Bind the Strongholds, pt. 1

   For Christian Home week, it would be good to understand why there is a need to prioritize the home, or as James Dobson said it, to focus on the family. If you read Heb. 2:14, you will see that Satan was rendered powerless by the death of Christ on the cross. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

    We are weak when the enemy attacks us because we oftentimes are unaware that we are at war, we are generally unaware of our weapons to be used and almost always unaware that we are already the victors of that war. At least that seems to be the way we act when we willfully allow sin into our lives, our marriages, our homes and our families.  When we willfully sin, we allow Satan a “free pass” into our Christian Home.

    If you have a stronghold of Satan in your life, how can you defeat it? You may not think you have a stronghold of Satan, but look at the following definition.

Stronghold  -- any area of your life over which you have not given Jesus full-control.

    What that means is that you may have an area in your life that is not sin, is not an addiction, is perfectly socially acceptable  but yet still is an area over which you have not given Jesus full and complete control. That is a stronghold.

     The devil knows where we are weak and wants a strong hold over you and me. If he cannot get it the form of a vice, he may attack you in the form of a virtue. Do you take pride in a certain area? Have you ever said, “I will never do ______________.” Are you willing to admit that there are areas of your life over which Jesus has anything less than full control?

      Satan begins his attack on us in our minds. Only God can read our minds but the enemy can definitely put thoughts in our minds. If there is an area which you find yourself having the need to justify it to others or yourself, it likely is a stronghold. If there is something that you have confessed a dozen, a hundred or a thousand times to God, yet are still committing it, it is a stronghold.

    How to defeat a stronghold.

1.       First admit and recognize you are not stronger than the stronghold without the aid of Christ. The surest way to defeat is to not recognize the problem. If you justify it and think “everyone struggles with this” or “no one is perfect” then you will never defeat it. Even if the “everyone’s” and “no one’s” argument makes sense, you are not everyone and no one. Even Michael the arch angel knew that he could not defeat the devil and said “the Lord rebuke you.” Do not fight on your own strength.

2.       Listen to, read, memorize and meditate on the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17). That is not a cop out answer. Jesus did it in His temptations (Matt. 4:4, 6, 10). God’s word says it is the only defensive and offensive weapon (Eph. 6:17). If you struggle with fear, pride, lust, anger, worry, low-self-esteem, greed, selfishness (I can keep going, you know), find verses on those topics.

3.       Submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7). Sometimes we are defeated not because of Satan overpowering us, but simply because we are used to giving in. We fall because of WSS—weapons of self-destruction. A stronghold may not be of disobedience, but rather because of a failure to submit to God. Are you speaking words of others that are not edifying? That is an area of failing to submit, and gives the devil a stronghold, even in other areas unrelated. Submit to God in all areas, and the devil will flee, at least for a season.

4.       Battle with spiritual weapons, not fleshly (2 Cor. 10:3). Don’t resort to human solutions, look for spiritual, godly solutions. No self-help books or 12-step program will work without God. Not that there are things wrong with those things, but first and foremost look to God’s instructions (Ps. 20:7, Zech. 4:6, Rom. 13:12, 1 Cor. 2:5, Eph. 6, 1 Thes. 5:8, 1 Tim. 1:18).