Strongholds
Stronghold - (meaning to fortify, through the
idea of holding safely}
1) a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness
Strongholds are spiritual; we are captured by Satan in some way, or we are resting safely in our God. The purpose here is to keep you from Satan's strongholds.
(NIV Bible)
God is our strength and Stronghold
2 Samuel 22:3
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn [ 22:3 [ Horn ] here symbolizes strength. ] of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior- from violent men you save me
Psalm 9:9
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
Psalm 144:2
He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Joel 3:16
The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Where is your Strength Lord?
Psalm 43:2
You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
Trusting in wealth
Psalm 52:7
"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"
God will tear down our trust in things
Jeremiah 51:53
Even if Babylon reaches the sky and fortifies her lofty stronghold, I will send destroyers against her," declares the Lord.
Jesus has broken down strongholds as prophecied in Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Jesus accomplished this on the cross of Calvary. We are given power through him over the kingdom of darkness.
Mat 16:19 (KJV)
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Our weapons are spiritual, our thoughts control our spirit and strength
2 Corinthians 10
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Remember the devil is a liar. Christ Jesus has given us authority over satan's power. God has given us His power to destroy strongholds. Satan may control through feelings of fear, rejection, and bad thoughts. We are to cast down these negative things, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and his word. If we do not control our thoughts by the word of God, they will control us. Our strength is greater then any power, our strength is the Lord.
Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The word of God, the Bible, separates our thoughts, we compare all to God's word. Our attitude is what we choose, we decide to follow the light or give in to darkness. Just because we always have thought a certain way or acted in a certain way does not make this the will of God. We are to be like Him. The Word of God re-shapes us into his image, destroying strongholds of the past
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Eph 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
We stand against spiritual powers by wearing the full armour of God. We trust God and use the Spititual power of God. Our primary defensive weapon is faith our offensive weapon is the sword of truth, the word of God.
We win even if we die for Jesus
Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
When the word and Holy Spirit are inside our hearts there is no longer room for lies and darkness. The light of God keeps our heart pure and clean. Having stood, now we move forward as the mighty river of God flowing out to a world dying of thirst and hungering for eternal food and shelter. The Lord is my hiding place, my shield and my stronghold, I trust in his word.
Gary
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