Hi
So today like I said earlier, I want to continue on the topic of strongholds, with a bit more on their definition and what in particular our response ought to be if we are going to see lives change and our culture transformed.
As the name implies, even ever so slightly-the source of a stronghold is not oneself but an external being possibly more powerful than oneself. You see, no matter how tightly you grip yourself, the power to let go simply lies with you and it is a simple matter of deciding that its time up. When it is someone else who has a hold over you, its no longer within yourself per se if and when you are going to be let go. You are at their mercy.
With the case of strongholds, they all stem from one source and that is the devil and the lies he fathers. It is the lies he feeds consistently through his channels that when people have experiences that agree with them, cement that as infallible truth and perpetuate to the next generation. And the devil has no incentive to let go of any who begin to believe in the stronghold hence he will use whatsoever channels he has to continue with cementing the lie…que just look at secular entertainment and the messages that are promoted day after day. (Just to clarify…I am not big on illuminati hunting and the like, I think that’s a creative way to waste time and allow one to be blinded from who the true enemy is and what our purpose is. I do however understand that if a carnal mind is an enemy of God, then it must be a friend with the world and fully be capable of promoting the message of the world without being an active devil worshipper–but that’s another story)
Realising that the devil therefore is the author of strongholds means the way we fight must address him and his cohorts as the source. We must fight in the spirit, using weapons of the spirit and see the defeat of him from the spirit realm. This may sound all nice and something grand in the clouds if I leave it here hence I will explain a bit more.
Spiritual weapons are not as mystical as the name implies at first. Ephesians 5 I believe describes the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit…i.e the word of God is a spiritual weapon. And as likened to a sword, it is a most potent one. The chapter continues to list items such as a breastplate of righteousness, a belt of truth, shoes ready with the gospel of peace, a helmet of salvation in what we understand to be the armour of God—all of which should be considered part of our arsenal in the fight. I also stand convinced that the fruits of the spirit are weapons or at the very least necessary battle aids for against them there is no law, as well as prayer for the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
And to see strongholds broken over an individual, over a city or over a nation I believe the steps we need to take are actually very simple. First, I believe it imperative that we believe it when Paul says “the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God.” We need not do what we do to try and force a result or make God do what He does not want to do. He already has said He does not want to see wicked people perish, but that that He would rather have them live. We need to understand that the grace of God is sufficient to accomplish what needs to be done and that His Spirit will get it done and be able to do what must be done from a position of rest. This does not mean being lazy and just say “Whatever will happen is the will of God” but rather unshakeable in confidence that it will be done and that our eyes will see the answer to our prayer.
Second, is a commitment to prayer and to declaring the word of God over the person, city or nation. By commitment to prayer, what I refer to is that ferventness that the book of James speaks of. We need to have this, the refusal to give anyone up to the hands of the devil but the willingness to continuously intercede on their behalf, to stand in the gap for them in our secret times of prayer and declare the love, the mercy and protection of God over them. And as we continue to grow in our walk of loving them, we need never forget that the stronghold is not of the person’s own making and that our fight is not with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. This calls for wisdom and if we ask, the Lord will give it to us to know how to act a lot of the times but with faith all things are possible.
The one thing we have no right to be concerning people trapped within a a stronghold is condemning, critical and self-righteous.
In my next posts, I will be sharing a bit more on the strongholds that have gripped our culture concerning money, relationships, the value of a human being and a fourth thing which has at this moment slipped from my mind.
May the Spirit of grace be with you.
