We try to use human weapons against spiritual strongholds, don’t we? We try willpower, self-discipline, behavior modification, rehab, therapy, and finding a new hobby. Listen, some of those things can be helpful, don’t mishear me, but they’re not divine weapons. If you’re only using those weapons of the flesh, you’re never going to defeat a stronghold.

They might deal with some of the behaviors, but they can’t change the heart. And when you’re facing strong temptation, you need weapons with divine power.

Second Corinthians 10:3-5 reminds us: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

So what are these divine weapons that have the power to destroy strongholds? Joshua 6 shows us four weapons that work.

Weapon #1: God’s Presence

The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned 10 times in Joshua 6, more than any other single term. This wasn’t just some gold box they walked around with. The Ark represented the very presence of God with His people. Where the Ark went, God went.

For us today, the Holy Spirit is God’s presence within us. Victory in spiritual warfare begins by cultivating intimacy with God. You can’t defeat strongholds from a distance. You can’t overcome a life-dominating sin while living a compartmentalized Christian life where you give God an hour on Sunday morning and maybe a quick prayer before meals.

Strongholds are demolished in the presence of God, meaning you need to be in the presence of God. If you read through the Old Testament, you’ll see that God really loves to smash idols. When the Ark gets captured and put in some other god’s temple, what happens? They wake up the next morning, and all their statues have bowed down and broken before the Ark.

We have a God who’s perfectly happy to smash those idols in your life if you’re present with Him. Are you getting into His presence to allow Him to smash those idols?

Weapon #2: God’s Word

The ram’s horns weren’t just musical instruments; they were instruments of war and worship, proclaiming God’s victory and calling people to action. This is why Scripture memory is so crucial. We need God’s Word in our minds and hearts so that when forces of evil battle against us, we’re ready to speak God’s truth to those lies.

When anxiety says, “You can’t handle this,” you speak back Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Shut up, anxiety.”

When addiction says, “You can’t live without this,” you respond with 1 Corinthians 10:13: “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation, He will also provide a way of escape.”

When depression says, “You’re worthless,” you speak back Psalm 139:14: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Declare His promises. Speak Scripture against lies and deception. Proclaim truth about who God is and who you are in Him.

Weapon #3: God’s People

Notice that the battle involved the entire community. It wasn’t just soldiers walking around the city. Armed men were there, but priests were in the middle, and all the people participated. This is not a solo mission.

The truth is, you can’t do it alone. What’s the number one way the enemy tries to attack us? Isolation. It should be no surprise that God’s alternative goes back to Genesis: “It is not good for man to be alone.”

We need community to fight these fights, people to pray for us, encourage us, and sometimes rebuke us. Following Jesus means developing new relationships and strengthening Christian fellowship.

Your friends affect the direction and quality of your life. Having people around you to support and encourage you can change the quality and direction of your life.

Some of you need to stop trying to defeat your stronghold in secret and get into a small group where people can pray for you and hold you accountable. Some of you need to call that friend who’s been asking how you’re doing and actually tell them the truth instead of saying, “I’m fine. Everything’s great. Living the dream.”

Weapon #4: Persistent Faith

For six days, nothing happened, but the routine was the same day in and day out. They’re looking at walls that look exactly the same as they did the day before, but God asked them to do the exact same thing. Every day, at the end of the day, the walls were still standing. Nothing had changed, except their faith was being tested and strengthened.

This is where that persistent faith pays off. There are certain sins that are more challenging than others, and we need to be more patient and persistent to defeat them. If we’re going to murder those sins and take them out of our lives, we’ve got to be persistent in our faith.

Don’t quit before the stronghold comes down. Trust in God’s timing, even when you don’t see immediate results. Remain faithful in your daily disciplines and build an expectation that God will act according to His promise.

As one of the Puritans said, “You’re either killing sin or it’s killing you. There is no in between.”

Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Which of these four divine weapons do you need to strengthen in your battle against strongholds?
2. How might isolation be weakening your fight against sin, and what steps can you take to engage God’s people in your battle?