The strongholds of the devil in the mind of people have one purpose, which is to prevent the Kingdom of God from being established on earth. There are many spiritual strongholds, but the biggest strongholds of the devil are built in people’s minds. These strongholds in the mind are built by nurture, education, (social) media, the wisdom and knowledge of this world, etc. A person’s mind is the result of all the things the person has dedicated and devoted himself or herself to and fed himself or herself with. The devil’s strongholds always exalt itself against the knowledge and the wisdom of God and His Word (the Bible), resulting in sin and iniquity. What are the strongholds in the mind of people, and how do you pull down these strongholds according to the Bible?
How the devil takes the mind captive?
The devil uses all kinds of means to enter the mind and take the mind captive. The devil knows that people’s words and actions derive from their mind. Therefore, the devil wants to control everybody’s mind so that they do his will.
From a young age, the devil tries to captivate the minds of children through nurture, education, entertainment; television, books, gaming, music, social media, amusement parks, toys, witchcraft, etc.
The strongholds, which the devil builds in the mind of children, ensure that children develop his character and walk according to his will in his ways.
The children develop a strong will and become rebellious against their parents, and refuse to submit to others. (Read also: Children, obey your parents in all things!).
As they mature, they’ll walk and talk according to the will of (the ruler of) the world. That’s because throughout the years they fed themselves with the knowledge, wisdom, and things of the world and developed a carnal mindset. Their thoughts, imaginations, reasonings, arguments, barriers, carnal knowledge and wisdom, exalt and rise against the knowledge of God.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
Can Christians who think and live like the world preach the gospel and establish God’s Kingdom on earth?
Christians who think, act, and live like the world are not able to preach and establish God’s Kingdom on earth. Because their carnal mind and the way they think diametrically oppose the Bible (the Word of God). That’s why the Bible says that a carnal mind is enmity with God, because a carnal mind won’t submit to God’s will.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:19-20)
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19)
The stronghold of education
Education also plays an important role in the development of a person’s mind. Unfortunately, many schools teach children things that oppose the will of God and His Word. Therefore education can become a stronghold in people’s mind.
In primary school, children are taught evolution and by time they go to high school, and after that to university, their mind is fed and filled with worldly knowledge and wisdom that is based on science and the philosophies of man.
As a result, they shall have faith in science. Since faith is built on the words you hear and accept as the truth.
They shall believe in evolution instead of creationism and reject God and His existence. This worldly wisdom and knowledge become a stronghold in their mind. As a result, they shall talk, act, and walk according to the world system. The world considers them wise and smart, but according to the Bible, they are fools.
Scientific studies caused many Christians to become apostates from the faith in God and Jesus Christ; the living Word. Why? Well, after hearing people’s wisdom and knowledge and their philosophies, reasonings, and so-called scientific proof, they began to doubt the Word of God. Just like Adam and Eve began to doubt the words of God after hearing the words of the devil. (Genesis 3:1-6)
The wisdom and knowledge of this world not only cause apostasy but also pride. Because through this carnal knowledge, which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, people exalt themselves above God and others.
That’s why you know this knowledge derives from the devil because it creates a person after his image and character. The devil is prideful and still exalts himself above God. The devil wants to be the god of the people, and his children follow his example.
Lay down worldly wisdom and knowledge
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise (1 Corinthians 3:18)
When people come to faith at an older age, they have to destroy these strongholds of worldly knowledge and wisdom. Otherwise, they shall not be able to believe God’s Word, repent, be born again, and act and live by faith according to God’s Word.
People may gain a lot of head knowledge of the Bible and quote every scripture of the Bible, but this knowledge only remains head knowledge instead of experiential knowledge. This carnal knowledge causes them to become puffed up.
They will not be able to walk in faith. Because their carnal mind, which is formed by the wisdom and knowledge of the world, belongs to the world and opposes the Word of God.
As a result, they will combine God’s Word with the philosophies of man. They will change and adjust the words in the Bible to the knowledge and wisdom of this world.
Since they have a carnal mind and reason from their carnal mind, they’ll not be able to be born again.
They’ll consider regeneration a strange phenomenon, which they can’t comprehend or explain with their carnal mind. Because of that, their spirit remains dead and not be raised from the dead by faith and regeneration in Christ
They shall not see nor enter the Kingdom of God, since their spirit is dead. Let alone, speaking in other tongues, building themselves up in their most holy faith, praying in the spirit, and fulfilling the great commission of Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:20, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16-18).
What makes a Christian a Christian?
People may call themselves Christians on the basis that they believe in God and the Son Jesus Christ, read the Bible, pray before meals and before going to bed, visit a church, give to charities, and maybe even do charity work(s), but all these things don’t make people a Christian.
As long as people are not born again and stay carnal and live according to the strongholds in their carnal mind they shall be humanists, who belong to the world and have the mind of the world.
Your walk and the fruit, which you produce in your life, prove if you believe and are a new creation; a son of God (this applies to both males and females) or not.
The stronghold of false doctrines
Another big stronghold of the devil in the mind is false doctrines. Yes, even churches can build strongholds of the devil for the benefit of his kingdom in your mind. Preachers build these strongholds through false doctrines that derive from the wisdom and knowledge of carnal man and their philosophies. (Read also: How doctrines of devils are killing the church).
These false doctrines that become strongholds in the mind cause Christians to depart from the will of God and His Word, compromise, become passive, and spiritually fall asleep.
These false doctrines ensure that Christians stay ignorant regarding the truth of God and prevent them from walking in the truth as a son of God.
Some of these false doctrines are, that a person always remains a sinner despite the finished work of Jesus Christ, that it doesn’t matter how you live, because you are once saved always saved, that you don’t have to die to the flesh and put off the old man, that you can live like the world, that there is no more sin, that you can’t sin anymore, because Jesus has taken all sins away, that there is no hell, that you don’t have to fast, that it’s all grace, that the love accepts everything, including sin, religious rituals in church, etc. But these are all lies of the devil, that proclaim the opposite of what the Bible teaches.
Most Christians don’t read and study the Bible themselves and listen to Him. They only listen to what their pastor says in the church or what television preachers say, and believe and accept their words as the truth.
The stronghold of inferiority (lack of self-confidence)
Another stronghold that the devil builds in the mind of many people is a lack of confidence and low self-esteem. This stronghold can prevent people from fulfilling God’s plan for their lives. Because God has a plan for every believer, who is born again, and laid down his life, and follows Jesus.
These lies are from the devil and don’t line up with what God’s Word says about the new creation. Therefore, it’s important to find out the truth and hear what God has to say and believe His words.
How can you find out the truth of God?
You can find out the truth of God and who you really are, by studying the Bible. Only when you read and study God’s Word, you get to know Jesus and find out the knowledge of God’s will and what the Bible says about you. Because the Word is the reflection of God and reveals His will, and the mirror of the new creation. (Read also: God’s Word is a mirror).
However, we live in an age where people would rather be lazy. They don’t want to make time and don’t want to put any effort into reading and studying the Bible.
Many Christians spend hours on the things of this world, but are not willing to spend even one hour with the Father and His Word. That’s very sad. Because they’ll never get to know Jesus; the Word and the Father, and find out the truth and walk in the fullness of the sonship of God. (Read also: How a counterfeit Jesus produces counterfeit Christians?).
They will always remain spiritual hitchhikers, who lean on other people’s faith. When they’ve a need or are in trouble, they always depend upon others and go to them for help and advice.
How to destroy the strongholds in your mind?
You destroy the strongholds in your mind through the Word; Jesus Christ. You take every thought, imagination, reasoning, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge and truth of God, captive and bring in captivity every thought in the obedience of Christ. This means that you renew your mind with the words of God. So that you know the truth and will of God, and His Kingdom.
Every thought and imagination that doesn’t line up with the Bible, you destroy with the truth of the Word.
By renewing your mind with the Bible and speaking God’s words, you attack, pull down, and destroy these strongholds in your mind.
You do this until all the strongholds are destroyed and your mind is conformed to God’s Word and His will.
During this process, you will be tested. During the tests, you prove whether these strongholds are still there by acting upon the words of the devil or that these strongholds are destroyed, by acting upon the Word of God.
When your mind is conformed to the Word of God and you become a doer of the Word, you shall think and live according to the Word. You shall submit to the Word and live in obedience to Him in holiness and righteousness.
Through your life; the way you talk and walk, and the fruit you bear, you represent, preach, and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
