2nd Corinthians 10:1-8 | Pulling Down Strong Holds
We are there in 2nd Corinthians 10. On Wednesdays we’ve been making our way through the book of 2nd Corinthians. We spent the last several weeks with the theme of the special offering that Paul is taking. Now we are in 2nd Corinthians in a new section and Paul definitely shifts gears. He begins to deal with problems. Since the Apostle Paul is dealing with something very personal here and very delicate, I decided not to write an outline. I really am just going to walk with you through this portion of scripture and I’ll read the verses and explain them and help you understand kind of what he’s saying. We’ll make application as we go along but he’s trying to help the Church at Corinth and he’s really defending himself and he’s trying to correct some issues there. To be honest with you, I don’t know that we will make it through the entire chapter tonight but we will get as far as we can.
2nd Corinthians 10:1 “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,…”. I want you to remember that phrase “meekness and gentleness of Christ.”. He brings up the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ is meek and gentle. He says that he beseeches them or wants to implore them or make an urgent appeal.” Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”. The word “base” is expressing the idea of humility. There is actually a criticism that some individuals at the Church of Corinth are making about the Apostle Paul. He’s setting himself up to answer those questions. He brings up being humble because he has always acted very humbly in person when dealing with them but very bold in letters. Now he is going to correct some issues of criticism about himself in leadership. This chapter has some very famous passages that are often preached or applied out of context. They are still wonderful passages of scripture but they are very interesting when preached within their proper context. We will look at them tonight.
I want you to understand the context. First, he’s acknowledging that he has been very humble or base among them before. However, he has been bold in letters. Notice verse 2 “2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.”. He is going to correct some things with the Church of Corinth and what he is saying is that he would rather not be bold. He is saying that he will write some things that they need to correct and he hopes he does because he wants to be nice in person with them. He doesn’t want to have to come in and fight all of these issues and battles.
Now notice verse 2 “2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.”. Notice how he says “against some”. This was not the entire Church of Corinth. There was a problem with some people or a group of individuals. Paul is stating at the end of the verse that there are people accusing him of walking in the flesh “as if we walked according to the flesh”. Paul says that he wants them to correct this because he wants to be able to be nice and not have to be bold in person.
I was studying this idea out this week for this sermon and it really resonated with me that there is 1 major think that separates the leaders. A true leader has to often do what’s right and correct problems, correct individuals, stop certain things that are going on that should not be going on, say “no” to some things. It sometimes makes you very unpopular. One thing that I’ve had to learn as a Pastor and that my wife has had to learn as a Pastor’s wife is that people will love the Church staff. I don’t say this as a criticism of the staff and I think it is a good thing. The reason why they are so loved is that they don’t have to do what the Pastor or Pastor’s wife has to do. They can listen to people say dumb things and just come back and report to us about it. I can feel the tension in the Apostle Paul because he is saying that he wants to be nice and doesn’t want to fight. Paul said that there are some of them that need to be corrected and yet they are accusing Paul of walking in the flesh.
Verses 3-5 are some of the most famous verses in the Bible but I want you to see the context in which they are written. Verse 3 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”. Paul is saying that it is true that we walk or live in the flesh. We live in this carnal, physical world. However, Paul is stating that the war they are engaged in is not a physical war but a spiritual war.
Go with me really quickly to Ephesians 6. Let me just say this, all of us are probably leaders in some way or another. You might be a husband, or a parent or a leader at work or a leader in ministries here. What makes you a leader is your ability to deal with problems. If you are someone who shies away from confrontation or having to be negative, you stink as a leader. We all want to be liked but a leader has to decide to do what is right even if it makes him unpopular. Paul says that he doesn’t want to have to be bold in presence but he will if necessary.
Ephesians 6:12 “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.”. Our war is a spiritual war. It’s not a physical war. This is something that needs to be explained. Sometimes people hear about war and think we need to get guns and setup a militia and storm the capital. We walk in the flesh but we do not war after the flesh.
Go back to second Corinthians chapter 10. Notice what he says “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”. Paul explains that we are not involved in a physical war but a spiritual battle. Verse 4 “4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. As we go through this passage, it will be obvious why Paul is explained that we are not engaged in a physical war. Our weapons are not carnal or of this earth. We are in a spiritual warfare and we have spiritual weapons. Remember, Paul is explaining to them about why he’s not wanting to be bold when he sees them. He’s explaining that if he has to be bold with them that he will be bold with spiritual and not physical weapons. Later on he talks about brining a rod to Corinth but he isn’t speaking literally.
2nd Corinthians 10:4 “4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. What is a strong hold? A stronghold is a position that the enemy holds in which they are enforced or reinforced. It’s a position, a base or a camp. If you think about a warfare, it’s a position held by the enemy in which they are fortified, in which they are encamped, they are entrenched, they hold it and they have a strong hold of that position. Here Paul says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
Verse 5 “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;”. Now again, Paul is bringing this up for a very specific reason. I’m going to tie that in and make sure that you understand that. Let’s make sure we understand these verses because they are very beautiful verses. They preach on their own. He talks about the war that we are engaged in is a spiritual war. He says that God makes available for us weapons of our warfare that are not carnal. They can help us pull down strongholds. In military, you think about being on higher ground and you’re fortified in that area.
Verse 5 “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;”. See, the truth of the matter is that when it comes to spiritual warfare, there are 3 enemies that we are fighting just like in normal warfare. In WW2, there was this axis of evil and these different nations that came together that we had to fight against. We also have 3 different groups. We have the world, the Devil, yourself. What Paul is talking about is that there are powers and principalities and rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places.
Probably the biggest enemy that you have in your spiritual warfare life is you. It’s a person that stares you in the mirror every day. It’s the person that you deal with. What are the strongholds that we have to worry about? It talks about casting down the imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God. Because the truth is that if you have thoughts and ideas in your head, they may have been put there at a young age and developed. You might have been raised with them or accumulated them throughout your life. You have these ideas that are hurting you. They are imaginations that are exalting themselves against the knowledge of God. They are filled with pride.
When the Bible says “Do x, y and z.” and you refuse, that is a stronghold. That’s an enemy in your life. Paul says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty thought God to the pulling down of strongholds. How do we win the war? Here is what I know. You individually have been present for the biggest mistakes and regrets and bad choices that you have made in life. Not only were you present for those choices but you orchestrated it. You’re the one that made the decision to do that, to call him, to call her, to drink that, to make that decision to smoke that, to watch that. Whatever it is. It’s you. It’s our own flesh that is fighting against us. It is a stronghold in our own mind that are fighting against us. Paul says we’ve got to bring those down and we’ve got to take captive. What do we take captive? He says bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. See, to win the battle against yourself, you must win the battle of your mind because your mind is a stronghold we must bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Proverbs 23:7 “7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”. The truth is that your mind and the things you think about and the things that you allow to come into your eyes and into your ears and into you into your heart and your mind, these are the things that are hurting you. Paul says we need to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We need to go to war against our minds. We need to control our thoughts. We need to control our minds. Look, if you learn to control your thoughts, you’ll learn to control your words and actions. Why? Because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Because as he thinketh in his heart so is he. The Bible says “the thought of foolishness is sin”. Why? Because everything starts in your mind. Every stupid choice you’ve made and every stupid choice I’ve made all started in our minds. Paul says bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”. The Bible teaches that we need to be purposeful in regards to how we think and the things that we think about. If you are negative about everything, don’t be surprised if you have a very negative life. The Bible says that we should bring into captivity every thought. You need to be careful about the stuff that you allow into your mind and into your heart. You may not realize it but every time that you turn on the radio and listen to the news, it is always negative. I understand that we should know what is going on in the world. However, 5 minutes of catching up will tell you everything. Russia and Ukraine are at war. The news will just repeat themselves so you don’t have to spend hours watching.
I am just telling you to be careful about what you allow into your mind. We’ve got to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We need to be thinking on the right things and on the proper things. We need to learn to control our minds. Why? Because as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Because the thought of foolish is sin. Everything we’ve ever done that we’ve regretted, every stronghold every habit and addiction that you have in your life or that you’ve had in your life started in your mind. We have to learn to control it. We have to learn to not let it get out of control.
2nd Corinthians 10:4 “4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;”. We have to be careful what we allow into our minds. Some things you may not have any control over. Some things you might just have to deal with but even those things we have to control.
I’m hesitant to give this illustration but I’ll go ahead and give it. I know I’ve spoken to some of you about it recently but I’ve been personally dealing with an issue. I really don’t know what to call it other than it’s like subconscious. I think anxiety. To be honest with you, the ministry can be very stressful but I don’t feel stressed normally. I don’t feel anxious. I’m happy and I’m productive. However, the last several months I’ve been having these issues where just I’ll wake up in the middle of the night kind of startled. When i wake up, I’m just sweating and just my heart’s racing. Of course I’ve been talking with my wife about this and stuff and we’ve been doing some research about it. What we found is that sometimes you can be under stress and consciously you’re not really stressed out, it’s just kind of your life. Sometimes there’s this disconnect between your mind and your body. Your mind might not feel stressed but your body doesn’t really understand that.
Obviously we’re always dealing with stress. To be honest with you, this last year my wife and I probably dealt with more stress and more things than we ever have. So I’m sure that’s the connection. As a result, we’ve been reading a lot about this and I’ve been reading a book about stress and anxiety and dealing with these things. It’s interesting because even though all day long I’m just happy and we’re singing and everything’s great, of course we’re always dealing with problems and dealing with issues. What happens is when you wake up in the middle of night and your startled and there are all of these problems, what you really have to do is to learn to control your thoughts.
The Bible says in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God. The Bible says casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. When I wake up in the middle of the night like this, I just think that maybe God wants me to spend some time in prayer and pray about these things. I’ve told people for years as I’ve counseled them that nothing is ever as bad as you think it is. By the way, let me just tell you this. Nothing is ever as good as you think it is. Your mind always messes with you. People come into my office and they think their world is falling apart but nothing is ever as bad as it seems. However, people will meet someone and say they are in love and will never fight but 3 months down the road they will be fighting. Because nothing is ever as good as it seems it is. We have to learn to control our thoughts. We have to learn to control our minds.
The point is that I’m more of a Type A Personality. Sometimes you want to control things and they are just out of your control. Even if consciously you understand this, it can affect your body and sleep. We need to cast all of our care upon the Lord. We have to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ because the enemy wants to war against your mind. He wants to cause you to worry, to be upset, to be afraid, to be distracted with the things of this world. I don’t want you to be concerned. Things are going well. We had 216 in Church on Sunday and the greatest Vision Offering that we’ve ever had. What you’ll find in the Book of Acts is that when the ministry is thriving, the leadership is getting beat up, thrown into prison, etc…There is a price to be paid for the success and usually it falls upon the leadership. I understand that my wife and I signed up for that. We’re ok with that. However, if you are not careful to control these things then they can become strongholds. You have to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. You have to deal with those issues and really give those to God and learn to walk in faith. Just realize that God knows best and give it to God in prayer.
Verse 6 “6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”. Again Paul transitions back to this conflict he is having with the Church of Corinth. This echoes back to what he talked about in chapter 6 of having true repentance. 2nd Corinthians 7:11 “11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”.
In 2nd Corinthians 10:6 as he talks about revenge, there should be a desire to fight back or get revenge in your personal life on the sin that harmed you. Verse 7 “7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.”. Again, the context is of people at the Church criticizing the Apostle Paul. This idea of judging the outward appearance appears a lot. Go to 1st Samuel 16.
1st Samuel 16:6 “6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord‘s anointed is before him.”. This is when Samuel is being sent to choose a new king to replace Saul. However, the youngest brother has been left out. 1st Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
2nd Corinthians 10:7 “7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.”. Paul is reminding that the Lord looks on the heart. Based off this passage, it would appear that the Apostle Paul did not have an impressive image. He looked very normal. However, he reminds them not to just on the outward appearance. Remember the context is that when he is with them he is very humble, meek and gentle but very strong when writing letters. The problem is that they are judging him outwardly.
We don’t know exactly what Paul looked like but he was sickly. The Bible speaks of a thorn in the flesh which he could not be healed from. It was humiliating to him and impeded his ministry. We don’t know exactly and there are a lot of thoughts. History can be inaccurate but history does tell us that he was short. He wasn’t physically impressive. The Bible seems to agree with this as he is being criticized for his outward appearance.
1st Corinthians 1:26 “26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”. Remember that Paul said he was based among them. God loves to use that which is weak and unimpressive. God loves to use what people would not expect.
It’s interesting to me that Eliab was not chosen yet a little boy named David was chosen. He would defeat the muscular soldier Goliath. If Eliab had won then people would think it is his skill, strength, ability or experience. However, with David, glory is given to God. When Gideon was afraid and hiding, it’s only 300 soldiers that God sends with him. Why would God want to do this? So that when they get the victory, no one would be confused as to what happened. It was God who wrought that victory. God wants to use that which is lowly and weak. Paul says that his strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul says he would rather glory in his infirmities but the power of God may rest upon me.
I get opportunities to preach places and I’m thankful for those opportunities. People walk up to me and tell me that I look different than what they expected. Obviously I am shorter than they expected. Maybe God is using me because nobody would expect that I would be used. God loves to use not many mighty or noble or wise. He’s chosen the weak things of the world and the base things and the things despised. God hath chosen things which are not to bring to nought things which are. Who would think that a little Church meeting next to a Methadone Clinic would raise $200,000 in 1 offering which can be used of God for a soulwinning army, planting Churches all over this country and world?
2nd Corinthians 10:7 “7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:”. Now in verse 8, what he is letting the Church of Corinth know is that he has spiritual authority. He’s an ordained minister that God has placed over the authority of that Church. He’s saying maybe he should talk about that more than he does. He says he wouldn’t be embarrassed to talk more about his authority. That’s the context of verse 7.
Go to Numbers 16. Remember, Paul is going to defend his authority. Paul is getting ready to defend his authority because he’s being attacked and criticized by the Church at Corinth. The argument that’s being made is the same argument that is always made. Korah, Dathan and Abiram in Numbers 16 go against Moses who by the way was also a meek man. They say “Why do we have to listen to him?”. Why does Paul get to make the decisions or why does Moses get to make the decisions? Paul says that we are all children of God in this Church but we are not all in leadership. Korah uses the same argument.
Numbers 16:1 “Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”. Moses and Aaron were chosen by God and were the God-ordained leadership of the Church in the wilderness. God is the one who put them in charge. They accuse Moses and Aaron of lifting themselves up above them.
This is exactly what the Church of Corinth is saying against They are saying “We are all in Christ. Why do we have to listen to Paul?”. Listen to me very carefully, God ordained different institutions. God ordained the home, government, the local Church. He ordained authority in those institutions. He put people as leaders and rules. In the local New Testament Church, it’s called the Pastor.
One thing I often need to teach people when they come to a Church like ours unless they have come from a good Baptist Church is that this is a Pastor-led Church. This is not a Deacon-led or Elder-led Church. It’s dead sure not a woman-led Church. This is not a Church where you gossip about me and I have to submit to you. It might be that way at your old Church but not this Church. This is a Pastor-led Church. There is a rule, a leader, God-given authority. You don’t just show up here and then we decide on what Bible to use or starting a new ministry or new Bible study. This is a Bible-believing local Church. We submit ourselves under the authority of the word of God and God has given you a Pastor.
Hebrews 13:17 “17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”. I’m not upset about anything but I understand the tension of Paul. Sometimes people come in and I try to be nice to them but I’m thinking “You’re not going to push us around and start running the show. I’m in charge. You aren’t the first or the last that I’ve had to battle.”. I’m not trying to sound arrogant. However, last I checked, plenty of people have gone to battle with me and I’m still here. I’m just letting you know that if you try to take over then I will battle with you because there is God given authority. We have to learn to submit to our God-given authority.
Listen to me young teenager. Learn to submit to your God-given authority. You say “My dad isn’t that smart.”. It doesn’t matter. He’s your God-given authority. Submit to your husband, submit to your father, submit to your employer at work, submit in the spiritual realm. Of course we understand that the Pastor is not to lord over God’s heritage. We understand that. I’m never going to tell you what to do in your personal life. What you do outside of here, that’s between you and God. However, when you step into the ministry of Verity Baptist Church, this guy is running the show.
Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 10:8 “8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:”. Paul says that he has been given authority. Next week we will finish this chapter but let me just point something out to you really quickly so you get the context. 2nd Corinthians 10:9 “9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.”. Notice verse 10 “10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.”. Paul is saying, don’t mistake meekness with weakness. Paul says that he is trying to be nice but will fight and correct things if necessary.
By the way, that’s what every good leader should do. Sometimes as parents you have to fight the rebellious hearts of teenagers that aren’t right with God. Paul says “11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.”. Paul is addressing the fact that people say his preaching is powerful but in bodily presence he is weak. They accuse him of being all talk. Paul says that if you want to say these things about me then you will find out how tough I can be in person. Look, whatever Church that you ever go to, realize that God has ordained God given authority and you must submit yourself to it.
Let’s pray.