The Triumphant Church
Paul in Damascus
Did Paul try to pull down strongholds over the city
of Damascus? No, immediately after his conversion,
Paul began to preach about Jesus. Jesus Christ was the
focus of Paul's teaching, not the devil and not
strongholds.
ACTS 9:20,22,27,29
20 And straightway he PREACHED CHRIST in
the synagogues, THAT HE IS THE SON OF
GOD....
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus,
PROVING THAT THIS IS VERY CHRIST....
27 But Barnabas took him [Paul], and brought
him to the apostles, and declared unto them
how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that
he had spoken to him, and how he had
PREACHED BOLDLY AT DAMASCUS IN THE
NAME OF JESUS....
29 And he spake BOLDLY IN THE NAME OF
THE LORD JESUS, and disputed against the
Grecians....
Notice that Paul magnified and lifted up the Name
of Jesus Christ. It's the Name of Jesus that breaks
strongholds in people's thinking and in their lives. Paul
taught people to exalt Jesus' power and majesty. But
when believers teach others to concentrate on pulling
down strongholds and warring against devils, the
emphasis is on Satan and what he's doing. They are
actually magnifying the devil, and that opens a door
and gives him access. But when believers magnify God,
they give Him access to their hearts and lives.
As we read the accounts of Paul traveling
throughout the cities and villages of that day, the first