Lesson: Strongholds
Author: Mark Stusek
Date: 5/11/08
We are all familiar with what it means to be taken hostage. It is when we or someone else is taken captive and is not free to leave. The vast majority of us are not in a position of physical restraint; however, many are trapped in a prison of painful emotions. These emotions dictate our lives, how we feel from moment to moment, day by day. They effect our decisions and our relationships. They tell us that certain people don’t love us or like us, that our careers will never amount to anything, that our finances will never get better and that no matter how hard we try, there is little hope of a bright future.
The Bible has a word for this: “Stronghold”.
I. Stronghold
What is a stronghold? Strongholds are spiritual in nature. We either
operate in the Spirit (God’s way) or flesh (Satan’s way).
What it isn’t: An addition, chemical imbalance, physical illness that can
be treated by a doctor with any degree of success.
Eph 4:25-31
1. Emotional strongholds are the foundation for all strongholds. Whether
anger, bitterness, depression, wrath, discouragement, fear, rejection, or
insecurity—these emotions can hold us hostage.
2. Cause of emotional strongholds is sin:
Esther 3:5&6
A. Haman was filled with wrath
Gen. 3:9
B. The first time fear is mentioned is here. Just a short time earlier
(Gen 2:25) Adam & Eve were naked, but they had no fear or shame.
What changed? Sin
I Sam 25:2-10, 12, 13
C. David and six hundred men voluntarily protected the flocks of a wealthy
man named Nabal. David assumed Nabal would pay him for his efforts.
I Cor 10: 4-5
When Nabal refused to give him anything, David became bitter and
ordered four hundred men to go with him to kill Nabal.
Question: Wrong Idea!! Why?
D. Signs of a Mass Murder, by Dietz
- Allusions to violence
- Documents or stalks potential victims
- Intensely angry
- Depressed—suicidal thoughts
- Repeatedly accusing other people of causing their problems
Virginia Tech Massacre – Monday April 16, 2007
- Cho arrived in the US at 8:40 am with parents from South Korea
- Father/Mother owned and worked in dry cleaning industry
- Cho exhibits deep resentment and hostility in his V. T. writings
- Displays body language indicative of depression and isolation
- Cho has obsession with women below his age; he was caught
taking cell phone photos of women
- Cho was reported to V.T. police on two occasions for weird
behavior, but his victims refused to prosecute
- Cho does not participate in group or team activities and rarely
displays emotion
- 32 fatalities and 25 wounded
Question: What kind of strongholds appeared in Cho’s life? Wrong ideas?
E. Sometimes the person living in captivity has sinned; sometimes the
one trapped has been sinned against.
3. Just as pain tells us the body is in danger, negative emotions tell us that our
souls are in danger.
II. Thoughts
Proverbs 23:7
1. What you and I think affects how we feel. How we feel influences how
we act.
Phil 4:8
2. It is critical that as believers we think right thoughts: what is true, noble,
right, pure, lovely, admirable.
Positive thoughts lead to positive emotions and right actions
Question: What is your thought process like on yourself, future, finances,
relationships, past?
III. How To Get Free From Strongholds
John 8:31-32
1. Jesus Christ told the disciples to continue in His Word, He promised
this would cause them to know the truth and the truth would set them
free. Remember, the enemy wants you and I to keep living a lie because
he can’t handle the truth.
I John 1:9
2. Make a full confession to God—tell Him the name of the sin.
3. Ask God to take back surrendered ground we gave to sin/Satan. This
ground which allowed Satan to bring his philosophy into our thinking
is to be covered by claiming Jesus Christ’s blood.
Romans 8:37
4. In all things we are more than conquerors because of Jesus Christ.
- Our hope for freedom doesn’t come from getting rid of emotions
- God created us with emotions, even the negative ones, so we can
experience lilfe.
- But when we walk with Jesus Christ in a close relationship, we think
God’s thoughts.
- When we think God’s thoughts, our thoughts line up with His truth.
- When we dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—
our emotions will line up with our thoughts and actions.
Tony Evans-The Urban Alternative May Newsletter
Advanced Training Institute of America Effective Counseling