Demolishing Strongholds
What are Strongholds that need to be demolished according to
2 Corinthians 10:5
? How to Defeat a Stronghold of the Mind - The Mind-Body Connection
Strongholds are formed with our five senses (see, hear, feel, smell, and taste) and processed through thoughts and reactions. Unfortunately, we have been programmed by negative situations in life that create negative reactions, and they have to be pulled down, and it can be done through the word of God.
Example: a young girl is molested sexually by either a father or brother - the lies that become the walls of the stronghold: "I am a slut - always have been and always will be. Also, there are usually feelings of shame and guilt. You feel responsible no matter how it happens.
When truths threaten one of those walls of deception, the center of control within the stronghold quickly reinforces the weak spot with more lies and false feelings, trying to counter that bit of truth lest it breaks the walls and sets the person free. This is the setup by the enemy called demonic strongholds. The enemy has made residence and built walls around you, your heart, and your mind.
The function of an individual metal stronghold is to prevent a person from thinking effectively, feeling repentant, or repaying in ways that would defeat it as one of the fortresses of the ruling center of flesh within the person.
A stronghold is like an infected root on the brain of twisted feelings and thoughts opposite of what God's word says. These belief systems oppose God's truth - demonic strongholds of the mind. They send pain and sickness throughout the body of personality and character. The Lord's persistent love is needed to draw it to a head through his word, which literally washes the mind by renewing the mind with truth. The Word of God counteracts the lie the enemy has programmed you with.
Once the ruling center has been broken or extracted by renewing your mind with truth through the Word of God, its lies can be dismantled one by one on the Cross of Jesus Christ.
A spirit of Fear is the primary weapon of strongholds, fear of man, fear of tomorrow, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of not having enough, and much more. The Bible says "Fear Not" over 365 times. We fear letting go and trusting the goodness of God. Many times, we have not had loving fathers, and so it is hard to trust a loving God. When things go wrong, the enemy accuses the living Lord in our thoughts to get us to believe the lie that God really or indeed does not love us. Many times, a spirit of doubt and unbelief works against our minds to keep us from believing God's word and truth, that he truly loves us. It is easy to see how demons use strongholds. They establish and maintain control of our thoughts. Let me ask you, where do thoughts come from? Are they all yours, or doesn't the enemy throw thoughts at us, and we believe them?
The primary weapon against fear is
1 John 4:18 "perfect love cast out fear..." His love cast out fear. Love begins the battle against the stronghold of thinking. Love enables us to see the truth. Love hurls truth over the walls of self-deception.
To set people free, it is not enough to bind the strongman and cast him out, according to
Luke 4:18-21. The power of the stronghold must be broken before his house can be plundered. It takes recognizing it, taking responsibility, repenting for believing the lie and renouncing it and then it can be removed. But a person or Christian must fill his mind with truth to keep the stronghold from forming again. This might entail finding a deliverance ministry.
According to
Luke 4:18 the enemy is going to visit you again when he is removed from you. It feels his misery when outside of you and wants to rehabitate you again. A christian must fill his house with truth. Otherwise, the demon or stronghold will return with 7 more and you will be worse than before.
You can discern when a stronghold finally loses its hold. Your thinking is different and aligned with more truth than the enemy's lie.
Counter Attacks - How to remove demonic strongholds.
Strongholds and strongmen counterattack, so we must not abandon the battle before the healing has been settled.
We need to be surrounded by the family of God with a fortress of love and prayer. Family members many times might be church families if your immediate family is not saved or are abusive.
Memorize the word of God.
Praise music with thanksgiving to thank the Lord daily
Keeping specific scriptures to access when in attack
Walking in Victory is Possible
