The Rules of Engagement

The Battlefield Is Your Mind

with repentance. When Jesus sent out His disciples, ‘they went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and…healing them’ (Mark 6:12–13).” 1 2. You must eradicate strongholds ( ochuroma ) A stronghold is a pattern and idea that governs individuals, nations, and communities. They are mind-sets, thought patterns, and processes that cause people to act, react, and respond in a particular manner contrary to the ways of God and a godly lifestyle. Strongholds are things that you rationalize and justify. You may say things like, “My whole family is like this,” “I can’t help it. I was born like this,” “This is just the way I am,” or “Everybody acts and thinks this way.” Your rationalization and justification of certain thoughts, behavior, and attitudes form a stronghold. Strongholds can also be cultural entrenchment. You have to understand that God wants to give you a better way of living and operating in the earth realm. All successful deliverance must begin by first removing that which defends the enemy. In speaking of spiritual warfare, the apostle Paul enlists the word stronghold to define the spiritual fortresses wherein Satan and his legions hide and are protected. These fortresses exist in the thought patterns and ideas that govern individuals and organizations as well as communities and nations. We must not allow the enemy to hide himself and his tactics within these fortresses. Every arsenal of the enemy must be removed and replaced with the mighty arsenal of the Word of God. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12, nas). Through deliberate ingestions of God’s Word, the strongholds of the enemy can be forced out and the things of God can come in and occupy our thought life. Here are several types of strongholds we must be aware of:

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Demonic/satanic. These will be discussed at length in chapter 6, “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and in chapter 10, “Recon naissance.”

Strong’s #3794.

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