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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.

Who’s Your Daddy?

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Ruth 1: 1, 20-21 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons…..20 And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.21 I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

There are many peculiar contradictions embedded in this first chapter of Ruth: there was a famine in the land…but Naomi claims, I went out full; there is a famine in Bethlehem…the House of Bread? Moab means Who’s your father or Who’s your daddy?…When God was to be their Father. Moabites were historical enemies of Israel from the Exodus through the times of King Saul. Yet this is where Naomi’s husband led his wife and family. What’s really sad is Naomi’s perspective on the entire ordeal: …call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me….the Lord has brought me home again empty…the Lord has testified against me….the Almighty has afflicted me. The Lord is receiving the blame yet she is missing the obvious and glaring fact that Her husband, Elimelech, led them into their predicament.

Ruth 1:1 states that these were the days the judges ruled. Yet the book of Judges states, But the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hands of those who robbed them. And yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed down to them. They turned quickly out of the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not so. (Judges 2:16-17) The book of Judges agrees with this Scripture stating that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. (Sound familiar?)

Naomi left Bethlehem full but returned spiritually famished after feeding off the idolatry of Moab. She had grown accustomed to the sacrifice of children in the land of Moab – the god of Chemosh. Her return to the land of her inheritance should have been a returning to God – her Father – instead all she could do was find fault with Him. The only thing she was full of was bitterness and self-pity. But that’s the life of one ruled by self – doing what is right in your own eyes. Hebrews 12:15 warns: See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;…ESV Over the years I have prayed for people who, although, they began with a root of bitterness – the root grew into a tree, and the fruit it bore was disastrous. Usually this seed sprouts from a perceived hurt. The hurt breeds unforgiveness. Unforgiveness evolves into judgments, and judgments become vows (I would never have done, I would have never said, etc.) While all of these things are rooted in pride, and the center of self, you become a curse. The good news is that our Father is forgiving and loving and Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer, has already paid our redemption, or ransom. All you have to do is acknowledge your sins, release the person or persons from the judgments you have had, confess your vows, and be restored into right relationship with your True Father. In other words, be released from the prison cell of your own making.