Question: What is spiritual warfare, and how can we discern what is accurate from all available information? Some people say it is inaccurate, and some say there is a "demon behind every bush."
Answer: Spiritual warfare is real and part of everyone's life. However, much of it is subjective, mainly because it is based on feelings rather than the objective truth of God's Word. Let's start to develop a solid foundation slowly.
This is post SIX in the series "Winning the Invisible War."
Series Verse:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:10–11
Today's Verse
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
— 2 Corinthians 10:4
Why This Matters
Sometimes, we pray, try harder, and read our Bible—but still feel stuck.
That’s often because we’re not just dealing with a bad habit—we’re dealing with a spiritual stronghold. A stronghold is a mindset, belief system, or pattern of thinking that is contrary to God’s truth and gives the enemy influence in your life.
Strongholds don’t form overnight. They are built brick by brick—through lies we believe, wounds we don’t heal, sins we don’t confess, and hurts we don’t forgive. Over time, they become mental and emotional fortresses where the enemy camps out.
The good news? Strongholds can be torn down.
God’s truth has the power not just to manage your struggles—but to break them.
What Scripture Says About Strongholds
1. Strongholds Are Mental and Spiritual, Not Physical
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…” — 2 Corinthians 10:5
Strongholds are built on arguments—false ideas that feel true. These may include:
- “I’ll always be anxious.”
- “God helps others, but not me.”
- “I’m not worth loving.”
2. You Have Authority in Christ
“I have given you authority… to overcome all the power of the enemy…” — Luke 10:19
You don’t fight for freedom—you fight from it. The enemy wants you to feel powerless, but in Christ, you have the authority to say no, break chains, and walk in truth.
3. God’s Word Has Demolition Power
“Is not my word like fire… and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” — Jeremiah 23:29
The enemy’s lies may feel deeply rooted, but the Word of God breaks through even the hardest spiritual walls.
Neil Anderson’s Insight
Neil Anderson defines a stronghold as “a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept something as unchangeable, even though it goes against God’s truth.”
In The Bondage Breaker, he explains that spiritual freedom isn’t about trying harder—it’s about tearing down lies and rebuilding your life on God’s truth. This includes:
- Renouncing agreements with the enemy
- Rejecting false beliefs
- Forgiving those who caused the hurt
- Replacing the stronghold with Scripture-based truth
Practical Application Steps
- Identify the Stronghold
Ask: What repeated thought, emotion, or behavior is controlling me?
Look beneath the surface—what lie is fueling it? - Write Out the Lie and the Truth
Example:- Lie: “I’ll always be anxious.”
- Truth: “Do not be anxious… but in everything by prayer and petition, present your requests to God…”(Philippians 4:6–7)
- Verbally Renounce the Lie
Say out loud:
“I renounce the lie that I am a slave to fear. I choose to believe God’s Word instead.”
This is not superstition—it’s spiritual warfare. - Replace the Lie with Daily Truth Declarations
Create a list of truth statements rooted in Scripture and read them aloud daily. These repeated truths begin to retrain your mind (Romans 12:2). - Fast and Pray for Breakthrough
Sometimes, strongholds require concentrated spiritual focus. Take a day (or more) to fast, pray, and seek God’s truth about your issue. Invite a trusted believer to pray with you.
Resources
- Book: The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson
A step-by-step guide to identifying and demolishing strongholds through spiritual truth. - Book: Fasting by Jentezen Franklin
Explores how fasting breaks spiritual strongholds and leads to freedom. - Workbook: The Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil T. Anderson
A practical and personal tool to walk through breaking spiritual bondage in key areas.
Bottom Line.
You don’t have to live stuck.
That mindset, addiction, fear, or shame—it doesn’t define you. It’s not permanent. It’s a stronghold, and Jesus came to set captives free (Isaiah 61:1).
Take your thoughts captive. Demolish the lies. Walk in the truth.
