HOW TO TEAR DOWN STRONGSHOLDS?
FASTING AND PRAYER
Two of the most important methods to use when you want to tear down strongholds is Fasting and Prayer.
Along with prayer, we have an additional tool called fasting. Fasting adds power to our prayer, it helps us focus and demonstrates to us, how sincere we are about getting rid of our stronghold. Jesus clearly says, some issues require both prayers along with fasting. Referring to the demon possessed boy, who the disciples could not deliver.
Jesus said, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”(Matthew 17:21).
But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. Psalm 35:13
When I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9:3
and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayer night and day. Luke 2:37
CUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY ROUTES
When an army decided to destroy a stronghold, one of the first things needed to do was to isolate the stronghold. This was done by cutting off supply routes to the stronghold, One method used by the Romans was to construct wall around the stronghold. This way they could be sure no one slipped in or out without their knowing. The goal was two fold, one, cause the stronghold to surrender by cutting off supplies of food and weapons.
Two, prevent any one from leaving to provide intelligence to allies, who might try to come to rescue the stronghold. The Romans were masters at conquest, they understood the need to subdue enemy strongholds. They spent two years, taking the Jewish stronghold of Masada, 15,000 men working to take down a stronghold of 1000-men, women and children.
We can learn a principle from Roman siege craft if they understood the value in blockading strongholds, we should follow their example.
HOW CAN WE BLOCKADE OUR STRONGHOLDS?
One way is to cutoff the supply line, which feeds our stronghold. For example, if alcohol is the stronghold, if you are serious about taking the stronghold, you need to destroy your supply. You need to cut off those who would reinforce your supply, such as friends who want to take you drinking.
If pornography is a stronghold, the same principles apply, cut off the supply routes, control what gets to the stronghold to supply it. Serious action needs to be taken, to pull down strongholds. Without serious action, strongholds will remain a constant presence in the believer’s life. Get rid of the cable television, the internet, the subscriptions and the friends who would supply the stronghold.
This same principle goes for all strongholds; ask what is supplying the stronghold? You know what feeds it? The goal is to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
HOW TO CUT OFF THIS SUPPLY
The stronghold of pride as example
Leviticus 26:19 "I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze."
Isaiah 23:9 "The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth."
Obadiah 1:3 "The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'
1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world."
After praying on these verses, memorizing them, I would begin to wage war on the stronghold.
1. One way is to do the exact opposite of your flesh. Volunteer in a homeless shelter, do something humble refrain from exalting yourself, this only feeds the flesh. Daniel’s gave advice to Nebuchadnezzar on how he was to overcome the stronghold of pride; I would use Daniel’s advice to the king.
Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity." Daniel 4:27
2. Praying the Word of God
We can take the Word of God and pray what it says into our life. I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. Leviticus 26:19
We can take this verse and personalize a prayer, as the Spirit groans with our pride. We might come before the throne of God and say;
Lord I know you hate Pride, your Word says you will break the pride of power, and you will make the heavens like iron and the earth like bronze, please Lord....Take my pride from me, humble my heart...let me learn to rejoice in your power and not mine own...
When we pray, we literally enter Heaven, we enter the throne room of God. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom, signifying the separation between man and God was eliminated because of the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Verse 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Verse 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Since strongholds are built upon error and falsehood, it is through the truth that you tear down such faulty thinking patterns.
Strongholds are built when we accept and receive error and begin to meditate on them. It forms in our minds what is known as an imagination, that is, a false concept that we believe to be true, but in reality is not. The Bible speaks about these imaginations clearly, and shows us how they can be torn down:
2 Corinthians 10:4, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 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."
THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS AND STRONGHOLDS
We know that strongholds and imaginations must be cast down, by being transformed through the renewing of our minds:
Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
As our minds are renewed, we may prove (discern) what is good, acceptable and perfect, and the will of God. These things are some of the very things that strongholds rise themselves against! Many people who are caught up in shame based thinking do not realize that it's God's will and it is good for them to disassociate themselves from their past. Their minds need to be renewed, and as those strongholds come down they will be able to see God's will and respond.
How are our minds renewed and cleansed?
Through the washing of the Word our minds are transformed and strongholds are torn down. Spending time and meditating on the Word of God washes our minds and corrects our false thinking patters (strongholds).
Ephesians 5:26-27, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
As we meditate and wash our minds with God's Word, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and we will come to know the will of God, and discern what is right, perfect and good. Our strongholds, which are based upon error and deception will not stand a chance as the light of God's Word (truth) is shed upon those areas of our minds.
HOW TO OVERCOME STRONGHOLDS
Satan uses strongholds in our lives to trap us and to render us powerless in our spiritual warfare with him. But God has not left us defenseless against the forces of darkness. There are some things we can do to overcome his oppression:
1. Identify the specific behavior patterns that are keeping you in bondage. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any area you are not aware of. Pray for His help to discern them.
2. Study God's Word to discover how He will direct you to overcome the devil.
Jas. 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
2 Cor. 10:3-5 says that we are to use "the weapons of our warfare" to "cast down imaginations" and "every high thing" and that we are to bring into captivity "every thought" to obey Christ. Satan's warfare against us begins in the mind!
Imaginations are the reasonings, speculations and rationalizations of our human intellect. Intellectual and psychological weapons are not effective when dealing with strongholds. We must use God's supernatural, spiritual power to overcome Satan!
We must use the spiritual weapon of the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Eph. 6: 17) to "cast down imaginations"-- to eliminate the wrong thoughts that Satan places in our minds! Replace Satan's lies with God's truth -- and "bring every thought into the captivity of Christ"-- (We make every thought obey Christ and His Word!) Remember, every thought we have is not from God. Guard your thoughts! If a thought contradicts God's Word, it is not from God. Defeat Satan with the scriptures, just as Jesus did in the wilderness.
3. Confess and repent of any sins the Holy Spirit reveals and receive God's forgiveness (I John 1:9).
4. Choose to forgive anyone who has wronged or wounded you. Forgive yourself and if you have anger toward God, release it and commit yourself to trusting Him in every area of your life.
5. Renounce any sin that has controlled you and close the door in any area where the enemy has gained entry. Eph.4:27: "Neither give place to the devil." (Don't give Satan any opportunity to work)
6. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you break the behavior and thought patterns you've practiced and renew your mind and replace those patterns with new, scriptural thoughts and patterns (Phil. 4:7-9).
7. Yield to the Holy Spirit-- and allow Him to conform you into the image of Jesus Christ each day (Rom. 8:29).
One of the most important things to remember -- the essence of spiritual warfare is "BINDING AND LOOSING" according to Matt. 16:19 Jesus said, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." Keys are the symbol of authority and in giving Peter the "keys of the kingdom of Heaven" He was giving His church His own authority. God's Word gives us the power to understand the authority that Jesus has given us -- when we pray in His name. . .and stand against the devil. We can bind the enemy in our lives in the Name of Jesus. . .and loose the Power of the Holy Spirit. When we "loose" we release or invite the Holy Spirit to pour His power into us so that we can be overcomers.
BIND THE STRONGMAN! "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house" (Matt. 16: 19; Mk. 3:27).
Jesus called the demonic presence a "strongman." The strongman must first be bound. You must eliminate the SOURCE -- the root (strongman -- spirit) who is energizing the activity (stronghold) -- or he will keep coming back to harass you! (Like the vine -- the root must be pulled out or the vine will continue to grow and choke out the life of the bush!) Jesus has given us the authority of His name and the weapons of warfare to use to address the spirits that control us through strongholds and bind his power.
We can have confidence in God's Word that Satan will obey. He must obey! Lesser authority must submit to higher authority!!
For "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).