Thoughts contrary to the truth of God’s Word are like a mental wall of resistance—a stronghold. Paul faced this stronghold in the Corinthian church. Pride and intellectualism had exalted their thinking and blinded them to the truth. The “message of the cross” had become foolishness to these spiritual rebels, but Paul knew that it held the power of God.
The believer’s approach to pulling down strongholds is to present the truth of God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit reshape the other person’s thoughts, heart attitudes, and perceptions.
Paul’s gentle, humble attitude established a powerful spiritual weapon against the prideful stance of his opposition. Pride, Scripture reveals, is Satan’s predominant attitude and primary pitfall. God opposes the proud and favours the meek. The Lord rescues the humble but brings down the haughty.
The Bible names several weapons constituting the whole armor of God for pulling down strongholds and waging spiritual warfare. They include the Word of God, prayer, demonstrations of love and humility, and the power of God’s Spirit working in our lives. The key, as Paul demonstrated to the Corinthians, is relying on God’s divine truth and power.
