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Demonic Strongholds

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Yesterday we saw how a demonic foothold can turn into a demonic strong man. Unfortunately it doesn’t stop there. If the agreement or contract is not broken then the strongman that began as a foothold becomes a stronghold. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 states: 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,…

Let us revisit the demonic stages of torment or demonization. Yesterday we saw how a small demonic foothold left unaddressed transforms into a demonic strong man. Yet, when these two stages are ignored the strong man becomes a stronghold, or demonic fortress. What’s a demonic fortress? Demonic strongholds are spiritual fortresses – mental and soulish – built from lies, ungodly beliefs, habitual sins, traumas, soul and spirit hurts or wounds, generational cycles of sin, deceit, deception, and demonic agreements. Any of these give the enemy forces influence and control of a person’s mind, emotions, and lifestyle – hindering spiritual growth. Obviously, they aren’t physical places but entrenched mindsets like fear, pride, bitterness, judgments, hate, unforgiveness, etc. – that we have allowed to control our thinking and our living. 

What do we do? Ephesians 4:26-30 offers some exhortations: When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

Take note of the steps: 

Don’t let anger remain

Do not give the devil any more room to have a foothold in your life

Let the thief steal no more

Get rid of foul or polluting language – this isn’t just talking about profanity, or profane speech. (If there is sacred speech there is profane speech). What it is talking about is speech that is attached to the feelings of anger, unforgiveness, criticism, judgments, malicious talk, bitterness, slander, gossip, etc.

Speak only what is beneficial to the spiritual progress of others

Give Grace to Others (that’s what’s still begin given to you by God. You didn’t deserve it when you first believed and confessed Jesus as Lord, and you still don’t. That’s why it’s called GRACE. You and I are saved by it – continuously)

Do not grieve the Spirit of God – do not put out the Spirit’s desires through disobedience; through His thoughts, words, and ideas. Remember, Rom. 3:10-12. No one is righteous, seeks God tries to understand, or seeks to be good. Any desires that align with these things is the Spirit – not the devil.

How do we apply these truths – practically? First, IDENTIFY the agreements you have made with the enemy. Second, AGREE with God and His Word. This is what confession of sin should be. Sin is agreements made with satan, and confession of sin is agreement with God and His Truth. This is followed by the third step, REPENTANCE. Repentance is where we change our thinking, activity, language, and lifestyle. True repentance involves no longer wavering between two opinions. Additionally, this is what the Bible describes as faith. Wavering between two opinions is unbelief. Fourth, ADDRESS THE STRONGHOLD, as a demonic strong man. For example, let’s say you cannot stop thinking about pornography, or fear, or anxiety. Once the thought begins you are powerless to resist it. So what do you do? What would you do if you could see a demon of fear, lust, pornography, or anxiety sitting on your chest and grabbing you by the throat?

Submit to God through surrender to His Lordship and specific confession of the sin. For example, let’s say it’s “fear.” Confession of sin is followed by addressing the demon sitting on your chest. “Fear” (or whatever the controlling sin is) I agree with you that I invited you into my life through___________. I invited you into my life but now I am inviting you to go. I am created in the image of God. With my freewill I invited you into my life and with my free will I am inviting you to go. With my freewill I can say, “Yes!” to God and with it I can say, “No!” Since God cannot violate my freewill neither can you. So, I’m serving you notice: “Fear” you have got to get out of my life, out of my spiritual house and temple. And one more thing. “Fear” I have been bought, purchased, and redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I don’t belong to you anymore. I belong to Jesus. Get out of my life and do not return! I do not want you. I don’t need you. I am temple for Jesus. You are not my friend – go to the feet of Jesus! NOW!

Last step: Begin thinking, talking, walking, and acting with and in the opposite spirit. In other words begin to practice what a follower of Jesus looks like who knows and believes, and trusts – that they are perfectly loved. Perfect love drives out fear. Thank the Lord for those things that are yours now by and through the Blood of Jesus, and by the Spirit of God. Begin talking like someone who knows they have been delivered. Begin acting, and walking like someone who is bold as a lion; is surrounded by angels; is washed in the Blood of the Lamb continuously – never stopping. Begin living like the fullness of the Godhead dwells within you. What does every knee have to do before Jesus? You are a child of the King, a new creation, seated in heavenly places with Jesus. Your name is written on His palms and His Book of Life.

It Ain’t Over Till the Fat Lady Sings

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Luke 1:7, 13, 18 But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were far advanced in years….But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable]….And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

A Wikipedia article regarding the colloquialism, It Ain’t Over Till the Fat Lady Sings, states: “This phrase is often used as a proverb. It means that one should not presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. More specifically, the phrase is used when a situation is (or appears to be) nearing its conclusion. It cautions against assuming that the current state of an event is irreversible and clearly determines how or when the event will end. The phrase is generally understood to be a reference to opera sopranos, who were typically heavyset. The imagery of Wagner‘s opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen and its last part, Götterdämmerung, is typically used in depictions accompanying uses of the phrase. The “fat lady” is thus the valkyrie Brünnhilde, who was traditionally presented as a very buxom lady. Her farewell scene lasts almost twenty minutes and leads directly to the finale of the whole Ring Cycle. As Götterdämmerung is about the end of the world (or at least the world of the Norse gods), in a very significant way “it is [all] over when the fat lady sings.”

This colloquialism definitely applies to what transpires between Zachariah and the angel Gabriel. What is truly astounding is Gabriels’ casual comment: your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. Why is this astounding? Twice, Dr. Luke emphasizes the fact: both were far advanced in years, and Zachariahs belief: For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. But that is not the astounding part. The astounding part is, your petition was heard! I have a hard time believing Zachariah and Elizabeth were still praying for a child. In fact it is easy to believe that they had probably put this prayer request on the shelf, along with many other seemingly unanswered prayer requests. They had simply learned to accept these things as the way things were going to be. Most likely the future parents of John the Baptist had petitioned the Lord with this repeated, desperate request as they began seeing the window closing to the possibility. Surely, by this time, the “old man” had given up on that hope. What the angel was declaring just couldn’t be true. But how many of you know that the Bible is full of what seemed to be true events, trumped by even greater, truer events? In the beginning God released light, yet in the midst of His light being released there were lesser lights: the Sun, the moon, and stars. Jesus said in Jn. 8:32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. Jesus spoke this to Jews who had a revelation of the Truth (truth) in the Law, and the Prophets. Yet, as this was spoken, the Truth, the Greatest of ALL truths, stood before them declaring these things. What are we to make of this? Often we define truth by our perceptions of reality failing to enter into the Light of Truth, Jesus. Our circumstances may seem to be true – but there is a Greater Truth whose Name is Jesus. Now He is not an opera singer but He is a singer nonetheless, and He sings His song in a place of timelessness. What’s truly amazing is He sings His song over you and me. Rabbi’s believe God didn’t simply speak creation into existence, He sung it into existence. Possibly in Zacharias, and Elizabeth’s life the song hadn’t been finished and that’s why the manifestation of a prayer answered hadn’t come to their attention. What have you prayed about and given up on? Maybe it’s time for you to turn your ear to the song of the Singer, and listen for what He has to say. Luke 1:20 in the KJV reads: And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed…Maybe it’s time we confess to the Lord we have been dumb, and we need to learn to be still to know He is God; to listen and wait instead of speaking. Maybe it’s time that we take our place as a new creation and join in the song of the Singer. Chris Tomlin wrote a song by that name: Sing, Sing, Sing. The opening lyrics state: Sing, sing, sing and make music with the heavens. We will sing, sing, sing grateful that You hear us when we shout Your praise lift high the name of Jesus!