The
Spiritual War. Destroying strongholds
T. J. de Ruiter, Pastor and Teacher
These
studies are suitable for
personal- and group study.
Destroying strongholds
1.
Introduction
We will now have a closer look
on an important aspect the Christian warfare, which I touched already
briefly,
in an earlier study: counteracting and destroying false teachings that
try to
damage the faith of believers. It seems to me that this aspect of our
spiritual
warfare doesn't receive sufficient attention, because its importance is
not
often recognized.
False teachings are often
presented under the name of a new vision or revelation, but many of
these new
visions are often deviating from the sound teaching of the Lord and His
apostles and presented as an addition to that. Such teachings hinder
the work
of the Holy Spirit in churches. Let's be honest about it, there are
in
these days many so called visions and revelations, through which many
believers
have lost the right track of faith, (1 Timothy 4:1).
Most Christians know that
there is a spiritual war going on between God and Satan. Satan seeks to
hinder
the child of God on his journey to his eternal destiny. The apostle
Peter wrote
in 1 Peter 5:8 that Satan is attacking the believers as a roaring lion,
seeking
whom he may devour. The apostle Paul fought since his conversion
against the
forces of evil and when he felt that the end of his life approached he
wrote in
2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race.”
Indeed, the Lord and His disciples did not teach that the
Christian he
would enter heaven without having to struggle for it, (Luke
13:24). The
believer may be sure in faith that God through His grace en sustaining
love
will give him eternal life. But he should nevertheless realize that
there is an
enemy, who will do his evil best to hinder him from reaching that
wonderful
goal.
2. The war
against false teachings
Please read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 and 2
Corinthians
11:1-4.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Paul
wrote that 'though we live in the world we are not carrying on a
worldly
war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine
power to
destroy strongholds.' These strongholds of satanic teachings are
revealed
in arguments and thoughts (ideas or revelations). These misleading
teachings or
ideas must be uncovered and taken captive. The teachers of these
teaching must
be made captives of Christ. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3 the apostle Paul wrote
that
false teachings are inspired by demons, (he uses here the Greek word
'diamonion'). There are rulers and lower spirits in the world of evil
spirits,
(Ephesians 6:12). For the old Greek demons were divine spiritual
beings,
to whom they ascribed a high authority and much power, that they could
exercise
over the world of man. Paul foresaw that in later times than he lived
these
demonic inspired teachings would gain influence on the believers and in
churches. Paul knew that the Holy Spirit expressly told him about this
growing
demonic influence. By false teachings these demons invade the
body of Christ,
causing divisions in the Body of Christ, destroying the necessary
union, on
local- national- and the international level. False teachings lead
believers
and whole churches astray from Christ, Who is the Truth.
The apostle counteracted the false teachings in his day with teaching
sound
doctrine and he encouraged his disciple Timothy to do the same, (1
Timothy
4:11-13). Anybody with spiritual insight knows however that
counteracting false
teachings must not only take place on the intellectual level, for
instance by
holding a debate or giving a lecture about it, but that the true and
deeper
battle is a spiritual matter. On the deeper, spiritual level there has
to be
going up prayer to the Lord that the eyes of men will be opened and
taking an
authoritative position in the Name of Jesus over the evil spirits. When
people
are converted from believing false teachings these demons will lose all
power
over them. Then these Christians must hold their position with their
loins
girded by the Truth of God, (Ephesians 6:14).
3. In Closing
We know that before the first apostles had all died that there were
already
many false teachings in some churches. The influence of demonic
inspired
teaching has become since then much larger in the church. Demonic
spirits have with
their false teachings more influence on many Christians than they are
aware of.
Several demonic spirits are experts in thinking out more and more
subtle,
powerful teachings in these last days. The faith and life of many is
damaged by
them, in spiritual, mental, physical and social aspects.
It is now more than ever before necessary to be aware of preachers and
teachers
that present teachings that they call 'new or special revelations.'
Some even
dare to claim that their teachings have more authority than the
Bibletext, that
has been proven to be correct in translation and interpretation of the
original
text. Be as the Christians in Berea, (Acts 17:11).
Christian, stay alert and hold on to Christ, as presented in the old
Holy Scriptures.
He is the Truth, the Way and the Life!
4. Questions to
think about
and for discussion
1.
Do you recognize false
teachings in operation in your church, or group, or in magazines or
books you
read? Can you name and specify one or two?
2. Have you been a victim of a false
teacher or Christian leader? Would
you be
prepared to share your experience?
3. Do you perhaps recognize that
some you know are fallen into a false
teaching? (You do not need to mention their name).
4. What could you do for such people
to lead them back into the truth?
Interesting sites and pages