Dealing With Strongholds Series

Introduction

Repeat after me: not everything is a demon. Last week we spent some time learning about whom satan is and how he attacks. We remember:

satan is a created being who started as an archangel and fell due to his pride.

He is limited in his power. He is powerful but not all powerful. He can only be one place at a time.

His greatest (and only) attack on the believer is the power of suggestion.

He is a defeated foe.

We also spoke briefly of the fact that most things are either sickness or strongholds. Both dangerous but neither demonic, today we will emphasis strongholds.

Strongholds defined

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)

Stronghold:NT:3794 ochuroma (okh-oo'-ro-mah); from a remote derivative of NT:2192 (meaning to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (figuratively, argument): KJV - stronghold.[i]

So then something that we have fortified, built up in our lives that is now we cannot remove it. Some strongholds are good: those built up by the Word of God are good, those against the word are harmful.

The thing is they are like a planting a tree. While it is still small it is easy to bend and mold, but that tree gets to be 25-30 years old it cannot be bent, the roots are deep and it becomes a major project to move.

Growing Strongholds

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8)

One of the most basic of principles taught in the Bible is that of sowing and reaping. It goes like this: sow an action, reap a habit and it has been shown to take about 21 days to tear down one and start another, better one.

We start with one cigarette, one drink, one cuss, and then it leads to another, and another. Eventually we have a full blown stronghold with all the rights and privileges that come with them! Like cancer, sorosis of the liver, diabetes. We did this to ourselves and we cannot, dare not blame the devil for it.

Tearing Down The Strongholds

So we have some negative strongholds in our lives and we need to get rid of them, let me tell you that you are going to have some work in front of you. Can God deliver you? Yes, but you did this to yourself over time and it will usually take time for us to get to the point of deliverance, to go through the process to get to the point.

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 10:5-6)

Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing:

and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; every proud thought of the heart, every great swelling word of vanity, every big look, even all the lofty looks and haughtiness of men, with every airy flight, and high towering imagination, reasoning, and argument advanced against the Gospel of Christ; which is here meant by the knowledge of God, and so called, because it is the means of leading souls into the knowledge of God, even into a better knowledge of him than can be attained to, either by the light of nature, or law of Moses; to a knowledge of him, and acquaintance with him in Christ the Mediator, in whom the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is given; and with which knowledge of God eternal life is connected, yea, in this it consists; it is the beginning of it, and will issue in it.

And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; or "carrying captive the whole understanding"; that is, so illustrating it with divine light, that it clearly sees Christ to be the alone, able, willing, full, and suitable Saviour, and so becomes obedient to him, both as a Saviour and a King; such an enlightened soul looks to him alone for life and salvation, ventures on him, and relies upon him, and is desirous and willing to be saved by him in his own way; he receives and embraces all his truths and doctrines with faith and love, and obeys them from the heart, and cheerfully and willingly submits to all his commands and ordinances; for though he is taken by the grace of God, and all his strong holds, reasonings, and high thoughts are demolished by the power of God in the Gospel, and he himself is carried captive, yet not against, but with his will, to be a voluntary subject of Christ, and cheerfully to submit to the sceptre of his kingdom.