Overcoming Strongholds! Wimp or Warrior?!

1 Samuel 22:1-5New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Four Hundred Men

22 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

³ Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” ⁴ So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.⁵ Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

                Stronghold:  A stronghold, fortress, is used metaphorically in 2 Corinthians 10:4, one of those things in which mere human confidence is imposed.  Another definition of a stronghold is a mindset that is contrary to God’s word.

                Did you notice here that DAVID of all men was caught up in a stronghold?  Even mighty warriors who have slain giants can find themselves wrapped up within strongholds.  But as the prophets spoke to David, I am speaking to you now – “Do not stay in the stronghold”.

If David was told not to stay in the stronghold, then that means that we have the power to overcome whatever stronghold is against us.  Before we go into how to get out of a stronghold, what we need to first understand is how we got into them in the first place.

                In Luke 11:22, it explains how we get stuck in strongholds; 

But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

                1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

                John 10:10-11New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

                Take a moment and think on these verses, The devil is the one to snare us into the pit of a stronghold.  He does it through lies and deceptions, his main goal in life is to steal, kill and destroy.  But Jesus who is our Good shepherd has already given his life for us – the sheep.  Because he has already conquered Satan, we have to be mindful not to allow the taunts of Satan, become more powerful than the works of the cross.

But Jesus has overcome the world – and because of Him, so have we!

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

2 Corinthians 10:4New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Isaiah 40:29New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁹ He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

It’s time to change fortresses!

Psalm 91New King James Version (NKJV)

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler^[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.            (A contagious or infectious epidemic,  something  destructive)
⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (A shield covering the WHOLE body)
⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, (The lord has not given a spirit of fear, but power, love      and sound mind)
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,  (Things may be happening around you, but know – you’re
And ten thousand at your right hand;    (covered in his safety)
But it shall not come near you.
⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

                Knowing the word of God, the Truth, brings us into freedom.  The word of God is saturated with stories of freedom.

                So what is it you need to overcome?

                In Mark 5:42 – we see a 12 year old girl overcoming the stronghold of death

                In Matthew 9 and Mark 5 – we read about the woman with the issue of blood, she illegally went into public, touched a man illegally, and she took her healing – and Jesus commended her for it.

                In Luke 8:38 – A touch from Jesus healed a man from demons who had terrorized the town

                The book of Job is a story of overcoming – Job’s fear allowed the devil to come in and steal everything he had in his sphere – but putting his trust and his faith in the Lord brought him to victory.

                Believing lies and having wrong theologies can become strongholds for us.  Not knowing the word of truth leads us into bondage.  Perceiving God wrong  is a stronghold, living in fear is a stronghold, sickness is a stronghold, negative mindsets are strongholds.

Some can be dealt with internally, and then there are some, like Davids, that need to be overcome first in the mind, and then physically.

                During Davids stronghold in the caves, he was hiding from Saul.  In the caves he met many that found him to be a leader.  During this period, he trained and built up others that he had discovered.  It is a beautiful image of what the Savior does for us daily.  He meets us in our darkest moments and builds and encourages us.

                In order to become our highest self, (referring here back to Genesis 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”)   We need to be careful not to get stuck with worrying about fulfilling everything that we feel we have lost; relationships, money, jobs, etc.  Because God who is our redeemer will restore everything that has been lost in following him.  Matthew 19:29

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

There is NOTHING that’s worth your destiny OR your salvation.

The Holy Spirit is our guide to getting out of strongholds.  Set your love on him and He will deliver you (Psalm 91:14)       

What part of the word do you need to believe for your victory?  Revelation 2:26 says “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” 

Holy Spirit, speak to me, guide me into deliverance.  Reveal to me the root of my stronghold and rip it out.  Where there is forgiveness needed, I forgive, where there is healing needed, I am healed, where there is disobedience, help me to obey.  You God are my Lord, restore me to the fullness you have created me to be and show me how to overcome every challenge with a positive attitude and with the Joy of salvation.  Cleanse me with your healing oil God.  Thank you for your love that cast out all fear.  In Jesus name Amen.