What is a stronghold?

Time for a brief history lesson!

As populations of the earth multiplied and formed cities, people realized that living in the open left you vulnerable to nature and becoming a victim to others. Conquerors would attack unsuspecting or defenseless cities, taking goods and people. Citizens within the city learned that walls were needed for protection and a gate to control who came into the city.  The better the defense, the more secure the inhabitant.

A city with strong walls and a safe location, usually a hilltop or mountain, would grow in status and power, enriching its people. As the city prospered, it could then begin to control the surrounding towns and villages, which were less secure. An army could rest and relax between offensive campaigns within the walls of their city. Thus, their point of operation became a “strong hold.”

Scripture defines strongholds as a “sophisticated argument, a  high and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

A stronghold is a point of operation which weakens and even chokes the power of the Holy Spirit within believers. Thus the commands to not quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. (1  Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30)

Do you have thought patterns that are faulty, erroneous that have molded themselves into your thinking, establishing a lifestyle/pattern in your thinking and actions?

These thought patterns can affect our feelings and how we respond to various situations in life, and they play a significant role in our spiritual freedom.

How does a stronghold begin – where do they come from – why do we allow them to take root?

 

One of the first indicators and defining marks of a stronghold is its recurring pattern.  It has a “strong hold” on you so that you find it extremely difficult to break free from it; thus, you keep coming back to it –  your comfort zone.

To identify those strongholds that hold you a prisoner, ask yourself these questions:

With who or what am I in a constant struggle?

What unhealthy habit or unhealthy thought pattern has a solid hold on me?

Our parents, siblings, friends, environment, and life events can significantly affect what we believe about ourselves resulting in strongholds we establish in our minds for our protection.

Three primary sources for our strongholds come from:

1. Ourselves: Proverbs 23:7 “As he thinks in his heart (believes within his soul) so is he.”In other words, whatever we personally believe about ourselves, we become – thoughts become actions.
2. Others: Proverbs 13:20 He who walks as a companion with wise men will be wise, but the companions of conceited, dull-witted fools are fools themselves and will experience harm. (See also, Proverbs 22: 24-25, 1 Corinthians 15:33)
3. Satan/evil forces: Ephesians 6: 11-12  Put on the full armor of God for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier, so that you may be able to successfully stand up against all the schemes, strategies, and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural places. (See also Revelation 12:10)

The troublesome aspect of a stronghold is that it is toxic in our life.

At the root of many fortresses is a desire to want to prove our worth and our value, or in many cases, not feeling like we are worthy of love, affirmation, or success.

Remember, your value is not determined by whether people like you or not, nor is it determined by your performance.

 

 

It is determined by who you belong to, and you belong to Jesus Christ. You are a child of the King, having received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often, strongholds begin with a wound we experience, hurt or disappointment that makes our heart fertile ground for seeds of lies to be planted. On this foundation, we begin to build brick by brick, a wall of lies, mistaken ideas about the person of God, flawed interpretations of Scripture, prideful thoughts, and distorted perceptions of how God sees us and feels about us, especially when we sin or stumble.

Have you been betrayed by the one you trusted – a spouse, sibling, parent, or even a close friend? Our arch-enemy whispers thoughts in our minds that no one can be trusted. We believe the lie and decide that we are on our own.  We then become highly independent, trusting no one,  including God and His promises which are sure and steadfast!

Romans 4:21 be fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

For years, I identified myself as a survivor and relied upon no one. I just needed to try harder or be better. But a stronghold is not something that can be overcome or silenced by “trying harder” or “being good or better.”

Some destructive thought and behavior patterns that create strongholds are more obvious than others; such as bitterness, unforgiveness, obsessive worry and fear, jealousy, all types of addition. Maybe the following are not quite as obvious: perfectionism that drives you to control, selfishness or a fragile ego,  a complaining attitude, low self-confidence, lying (including those that we call little white lies), people-pleasing, gossip, judgmental thoughts, or feeling superior to others.

Paul warns against making even small compromises in Galatians 5: 7-9—noting that just a little bit of yeast can work its way through the whole batch of dough.

You were running a good race. Who stopped, interfered, and hindered you from following and obeying your conviction about truth the right way? The deceptive enticement did not come from the God who chose and called you to freedom in Christ. Be careful! “Just a little yeast or leaven makes the whole batch of dough rise; a tiny error will pervert the concept of faith and mislead you. Galatians 5:7-9

When we buy into these lies and agree with the enemy,  surrendering control, that area of our life becomes a stronghold, which the enemy vigorously defends and retains power. The negative words and thoughts control our thinking processes, our perception of others, and situations. We have now formed an imagination, a false idea that we believe to be true, but in reality, it is not. These imaginations, or false beliefs,  will ultimately lead to actions.

We find ourselves struggling to live the victorious and abundant life that God has for us.

But God has given us a way to overcome these strongholds. We do not have to be bound or controlled by our emotions or thoughts. We were promised in John 8:36,  “He whom the Son has set free, is free indeed.”

Ridding yourself of these strongholds requires identifying the strongholds, having an understanding of their root cause and how they were constructed in the first place. Acquiring this knowledge will help us to create strategies, and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to break free – to demolish the stronghold!

Do not delay! Begin today identifying the strongholds and ask the Holy Spirit to show you its root cause and why you found it necessary to build the fortress. Then you will be ready to create a strategy to demolish it and to be set free!

Next time we will look at David’s strategy to destroy his strongholds! He has a plan that guarantees victory!

To be continued …….