WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.560 Well, again, let me say good morning to you. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:12.140 You know, something that I have realized about myself and as I've talked to people over the 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:16.839 years I realize is a pretty common thing is that I think most of us like to think of ourselves 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:20.120 generally as open-minded people. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:25.859 You know, most people like to think of themselves as open-minded, as pretty neutral, as pretty 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:31.719 much in control of what we think, what we believe, what premises we accept, and generally 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:32.579 unbiased. 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:38.659 We think of people who are biased as being other people, people who maybe lack the self-awareness 00:00:38.659 --> 00:00:40.019 that we possess. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:46.579 And yet what we find as we look at the research is that research consistently shows that's 00:00:46.579 --> 00:00:53.760 not in fact true, that we as human beings are not nearly as open-minded as we like to 00:00:53.760 --> 00:00:54.000 think. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:55.359 We're not nearly as unbiased. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:57.240 As we like to think. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:03.579 Turns out there are all kinds of constraints and all kinds of limitations on our thinking 00:01:03.579 --> 00:01:10.099 that mean we, generally speaking, are much more likely to remain entrenched in our views 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:16.480 and to be very resistant to contrary arguments. 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:22.200 And so it's really hard to change people's minds on things, one way or another. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:30.200 And this is partly because of something that the Bible refers to as strongholds. 00:01:31.020 --> 00:01:35.799 If you, certain Christians, if you grew up in the church, you grew up in churches where 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.040 you heard all about strongholds all the time. 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.379 Other people, you may have been in the church your whole life and you have no idea, you've 00:01:41.379 --> 00:01:45.140 never come across this word before and you don't know what we're talking about. 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:51.000 So what I want to do this morning is spend some time looking at strongholds. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:56.840 We're in a series in 2 Corinthians and this is the only place in the New Testament where 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:58.400 this word is used. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:00.700 Paul uses it in chapter 10. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:04.079 Now there's a number of themes going on in chapter 10. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:05.680 We're not going to have time to get to all of them. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:11.280 The theme that we're going to focus in on is the theme of strongholds, the problem of 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:17.759 strongholds and then the answer to strongholds, how we respond to and deal with strongholds. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:23.140 And as we proceed, my hope is that you'll come to see more clearly why I think this is so 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:25.319 relevant for people like us. 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:27.680 Let's pray and then we're going to open God's word together. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:38.980 Lord, we thank you for your word and we thank you for the ascension which reminds us that 00:02:38.980 --> 00:02:44.340 you're seated on the throne and we thank you for the fulfillment of your promise to send 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:45.159 the Holy Spirit. 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:48.840 And all of that means that your word isn't just ink and paper. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:55.080 It means that our hope is not resting on human insight and wisdom. 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:59.920 Lord, that we are here because we know that through your word, we have an opportunity 00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:08.880 to encounter the living word, to see you face to face, to be embraced by you, to be known 00:03:08.880 --> 00:03:11.240 by you, to be changed by you. 00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:12.540 And that's why we're here, Lord. 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:19.220 Pray that in the power of the Spirit, you would meet us where we are, be the king that we need, 00:03:19.920 --> 00:03:23.360 do your work in us, Lord, for our good, but ultimately for your glory. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.020 We pray this in your Son's holy name. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:25.680 Amen. 00:03:27.140 --> 00:03:31.820 So first of all, the problem of strongholds. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:38.860 In the ancient world, a stronghold referred to a heavily fortified structure. 00:03:39.700 --> 00:03:46.640 A stronghold was very hard to access and thus it was very easy to defend. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:53.459 In some cities, some ancient cities, more prosperous cities, you might have the outer wall and then 00:03:53.459 --> 00:03:57.859 you would also have a stronghold that was built somewhere within the wall. 00:03:58.359 --> 00:04:03.819 The idea being that if an enemy breached the outer wall, you would retreat into the stronghold 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:08.679 and there you would make your final stand because strongholds are, by definition, very 00:04:08.679 --> 00:04:13.060 hard to tear down because they are very well defended. 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:18.959 So that's the image that we need to have in mind as we read Paul's words in verses 4 and 5 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:20.560 of 2 Corinthians 10. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:27.899 He's using the word stronghold as a metaphor to describe something else, something internal 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:29.199 in our hearts and minds. 00:04:30.340 --> 00:04:41.180 He's referring to basically core beliefs, core attitudes, core values that take up residence 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:42.500 in us. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:48.500 We may not even be aware that they are in us, but they shape how we think. 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:51.480 They shape how we feel. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:57.860 They shape what we are likely to accept as truth and what we are likely to reject as false. 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:00.220 They ultimately shape how we live. 00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:01.860 So they're extremely important. 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:09.480 And what we see in Corinth is an example of what we might think of as a cultural stronghold. 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:15.200 When he's talking about a stronghold, he's talking about, he's diagnosing the issue in 00:05:15.200 --> 00:05:22.060 the Corinthian church that has caused massive tension between the members of that church 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:22.740 and Paul. 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:29.220 It's the reason why so much of this letter is devoted to Paul trying to repair the relationship 00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:34.879 that he has as the founding pastor of the Corinthian church because many of them have rejected 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:37.140 him and rejected his ministry. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:44.180 And he says the reason is because of these strongholds that have taken up residence in 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:45.219 your hearts and minds. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:52.599 So the Corinthian culture centered around power and strength and honor. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:58.279 The Greco-Roman world held those things to be in very high esteem, power and strength 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:59.360 and honor. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:04.259 And what has happened in the Corinthian church is those values have infiltrated the church. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:08.759 They've infiltrated the hearts and minds of these believers. 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:16.519 They've become deeply internalized such that they are now unexamined assumptions about the 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:17.599 way life works. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:23.279 And what that has done is it has distorted the way that these Christians live out their faith. 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:29.759 They came to see everything in the Christian life through the lens of these cultural values 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:32.759 of power and strength and honor. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:33.659 What does that look like? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.259 Well, for one thing we know from the context they were obsessed with spiritual gifts. 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:44.360 But not spiritual gifts like serving or giving or comforting. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:47.240 Gifts like speaking in tongues. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.079 Making grandiose prophecies. 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:53.839 Healing people in dramatic miraculous ways. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:01.019 They were obsessed with gifts that could allow them to make grandiose displays of spiritual 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:01.639 power. 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:06.959 And there was a culture in the church of spiritual one-upsmanship where people tried to outdo 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:11.379 one another with grandiose, impressive displays of spiritual power. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:20.219 They preferred religious leaders who were highly charismatic, good-looking, highly impressive 00:07:20.219 --> 00:07:21.219 public speakers. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:26.660 At one point we see in the chapter that they criticized Paul because physically he's unimpressive. 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:33.740 You know, we imagine him as being kind of like short and kind of dumpy and kind of, you know, 00:07:33.820 --> 00:07:36.300 just kind of somebody that you wouldn't even notice in a crowd. 00:07:36.440 --> 00:07:38.560 And they say that his speech is of no account. 00:07:38.880 --> 00:07:42.840 Oh, you write big words, but when you get up in front of us in person, you're boring. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:45.140 Nobody cares what you have to say. 00:07:45.200 --> 00:07:46.480 You're a bad public speaker. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:50.820 We've already talked about that place in Acts where during a sermon a guy falls asleep and 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:55.279 falls out of a window and dies as a result of Paul's bad preaching. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.579 So he's not a very good, impressive leader. 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:04.980 And so when they look at Paul, and they look at Paul's meekness and Paul's humility and Paul's 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:13.240 poverty and Paul's suffering, they fail to recognize those as marks of genuine, Christ-like, 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.199 countercultural ministry. 00:08:16.280 --> 00:08:20.360 And instead, they say this man is pathetic. 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:22.519 This man is a joke. 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:26.060 There is no way the Lord can be with a guy like this. 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:28.660 And so Paul says this is a symptom. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:35.539 The way you perceive me and my ministry is a symptom of strongholds that have taken up residence in you. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:38.199 They've infiltrated your hearts and minds. 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:46.299 We also see cultural and political strongholds continuing to influence the church today. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:57.559 This is why many churches in the modern West have deeply revised Christianity to essentially remove anything that might sound offensive. 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:03.919 It's why churches have aligned themselves with the most popular public opinions. 00:09:05.199 --> 00:09:06.439 It's because of this. 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:11.199 This is why other churches have become so intensely nationalistic. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:18.539 This is why nearly every church in our country is deeply divided along political lines. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:31.939 You know, there's a major resort happening right now where people are shifting and trying to find churches that are filled with people who think like they think when it comes to politics. 00:09:32.079 --> 00:09:34.899 People are wondering, we're all wondering, where are my people? 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:36.019 Who are my people? 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:37.860 Where are the people who think like I think? 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:47.860 These are all symptoms of cultural and political strongholds that have taken up residence in the church, 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:51.860 that have infiltrated the church, that have infiltrated hearts and minds, 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:58.820 because what we have is we have people who are viewing their theology and their faith through the lens of their politics. 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:04.120 You've heard me say it before, but it's interesting that, you know, that I can't remember who first said this, 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:08.200 but all the time you hear about people changing their church because of their politics. 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:11.360 I have yet to hear of anybody changing their politics because of their church. 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:15.340 These are strongholds. 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:18.100 Now, these are cultural and political strongholds. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:20.440 Make no mistake, that's just one kind of stronghold. 00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:23.500 There are other kinds of strongholds as well. 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:25.540 Let me just give you a few examples for the sake of time. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:27.860 There's such a thing as a relational stronghold. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.080 A relational stronghold. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.420 Let me give you a couple of examples of that. 00:10:32.920 --> 00:10:35.460 Loving and honoring your parents is a very good thing. 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:37.980 We all need to love and honor our parents. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.860 There are some parents and children here. 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:45.580 I highly encourage you and pray that children, we would be able to honor our parents. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:54.379 However, there are some people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, who simply cannot bear the possibility of disappointing their parents, 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:57.000 of disagreeing with their parents, 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:01.300 of making decisions that their parents don't agree with. 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:08.139 And so, with all due respect, we do have some marriages that are experiencing extreme distress 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:17.459 because one member of the couple would rather act in ways that please parents 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:21.279 than do what's best for their spouse and their kids. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:27.439 And so, that can cause, in some marriages, a lot of tension, a lot of unrest, a lot of resentment. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:35.939 Another example of a relational stronghold, romantic relationships, deep friendships, can be really good things. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.779 In fact, that's what we were created for. 00:11:38.439 --> 00:11:43.279 But for some of us, we can allow a relationship with another person to… 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:50.759 We can allow ourselves to become so deeply enmeshed, so deeply connected to that other person 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:52.720 that they start to become everything to us. 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:55.720 They start to become the only thing for us. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:12:02.919 So, we come to a place where we begin to become deeply emotionally dependent on this other person 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.059 for our emotional well-being. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.939 We lose a sense of where the boundaries are. 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:14.880 We feel overly responsible for them, and we put too much burden on them to be responsible for us, 00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:20.080 and the boundaries disappear until we don't really know who we are apart from that other person. 00:12:20.580 --> 00:12:22.840 That would be a relational stronghold. 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:27.980 There's also such a thing as emotional strongholds. 00:12:28.020 --> 00:12:32.040 Just one example of this, a common one, is the example of anger. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.180 You know, we all get angry sometimes. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:41.799 The Bible even says there's a category for getting angry and yet not sinning in our anger. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.319 So, anger is a part of being human. 00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:49.239 The Psalms are filled with people who are angry and expressing that anger in honest ways. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:53.699 But for some of us, anger can start to become a stronghold. 00:12:54.059 --> 00:13:00.240 You know, bitterness and resentment can seep in and take up residence in us. 00:13:00.959 --> 00:13:03.759 They sort of come to define us. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:08.100 So, we tend to complain all the time. 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:12.600 We tend to criticize other people all the time. 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:16.019 There's always a fresh source of outrage. 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.519 Until we almost don't know who we are apart from our anger. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:21.879 Right? 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:23.460 So, that's an emotional stronghold. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:27.240 One final example, such a thing as personal strongholds. 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.620 Right? 00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:33.680 These are beliefs about ourself, beliefs about the world that we internalize. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:36.019 Often, we do this at a very young age. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:42.399 A lot of what happens in pastoral work when you are with people and you start to get down below the surfaces, 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:53.159 you realize that the truths of the gospel are butting up against these deeply held beliefs that people have about themselves and the world that were internalized at a very young age. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:58.980 Some of us had experiences growing up that led us to believe that we are ultimately unworthy. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.579 That we are ultimately not good enough. 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.360 Or that we're tainted. 00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:05.779 Or that we're ultimately unlovable. 00:14:06.579 --> 00:14:10.159 If they really knew the truth about me, they would run. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:20.360 Some of us came to believe that our needs don't matter and that the way we contribute value is to be the strong, even-keeled person who doesn't have needs. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:24.539 And as long as we are that, we are valuable. 00:14:24.839 --> 00:14:27.179 Some of us came to believe that we can't really trust anyone. 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:30.819 That if you trust somebody, that ultimately they're going to let you down. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:34.659 And so, I need to look out for number one. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:38.899 I can't really trust anyone to come through. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:42.759 Now, imagine these core beliefs and the way they would play out in friendships. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:44.579 The way they would play out in dating relationships. 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.059 The ways they would play out in marriages. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.840 The way they play out in multiple spheres of our lives. 00:14:51.459 --> 00:14:51.579 Right? 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.759 So, these are some examples of strongholds. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.279 Cultural, political, relational, emotional. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.679 There are many others, right? 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:00.519 We didn't talk about addictions, for instance. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.459 There are lots of examples that we could give. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:06.419 But it's crucial that we understand what Paul is really saying here. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.319 Here's what Paul is really saying. 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:15.000 The reason that we are not nearly as neutral and open-minded as we like to believe we are 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:20.980 is because over time, certain attitudes and assumptions have infiltrated our hearts and minds. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:26.079 So, this isn't a stronghold that we have built to defend ourselves. 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.959 This is somebody has invaded us. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:33.179 These things have invaded us and they have built a stronghold inside us. 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:39.839 They have become like these well-defended structures of belief inside us. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:41.739 Meaning, they are heavily fortified. 00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:43.399 They are nearly impossible to get rid of. 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.779 In other words, to sum all of this up, Paul is saying, 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:49.279 you need to understand your heart is occupied territory. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:53.860 Your heart is occupied territory. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.639 You've been taken captive. 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:03.259 And the biggest problem with strongholds is this. 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:05.939 They ultimately end up controlling us. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:10.400 Because our strongholds shape how we see the world. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.520 They shape how we see ourselves. 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.160 They shape how we see God. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.760 They determine our priorities. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:21.620 They determine, as I said earlier, what we are likely to see as true. 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:23.540 What we are likely to see as false. 00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:25.980 They become our plausibility structures. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:29.460 They determine how we live our lives. 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:32.539 They determine how we feel in response to our life experiences. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.800 So, in essence, we end up serving them. 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:38.580 They're the ones calling the shots. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:44.300 We live our lives in service to false beliefs and attitudes. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:49.460 And this is the thing that Paul is trying to get through to these Corinthians and to us. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.500 So, this is the problem of strongholds. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.019 Now, how do we deal with strongholds? 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.440 What's the answer? 00:16:54.440 --> 00:17:00.900 Well, philosophy, and you all know that I love philosophy and spend a lot of time reading philosophy. 00:17:01.020 --> 00:17:07.440 Philosophy can be very helpful for understanding and naming our cultural and our political strongholds. 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:10.259 But it cannot tear them down. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:17.480 Psychology can help us understand our personal and emotional strongholds. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.400 You know, I have a background as a therapist. 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:26.400 And I see a lot of value in the world of psychology to help us understand our personal and emotional strongholds. 00:17:27.040 --> 00:17:28.180 But it cannot tear them down. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.440 It cannot tear them down. 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:34.560 Because ultimately, you cannot think your way out of a stronghold. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.560 You cannot think your way out of a stronghold. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:40.580 You cannot argue somebody else out of a stronghold. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:43.899 If you have a deep, and some of you do. 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:45.559 Some of you do. 00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:46.220 Some of us do. 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:50.039 If you have a deep stronghold belief that you are ultimately unlovable. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.179 It doesn't matter how many times people tell you that they love you. 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:57.960 It doesn't matter how many times someone like me tells you God loves you. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.960 It's not going to penetrate. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:01.880 It's going to bounce off. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:07.980 Because there's a stronghold there that is heavily fortified. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:11.039 It's almost impossible to penetrate something like that. 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:12.680 Because strongholds are very well defended. 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:16.519 Now, what if you try to confront somebody else's stronghold? 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.660 What if you say something like, 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.640 Hey, you know I love you. 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.480 You know I care about you. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:23.920 I've been thinking a lot about the last few conversations we've had. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.980 And I actually really think that you might have a political stronghold. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:30.400 And I think that that's something that you need to take seriously. 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.480 Here's the thing. 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:35.599 If you're not dealing with a stronghold, that conversation might go well. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.539 That person might say, 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.180 You know, I think that you're right. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.400 I should probably spend less time on Twitter. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.460 I should probably take more walks. 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.660 I should probably get a more balanced perspective on my life. 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:51.420 But if you are dealing with a stronghold, 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:55.539 chances are direct confrontation is only going to make it worse. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:19:00.259 In other words, people are much more likely to just further entrench themselves, 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:03.639 build the walls higher, and push you away. 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:08.240 That's kind of one of the ways you know you're dealing with a stronghold. 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:11.220 You know, one of the books that I love that I encourage people to read 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:13.740 is the book Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:18.339 And I love the analogy they use of the lawyers. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.959 That when you get too close to somebody's sin, 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:24.980 when you get too close to a stronghold in their life, 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.639 you don't encounter them. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.259 They send the lawyers out. 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.299 And so the lawyers, 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:32.439 their job in the conversation 00:19:32.439 --> 00:19:34.579 is to discredit the witness, 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.240 is to attack. 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:36.919 Right? 00:19:36.959 --> 00:19:38.419 The best defense is a good offense. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.039 And so anytime you realize, 00:19:40.159 --> 00:19:42.959 I'm not having a conversation with this person's actual heart, 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.519 I'm dealing with their lawyers, 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:47.000 you're probably dealing with a stronghold. 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.980 So strongholds are so deeply rooted 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:52.720 that they take on a kind of spiritual power. 00:19:54.139 --> 00:19:57.279 And so they require a spiritual solution. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:01.139 This is what Paul says in verses 3 and 4. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.539 For though we walk in the flesh, 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:05.279 we're not waging war according to the flesh. 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:09.000 For the weapons of our warfare are not flesh, 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:12.599 but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:15.119 So he says, we're not waging war according to the flesh, 00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:18.000 meaning we're not going to rely on our persuasive arguments. 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:20.439 We're not going to rely on our charisma. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:24.879 We're not going to rely on impressive public speaking 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:28.179 or any of the other things that you think matter in ministry. 00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:31.619 None of that's actually going to work to change your mind. 00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:32.419 That's what he's saying. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.919 Paul's weapons are spiritual weapons. 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.740 And he's talking about the power of Christ 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:42.459 and the proclamation of the gospel. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:44.639 And the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.299 That's what he's talking about. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.659 And he's essentially saying, 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.679 you can't talk your way out of this. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.099 You can't talk somebody else out of this. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.819 It requires God invading that person's life. 00:20:53.959 --> 00:20:56.599 A work of the Holy Spirit to set this person free. 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:00.379 And you know, the gospel ultimately says this. 00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:03.939 It says that your heart was made by God. 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:07.620 And it was made for God. 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:10.960 And ultimately, it belongs to him. 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:14.259 But the gospel also says that ultimately, 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:18.360 we all serve someone or something other than God 00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:21.200 because our hearts are occupied territory. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:24.360 So when God looks at your heart 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:27.580 and he sees an invading force 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:29.620 that has taken up residence in your heart, 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.480 which is the metaphor, 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:35.039 and has built a stronghold on territory that belongs to him, 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:37.539 there's only one response 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:41.440 that a true king would have to that kind of situation. 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.580 Conquest. 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:46.539 He aims to take it back. 00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:49.599 He aims to reclaim what he made 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.899 and what is rightfully his. 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:54.079 And so that's how Jesus responds. 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:57.079 And what the gospel tells us is 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.339 the only way to be free 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:01.740 is to serve our rightful king. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.659 Because it says, 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:08.019 don't give in to the lie 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.279 that we are somehow neutral. 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.960 Right? 00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:13.119 You're going to serve someone 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:15.319 you're going to serve something. 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.879 And so what the gospel says 00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.839 is the only way to be free 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:20.879 is to serve the God for whom 00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:23.459 and by whom we were made to serve. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.799 In that we discover who we are. 00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:27.419 In that we discover why we're here. 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.739 And so Paul's metaphor, 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.139 just to pull all this together, 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.619 is this. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.639 Your heart is occupied territory. 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.719 Jesus is your rightful king. 00:22:36.719 --> 00:22:39.159 And he has come to set you free. 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.619 To proclaim what is, 00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:42.939 or to reclaim what is rightfully his. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.179 And so we say, 00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:45.199 well how does he do that? 00:22:45.739 --> 00:22:46.619 How does that work? 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.599 The key verse for understanding 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:50.119 how this happens is verse 5. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:51.859 Paul says, 00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:53.559 we destroy arguments 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:55.159 and every lofty opinion 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:58.519 raised against the knowledge of God. 00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.639 And so what he's saying here, 00:22:59.639 --> 00:23:02.259 he's telling us what strongholds really are. 00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:04.759 All strongholds are ultimately 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.619 lofty opinions 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:09.139 raised against the knowledge of God. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.280 And that's the key term there, 00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:11.380 lofty opinions. 00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:13.840 If you look that word up in the Greek, 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:16.400 the word translated as lofty opinions 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:19.140 implies someone who has a posture of arrogance, 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:21.140 of presumption, 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.360 of self-aggrandizement, 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.140 ultimately of pride. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.440 Right? 00:23:26.520 --> 00:23:28.040 So here's what Paul is saying. 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:28.880 Ultimately, 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:32.520 all strongholds are powered by pride. 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.000 Pride. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:35.819 Pride is the gas in the tank. 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:36.819 Right? 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.920 Pride is what turns the electricity on. 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.519 Pride is what activates 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.839 all of the perimeter defenses. 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.920 Pride is the thing 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:47.019 that makes the walls thick and high. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.460 Pride is what fires the arrows 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:52.420 at anyone who gets too close. 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:55.160 It's all powered by pride. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.639 All strongholds are powered 00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.940 by an attitude that says, 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:01.720 I know best what is true. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.660 I know better than you what is true. 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:06.559 I know better than God what is true. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:09.519 I know best what is true. 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:12.000 That's what drives strongholds. 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.279 And you say, 00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:13.840 well, what about negative strongholds? 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.460 What about if you have 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.779 horrible beliefs about yourself? 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.539 Here's the thing 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:18.100 that most people don't realize. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:22.440 If I have a deeply held belief 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:25.120 that I internalized as a five-year-old 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.539 that ultimately I am unlovable, 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:30.319 and I am not willing to hear otherwise, 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:32.399 ultimately, with all due respect, 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:34.299 underneath that there is pride. 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.119 In other words, 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.220 there is the belief that 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.740 this belief that I have 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.720 is more true 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:41.339 than anything you have to say to me 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.759 or anything God has to say to me. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.639 And that has to be rooted out. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:49.039 So what's the answer to strongholds 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.599 that we're sort of closing in on? 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.139 Well, the only way 00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:54.920 to take the power out of our strongholds 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:57.039 is for us to be humbled. 00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.740 We need to be humbled. 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.820 We need multiple experiences 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:06.259 that humble us. 00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:08.519 We have to be brought, 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:10.120 sometimes kicking and screaming, 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.980 to the realization 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.539 that our attitudes, 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.080 our assumptions, 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.620 our judgments 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:17.360 can be faulty 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.920 and unreliable. 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:22.400 And so when Paul talks about 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.700 divine warfare, 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:25.880 he's talking about Jesus 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:27.300 humbling us. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:27.880 He says, 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.840 I'm coming, 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.680 and I'm coming as a part 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:32.279 of the army of Christ. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.840 And Christ is really the one coming, 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.039 and Christ's aim 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:37.700 is to humble you 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:40.100 because He loves you. 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.720 So what he's saying is 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.220 when we have experiences 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.140 in our life 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.180 that are humbling, 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.860 when you have experiences 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:50.060 that show us our weakness, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.320 or when we have experiences 00:25:52.320 --> 00:25:53.400 that call our judgment 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.240 into question, 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:56.820 it very well may be 00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:58.200 that Jesus is at work 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.060 in you 00:25:59.060 --> 00:26:00.120 in that moment 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:01.440 to humble you, 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.860 to set you free 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:04.620 from stronghold beliefs, 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.960 to loose your hold 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.279 on unassailable, 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.880 unexamined truths 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.860 that you have a vice grip on. 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:15.000 To put all of this 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.619 another way, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.339 the more lofty 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.779 our opinions are, 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:21.219 the more power 00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:22.899 our strongholds have. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.059 And so the only way 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.319 to be free from them 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.079 is for our own opinions 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:28.279 to come down 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.779 and for God's opinions 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.059 to be raised up 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.059 above everything else. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.679 Right? 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:35.219 My take on things 00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:36.299 needs to come down. 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.779 God's take on things 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.859 needs to be 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.519 exalted. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.379 That's the only way 00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:43.859 to do it. 00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:46.519 So let me just apply this 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.459 in one way 00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:48.079 just to give 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.859 a more concrete example 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.539 of what we're talking 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:50.939 about here. 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:51.859 Let's take this thing 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.439 that we've come back 00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.199 to a few times. 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.500 I think this is an issue 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.079 for some of us 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.759 in this community. 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:58.079 A stronghold belief 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.759 that I am ultimately 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.379 unlovable. 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:01.579 Right? 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.579 How do you deal with that? 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.740 Well, the world would say 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.639 if you were to go 00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.679 to somebody down the road 00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:07.079 and ask 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.119 or ask your friend 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:11.159 or many therapists, 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.080 if you were to ask them 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.660 how do I deal 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.440 with this belief 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.900 that I have 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.320 that ultimately 00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:14.840 I'm unlovable? 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.800 I can't accept love 00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:16.420 from my boyfriend 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:16.960 or my girlfriend 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.660 or my spouse. 00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:19.160 They say I love you 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.920 and I just don't believe them. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.759 I can never believe it. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.380 I go to church 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:23.200 and it drives me crazy 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.779 because I just don't 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.300 connect to that. 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.540 How do I deal with that? 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.200 Well, many people would say 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.360 well you just need to work 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.519 on loving yourself more 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.519 and here's how you do it. 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.700 You need to understand 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.720 that you're worth love. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.540 You need to understand 00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:34.340 that you're valuable. 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.940 And so what you need to do 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.220 is work on your self-esteem. 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.759 So write some words 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.720 of affirmation out. 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:41.039 Put them on your bathroom mirror. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.500 Repeat them to yourself. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.380 Give yourself hugs. 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:45.279 Right? 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.420 Treat yourself well. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.620 You need to do these things 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:50.420 and work on loving yourself 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.240 and then you'll feel 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.839 more lovable. 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.519 But ultimately 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.779 that kind of thing 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:57.279 doesn't really work. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.680 And I say that as somebody 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.860 who's actually tried that. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.140 I've tried that. 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:05.059 I mean I'm not going to hug myself 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.759 up here in front of you 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.700 but I've tried this stuff 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.680 over the course of my life. 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.259 And it doesn't work 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.039 because there's always 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.980 this voice in the back 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.480 of your head 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.019 that knows that you're doing it 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.460 to try to manipulate yourself 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:16.079 into loving yourself more. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.900 You always feel yourself 00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.819 gaming yourself. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.079 Right? 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.900 It feels like a technique. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.819 It feels like a strategy 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:25.740 to look at a word of affirmation 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.440 for yourself 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.059 on your mirror 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.099 and to say it to yourself. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.660 And you know what 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.660 you find yourself wanting 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:31.099 is you want somebody else 00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.859 to say it to you 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.000 but whose opinion matters 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.559 so much 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.319 that it actually 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:36.240 convinces you. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.240 That's what you really want. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.519 And when you hear 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.700 your own voice saying it 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:42.099 somehow it lacks credibility. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.019 It lacks authority. 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:47.720 And so we look 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.119 and we say 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.140 well what's another way 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.000 to get at this? 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.880 And I would think 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.420 that the answer 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.240 comes from a man 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.519 named Bernard of Clairvaux. 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.740 12th century 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.680 Benedictine Abbott. 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.880 And here's what he says 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.480 about love 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.960 and loving ourselves. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.819 He says you know 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.900 we all start out 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:06.460 with lofty opinions 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:08.140 of ourselves. 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.339 We have a very high 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.660 view of ourselves. 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.680 And he says 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:11.940 you know 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.500 so he says 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.839 we love ourselves 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.099 for our own sake. 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.480 That's how everybody starts. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.000 He says 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.140 but then something happens. 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.400 Some calamity 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.900 some crisis 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.960 and that humbles you. 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.880 And in that moment 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.980 of being humbled 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.259 you reach out to God 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.019 in crisis. 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.380 You reach out to God 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.860 for help. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.339 But at that point 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:31.779 he says 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.960 we only come to love God 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.380 for our own sake. 00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.180 I was in a moment 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.640 of crisis. 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.299 I prayed. 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.160 I felt better. 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.339 And we start following God 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.019 because we think 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.480 that God 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.539 can give us 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.099 what we need. 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.980 So he says 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.559 we start out 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.079 in a relationship 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.460 with God 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.360 where we love God 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.880 for our own sake. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:47.740 You know 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.579 God provides for me. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.500 God gives me 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.099 a sense of peace 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.740 when I'm afraid. 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.500 But then 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.200 he says 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:54.680 over the course 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.579 of our lives 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.799 living lives 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.319 of faith 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.299 we're going to 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.120 continue to face 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:00.539 more and more trials 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.679 and hardships 00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:02.699 that are going to 00:30:02.699 --> 00:30:03.459 humble us 00:30:03.459 --> 00:30:04.519 even more. 00:30:05.239 --> 00:30:06.079 And over the course 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.579 of life 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.099 if we're living 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.599 faithfully 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.779 we come to rely 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.379 on God 00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:10.399 more and more 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:10.839 and more. 00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:11.739 We come to reach out 00:30:11.739 --> 00:30:12.079 to God 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.079 more and more 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.479 and more 00:30:13.479 --> 00:30:14.339 and we're humbled 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.159 more and more. 00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:15.619 He says 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.099 over the course 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.539 of time 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.939 we come to love God 00:30:17.939 --> 00:30:19.199 not just for our sake 00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:20.500 but for his sake. 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.459 God has come through 00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:23.399 so many times. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.179 He's done so many 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.039 things in my life. 00:30:25.979 --> 00:30:26.599 I've had so many 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.699 experiences of being 00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:28.480 in prayer with him 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.559 that I've come to realize 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.639 that God is worth loving 00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.459 simply because of 00:30:31.459 --> 00:30:32.359 who he is 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:33.919 regardless of what 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.759 he does for me. 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.899 And at this point 00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.919 Bernard describes 00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:38.579 a shift. 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.459 He says 00:30:39.459 --> 00:30:39.959 at this point 00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:40.939 what's happening is 00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:42.799 my opinions 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.279 my lofty opinions 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.359 are being brought 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:45.939 down low. 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.639 God's opinions 00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:50.240 God's take 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.679 is being exalted 00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:52.399 in my life. 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.699 I'm coming to love God 00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:54.599 for who he is. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.339 His opinion 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.220 is mattering more. 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:57.159 And here's the key. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.759 Finally 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.199 the ultimate 00:30:59.199 --> 00:31:00.539 sort of the fourth stage 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.079 of love 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:02.299 according to his taxonomy 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.819 is this. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.159 We come to love ourselves 00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:07.399 for God's sake. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.959 And you say 00:31:08.959 --> 00:31:10.259 what does that mean? 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.899 We develop a love 00:31:12.899 --> 00:31:13.659 for ourselves 00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.359 that is not 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.480 self-focused. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:17.259 We develop a love 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.699 for ourselves 00:31:17.699 --> 00:31:18.159 that is not 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:19.339 self-aggrandizing. 00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.720 We come to love 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.220 ourselves 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.379 because God's 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.579 opinion of us 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.799 has come to matter 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:27.039 so much more 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.099 than anyone else's 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.559 opinion 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.579 that it has come 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.919 to define us. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.859 So my love 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.399 for myself 00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:35.019 at that point 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.960 flows out of 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.099 God's love for me 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.399 because when God 00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:38.939 looks at me 00:31:38.939 --> 00:31:39.279 and says 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.279 you are infinitely 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.839 worthy 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.980 you are infinitely 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.579 valuable 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.299 and I was willing 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.079 to give everything 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.799 for you 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.579 I love myself 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.859 because of that love 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:49.500 because that has 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.679 become the stronghold 00:31:50.679 --> 00:31:51.279 in me. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.700 and he says 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.440 that's the sort 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.240 of end 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.740 of spiritual growth 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.440 that's it. 00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.299 We get to the point 00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.420 where God's opinion 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.359 is central 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:01.480 and so this is 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.619 how strongholds 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.299 are ultimately 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.940 destroyed. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.019 God humbles us 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.839 so much 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.819 that we stop 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.579 relying on our 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.279 own opinion 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:09.160 as authoritative 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.039 and we come to 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.279 rely on God's opinion 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.420 as the thing 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.480 that defines us. 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:13.920 You know 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.399 this is what 00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:15.039 Paul means 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.660 by the phrase 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.779 take every thought 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.940 captive to obey 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.480 Christ. 00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:20.360 It means 00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:21.600 Jesus becomes 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:23.059 our stronghold. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.259 Jesus becomes 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.059 the lens 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.799 through which 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.400 we see 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.140 and make sense 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:28.180 of everything else 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.720 in our lives 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.240 and you know 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:29.860 the Psalms 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.320 are filled 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:31.059 with this idea. 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.840 Psalm 9 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.500 the Lord 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.539 is a stronghold 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.320 for the oppressed 00:32:34.320 --> 00:32:35.580 a stronghold 00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:36.539 in times of trouble. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.299 Psalm 144 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.820 he is my steadfast 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.860 love and my fortress 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:41.360 my stronghold 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.660 and my deliverer. 00:32:43.820 --> 00:32:44.620 So here's what 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.380 all of this means 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.960 just to kind of 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.840 bring this together. 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:49.079 because Jesus 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.419 made us 00:32:50.419 --> 00:32:51.779 and because Jesus 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:53.339 loves us 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.859 and because our 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.720 hearts and minds 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:57.099 are occupied territory 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.439 he sometimes 00:32:58.439 --> 00:32:59.819 uses hardship 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:01.439 to humble us 00:33:01.439 --> 00:33:03.319 in order to set us 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.779 free 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.599 from our strongholds 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.959 because he wants 00:33:06.959 --> 00:33:07.779 to be 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:09.359 our stronghold. 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.459 So in times 00:33:11.459 --> 00:33:12.079 of suffering 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.859 and many of us 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.439 are in times 00:33:13.439 --> 00:33:13.879 of suffering 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.500 right now 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.899 as it says 00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.720 in the Psalms 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:19.160 we are called 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.299 to look to the Lord 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.759 to be our stronghold. 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.680 It's very tempting 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.880 to look to the narratives 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.960 in the surrounding culture. 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.500 It's very tempting 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.680 to look to politics. 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.579 It's very tempting 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.440 to look to our 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.000 formative childhood experiences. 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.920 It's very tempting 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.980 to rely on 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.900 our feelings 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:38.160 and our emotional world. 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:40.220 But the invitation here 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:42.279 is to recognize 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.839 where the true stronghold 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.880 the true source 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.560 of hope and peace 00:33:45.560 --> 00:33:46.240 can be found 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:47.600 and that's Jesus Christ. 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.380 So the invitation 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.380 is to look instead 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:50.600 to God's word 00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:52.100 to God's will 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:53.660 to God's love. 00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.940 And in our suffering 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:57.320 if we're ever tempted 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:58.960 to doubt Jesus' love 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:00.440 if we're ever wondering 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.560 how could he let this 00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:02.420 happen to me? 00:34:03.280 --> 00:34:04.680 How could a loving God 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.800 want to humble me 00:34:05.800 --> 00:34:07.280 through this experience? 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:09.139 If we ever doubt 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.480 his love 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.360 we need only look 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.059 to the cross. 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.380 Because here's 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.380 the divine weapon 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.239 that can truly 00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:16.820 destroy strongholds. 00:34:17.279 --> 00:34:18.960 It's this gospel truth 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:21.380 that Jesus loved us 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:21.860 so much 00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.880 that he allowed us 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.000 to use our weapons 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.699 against him. 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.119 That in order 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.019 to set us free 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.199 he allowed himself 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:30.300 to be taken captive. 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.519 That in order 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.159 to destroy 00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:34.420 our strongholds 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.639 he allowed himself 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.820 to be destroyed. 00:34:38.100 --> 00:34:39.820 That's the kind of king 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:41.480 we can trust 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.240 with our hearts. 00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.760 That's the kind of king 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:44.220 we need. 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.480 Let's pray. 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.600 Lord we thank you 00:34:47.600 --> 00:34:48.660 for your word 00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:49.660 and we thank you 00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:51.040 that we have 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:53.200 more than spoken 00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:54.340 or written words 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.420 to rely on. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.019 We thank you 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:56.640 that as we 00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:58.360 come before you 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.080 in prayer 00:34:59.080 --> 00:34:59.820 and confession 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.080 as we come 00:35:01.080 --> 00:35:02.220 around your table 00:35:02.220 --> 00:35:03.240 that Lord 00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:04.360 you offer us 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.400 yourself this morning. 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:05.940 That we have 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:06.500 an opportunity 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:08.500 to receive you 00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:10.059 into our bodies 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.400 Lord. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.519 And we pray 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.500 that you would work 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.519 through your spiritual 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.840 your Holy Spirit 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:17.000 and through 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.920 our prayers 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.820 and confessions 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.639 and singing 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:21.599 through the sacraments 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.440 Lord 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.480 to eradicate 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:25.039 the strongholds 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.619 in us 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.139 and to become 00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.840 our stronghold. 00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:28.219 We pray this Lord 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.940 for our good 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.659 and for your glory. 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:30.260 Amen.