Six truths about strongholds. We talk about strongholds in the Christian circles.
And especially in the ministry of spiritual warfare or deliverance,
there is a huge emphasis on strongholds and it should be. Because a lot of times we can
experience freedom from demonic spirits, we can be saved but we're still dealing with stoneholds
in our minds. When Israel came out of Egypt they still had Egyptian mentality, ways and
attitudes that needed to be dealt with, through the process of elimination and replacement. "For
the weapons over warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,"
and so that is the verse that mentions the topic or the idea of strongholds in the New Testament.
Now overlooking ancient Corinth there was a hill of 1857 feet high and on top of this hill was a
fortress. And so some people think that Paul used this imagery as an illustration of the
spiritual warfare that he waged. That he destroyed strongholds, cast down towers and took things
or thoughts captive. Now the first truth about strongholds is the word stronghold appears only
once in the New Testament, in the verse I just read in 2 Corinthians 10:4. In the context pulling
down stoneholds refers to demolishing walls of resistance in people's minds. Particularly
how the rebellious Corinthians were thinking about Paul and the nature of his apostleship.
So this is not Paul removing strongholds in the city of Corinth. It's dealing with strongholds,
walls of resistance in the minds of believers. You know it reminds me of an Old Testament analogy.
The city of Jericho is a beautiful example of the strongholds Christians can have in their minds.
The city of Jericho was located in the promised land and it was one of those cities they had to
conquer before they would go further in the promised land. This city had occupants inside
but they were locked, gates were closed and walls were very secure. And many times that's
what strongholds are. They are in the minds of Christians who belong to Jesus christ. Who are
Jesus's possession if I could say. They belong to the Lord, but they could have certain areas
of resistance toward the truths of God. And the city of Jericho wasn't taken down in just
one moment. There was a process. It was six days walking around it and then a seventh day walking
around it seven times. And that's really also an example of how strongholds are taken down:
through the process and it takes time. The second truth about strongholds is that stronghold
is a fortress of lies that the enemy builds in our mind and emotions. So it's a house of thoughts;
a fortress. And it's built with layers of lies. A lot of times some of these lies are actually
true. Meaning certain, logical even, thoughts that we would have that are true but they're not the
truth. Not everything that is true is the truth. For example, you know I grew up believing that I,
you know didn't have a purpose and I was not good in school. I was not good relating with people.
And that was true, that I wasn't good relating with people. I wasn't good in school.
But that wasn't the truth. The truth is what God says about me,
is that I'm fearful and wonderfully made, that He created me, that His Spirit lives inside of me.
And so not everything that is true is truth. And the enemy uses things that are true, but they're
not the truth, to build a house of thought, layer upon layer. Like this default, automated
response in our mind. This subconscious, strong conviction that becomes our prison. The Bible says
that not to give place to the devil in Ephesians 4:27. The word "place" in the Greek means or
refers to a specific, marked off geographical location. It carries the idea of a territory,
province, region, zone or geographical position. See the enemy is not just looking for an open
door. He's looking for a place. He's looking for a stronghold. He's looking for a place to hide.
Now truth number three concerning strongholds is, a stronghold is how the devil stays in or demons
stay in. While an open door is how the demon gets in. Now there are common open doors for demons to
enter in. A lot of times it's generational curses, personal involvement with the occult,
being born unwanted, growing up in a broken home, abuse, unforgiveness, committing an abortion,
illicit sexual encounters, consuming porn, stealing, lying, taking drugs, inner vows,
word curses being spoken over us. As well as habitual willful sins. All of these
are open doors to demonic intrusion but common strongholds are different. These strongholds are
emotions and convictions and thoughts that are already like embedded into you. They're like fear,
anger, rejection, depression, abuse and self-hatred. Now few other differences concerning
an open door and a stronghold. Now an open door gives demons permission, a stronghold gives
demons protection. An open door is usually based on actions or behavior. Strongholds are based on
thoughts and feelings. Open doors can be rooted in the sins of others but strongholds are usually
rooted in your own sin. Open doors get closed instantly. Kind of like with normal open doors,
but strongholds have to be broken over time. Open doors are closed through repentance and renouncing
but strongholds are removed through renewal and resisting. Truth number four. Strongholds are cast
down, while demons are cast out. You know demons are like the bad renters; they have to be evicted.
But strongholds are like the bad structures; they need to be demolished. The Bible talks
about casting out demons in many verses in the scripture in the New Testament. But when it comes
to strongholds Paul says in2 Corinthians 10:4-5, that strongholds are cast down. Casting down
imaginations. So we don't get them out, as much as we get them down from the place of exaltation,
exaggeration. From the high and lofty place that they occupy in our mind against the knowledge of
God. We bring them down unto the subjection of God's truth. Because strongholds is really just
a house of thoughts, and you're not trying to get rid of your thoughts; you're trying to replace
your thoughts. And to replace them you first have to, you have to subdue them to the Word
of God. Now number five. Strongholds are broken over time, while demons are cast out quickly.
You can't break strongholds immediately because they're not built immediately. It's like a house.
You don't build a house overnight. You build a house over a period of three to five, sometimes
twelve months. And that's exactly how strongholds are built, and that's exactly how they're broken
down. Over time. Demons on the other hand usually exit quickly by the comment of Jesus Christ. Fact
number six is strongholds are broken by the truth, while demons are cast out by the name of Jesus.
That's why in John 8:31-36 Jesus talks about if you're believing in Me, be my disciple by abiding
in my Word. And He says, "As you abide in My word the truth will set you free." And then of course
you know people were following Him and said, "well we were never in bondage to anybody." Which is
kind of weird because they've been in bondage to everybody. And then Jesus says, "Well you know if
you commit sins, you're a slave of sin." Pretty much says hey you're in bondage and you need
deliverance, you need freedom. And then He says. Ends the chapter 8, this discourse. He ends with
this statement. "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." And I find it interesting that Jesus uses
two ways of freedom. One is, you know the truth and the truth sets you free. And the other one is
you know Jesus and Jesus sets you free. And I believe that's exactly what happens during
deliverance, is that during deliverance, the power of the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus,
the power of the Holy Spirit drives out the evil spirits. Removes the entities. But the knowing of
the truth renews your mind, brings healing to your soul, brings healing to the damaging parts of your
mind and your soul and thus you walk in freedom now. Therefore freedom has two sides to it.
One is the removing of something and the other one is renewing of something. We remove demons but we
renew the mind. We renounce the legal rights but we also have to replace the negative feelings
of fear, abuse and rejection with positive affirmations of God's Word. And thus building a
mindset that is focused on Jesus and on the truth. And that my friend is the difference between
demons and strongholds. I pray this video was a blessing to you and let me know in the comment
below what you learned from this video. And also don't forget to hit thumbs up to this video so
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