Demonic strongholds are a reality that affects the lives of many Christians, and in order to break them down, we must first understand what a stronghold actually is. A stronghold is a fortified structure with ramparts, walls and defensive towers, designed to withstand enemy attacks and protect strategically important points. In the spiritual realm, strongholds function in a similar way – they are thought structures and patterns that the devil builds up in our minds to isolate us from God and prevent us from living to our full potential. Andreas Slot-Henriksen explains here how we can identify and break down these spiritual strongholds through God’s Word and active choice.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3–6, we find one of the most powerful descriptions of how we are to wage spiritual warfare. When we look up the Greek words, we discover that the battle here is military – not just a minor disagreement, but a real battle with powerful weapons capable of smashing strongholds. We live in the flesh as ordinary people, but we do not fight in a fleshly way. Our weapons of war are not earthly, but powerful through God to demolish, indeed to tear down, strongholds. We bring every thought into captivity to Christ. This means that we have weapons at our disposal that can destroy the thought patterns and lies that the devil has built up in our minds over the years.
The devil has a clear agenda: to destroy every single person, because we are a threat to his kingdom. When people are delivered from demons, the demon is often asked what its mission is, and the answer is almost always the same: to destroy this person, because he or she is dangerous and must not do God’s will. The devil uses a few simple but effective strategies, which he repeats in almost everyone. One of the most common is to instil feelings of inferiority. You’re not good enough. What you do isn’t good enough. Others can see you’re a loser. The problem is that when we start to believe these lies, they build themselves up into strongholds in our minds, and we begin to define ourselves by the devil’s words instead of God’s words.
Another of the devil’s plagues is sickness. At first it can be frustrating, but as time goes on and healing does not come, you start to turn it inwards. Perhaps I deserve this. Perhaps God wants to teach me something through this illness. Perhaps I will only be healed when I die. These thoughts are lies, but when we accept them, we build up defences that prevent us from receiving God’s healing. When feelings of inferiority and illness are allowed to dominate, many people erect a wall of pride to protect themselves. This creates a paradoxical situation where, on the outside, one appears confident and competent, but on the inside, one is shattered. Pride becomes a façade that makes it even harder to get through to the truth of who one really is.
On top of inferiority and pride, religiosity can set in – a bubble of rules and laws that one believes must be followed to be good enough for God. This creates further distance from God’s grace. Then comes fear, because how can one manage all these masks and facades? The devil also works through condemnation, bitterness and shame. One of the most common reasons why demons cannot be cast out during deliverance is that the person believes the lie. The demon has a legal right because the person has accepted the lie as truth. The need for control is another stronghold that many build up. When life feels chaotic, we try to control every single detail, which leads to anxiety and stress. But true freedom comes when we can say to God: You choose, You lead today.
The devil is clever and also abuses our conscience. Once we have asked for forgiveness and made peace with God, the devil comes and says: ‘Listen, you still have a guilty conscience; you haven’t fully made amends.’ Many then go back to God again and again, asking for forgiveness for the same thing, even though it has already been forgiven. This is the devil’s way of keeping us in a state of condemnation. God’s Word is our ammunition against these attacks, for when we know the truth, we can rest in the knowledge that we are forgiven, and the devil has no power over us any longer. Traditions can also become strongholds when we insist that things must be done in a certain way. But God always does things differently – Jesus never healed two people in the same way. Traditions create religion, and religion removes the relationship with God.
So how do we break down these strongholds? The first step is sanctification, holiness and humility. Get down on your knees before God and acknowledge that you have strongholds in your life. Tell Him what it is you no longer want. Ask God to reveal to you which strongholds you have built yourself, and which the devil has built. When you are reminded of experiences in your life where strongholds were built, repent of them. Forgive me, God, I have clung to my rights, I have been stubborn. The next step is to find some people you trust and ask them to help you hold fast to the new decisions you have made. The devil hates this, because he wants you not to tell anyone, so that he can continue to lie to you.
Make an active choice to believe God’s Word instead of the devil’s lies. Even though everything inside you screams that you are worthless, choose to say: I am created in God’s image, and God has never created anything ugly. Make a plan, a strategy to change your thought patterns. Stand in front of the mirror every other day and tell yourself how lovely you are, how beautifully God has created you. This will be incredibly difficult at first, but gradually the truth will begin to sink in. Where the Law of Jante thrives, God’s law does not thrive very well. But where God’s law thrives, there is no Law of Jante. It is your choice whether you want to believe what is written in the Bible, or whether you want to remain in the lies. God rejoices over you. God loves you. God does not want you to hold yourself back or juggle false masks.
In 1 John chapter 3 verse 8, it says that the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. If the devil’s works are built like walls and fortifications within you, then that also means that, together with Jesus, you must make a choice and say: This is no longer mine. You simply have to step forward and make some life choices – not New Year’s resolutions, but life choices together with your heavenly Father. In James chapter 4, verses 7–10, it says: Submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. This is in the imperative – it is your choice to draw near to God, and then He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
It is not always about sin, but about committing ourselves fully, so that we are not double-minded, so that we truly make an active choice. It is we who must put off the old self. It is we who must change our thoughts and our minds. That is what God desires. That is what He has called us to. When we take active steps in this direction – perhaps by buying a mirror with a gold frame and a tiara to remind ourselves that we are God’s children, royal princesses and princes – then we show God that we truly want this. A woman who was set free from feelings of inferiority went all in and came the next day wearing a tiara, jewellery and a dress to show that she had made the decision to believe who God says she is. Do something active; don’t just say you’ll do better. Take action on it.
Quote from the teaching: The devil’s mission is to isolate you, and if he can isolate you, he can silence you. And if he can silence you, you are absolutely no threat to God’s kingdom.
Relevant keywords: demonic strongholds – spiritual warfare – thought patterns – inferiority – pride – religiosity – control – the devil’s lies – God’s truth – deliverance – identity in Christ – self-esteem – sanctification – humility – active choice – spiritual weapons – taking captive every thought – God’s Word – freedom in Christ – breaking down walls
