Something's Got a Hold on Me - Sermon Outlines. Org



“Something Has a Hold on Me!”

II Corinthians 10:3-6

Pastor Steve N. Wagers

April 29. 2007

Sermon Outline

1. How Strongholds are Defined!

A) Specifically

B) Spiritually

2. How Strongholds are Determined!

A) An Internal Barrier

B) An Infernal Battle

3. How Strongholds are Destroyed!

A) Our Enemy must be Recognized

B) Our Equipment must be Utilized

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda describes his battle with bad habits:

I took a pack of cigarettes from my pocket, stared at it and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” The answer was me. I stopped smoking. Then I took a vodka martini and said to it, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” Again the answer was me. I quit drinking. Then I went on a diet. I looked at a big plate of linguine with clam sauce and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” And a little clam looked up at me and answered, “I am.” I can’t beat linguine.

Years ago when the western U. S. was being settled, roads were often just wagon tracks. These rough trails posed serious problems for those who journeyed on them. On one of these winding paths was posted a sign which read: “Avoid this rut or you’ll be in it for the next 25 miles!”

The same sign hangs over the hearts of many Christians who get in a rut, and either can’t ever get out of it, or stay it in most of their lives. They encounter the same old fight, and the same old foes, on the same old field everyday of their lives.

Someone has well said, "You can take off the "H" and you still have "abit! You can take off the "Ha" and you still have "bit." And, you can take off the "Hab" and you still have "it."

I believe that Lloyd Cory was right when he said, "The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken!"

Edward Sanford Martin, in his work, 'My Name is Legion,' said it best:

"Within my earthly temple there's a crowd;

There's one of us that's humble, and one of us that's proud.

There's one that's broken-hearted for his sins,

There's one that’s unrepentant sits and grins.

There's one that loves his neighbor as himself,

And one that cares for naught but fame and pelf.

From much corroding care I should be free,

If I could once determine which one is me!" [1]

The fact of the matter is that every one of us, whether big or small, must combat the hold that habits can have upon our life. I think of a sermon preached by C. H. Spurgeon entitled "Little Sins." In it he said:

"The best of men have always been afraid of little sins. Men with their eyes well opened by divine grace, have seen a whole hell slumbering in the smallest sin. Little sins lead to great ones. Nay, stand back! Little though the temptation, thy little temptation leads to something worse, and thy small sin makes way for something worse."

In the text before us, the Apostle Paul speaks of these habits in the life of the believer. However, he uses quite a graphic word to describe that which harms us, hurts us, and hinders us, harbors us, and holds us. He does that by referring to these matters as "strongholds” that get a hold on us as Christians.

First of all, let’s notice:

1. How Strongholds are DEFINED!

In order to understand that, which Paul is speaking of here, there must be a definition of strongholds. Almost like a skilled physician, Paul gives a clear-cut definition of that which harbors us as strongholds. They are defined:

A) SPECIFICALLY

The word "stronghold" is quite an interesting word. The word offers many, many depictions, and much imagery. The word 'stronghold' is a word that literally means "to harden, or to make hard."

The word is a military term, and it speaks of an entrenchment, or fortress. In fact, the word was used in the days of our text to describe a city that had built up their military, and established an 'iron wall' around them, protecting them from the threat of an enemy attack.

Thus, those who would look on would say of that city, 'There is a stronghold around it.' Strongholds must also be defined:

B) SPIRITUALLY

In order to properly understand these strongholds they must not only be defined specifically, but also spiritually.

Notice verse 4. We're reminded that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."

When Paul penned these words, he was not writing to a group of pagan infidels and idolaters; rather, his audience was a group of professing believers. He was writing to a congregation, and a fellowship of church people. His exhortation deals with those of us who are saved. He is speaking to the body of Christ.

Thus, when he spoke in regards to the matter of 'strongholds,' he was speaking of an area that encompasses every one of us as God's people. He was not only speaking of a specific matter, but of a spiritual matter.

Keep in mind that the word 'stronghold' means "to harden, or to make hard." And, it describes an entrenchment, or fortress. Thus, in the spiritual life, Paul is speaking of a hard place. He is speaking of an unbending place.

He is speaking of an entrenchment, or a fortress fought over. He is speaking of an area contended for. He is speaking of an entrenchment behind the lines.

He is speaking of any place in our life that seems to be an area of contention. It is any thing that poses a threat to our spiritual progress.

It is any person, place, predicament, or problem that hinders us, harbors us, hinders us, or holds us in its clutches, and impedes us from our full potential in Christ. I believe Jack Taylor described it well, when he said, "It is embedded in the mind, and coupled with the emotions and the will!"

You must understand that Satan CAN NEVER, EVER take any ground in your life that you do not give him. Satan is not greater than the Lord Jesus; thus, he has no authority in your life. He is a trickster. He is a trifler. And he is a trespasser.

If you are battling a stronghold in your life, it is because you have opened up the door of your heart, created a climate for the devil and allowed him to come right in and feel at home.

Let’s suppose that you had a piece of property with about 50 acres, and you sold me one acre in the middle of the property. You also gave me access across your property to get to my one acre.

Let’s suppose that I play loud music every night of the week, throw trash all over the place and do everything I can do to desecrate and depreciate your property. After a while you say to me, “I want you out of here. You have got to go.”

But, I say, “I don’t have to go, and you can’t make me go. You sold me this property, and I’ve got a legal right to it. If you don’t like it, that your problem because I’m not moving.”

Many believers have done the exact same thing with Satan. They have given him a place in their lives and they cannot get him to move out. Why? Because the place they have given Satan has become his stronghold.

You see when Paul surveyed the condition of the church of Corinth he saw that the problem was not only people, but people who had been victimized by the entrapments, entanglements, and enslavements of the enemy. These were people who had been entangled, and entrenched by strongholds.

Secondly, notice:

2. How Strongholds are DETERMINED!

In verse 5, Paul not only enlightens us on how to define strongholds, but also how to determine strongholds. Once we know what they are, we must then determine if there are any strongholds which exist in our lives.

In order to determine them, we must know what they are. And, Paul breaks them down into 2 categories.

A) An INTERNAL BARRIER

Notice verse 5. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God."

The phrase 'every high thing' speaks of "blocks, or barriers." We could translate the verse, "Cast down arguments, and every barrier that exalts itself against, and raises itself above the knowledge of God."

Thus, the apostle is, again, speaking here of strongholds in the lives of believers. These are things which are a hard place, or an area of contention in our life.

In so doing, he makes the determination that a stronghold is an internal barrier. Any imagination, any argument, or any barrier that raises its high head, and threatens to take the rightful place of God is a stronghold, and it must be put down.

It could be that Paul is speaking of a material matter, a physical matter, or a financial matter. Perhaps he is including a career, a relationship, a recreation, or a favorite lifestyle.

Whatever the case may be it has surfaced, and has placed its tentacles around our spiritual oxygen tank, created a barrier between us and God, and has caused our supply to be cut low.

However, the internal barrier leads to:

B) An INFERNAL BATTLE

We read again in verse 5, "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."

I call your attention to the word "imaginations" that is used. The Greek word is logismos, and it literally means "arguments, or speculations." However, the connotation is that of evil speculations and reasonings. In making us aware of these strongholds, he not only describes them as being an internal barrier, but as an infernal battle.

He is speaking here of our thought life. He is speaking of our mind. He is speaking of that which is not only perceived externally, but is present internally.

If we were to be completely honest, there is not one person in this room who has not battled, at one time or another, with the stronghold of their mind, and thoughts. In fact, the mind is where the infernal battle takes place every day of our lives.

Once we are saved, Satan knows that he cannot have our soul; thus, he moves to plan B, which is to put a bulls eye on our mind. With the bulls eye in place, he then sets out to bombard and barrage, pollute and pervert, defile and destroy our minds with thoughts as wicked as hell itself.

I don't know about you, but this is without a doubt one of my biggest, personal battles. It is something that I must keep my guard up against and a personal check on every single day.

I remember reading of a recent news release from the Central Intelligence Agency. They revealed that they had conducted a 25-year experiment. There was some suspicion that Russians had perfected mind control, and had used it on individuals, and prisoners of war in Korea. Thus, in their endeavor, and during that 25-year experiment, they had spent $25 million in search for methods of mind control.

Ladies and gentlemen, while the CIA may not have mastered the art of mind control, Satan is the master of mind control, and he has done a good job of it. He has perverted, polluted, defiled, destroyed, controlled and corrupted the minds of many believers, because they have allowed him to set up a stronghold.

Thus, the apostle, well aware of the stronghold of our mind, exhorted us to conquer it, captivate it, and control it. How? By, “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."

What are some of these strongholds that we allow Satan to set up in our minds and hearts? It could be bitterness. It could be anger. It could be resentment. It could be a volatile temper. It could be lying. It could be food. It could be finances. It could be a fantasy.

It could be corrupt communication. It could be worldly, wretched and wicked thoughts of a member of the opposite sex. It could be the fantasy, or an infatuation with an image you have viewed on a computer screen.

Whatever the case may be, it has become an internal barrier that has led to an infernal battle. You see no stronghold just happens. We don’t wake up one day and decide, “Today, I think that I’ll let Satan set up a stronghold in my heart.”

It never happens that way. However, slowly but surely, we begin to allow “imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,” to creep into our hearts. If it is not immediately dealt with, Satan will set up a stronghold that will wreak havoc on our spiritual well-being.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "At the moment, when lust takes control, God loses all reality. Satan does not fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. Hence, lust is conceived and sin is produced." [3]

He is absolutely correct. Satan is too smart to know that he cannot cause us to hate God, but if he can cause us, even for a moment, to forget God, then he has an opportunity to set up a stronghold.

I think of a man who was building birdhouses and explained to me the process. He was building birdhouses for purple martins. He then went on to say that the birdhouse has to be built with a certain sized hole to attract the purple martin.

If the purple martin sees the house and likes it, he will come to live there; but, he has to be made to feel welcome. In other words, a climate has to be created for the purple martin before he will make a home.

Yet, that is exactly what many Christians have done. They have created a climate for the enemy. They have created certain conditions, internally and externally, and have literally rolled out a welcome mat for the devil and said, “Devil, I believe this is the kind of place that will suit you, so come right on it.

Finally, notice:

3. How Strongholds are DESTROYED!

Only as the Word of God can do, we are not only informed as how to define these strongholds, and detect these strongholds, but we see how to destroy these strongholds in our lives.

We are made aware of the battle foes, the battle facts, and the battle field. Once we define and determine strongholds there is only one way to combat them: THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!

There are only 2 ways to destroy them. First:

A) Our ENEMY must be RECOGNIZED

Notice verse 3. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." We are reminded that if we are to destroy strongholds in our lives, then, first and foremost, our enemy must be recognized.

In verse 5, strongholds are identified as “imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Does that sound familiar? It should, because that is exactly what happened when the devil became the devil.

God did not create the devil; He created an angel, named Lucifer, who became the devil. How did he become the devil? He became the devil because he rose up in opposition to God’s power, preeminence and position.

One day, the devil said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14: 13-14)

Thus, because of his pride, Lucifer, son of the morning, became Satan, serpent of the night. Ladies and gentlemen, Satan, the devil, the accuser of the brethren, the prince of the power of the air is our enemy.

For years, and years, we have been fighting a battle with the wrong facts, against the wrong foes, on the wrong field. Our attack has been launched against those for us, rather than those against us. It has been launched against friends among us, rather than fiends around us.

Our enemy is not each other. Our enemy is not another church. Our enemy is not fellow Christians. Our enemy is the devil himself. However, if we are to fight the battle, and destroy these strongholds, then our enemy must be recognized.

I think of a story once told by Ivor Powell. He once had a deacon, in his church, who always concluded his prayer the same way. Every time he prayed, he would conclude by saying, "And, Lord, clean all the cobwebs out of my life. Lord, clean all the cobwebs out of my life."

Finally, it had gotten too much for one fellow in the prayer meeting, and he had heard the old deacon say it one time too often.

So, when the man made that prayer, and said, "And, Lord, clean all the cobwebs out of my life," the fellow jumped to his feet, and said, "Lord, Lord, don't do it! Don't clean all the cobwebs, just kill the spider!"

May God not clean out the cobwebs of strongholds, but may He just kill the spider, for that is the true enemy.

In fact, you will remember Paul's words in Ephesians 6: 12, "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."

The fact of the matter is that many Christians have gotten all dressed up in their combat fatigues, but they have shown up at the wrong battle to fight the wrong fight.

Rather than combat the enemy, we combat each other. Rather than combat Satan, we combat the saints. Rather than combat the powers of another world, we combat the persons in this world.

It may be the stronghold of tradition. It may be the stronghold of bitterness. It may be the stronghold of a low self-esteem. It may be the stronghold of fear, or intimidation. It may be the stronghold of inadequacy. It may be the stronghold of pornography. It may be the stronghold of laziness. It may be the stronghold of a habit, a hurt, a handicap or a hang-up.

Whatever the case may be, these are all vices of a supernatural enemy. And, in order to destroy these strongholds, you must know who is behind these strongholds and recognize the enemy.

Once our enemy is recognized:

B) Our EQUIPMENT must be UTILIZED

As every good, prepared soldier has the proper battle attire, so the believer has been equipped for battle.

Paul lists our equipment in verse 4. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."

Once we understand our arsenal, we are then able to move on to verse 5, “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.”

How do we destroy strongholds in our lives? Paul says that we must “cast” them down.” The Greek word is kata, and it literally means, “To demolish.”

In other words, we cannot play around with strongholds. They must be defeated. They must be destroyed. They must be demolished. How? Through the “weapons of our warfare” that are “mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

God has not thrown us onto the frontlines of the battle field and left us empty-handed. Paul says that we have weapons, and these weapons are not “carnal” but they are conquering. These weapons are not meager, but mighty. These weapons are not puny, but powerful.

Someone might ask, 'Just what are weapons?'

Paul listed our arsenal in his letter to the Ephesians. He writes in Ephesians 6: 13-18, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”

Our arsenal is packed with the Word of God, the Faith of God, the Truth of God, and the Salvation of God, and the Spirit of God. That is the arsenal of every child of God, and may I say that it will whip any demon or devil that hell may throw at us.

Thus, as believers it is time to go on the OFFENSIVE rather then be on the defensive. It is high time that we start taking it to the enemy, rather than letting the enemy take it to us. Again, the devil CAN NEVER, EVER take any ground in our lives that we do not give him. He cannot steal it; he can only take it as we give it to him.

Do you have any ground in your life that you have given to the devil? Do you have territory in your life where you have allowed Satan to set up a stronghold? If so, there is only one way to destroy it: YOU MUST TAKE IT BACK!

This is not a time to play, this is a time for power! This is not a time for weaklings, this is a time for warriors. This is a time for the cowardly, this is a time for the courageous. This is not a time for the proud in heart, this is a time for the pure in heart.

You must repent of any unconfessed sin in your life. Every area of unconfessed sin is legal ground for Satan. Until you confess that sin, the devil has every right to set up a stronghold in your heart. Furthermore, if you try to resist the devil with unconfessed sin, he will make a mockery of you and laugh in your face.

But, if you repent, and ask God’s forgiveness, you can take back the property you gave to Satan. You can say to the devil, “I have repented. The debt is cancelled. You have no more legal authority in my life. I have given you a place, but I take back in the name and authority of Jesus. This body of mine is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are trespassing on my Father’s property. So, go back to hell where you belong, because you are not welcome here.”

It’s time for God’s people to stake our claim, waive our banner, and take our stand in the power of attorney of the name of Christ, and combat these things which entangle us, and entrap us. It’s time to recognize our enemy and utilize our equipment to destroy these strongholds.

I think of something that took place at the Battle of Gettysburg. A general reported to the commanding officer Long Street, and informed him that he could not bring his men up again.

The brilliant commander, Long Street, replied, "Very well, never mind. Then, just let them stay where they are. The enemy's going to advance, and that will spare you the trouble!"

I need not remind you that our enemy has planned his attack against you, your family, your heart and your mind. Just in case you don't want the trouble of advancing toward him, just stay where you are, because He will advance toward you.

Strongholds can be defined. Strongholds can be determined. And, thank God, strongholds CAN, and MUST BE DESTROYED!

At Abraham Lincoln's 2nd inaugural address, shortly before his assassination in 1865, he spoke of how both parties deprecated war, and yet war came.

He stated, "Neither party expected the way, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Each looked for an easier triumph. Both read the same Bible, and prayed to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other."

And with that, Lincoln let his own feelings show through as he spoke of how strange it was, "that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces."

Ultimately, the black slaves were set free. Theoretically, it became legal as early as the first day of the year, 1863, in what has come to be known as the Emancipation Proclamation.

The word spread from Capitol Hill down into the valleys of Virginia, and the Carolinas, and evens into the plantations of Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. The headlines read, 'Slavery Legally Abolished!'

However, the greater majority of slaves, in the South, went right on living as though there had been no emancipation. They went on living like they had never been set free.

In fact, when one Alabama slave was asked what he thought of the Great Emancipator, whose proclamation had gone into effect, he replied "I don't know nothing about Abraham Lincoln except they say he set us free. And, I don't know nothing about that neither."

How tragic. A war was being fought. A document had been signed. Slaves were legally set free. The word is emancipation. And yet most continued to live out their years without knowing anything about it. They had chosen to remain slaves, though they were legally free. Even though emancipated, they kept serving the same master throughout their lives.

Yet, so it is with many believers today. They have been set free, yet they have chosen to remain slaves to the same strongholds that have gripped them all of their life.

I don’t know about you, but I am serving notice on Satan today. I am exposing him for the trickster, trifler, trespasser and thief that he is. If you are a Christian, he has no business on your property, because your property is God’s property.

You say, “Wait a minute, preacher, I’ve got my rights.” Listen, you have no more rights than a dead man. You are crucified with Christ. You belong to Jesus. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Whether it is a habit, a handicap or a hang-up, you don’t have to be the devil’s puppet. You don’t have to be the devil’s play thing. You don’t have to be the devil’s slave, because you have been set free.

In the legal tender of the blood of the Cross, and in the power of attorney of an empty tomb, may every stronghold be Pulled Down, every imagination Cast Down, and every thought Brought Down, until we have enjoyed our right as a child of the King!

Endnotes

1. The Magnificent Vision, Lloyd John Ogilvie., Vine Books, 1980. pg. 21.

2. Conquering the Capital ‘I’, A. Lindsay Glegg., Marshall, Morgan & Scott., 1943., pg. 40.

3. Discipline of a Godly Man, R. Kent Hughes, pg. 25.

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