How Strongholds Take Root

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

In order to fully understand how to pull down strongholds, it is first important that we understand how it is they first took root in our lives.

1. Strongholds Come From Worldly Influence.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, & the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Many strongholds are a result of an accumulation of uncrucified thoughts and unsanctified attitudes that have ruled our lives during our formative years. As children growing up in a world that is under the influence and the sway of the enemy we received a steady stream of information and experiences that continually shaped our childhood perceptions. This is why the Bible says our minds need to be renewed once we are born again of God's Spirit.

The amount of love (or lack of love) in our home, our cultural environment, peer values and pressures, as well as fears of rejection and exposure--even our physical appearance and intelligence, all combine to form our sense of identity and our view of life.

Many of our opinions about life are ours only because we know of no other way to think. Yet we protect and defend our ideas, justify our opinions as though they were born in the wombs of our own creativity.

Proverbs 23:7...for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

In other words, the essence of who we are is an accumulation of our thought life. For example, many of our thoughts and opinions were shaped by our parents and school teachers. As good of people as they may have been, if their opinions were not God's than they were wrong.


Isaiah 55:7-8 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways..."

We have a mindset that has been shaped by our parents and educators as well as the ungodly environment in which we live. As Christians, the only truth suitable for eternity is the truth of Christ. If we fail to realize this we will be like our teacher, never doing more than the deeds of our fathers. When we come to Christ, all that we are in nature and character is destined to change.

IV. Common Strongholds Many Deal With.

Just because we are Christians does not exempt us from having strongholds that must be dealt with. There are still many strongholds within us. I have listed a few strongholds that are common to most Christians.


 Fear
 Resentment
 Bitterness
 Unforgiveness

 Apathy
 Unbelief
 Depression
 Anxiety

 Lukewarmness
 Sinful thoughts
 Lust
 Pride

 Greed
 Drugs
 Alcohol
 Pornography



Because we all have a tendency to excuse ourselves so readily, it is difficult to discern the areas of oppression in our lives. After all, these are our thoughts, our attitudes, our perceptions--we justify and defend our thoughts with the same degree of intensity with which we justify and defend ourselves. As a man thinks so is he. Therefore, before any deliverance can truly be accomplished, we must honestly recognize and confess our need.

When identifying your strongholds, survey or examine the attitudes in your heart, every area in your thinking that glistens with hope in God is an area which is being liberated by Christ. Any system of thinking that does not have hope, which feels hopelessness, is a stronghold, which must be pulled down.

V. Faith Principles For Pulling Down Strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 gives us two important things that help us to tear down strong holds. The first one is bringing our thoughts into conformity with Christ's and the second one is obedience to His Word.

2 Corinthians10:4-5...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..


1. We Bring Our Thoughts Into Captivity To Christ's.

Jesus Christ is the model of what God considers typical for the new-creation man. He is not just our Savior, He is the Indwelling One who conforms us to His image, the first-born of a family of glorious sons. When our thought life is in agreement with unbelief, fear or habitual sin, the enemy has rest and seeks out those places that are in harmony with his environment.

Therefore we must learn to look objectively at any thoughts or attitudes that fail to conform to the likeness and teachings of Jesus. Those thoughts must be captured and wrong attitudes crucified. We must make way in us for the coming of the Lord. We must allow the "increase of His government" to expand until we are so absorbed into His Spirit that we not only believe in Him, we believe like Him. His love, thoughts and desires flow out from within us.

To bring down or cast down the "stronghold of our past experiences" we must let God be found true and every man a liar.

Romans 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged."

The only one who has the right to shape our lives is Jesus Christ. We must determine to allow nothing and no one to shape us, not even our personal experiences unless they are consistent with the promises of God. eg. if you were not healed, a stronghold of unbelief could set in, but if you bring your thoughts into conformity with God's thoughts, the stronghold will break and faith will come forth. If we have a problem with a brother or sister and forgiveness is not enacted, bitterness and resentment will settle in.