last struggle of the kingdom of His church. We can expect anything that the human mind can dream. Just today, I read scientific data that suggests we are on the verge of cloning human beings that are super humans. In Noah’s day, they were called Nepthilims. Jesus said there would be “wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke” (Acts 2:19b).

Every saint of God must learn warfare that is “mighty through God.” The battle for your spiritual life will become intense beyond description. The Bible must become your single roadmap and great intent praying must become your weapon. Quit fighting in the flesh, arguing, debating, and dreaming up new doctrines. Simple truth is powerful. Live in it, live by it, and learn to rest in the Lord. Do not think I have mastered this devotion. This is probably for me more than all of you.