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Spiritual Warfare

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Spiritual Warfare
Strongholds & Strategies
Bob Burns
“Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything”
1 Corinthians 6:12

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The Bible tells us that we struggle not against flesh and blood, but against demonic forces. Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Often the enemy uses life controlling problems as a means of attack. “Life-controlling problems are anything that master our lives and block our spiritual growth.” Other description include: life-controlling struggles, addictions, dependency, stronghold, besetting sin, slavery, and compulsive behavior. 1

Almost everyone has something blocking his or her spiritual growth in Christ. Some strongholds may be something that people consider positive such as sports or ministry.
Others that are considered negative include drugs, gambling, sexual addiction and more. Perhaps a person is consumed by another persons problem, trapped by grief, depression, anger, envy, lust and etc. 2

In this paper we will discover the three tools Satan uses to keep people trapped which are delusion, secrecy, and isolation. Secondly we will learn about three resources God provides to confront the enemies attack. These include the Word of God, the Spirit of
God, and the People of God.

Delusion or deception means to make another person believe a lie or something that is not true. When the enemy sends deception our way, it is an attempt to deceive us into

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believing something that is not true, so we will fall into error. Strongholds are built through deception. A stronghold is formed when deception takes hold in a person's mind. A stronghold is an incorrect thinking pattern that stems from believing something that is not true. 3

From the very beginning, Satan deceived Eve into believing that God's Word was not true. In Genesis 3:4, the devil told her that she will not surely die as God said she would in Genesis 2:17.

While delusion helps people justify the sin, secrecy allows people to hide in the sin.
Often when we know that others wouldn’t approve of what we are doing we develop a secret life to hide our guilt. Life controlling problems grow in the soil of secrecy are deadly to our the spiritual growth of people and the church. 4

Again in Genesis 3:10 we see secrecy follows delusion. “He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

The third tool used by Satan is isolation. When destructive strongholds develop in peoples lives, often they tend to isolate themselves from God and others who care about them. According to Bill Perkins, “As the problem intensifies, their delusional system allows them to justify their isolation. Since they’ve learned to lie to themselves, lying to others is easy. Gradually they hold on to their idol with both hands, turning their back on the only One who offers them hope for deliverance.” 5

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On isolation Proverbs 18:1 says “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgement.”

As the enemy uses delusion, secrecy, and isolation to entangle use, God has given us
His Word, Spirit, and People to confront these things.

The Word of God confronts our delusion. The world attempts to define what is normal, permissible, and legal but God’s Word is the standard for what is truly right. Charles
Stanley says “Our responsibility is to tear down…strongholds through Spirit-filed prayers. How? There is only one weapon-the sword of the Spirit. We must fight these lies with God’s Word. We must fight specific lies with specific truths.” 6

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12

The Spirit of God confronts our secrecy either through inward urgings or by circumstances. “ His direction is always in God’s will, in agreement with Scripture, and in opposition to the sinful nature. guiding us through the maze of deception in this addictive world.” 7

“For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,* you will live.” Romans 8:13

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The People of God confront our isolation and our tendency to stray from Him and to isolate ourselves. 8 We need an active relationship with Jesus Christ and with the body of believers. Hebrews 3:13 tells of the importance of healthy relationships. “you must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”

In conclusion, we can find freedom in Christ in the battle through reading the Word of
God, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and by surrounding ourselves with the People of God.

5

References
1) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 7
2) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 8
3) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 25
4) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 25
5) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 26
6) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 27
7) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 27
8) Lee, Jimmy Ray and Strickland, Dan . Living Free Guide. Tennessee: Turning Point
Ministries, 2008 pg. 28

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