2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (NKJV) 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.
In the opening Scripture, the Apostle Paul says we have arguments, prideful thoughts, and a disobedient mentality that serve as strongholds in our minds, opposing the Word of God and our obedience to God. We need to take down all these arguments, tear down our pride, and bring everything under the obedience of Christ. To do that, we need to know God and be renewed in the mind.
The strongholds or fortresses mentioned in this passage resemble the Great Wall of China—strong, long, thick, and almost impenetrable. Likewise, many of the lies the devil has planted in our minds have taken root as strongholds. The mind is the last battlefield in the life of the believer if we want to live differently and victoriously. For example, we can become captive in our minds, limited by what we believe we can or cannot do because of past experiences. Old failures or the negative words spoken over us by people we once respected can also imprison us, keeping us from stepping into the breakthroughs God desires for us. Lastly, we might be held captive by fear, doubt, worries, and unbelief.
For example, in the context of marriage, many who were raised in single-parent homes may find it hard to believe that a blessed marriage is possible—that is a lie from the enemy. If we believe that our marriage has no impact on our children’s emotional health and well-being, we have embraced another of the enemy’s lies. We should not live under deception but choose to embrace the truth revealed in the Word of God!
Galatians 3:15 (NKJV) Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
God intended a permanent, committed marriage from which we will part only at death. God designed marriage as a covenant, and it is His plan for marriages to be strong and enduring. Those who understand covenantal terms will neither annul nor add to the agreement.
God created for Adam a helper, Eve, because it was not good for Adam to be alone. God’s plan was for them to become one flesh—not merely in physical union, but as one in their goals, direction, will, emotions, mind, and spirit, moving through life together as a single entity.
Lastly, God’s plan also includes our continual connection to Him, like a three‑strand cord that is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Every marriage should carry the vision and goal of growing closer to God together.
Reflection: Have your beliefs about marriage been affected by your past experiences? How is God leading you to renew your mind, and what strongholds need to be pulled down?
Sermon Series: As a Man Thinks in His Heart So is He
攻破营垒
哥林多后书 10:4-6 我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒， 将各样的计谋、各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使它都顺服基督；并且我已经预备好了，等你们十分顺服的时候，要责罚那一切不顺服的人。
在开篇的经文中，使徒保罗说我们拥有辩论、骄傲的思想以及不顺服的心态，这些在我们的心思中充当了营垒，反对神的话语和我们对神的顺服。我们需要拿下所有这些辩论，拆毁我们的骄傲，并将一切带入对基督的顺服之中。要做到这一点，我们需要认识神并更新心思。
本段中所提到的营垒或堡垒类似于中国的万里长城——坚固、漫长、厚重，且几乎无法渗透。同样地，魔鬼种在门徒心思中的许多谎言已经扎根成为营垒。如果我们想要活得不同且得胜，心思就是信徒生命中最后的战场。例如，我们可能在心思中成为囚犯，因过去的经验而受限于我们相信自己能做或不能做的事。旧的失败或我们曾经尊重的人对我们所说的负面言论也会囚禁我们，阻碍我们步入神渴望我们得到的突破。最后，我们可能会被恐惧、怀疑、忧虑和不信所囚禁。
例如，在婚姻的处境中，许多在单亲家庭长大的人可能会发现很难相信一段蒙福的婚姻是可能的——那是来自仇敌的谎言。如果我们相信我们的婚姻对儿女的情感健康和福祉没有影响，我们就是接受了另一个仇敌的谎言。我们不应该活在欺骗之下，而要选择拥抱神的话语所启示的真理！
加拉太书 3:15 弟兄们，我且照着人的常话说：虽然只是人的盟约，若已经确立了，就没有人能废弃或加增。
神定意要一段永久的、委身的婚姻，并且我们只有在死亡时才会分开。神将婚姻设计为一个盟约，而祂的计划是让婚姻坚固且持久。那些理解盟约条款的人既不会废弃也不会加增该约定。
神为亚当创造了一个帮手夏娃，因为亚当独居不好。神的计划是要他们成为一体——不仅是在肉体的联合上，而且是在他们的目标、方向、意志、情感、心思和灵性上合一，作为单个实体一起走过人生。
最后，神的计划还包括我们与祂持续的连接，就像三股合成的绳子不容易折断（传道书 4:12）。每段婚姻都应该承载着一同追求与神更亲近的异象和目标。
默想：你关于婚姻的信念是否受到了你过去经验的影响？神正如何带领你更新你的心思，以及有哪些营垒需要被攻破？
讲章系列：人心里怎样思量，他为人就是怎样