The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
For we do not war against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, EPH 6:12.
Behind every conflict, unrest and war in the real world there is yet an unseen war in the spiritual world that is often taking place behind the scene. Waging war in the spiritual realms illustrates events in the physical world which unfortunately many of us brush it off because of ignorance.
A STRONGHOLD IS A BONDAGE OF UNBELIEF
The enemy builds strongholds in people’s lives very subtly in order to prevent you from appropriating your inheritance of blessings from God. What is a stronghold by the way?
A stronghold is a faulty thinking pattern based on lies and deception of the enemy which does not comply with God’s word. Deception is one of the primary weapons the devil uses in building blocks for a stronghold. What strongholds can do is cause us to think in ways which deprives us from God’s best. It will block you from walking in the blessings of God. You need to be reminded that satan’s battleground is in your mind. If he can manipulate and control your mind he can take over your life.
GOD’S PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO ENTER THE REST BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF
Israel entering the “Promised land” is an illustration of the faithful entering the land of promise and rest. We see from Israel’s example, a nation, who because of unbelief was unable to receive the promises of God. Only those who believed entered the promise but the faithless generation was kept out.
Israel’s plight illustrates a point, when we reject God’s promises because of unbelief; we end up wandering in a wilderness. An 11 day journey kept them wandering for 40 years in the wilderness because they refused to take God at His word. Today in the same way we can easily buy into what the world is selling us instead of the promises of God’s word.
In the same way today, many “born-again Christians” are defeated; they fail to walk in the blessings promised because of unbelief. We often linger in doubt if God is strong enough to deliver us from the bondages and strongholds in our lives!! There are many who suffer from strongholds of fear, low self-esteem and uncertainty and this has obviously prevented them from appropriating the blessings of God in their lives. They walk around in a mind which is absolutely not thinking in line with what God says in His word.
INCORRECT VIEW OF GOD
One of the most popular and devastating strongholds one can suffer, is an incorrect image in your mind of who God is, and how He sees us. The problem is that we see God as a taskmaster, cruel, cold, distant, uncaring and would snap the whip at us the moment we step out of line. People who fear and feel that they have committed the unpardonable sin are almost guaranteed to have this stronghold. Often such people, who find it hard to accept God’s love and presence, suffer from this stronghold too. If you feel God is distant and cold, or question if God loves you, then you need to get this stronghold torn down.
Mark 3:27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
So it is in the spiritual realm where a war is constantly fought that will manifest in the physical.
HOW TO COUNTERACT A STRONGHOLD?
Firstly it is very important for us to know our identity. Who are you in Christ and who is Christ in you? In order to be sure of your position you need to grow in God’s Word, rooted and grounded in His word because it is God’s word that will enable you to be certain and sure of your position in Christ and it is this surety that will put you in a position of righteousness, authority and power that will ultimately become your primary weapon for tearing down the strongholds of deception that the enemy often throws at us. You debunk the lies of the enemy with the truth which is in the Word of God!
What is our primary offensive weapon? The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”). Truth dispels deception and lies, and therefore the more truth you bring into a situation, the more the darkness must flee. This is where it’s important to grow in God’s Word, so that you can tear down the strongholds of deception that the enemy has been feeding you all along.
The apostle Paul defines strongholds as speculations or lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God. It is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual’s thought-life. When you carry any thought that is not in line with God’s word the enemy will find you.
In John 8:31-36, Jesus tells us that we can be held in bondage due to strongholds in our lives. And His solution was to, “continue in my word… and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(v. 32-32). Strongholds are torn down as we meditate on God’s Word, which is the truth!
Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who preaches and teaches an uncompromising gospel with boldness. A member of ECCM (Malaysia) Spiritual Adviser & overseer to various ministries and churches. An itinerant speaker. He is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’ Currently he worships at C3 Subang.
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Rev Dr Jai Kumar
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