The Playing Field
II Cor. 10:3-5, “ 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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,”

Paul is setting up for us the playing field on which spiritual warfare occurs. He emphasizes that the war has been waged over our inner man. True spiritual warfare consists of bringing ourselves into full agreement with Christ and pursuing the truth of the knowledge of God.

Much of the spiritual warfare that occurs in the body of Christ today is primarily focused on one’s ability to stir up an aggressive emotion, shout some very zealous phrases, energetically commanding spiritual forces to desist. There is nothing wrong with those who have this particular personality type to pray this way, but this behavior in-and-of itself is not spiritual warfare.

Gary Wiens states it this way:

Those who have authority don’t need to posture themselves as authoritative. They are authoritative. Successful spiritual warfare is not a matter of decibels and energy, power-packed phrases and prophetic gestures. Successful spiritual warfare is rooted solely and completely in our position of influence with Jesus Christ. And that position of influence comes only in the secret place of intimacy by receiving the Word of God implanted in the human heart.

Pulling Down Strongholds
So the first step in spiritual warfare is defining the battleground. The second, according to Paul is the pulling down strongholds.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Paul defines “pulling down strongholds” as the casting down of arguments that are exalted against the knowledge of God (verse 5). The word stronghold in the Greek is also translated as “castle”. It is used as both a positive and a negative in scripture. But here it is used as a negative. These strongholds of the mind must be dismantled if one wants to move forward in the purposes of God. Since these strongholds are built of those things that seek to exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, then we

can only pull them down by giving ourselves to the pursuing of the truth of who God is and declaring this truth over our lives. So how do we find the knowledge of God?

There is a promise given by God through Solomon concerning the knowledge of God. However, this promise is conditional.

Prov. 2:1-5, “1 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, 2 so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

If we are going to combat the enemy and pull down the strongholds in our lives, we must systematically ingest the Word of God, taking it deep into our hearts by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells us that we can be filled with the Spirit through singing, speaking, and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.

Eph. 5:18-19, “18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Releasing God’s Purposes Through Singing
Psalm 149:5-9 tells us of the power that the saints have when they declare the goodness, the kindness, the beauty, the awesomeness, power of God through singing – more importantly, singing the word.

Psalm 149:5-9, “5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 to exercise vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 to execute on them the written judgment – this honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!

It is God’s design that the songs of the saints, energized by the power of the Word, defeat, confuse, and ultimately destroy the kingdom of darkness. Psalm 8 and Matthew 21 give us another great example of the power released through song.

Psalm 8:2, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”

Matt. 21:16, “…and Jesus said to them, ‘Yes, have you never read, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise”?’”

Praise going forth, even from the mouths of babies, is a weapon of warfare against the enemy.

Another example of the power of praise:

II. Chron. 5:13-14, “13 …it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever,’ that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”

II Chron. 20:21-22, “21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.’ 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people…who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.”

There are many other examples of this in scripture. I encourage you to search them out. I want us to get a grasp of what it is that we do here at the International House of Prayer. We are warring in the heavenly battle through our songs of praise. We combat the enemy when we engage in the opposite spirit and actions of the enemy. If Satan is the father of lies, then as we simply proclaim truth over our region we push back the spiritual forces of darkness. For darkness has to yield to even the smallest amount of light.

If you want darkness out of your life, city, school, or country, just turn on the light! Proclaim the power of the “Father of lights” (James 1:17), and sing of the One who wraps Himself in “light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2).