Today’s passage says: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.
My brother, my sister, strongholds in our mind are all the ideas that agree with Satan. They are lies that not only accuse Jesus and His control over our lives, but also our status in Christ. Most believers try to bind and cast away strongholds, which is a mistake, because the Bible clearly shows us that a stronghold is a defensive structure that is built in our minds. Therefore, a stronghold is a refuge, a high fort (or a tower) where we try to hide to avoid being hurt again for example or simply to protect ourselves from the exterior. In other words, a stronghold is a place of comfort, a safe place. An online dictionary defines a stronghold as “A place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.” So, just as a physical stronghold is not an enemy soldier, nor is a spiritual stronghold a demon. Indeed, a stronghold is a way of thinking and a feeling that has developed a life of its own in a person after that person opened doors to Satan through sinful actions and through what they believe in that is not aligned with the Word of God. We cannot bind a way of thinking or a feeling!
My friend, know that when we sin we give Satan legal entry into our lives to work in us and through us. And all Satan wants is to see our weaknesses escalate to turn into wickedness. Yes, any sin that is not rejected will increase until it becomes a habit: “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his desires…When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James. 1:14-15). That is why Satan is trying hard to lock us up in our minds with thoughts, feelings or beliefs that do not glorify God.
You and I have been called out of darkness into Jesus’ wonderful light! But any old, sinful pattern of thought in us is a place of darkness, a stronghold we need to get rid of. The Bible urges us to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). It’s simple: if you want to let the light of God expose the darkness, you need an attitude of humility, willing to let the light of God reveal the darkness in you first. Then the Holy Spirit can start working the power of God to transform you from inside out. If you are not willing to let God reveal any strongholds (bad thought, bad feelings) in your life, then the first stronghold you may have to start tearing down is pride! And remember who was the first to be guilty of pride: Lucifer, who became Satan! That is why pride is the armour of Satan and he uses it to keep demonic strongholds hidden, because pride keeps people from ever seeing that they are trapped in demonic darkness. They always think they are right, that they are better or can do better than the others… pride!
Now, how can we get rid of strongholds? The Bible teaches us a strategy designed by God Himself when, through His angel, he told Joshua what to do to take the city of Jericho (a place). What was the strategy? March around the city for six days then blow the trumpets (Joshua 6:1-27). My friend, as they were surrounding the city with obedience to God’s word, with faith and with the praises of God, they cut off that city from its supplies, in other words from the realm of darkness. So, as the power of faith grew in the hearts of the marching people, the power holding the walls of Jericho grew weak, and the walls fell.
You see, many Bible verses teach us that God is our strong tower, our stronghold. This is where our solution to get rid to stronghold is: we need to surround the stronghold and cut off its supplies. But how do we do that? Surround the stronghold with the Word of God but especially with praise to God. Demons cannot stand praise! Praise is a powerful way to bring a stronghold down. Once you have identified a stronghold, go to the Scripture and study the opposite truth from God and use it. How did Jesus reject the temptation of the devil? By quoting the Scriptures! That is how we guard our minds from evil strongholds. For example, if you are struggling with a stronghold of depression, surround it with hope… many verses tell you about hope in Christ. If you are struggling with a stronghold of failure, surround it with Scriptures about your victory in Christ, and firm stand on that truth. Anytime Satan wants to remind you of a failure in your life, answer back with that truth. My friend, thinking the right way to begin dismantling strongholds will lead to the renewal of your mind by the Word, which will lead to emotional change, which in time will result in the transformation of your life. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.