2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (AMPC) For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,[In as much as we] refute arguments and theories and reasoning and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
In the above scripture, Paul is metaphorically describing the battle that we face as believers. The battle of a mindset or attitude. We do not use earthly weapons to fight because the battle is a spiritual one. We wear the full Armour of God; The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17).
Our power to fight these battles come from God alone. It is His plan to demolish spiritual strongholds of the enemy. Those pesky things that have power over us. Ideally, our stronghold should be God.
2 Samuel 22:2-3
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour--from violent men you save me.
A stronghold is only a threat when our enemy is inside. This does not mean that a spiritual stronghold is necessarily a demon. It is a habitual pattern or thought that is built into our lives. As born-again believers our lives should be led by the Holy Spirit, which includes our mindset and thinking. The enemy knows this, so he tries to capture the minds of people. He wants to corrupt our thinking. When there are strongholds in our minds, it is like the devil has closed off one negative quality in us. A weakness. He builds a fortress around it and stands at the top of the tower. He puts himself directly in-between you, and your freedom in Christ. Spiritual Strongholds do not just hold onto us, but we hold onto them. Crippled with shame and guilt, we keep them hidden and secret. Strongholds can be anything that is contradictory to the word of God.
Romans 8:5-6
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
When we believe a lie of the enemy, there are fortresses that he builds which become like a prison, keeping us in bondage. In order to walk in perpetual freedom, we need the Holy Spirit to turn these strongholds into rubble. With the full armour of God, we want to conquer the world for Christ. We are warriors for the Kingdom of God, but we face challenges. Our enemy constructs these fortresses in our lives with the purpose to keep us away from the Truth, from God's plan for redemption. We see towers rising up, casting a shadow over the land around us. There is a tower of worthlessness, self-doubt and hurt. For some, they can see towers of greed, envy and pride. These towers are heavily guarded by the enemy that we face, keeping us from the Truth. Our strongholds are sometimes disguised as something that seems good. We might not even realize that the enemy is using it against us. Over time, these towers get higher as the lies from the enemy become engraved into our unconscious mind. Keeping us from the truth of God's love and redemption.
Before I gave my life to Christ, I was a wounded soldier. I had been knocked to the ground. The enemy had constructed towers in my soul that was casting a shadow over who I could become. I had believed the lies to a point where I acted upon them. I believed I was worthless, so I destroyed my body with cuts. I believed that I was ugly, so I starved myself. I believed that I would never amount to anything, so I gave up. I believed that the world would be a better place without me. I believed that I was an inconvenience to my family and friends. So I tried to kill myself.
The enemy had taken full control of my mind, and he was using those strongholds to try and take me out. Where does Satan have a hook on you? What are the towers that he has built in your soul? Here are some examples of spiritual strongholds;
Gossip
Despair, a complaining attitude.
Destructive thought patterns – worthlessness, self-doubt etc.
Bitterness or unforgiveness – You often feel resentful.
Obsessive worry, fear.
Jealousy, envy, pride.
Judgmental thoughts or feeling superior.
Addiction - Not just substances, it could even be an addiction to food or a harmful television show.
Lust
Selfishness, fragile ego.
Discontentment.
People pleasing
Generational patterns – drinking, anger etc.
We have the power and authority to destroy these strongholds as born-again believers. We need to renew our minds and believe the truth of who we are. We need to get into the Word of God and speak it over our lives.
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