A daily devotional moment by Chris Garcia
Romans 8:14–17 (NKJV): For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NKJV): For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
It is the truth that sets you free. Are there influences? Yes. Can the enemy influence your soul? Yes. But what is more powerful? The influence of the Devil? Or the influence of the Spirit? What is more powerful? The influence of the lie? Or the influence of the truth of God's Word sets the captives free? Fear is not your portion. Life is your portion. You did not receive the spirit of bondage. The enemy will try to influence bondage into you and if you open doors to that, it will eventually put a stronghold in your mind. The reality is that you do not have to succumb to that or submit to that for one second. Why? Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Who wrote this? Didn’t the Holy Ghost write this through the apostle Paul? What is the Holy Ghost trying to say to you? That it is through the Spirit. Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “'Abba, Father.'” The word "Abba" there means Daddy, Pappa. A word of endearment. Notice it is Abba, Father. Father is a title of respect and honor. Father is a title of Honor for your Dad. But you see, both titles Abba and Father. You see Pappa, Dad, Daddy, and then Father. There is a reverence for our Father but also a child-like connection. I am convinced that the biggest lie of the devil for the believer, is to get you to believe that you have received bondage. Because once he gets you to that place, then you will have that bondage. But it is based on a mindset that is contrary to the soundness of the Spirit. You have received the Spirit of adoption. You have received sonship. You have received the Father. Romans 8:16–17, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Now does the enemy influence? Yes. Can the enemy bring further influence and strongholds in the mind and in the soul? Yes. But 9 times out of 10, a majority of the time, it is the enemy whispering a lie. It is up to you now to receive the truth of God's word and to cast it down. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down, the casting down of strongholds. Casting down every vain imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ. What does that mean? That means that there are imaginations and thought patterns and thoughts that are contrary to or against the knowledge of God and they exalts themselves above the knowledge of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.” What does this mean? The word “flesh” there means that we walk around in this body. So the way that we do warfare is not according to fleshly means. 2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” How do you deal with strongholds? Do you cast it out or do you pull it down? Do you cast it out or do you cast it down? The answer is that you need to cast it down. 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” Casting down, pulling down and casting down arguments. What is an argument? A thought and an idea that is contrary to the soundness of God. Casting down arguments and every high thing. What is a high thing that exhausts itself against the knowledge of God? A high thing is oppression or an idea, or an imagination that appears to be stronger than the reality of Christ. So these weapons of our warfare are mighty in God. They are powerful, mighty, and dynamic. It is where we get the word "dynamite" from. Explosive. The power of God is explosive. It's mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. Casting down arguments, the thoughts contrary to the soundness of God.
What do we see here? It says, “and every high thing.” What is a high thing? Something that is trying to elevate itself above the truth of who Christ is. Every high thing that exalts itself against, or competes with the knowledge of God. So the knowledge of God is the knowledge of Christ. It is knowing the Lord. It is the knowledge of God. The Gnosis or the experiential knowledge of the Lord. There are things that come and bring arguments and confusion. There are imaginations emotions and demonic influences that challenge the exalted supremacy of Christ. If you entertain it, you are doing it the wrong way. You do not entertain, you cast it down, you silence it. How? By bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. What does that mean? Every thought comes. Sometimes the thoughts are not you. Sometimes there are thoughts that are influenced by the wrong voice. So you need to stop. Think and take those thoughts captive casting them down.
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