“³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Mankind receives nothing from God except it comes from Jesus by means of the Cross and the Holy Spirit superintends the work commissioned by God for the Believer to receive.  Anything…any vain philosophy, method of man or sanctimonious ceremony given to receive the blessings of God other than faith in the Cross of Christ is in fact exalting itself against the knowledge of God.

These vain imaginations are philosophical strongholds in the life of the religious. Seeing they see not.  Sadly they walk after the flesh and they war after they flesh with methods birthed from the minds of man and traditions of their fathers.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

The good fight of faith that the Believer fights is faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  This fight is not a carnal fight but is a fight of faith that is determined to know nothing else except the Cross of Christ and casts down the vain imaginations of man that exalts itself against the knowledge of God so that these vanities won’t become philosophical strongholds in our lives.

“¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (Jesus), because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, ¹⁹ To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

It is the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified that heals the brokenhearted because it points one’s faith to the Cross of Christ.  This faith in the Cross of Christ touches the Throne Room of God and the Holy Spirit is then commissioned to superintend God’s work in the Believer’s life. Any other method presented to the congregation directs their faith to that particular method,  to “their part”, and makes the Cross of Christ of no effect in the Believer’s life.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:17

No matter how religious it may sound, if it’s not the Cross of Christ it’s another gospel and another Jesus. This preaching is not done intentionally but deceitfully.  It is a gospel believed by many sincere Christians who preach what they believe.  If they believe fasting 21 days is the method by which they receive from God then they are the source and their fasting is the means by which they receive from God.  If this was so, then the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid no!

God blesses our consecration to His Word and obedience to His Will but if our consecration doesn’t include the good fight of faith, the casting down of imaginations and determination to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and Him crucified then our consecration is in fact ambition and our faith is greed.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Beware of philosophical strongholds that take root in the Believer’s heart and exalts itself above the knowledge of God…Who HE is and what HE has done for whosoever will believe.

-Donna Clark Warren