There
are satanic strongholds over countries and communities and there are
strongholds that influence churches and individuals. Wherever a
stronghold exists, it is a demonically induced pattern of thinking.
Specifically, it is a "house made of thoughts" that has become a
dwelling place for satanic activity.
Removing Satan's Armor
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder" (Luke 11:21-22).
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder" (Luke 11:21-22).
Before
we were saved, Satan was like a fully armed "strong man" guarding the
homestead of our souls. On the day of our salvation, however, "someone
stronger," the Lord Jesus Christ, attacked and overpowered Satan and
stripped him of his armor. Our born-again experiences may be widely
varied but in the spirit-realm a very similar war was waged and won for
each of us. If we could have seen into the invisible world, we would
have observed the Holy Spirit working with the angels of God to
overpower and destroy the enemy's "armor."
What
exactly was this armor that protected the devil and kept us from
salvation? The armor upon which demons rely consists of our own
thoughts, attitudes and opinions that are in agreement with evil.
What
Jesus described as "armor," the apostle Paul classified as
"strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:1-4 NKJV). It is important to recognize that,
in speaking of strongholds, the apostle was addressing the church. It is
foolish to assume that there are no strongholds in our hearts and
minds. Our salvation experience has overpowered the enemy, but it has
not eliminated all the wrong ideas and attitudes -- the strongholds --
that are still influencing our perception and behavior. Yes, old things
passed away; true, new things have come. But until we are walking in the
fullness of Christ, we should not assume that the process of
transformational change is over.
On
an individual level, the foundation of our continued success in warfare
comes from yielding to the Lord as He reveals these strongholds and
agreeing with Him through repentance in pulling them down.
It
is important to recognize that when we speak of strongholds we are not
talking about random thoughts or occasional sins. Perhaps the
strongholds that affect us most are those that are so blended into our
thinking patterns that we do not recognize them nor identify them as
evil. Remember, in our initial text, Jesus revealed that unclean spirits
are seeking "rest." The sense of rest they seek originates from being
in harmony with their environment. In other words, when our thought-life
is in agreement with unbelief, fear or habitual sin, the enemy has
rest.
It
is significant that when the Holy Spirit enters our lives many changes
occur suddenly. However, we should not be surprised if the process of
deliverance should involve a season of inner conflict and turmoil. This
is a good sign, signifying the individual's will desires to be free. We
should expect a time where we must exercise our authority in Christ as
we "resist" the devil (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Paul speaks of the "struggle" of
the church against principalities and powers (Eph. 6:12). There will be a
period of fighting involved in the process of pulling down strongholds,
for you are breaking your agreement with a foe who will fight to remain
in your life.
Continuation of message
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