Things you should know about Spiritual Strongholds

In church this past Sunday one of the topics brought up was strongholds. Strongholds can wreak havoc on our lives and it’s beneficial to our soul and spirit to be able to identify these. We discussed some in a previous post, but feel it’s time for a refresher since it’s what spoke to me most out of our Sunday sermon! Let’s take a look at 2 Corinthians.

 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

2 Corinthians

Verse 3 is explaining even though we walk in the flesh we do not war against the flesh. It goes on to explain the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Walking in the flesh is walking separate from God throughout life. We can look to verse 5 for some examples of strongholds. Imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. What is beautiful is this verse also tells you what to do with those things!

It says we are to cast down imaginations and all things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and bring EVERY thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Do you have a habit of allowing your mind to run wild? This is something the enemy loves. We have to ‘think about’ what we are thinking about. To know what exalts itself against the knowledge of God we must familiarize ourselves with what’s acceptable to God and unacceptable through studying the Word. Such as Philippians 4:8.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

Never Tempted Beyond What We Can Bear

The battle begins in the mind. Think about many of the times you have sinned. Where did it begin? In the mind! Let’s say you smoke. Often that thought is triggered in your mind. That desire or temptation comes to your mind, and from not submitting that thought into captivity to Christ you give into your temptation. Addiction is one of the strongholds.

It doesn’t have to be a chemical dependence to be an addiction. You can have an addiction to lying, gossip, control, or being a workaholic for example. These can all be strongholds. 

The wonderful thing about the God we serve is he says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear without there being a way out. But we have to choose that way out. Sometimes we get so comfortable and desensitized going along with our strongholds that we do not even realize we are in bondage. 

Bring Every Thought into Captivity

When the thought comes to mind, we do not even question it anymore; but instead, just satisfy our flesh. We sear our consciousness by continuing to give in instead of holding our thoughts in captivity and casting them down in Jesus’ name.

God has given us weapons and authority in our battle of spiritual warfare and strongholds. When tempted we are to choose God. When these thoughts come on, we need to speak and pray in the name of Jesus and be obedient to God in the way we think. Pray and ask God to reveal any strongholds in your life that need to be torn down. 

We are to bring every single thought into the captivity of Jesus. Do not allow your mind to wander on things that go against God. There is life in the word of God, but some strongholds can take your life. As far as things that exalt themselves over God these can be idols as well.

What are Idols?

Idols are not just carven images. Idols can be anything we trust and rely on more than God and are placing over God in our lives. What are you turning to in your times of need? Are you relying on retail therapy, drugs, sex, or fulfillment of things in the world? What are you placing over God that goes directly against the knowledge of God?

Resist the Devil and he Must Flee

Billy Graham says true believers of Jesus Christ cannot be possessed by a demon, but they can be harassed by one. We must always be on our guard. Clothing ourselves in the armor of God every day to be able to resist the devil. The Bible says if we resist the devil he must flee from us. Don’t grow weary and don’t give in! God can and will deliver you from strongholds. But, you must have faith that he will!

It Matters Who You Keep in Your Circle

Think about the story in Luke 5:17-26. When Jesus was teaching one day some men carried a paralyzed man and lowered him from the roof on his mat and when Jesus saw the friend’s faith he forgave the man’s sins and he was healed. This shows the power of surrounding yourself with Godly people. And, it shows how powerful faith is. We must have full faith in God and trust with full belief that he can and will deliver and heal us. 

The Bible says if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can say to a mountain move and it will move, and nothing will be impossible. Mustard seeds are extremely tiny. It takes the smallest amount of faith to make the biggest things happen! Pray for God to strengthen your faith so healing and deliverance will be done in your life. Surround yourself with those of strong faith for when yours is weak they can carry you as those who carried the paralyzed man.

Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”. Pray and seek God in your times of trouble. It says when we(righteous) cry out to the Lord he hears us and delivers us from ALL our troubles.”

1 John 1:9

In closing, I leave you with 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. We must confess our sins in prayer. If we do, it says He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. Confess your sins, be mindful of your thoughts and thinking patterns, study and apply the Bible to your life, always speak the name of Jesus in the face of the adversary, and allow God to tear down all the strongholds in your mind and life.