What Are Demonic Strongholds?

This is a subject I don't feel is really discussed enough and it is very important that we understand this and how to counteract these type of demonic attacks in our lives. So many people are living with strongholds controlling many aspects of their life and they don't even know it.

A demonic stronghold is anything powerful enough to hold you in its dominion to keep you from receiving God’s love and truth. Once a stronghold is established, you provide an open door for the enemy and become exposed to demonic control and oppression in that area of your life. The existence of a stronghold can be recognized because it will be that area of your life in which you consistently have problems and cannot cope in life. Our thoughts influence our emotions and our physical reactions. A thought may seem harmless, but it can become physically, emotionally or spiritually dangerous. Satan will bring evil thoughts into our minds. We cannot entertain these. This will only give way to the enemy. We need to rebuke the evil thoughts from our minds as soon as they start. This is so important.

A stronghold is thought of a few ways. One that is common is a thinking pattern based on lies and deception. Lies and trickery is one of the primary weapons of the enemy, because it then allows strongholds to take place. A demonic stronghold is anything powerful enough to keep you in bondage so you don't receive God’s grace and peace. They cause us to think in ways which block us from God's goal for us. It screws up our personal peace in Christ. When your view of God has been messed with or a sudden lack in faith can be the work of a stronghold taking place. God wants us to be be happy and have peace. The enemy wants us miserable and tormented. It's why fallen angels are assigned to attack us and attempt to ruin our lives in any manner possible. They want your soul.

Are spirits and strongholds the same?

No. A stronghold is an area of weakness that Satan attacks when we open the door to allow him entry through disobedience. Once we open the door, Satan and his spirits begin to control through the stronghold. The spirit is the energizing force behind the stronghold. The stronghold is the symptom. . .the spirit is the root the problem. (Example: An addiction is a stronghold that becomes controlled by a SPIRIT OF BONDAGE. Self-righteousness is a stronghold controlled by a Spirit of pride. Phobias are controlled by a Spirit of fear.)

How is a stronghold formed? The Apostle Paul gives us hints to understanding how spiritual strongholds are formed by listing three important factors for strongholds to take up root. He says arguments, pretensions, and thoughts contrary to the knowledge of God. ( 2 Corinthians 10:5. This is important scripture to take note of.

2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

Romans 12:2 NKJV, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

(Matthew 16:19; Mark 3:27). Jesus called the demonic presence a "strongman." The strongman must first be bound. You must eliminate the SOURCE -- the root (strongman -- spirit) who is energizing the activity (stronghold) or he will keep coming back to harass you! (Like the vine -- the root must be pulled out or the vine will continue to grow and choke out the life of the bush!) Jesus has given us the authority of His name and the weapons of warfare to use to address the spirits that control us through strongholds and bind his power.

Research and my experience has led me to the conclusion that a purely "psychological" approach is just inadequate. We as Christians have lots of spiritual weapons at their disposal, and they allow us to be victorious in defeating satanic/demonic strongholds of any nature. I really feel believers need to learn how to use the Word of God to take authority over these tormenting demons. The stronghold of the Lord is our safety and protection in His presence. Sin causes us to separates from God. That's when Strongholds take root and goes on to flourish and prosper.

Psalm 18:2-3 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. The Lord should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.

Instead of casting out strongholds, we should tear them down, we need to rebuild our mind and the way we think due to these types of attacks. transformed by the renewing of our mind and cast down demonic. If the enemy builds strongholds through our mind continually reminding us of his lies, then we need to go in the opposite direction to destroy this type of vile bondage. We need to start keeping our mind in God's Word on a daily bases, so that the truth will sink into our minds and begin to change the way we think and react to the enemies tactics.

All Christians must be aware that God has equipped them to overcome Satan's power. The Apostle Paul said that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of a fleshly or earthly nature), but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians. 10:4).

You may recall the time when the seventy disciples returned to the Lord rejoicing about the results of their ministry. They remarked, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name" (Luke 10:17). But then Jesus pointed out that the great marvel of this was that the devils were subject to them because their names were "written in heaven." In other words, because they were saved -- because of their relationship with Christ, they had authority over the Devil in the name of Jesus.

Jesus has given all His followers, all those who know Jesus personally as their Lord and Savior the authority to use His name to expel the forces of evil. To all believers, Jesus said, "In My name they will cast out demons..." (Mark 16:17). "Strongholds" could be actual "demon possession," but can merely be a "strong" influence or grip, persistent oppression, obsessions, hindrances but many Christians are the victims of Satan's strongholds.

Written By Jennifer L Auld