“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 strongholds;) 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” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
In verse three, the Apostle Paul points out that, “we do not war after the flesh.” We are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a physical body.
We not only live in a physical body, but we also live in a physical world. Even though we walk in the flesh, or in physical bodies, flesh and blood are not our enemies. We are not warring after the flesh. This is pointed out again in Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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 warning takes place in the spirit world against Satan and his forces. To succeed in the physical realm, we need to understand how things work in the spiritual realm. The spiritual world controls this physical world. Either Satan is dominating, or the Holy Spirit is dominating – one of the other.
Even if you’re a born-again believer, filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues, if you’re not walking in line with the Word of God Satan can control your life. He can take you captive!
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations (or reasonings), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
We need to understand that there is a positive side to the imagination. Often we think only of the negative side. For example, it is good to imagine ourselves like the Word of God speaks about us. And, of course, we endeavor to make the Word of God a stronghold in our lives.
But there is also a negative side, where the devil can have strongholds in the soulish area (our minds) where he can dominate our lives. We must live as God intended for us, and allow the Word of God to dominate our lives.
We must keep our thoughts in like with the Word of God. Philippians 4:9 says, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Consider the words from this verse: heard, seen, and do. We are to think thoughts that are in line with the Word of God and to imagine those thoughts until the Word of God becomes a stronghold in our minds.
As we continuously hear the Word of God, we will see the Word of God, because words paint images. Thus, as we speak health, victory, and prosperity, we will see ourselves that way. We will see ourselves laying hands on the sick, speaking in tongues, and so forth.
As we continuously speak the Word of God and hear it, we will continuously have that imagination or image in our spirits. Faith will come. The word of God will be a stronghold!
Written by: Rev. Jim Kasemen
