2 Corinthians 10:3-4 KJVS
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the Pulling Down of STRONG HOLDS;)
Ephesians 6:12 KJVS
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
No matter what religion you have or if it’s none at all, there are spiritual forces around you doing their best to influence your life.
Even if you are a Born Again, Spirit Filled, Bible Believing Christian, there are spirit beings in play for your soul, some for good, others for evil.
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil–he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Some people think that they can make peace with both of these. “Nobody’s perfect, right?”
Just so long as you feed the good one more.
The problem is these are Not Wolves, they are eternal spirits. They are fighting for our eternal soul and for where it will spend eternity, heaven or hell.
So what is a strong hold?
Merriam Webster Definition of stronghold
1 : a fortified place
2a : a place of security or survival
b : a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
For a Christian, a godly strong hold is built up by prayer, worship and praise of God, Bible knowledge and Discernment. But above all that, being Born Again with God’s Spirit and being continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
Paul says “be filled” not have you “been” past tense
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but BE FILLED With The Spirit,
Ephesians 5:14, 16-18 NKJV
Think of the example Jesus, God in the flesh, how often scripture says his custom was to be up long before light, or all night in prayer. If Jesus need to pray and seek the will of Father God, how much more do we? The strength of our Godly Stronghold depends on what is put into it. It can be compared to a New Years resolution to exercise more or diet to lose weight. If honest time or effort or not put into it the results Will Be Evident.
Spiritually the evidence is not so visible for us or the world to see our achievement or lack of it. We can easily fake that to others and even ourselves, in our pride, “I got that” attitude.
The obvious beginning of any stronghold that the enemy tries to set up in our mind and life is willful sin. Even a small seemingly minor thing that we know is not pleasing to God. It can be compared to an addiction. No one wakes up a compulsive liar, sexual pervert, drug addict and so on.
A more subtle way the enemy gets a stronghold in our life is in the secret things we think about or do that we would want no one else to know about. Any secretive thing gives satan an foundation to build on.
In an earlier post on Dec. 1, 2018 called “What’s So Wrong With The Light” some scriptures said,
John 3:19-21 NKJV
19 And this is the condemnation, That THE Light has come into the world, and Men LOVED Darkness Rather Than Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For Everyone Practicing EVIL Hates THE Light and Does Not Come to THE Light, lest his deeds should Be Exposed. 21 But he who Does the Truth Comes to THE light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
John 8:12 NKJV
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I Am THE Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of LIFE.”
Keeping secrets, having a secret life that you’d not want anyone else to know about is the open door for the enemy to move in and build a stronghold on. We must be transparent, living a life that let’s the search light of God’s Word and Spirit measure our motives and intent of our heart.
God sees and knows Everything that is done and thought of anyway. There is nothing we can hide from Him. God knows our exact thoughts before they are completed in our mind.
O Lord , You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord , You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psalms 139:1-7 NASB
For a Christian, walking with God those verses are a comforting thing. If you have secret sin in our heart or mind you’ve given the enemy a platform to speak into your life and your ears to bring more deception and fall into more error and sin.
It’s clearly stated in the book of Job, God does take down the hedge of protection, allowing the enemy to test us. Bishop Drew spoke of God allowing us to be in situations where we have to “press through”
David Wilkerson shows biblical proof that a godly person that fails to constantly seek God, guard their heart and judge everything according to scripture can mistake the voice of satan for the voice of God.
Jesus said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:1-5 NASB
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 10:27 NASB
Hearing And Knowing The Voice of God
In The Word 