Stronghold War – How to Demolish Fortresses of the Mind addresses the spiritual battle believers face against destructive thought patterns and habits. Paul emphasizes that we are in a war against an enemy seeking to build strongholds in our lives. These strongholds can manifest as addictions, sicknesses, perversions, or other destructive behaviors that, if left unchecked, will devour and destroy us. The key to victory lies in recognizing these strongholds and using the spiritual weapons God has provided to demolish them. Through prayer, the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can confront and overcome these mental fortresses.
The article encourages Christians to be vigilant, understanding the reality of this spiritual warfare and actively engaging in the battle for their minds.
THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
By Pastor Delbert Young
Stronghold War – How to Demolish Fortresses of the Mind
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Stronghold War – How to Demolish Fortresses of the Mind
Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:10-11, Ephesians 6:18,
- We are in a series called ‘The Spirit-Filled Life.’
We have talked about ‘You Da Mam’ in that we are now what the Holy Spirit will change and work through. Also, we have talked about ‘Fill Er Up’ meaning we must position ourselves to be filled. We have talked about ‘Are You Hungry’ showing a Spirit-filled life will not be recognized by tongues but will include tongues. Tongues will come from a hunger for God. I was a little discouraged after last week’s lesson. I know when a lesson has done the job after preaching as long as I have preached, and I didn’t feel the lesson got the job done. We, as a church, are not hungry for God right now.
- Why do we need and want a “Spirit-Filled Life?” I hope today that we can see.
Thinking and Praying
I have been thinking, praying, and talking all week about our hunger. I have been asking the Lord why it is this way, and I have an answer.
There are probably hundreds of reasons why people lose their hunger for the things of God. However, one reason always seems present. That reason is that the hunger for the Lord is hindered when people go through tough times. At this moment in time at Life Gate Church, several people and families are going through some heavy stuff. It is probably the most difficult time I can recall in my entire years of ministry.
Stronghold War
Serious Situations
We have people battling serious diseases such as cancer. That will take away your hunger. We have upcoming surgeries and people recovering from surgeries. That will take away your hunger. We have people in our church with parents who are extremely ill. That will take away your hunger. We have some serious family situations. That will take away your hunger. We have some serious relationship situations. That will take away your hunger. We have people making serious mid-life decisions that will change everything about their lives.
We have some people with financial problems. Financial problems will take away your hunger. We have parents worried about the lives and health of their children. That will take away your hunger. We have children worried about the lives and health of their parents.
- Tough times fill our church body and take our hunger from us.
With that said, let’s read our scriptures for today and see what we can do about it.
Stronghold War
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Ephesians 6:10-11, 18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- I want to talk today about “The Spirit-Filled Life and War!”
First, we are told that we do indeed have an adversary out to destroy each of us. Then, we are told we have weaponry to counteract and bring down any enemy attack upon us. Then, we are told that we must use the weaponry given. It is interesting that Paul needed to tell the believers to use their weaponry.
Stronghold War
Your Adversary
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Please notice that Peter writes, “Your adversary the devil.”
The devil is not God’s adversary. The devil is your adversary and my adversary. I have heard some say something like, “The devil is a toothless bully.” They say that until they get bitten and devoured by that “toothless bully.” That “toothless bully” devours marriages and families, causes perversion, devours lives, devours happiness, finances, health, etc.
Making this passage a little more personal, each of us has our own adversary or our own demon or, as I will show in a minute, our own strongholds built by the devil. The way I am attacked is not the way you are attacked, and the way you are attacked is not the way someone else is attacked. The devil is seeking a way to devour each of us with the strongholds he has established within us. No two situations are the same.
Weapons of Warfare
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
- The enemy comes and builds strongholds in our lives.
That is his form of attack. That stronghold can be a habit. That stronghold can be a sickness, and that stronghold can be drug addiction. Also, that stronghold can be lust or perversion. That stronghold can be greed. That stronghold can be a rebellion against God-given authority and council.
Furthermore, that stronghold can be a lack of financial discipline. That stronghold can be anger. That stronghold can be something wrong in a marriage, and that stronghold can be something wrong with a child. No matter what my personal stronghold is, that stronghold, if not brought down, will devour and destroy.
Stronghold War
- I want to use an example of a man that I know.
He came from a great home. His dad was a minister. This man had a beautiful, godly wife. He had some of the most gorgeous children you have ever seen. He had his own business and made a lot of money. Also, he had a several hundred-thousand-dollar house. He had money set back for his children’s education. He was a church leader and greatly respected in the community.
We do notice that everything I said about the man was in the past tense. That is because he had all that, but he was devoured. He became addicted to pornography, and a stronghold of lust was established in his life, and he lost everything, and I mean everything. He lost his wife, children, house, money, respect, and everything else once possessed.
Can a church leader experience such a thing? Yes. The reason is the devil is out to devour the church person. The man did not bring down the stronghold, and it devoured him. Each of us has places where the enemy can develop a stronghold, and if we do not bring that stronghold down and keep it down, it will devour us.
I want to give you one more example that is not “sin” but is a stronghold in many.
My brother-in-law Jimmy was not a “churchgoer,” but Jimmy was a very good man. He loved his wife with a passion, and he loved his family, but Jimmy had a habit. Jimmy smoked cigarettes. That stronghold destroyed Jimmy. Jimmy developed lung cancer, and we buried Jimmy last year. Jimmy’s smoking was not a sin, but it was a stronghold that devoured him. Strongholds do not have to be “sin.”
Stronghold War
- My point is that the enemy is seeking whom he may devour by establishing strongholds. However, we have weapons to bring down those strongholds.
Put On the Whole Armor
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
The Apostle Paul found it necessary to tell the believers to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Actually, it is a command. The Ephesian believers were going through tough issues of life just like we are going through stuff. The solution is to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Paul said to realize that we are in a battle. The devil is out to destroy our lives, so get dressed for war.
- Paul gives the analogy of the “baddest” war machine of his day.
That would be the Roman soldier in full battle array. Paul said put on our salvation (helmet). Put on our righteousness (breastplate). Put on our truth (girded loins) and put on our peace (boots). Take up our shield (faith). Pick up our Word of God (sword). Now we are ready but ready for what? What do we do now? Do we just stand there guarding? No, we attack. We attack by…
Stronghold War
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(NIV) Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Once we prepare for the battle, we attack and bring down strongholds through “all prayer and supplication.” Folks, we don’t pray like we should. When we do pray, most often, it is only for ourselves.
Pray On All Occasions
Paul said pray “on all occasions.” We need to pray when things are good and we need to pray when things are not so good. We need to be praying.
- All Kinds of Prayers
Paul said, “All kinds of prayers.” There is praying in the natural. There is praying in the Spirit. We can do binding. Also, there are prayers that loose. There are prayers of deliverance. There are prayers of thanksgiving. So, there are all kinds of prayers. We need to be praying.
Stronghold War
Keep on Praying for all the Saints
Paul said to “be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” I suppose for the first time, that part of Ephesians 6:18 hit me. Many of us are alert for what we need but not alert about what others are going through. I am because people call me and want me to pray for them. I think they relay their prayer requests to others, and they often think I relay their prayer requests to others.
- Perhaps I can relay my thoughts this way.
One man going against an enemy’s stronghold does not have the odds in his favor. However, if an army goes after a stronghold and sets siege on that stronghold, that stronghold will come down. Cancer will come down when an army sieges that stronghold.
Bad habits will come down when an army sieges that stronghold. Perversion will come down when an army sieges that stronghold. Family problems and financial problems will come down when an army sieges that stronghold. We are an army. Let’s siege some strongholds.
Beginning Wednesday
Here is what I want to do. I know it’s summer. I know we are building. Nonetheless, I want to come here on Wednesday nights for one month and pray. If you can come for fifteen minutes, great. Come for what time you can. Light a prayer candle if you like. We will take prayer requests and project them on the screen. We will sing one worship song, release prayer in the house, and separate and pray. Also, we can set the altars around, sit in a chair, or kneel. We must pray.
Stronghold War
If anyone wants to pray during the month or any time after, please do. Light a candle if you want. However, please come by and pray. If this seems to take off, we will consider praying on the first Wednesday of every month.
Stronghold War – How to Demolish Fortresses of the Mind
Stronghold War – How to Demolish Fortresses of the Mind
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