2 Corinthians 10 - Destroying Demonic Strongholds!

2 Corinthians 10

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Paul faced many criticisms when he was not in Corinth. It is a lot easier to criticize someone behind their back than to their face. First they accused him of being "timid". They quipped he was courageous when he was away, but not in person. Paul reminds them that his audience is not in the world, but he has an "Audience of One!". The only affirmation he is looking is from his Heavenly Father. 

Paul then contrasts the argument he makes with the worldly arguments the Corinthians are putting forth. Paul realizes that what's really happening here is a spiritual battle. Anytime someone tries to take a Christian leader down, they are not acting in their own power. Paul reminds us that often the spiritual battle we face is a battle that takes place in our minds. Any sinful or rebellious actions always start with a thought in our heads. These thoughts are often incited by the evil one. 

When we develop a pattern of thinking which has been orchestrated by the evil one, it becomes a stronghold. Sometimes we act according to these demonic strongholds almost automatically. When we destroy these strongholds by replacing these words with the words of Christ. Jesus, who is the Word, we have the power to demolish any dark power in this world. This is why we need to learn to think like Jesus did if we want to act like Jesus did. 

As we study Jesus' life, his words, his motivation, his habits, and the way He obeyed His Father, we can learn how to become truly obedient to him. In our obedience we can destroy the strongholds that want to grab a hold of our hearts. 

Is there a stronghold or a way of thinking that leads you to be disobedient to Christ? Take this stronghold down by relying on God's Word, which has power to overcome any argument the devil will throw at you. 

7 You are judging by appearances.[a] If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

Though Paul is speaking confidently in the authority of the Lord, he wants to make sure they know he is not boasting about himself in human terms. Paul's authority, as is any pastor's authority, comes from the Lord. Authority is something that is eschewed in our culture today. Whether it be the government, the police, teachers, coaches, pastors, or parents, we have done more to tear down these people than build them up. Though there are those who misuse their authority and need to be held accountable for it, today the pendulum has shifted so that many authority figures fear using their authority. This could bring retaliation and even losing their job if and when some third pay accuses them of an abuse of their power. They are often deemed guilty until proven innocent. 

We need to pray for those in authority over us! We need to pray for their safety, their wisdom, and their protection! Even if you don't like the person, you are still commanded to pray for them. The bible doesn't say, "If you like the President, pray for him!" 

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b] 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Paul is not interested in comparing himself to the other so called "apostles". The proof is in the pudding. Paul is not interested in taking credit for the apostolic work someone else hasdone. Paul has no reason to take credit from another minister's work in another part of the world. He only wants the work he has done among them to grow exponentially. Because Paul had planted so many churches and reached so many for Christ, he needed to equip other leaders to continue the ministries he started. 

Paul says "tongue in cheek", if you are going to boast, boast in the Lord. 

It doesn’t matter how you testify about your own accomplishments. It is what God says about us that matters and will endure. - Guzik