Elisha's Mantle

Personal and Corporate Strongholds


Individual strongholds are unique, shaped according to each person's history and development. Corporate strongholds affect us all. Each of us reacts to those corporate strongholds and ten includes them into our thinking in our own way. Both types of strongholds capture our minds and rob us of the ability to think freely.

Strongholds, both personal and corporate, are formidable obstacles to the healing process, for they are deeply embedded in our minds. Strongholds have lives of their own. In this lesson, we will look at the origin of strongholds, and the part the mind plays in blocking our relationship with the Lord. Scripture offers us a model for entering into warfare against the strongholds that hold us captive as individuals, as groups, and indeed as entire nations.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Go4 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
II Corinthians 10:4-5

Our carnal mind does not want to give up control. Hebrews 2:15 The primary function of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not how many gifts are functioning, but rather who or what is it's control.

What happened the first time that you spoke in Tongues? Your mind said, "That's not real! You are making that up! That's your flesh not the spirit! You cut that out." Your mind wants to control everything. God gave us Tongues partially to by-pass the control of the mind.

The first time you had a prophetic word for someone, your mind stepped in and said, "You're going to make a fool of yourself!" " They will look at you like you lost your mind! Don't embarrass yourself!" Why? Your mind does not want you to get into the habit of following the leading of the Holy Spirit, because it also bypasses the mind.

Break the mental control; the things of God offend the mind.

The first function of your mind is to filter out the signals that come at it from every direction. The mind enables us to focus or concentrate on one thing at a time. At the base of the brain there is something called the reticulating filtering device. This mechanism filters out sound, light and noise that hinders' concentration. For example: You find a nice and very affordable home, unfortunately it is next to the air port and when you are looking at the house planes are flying over head all the time because you happen to be directly in their landing pattern. That is why the house is so in expensive, the real-estate agent adds. You take it because you can't afford anything else. You have some trouble getting use to the new sights and sounds for the next few weeks. One day you have company over for supper and after about an hour your guests say, "How can you stand all that noise?" And you say, "What noise?" The reticulating filtering device has muted that noise in your brain, because you couldn't be constantly aware of that noise and function on an every day basis. Your mind does what it is trained to do.

That is one of the good things that it does however our mind can become our worst enemy. As children, we delegate authority to our minds. Once installed on the throne, the mind attempts to stay in control. When the Holy Spirit comes, He enters into warfare with the carnal mind. Who will win? What our mind is trained to do is block out the spirit. We must put the carnal mind to death on the cross,


PRAYER FOR THE CARNAL MIND

I PRAY LORD THAT YOU HELP ME BRING MY MIND TO THE CROSS AND
PUT IT TO DEATH. SET ME FREE FROM MY OWN CARNALITY AND
MINDSET.

I PUT ALL I KNOW TO DEATH ON YOUR CROSS-LORD JESUS 

JESUS I WANT
THE WORD OF GOD IN ME, AND I WANT THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTING
ALL MY WAYS AND THOUGHTS. LORD; BRING ALL MY MINDS WAY OF
THINKING TO DEATH ON YOUR CROSS.

RESURRECT ME WITH THE RENEWED MIND OF CHRIST. TEACH ME
HOW TO LISTEN WITH MY NEW MIND, SO THAT I MAY WALK IN THE
SPIRIT ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD.

I THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY PRAYER AND YOU
ARE DOING IT IN ME, THROUGH ME, AND FOR ME
IN JESUS' HOLY NAME.
AMEN

What is a stronghold?

It is an automatic, practiced and habitual way of thinking. God created us with lives and wills of our own; what we create also has life of its own (habits, fantasies, and ways of thinking). The ways of thinking that we developed before we knew Jesus can resurrect and maintain lives of their own. Although we think of our mind as a friend, we must remember that "a mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace' Romans 8:6 "The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so." Romans 8;7 those who are in the flesh cannot please God
Romans 8:8

The very first sin was a mental sin. Satan thought that he would rule. Our childhood ways become practiced ways of thinking, habitual ruts, and strongholds. Like a computer, the mind continues to function as it was programmed (inertia: unless halted, things continue as they are). Once sinfully programmed, the only remedy is death; we must be born anew.

Jesus died. He was crucified on the "mind of man". Golgotha: the skull, the residence of the brain

The Lord renews our mind. Paul tells us to "be transformed by the renewing" of our minds, that we may "prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect"
Romans 12:2

Warfare against the mind is biblical. It is not chasing demons, but rather the act of destroying speculations, every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
II Corinthians 10:4-5

An analogy of biblical warfare: A fortress was often built on a hill in an easily defended valley. To conquer it, attacking warriors breached the city wall and burned the city. They accomplished this by hurling burning logs or balls of debris over the walls catching the structures in the city on fire. When the people would abandon the walls to put out the flames the army would scale the walls without resistance from the defenders.

In spiritual warfare, we must hurl the Word of God against the walls of the mind. Truth breaks down walls and takes every thought captive. Our truest warfare is against ungodly ways of thinking.

How do we war against strongholds?

Recognize that they have a mind of their own, they twist the truth of God's Word, and they blind us by masking/clouding the issues
Isaiah 42:18-20, 43:8

Repentance removes Satan's control. Bind the strongholds and command them to be still, detest the strongholds and once you bring them to death on the cross, repent of them. Ask God to build new ways of thinking in you. The most powerful weapon against strongholds is repentance.

Overcome with God's word. Psalm 19:77 and following. Read until your mind grasps the true meaning of God's Word. We must have a foundation on which to operate. Replace old strongholds with biblical truth. We must gain strength from the word in order to destroy self-centeredness.



Corporate strongholds

A corporate stronghold is a shared way of thinking. It is a practiced, habitual way of thinking which; we share with the common mentality of mankind. It is a type of tradition or philosophy actively controlling groups, masses, and nations Colossians 2:8

Its effects on the Christian are to rob us of rationality, and our ability to contradict it. It robs us of free will in order to control us, and create tunnel vision. Corporate strongholds block the word of God, take the mind and finally the soul captive.

An analogy of The Corporate Stronghold is 20,000 leagues' under the sea the giant squid that wrapped itself around Captain Nemo's submarine. A corporate strong hold grasps an entire group and holds it fast.

Hitler had to poison and entire philosophy. Once a stronghold takes over, you can no
longer reason with it,

The purpose of a corporate stronghold is to distort the Word of God to its own destruction. II Peter 3:16

Name the stronghold and bind it. A stronghold is flesh; it cannot be east out, but must be bound in the name of Jesus to break its hold on the mind. It is the Principality behind the stronghold that must be cast out. Lead the client to repentance in prayer.


Persevere in prayer until the one you are praying for can think clearly and can make decisions.


Remember to pray "Hiding Prayers" Galatians 3:3; Psalm 91. When you battle against principalities and strongholds the enemy can see you. Put on the full armor of God and ask the Lord to cover you with His blood so that you will be hidden from the enemy. Perform regular spiritual cleaning and covering yourself with the Blood of Jesus. Remember to stay balanced; don't get too serious. You must be relaxed and learn to rest and play. Good wholesome fun is always in order.


Do not be afraid. Read Psalm 149, which tells us to wage war with joy, praise, and a two-edged sword. We have the authority
Mark 16; Matthew 28



When you are praying for family members bound in sin and or addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography etc. Bind every stronghold that has kept them bound and blinded to the truth. "Lord I bind every stronghold that has my loved one blinded to the truth. I command that the stronghold be bound in Jesus' name and that he/she can now see You Lord, for who You really are. Bring he/she to the truth and knowledge of Your saving grace". Amen

OLD TESTAMENT

Psalm 191 - The law of the Lord is perfect,/ reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are! trustworthy, making wise the simple. / The precepts of the Lord are right,! giving joy to the heart.! The commands of the Lord are radiant,! giving light to the eyes./The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.! The ordinances of the Lord are sure! and altogether righteous. / They are more precious than gold, / than much pure gold;! they are sweeter than honey,! than honey from the comb.! By them is your servant warned;/ in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 91-He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High / will Rest in the shadow of the Almighty./I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'! Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare! and from the deadly pestilence.! He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings / you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield! and rampart.! You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies! by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor! the plague that destroys at midday.! A thousand may fall at your side,! ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near! you. You will only observe with our eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me, says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
 I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Psalm 149 -Praise the Lord / Sing to the Lord a new song his praise in the assembly of the saints! Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their hearts. / Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.! For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.! Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing! for joy on their beds.! May the praise of Cod be in their mouths! and a double-edged sword in their hands,! to inflict vengeance on the nations! And punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with! Fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all the saints.! Praise the Lord.

Isaiah 42:15-20-"Hear, you deaf;! look, you blind, and see!! Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.

Isaiah 43:8 - Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,! who have ears but are deaf.


NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew 7;5 - You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.

Matthew 28 - the Resurrection

Mark 16 - the Resurrection

Luke 1I: 25-26 - When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

John 5:19 - Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does,

John8:28-So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that! am the one I claim to be, and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

Romans 8:5-Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 12:1-2 (NAS) - I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect

II Corinthians 3:12-18; 4:1-4(NAS) - Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; BUT WHENEVER A MAN TURNS to THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have enounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of

God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

II Corinthians 10:4-S - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Galatians 33 - Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Ephesians 6:10-12 - 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. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:8(NAS) - See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

I John 2:8-11(NAS) - On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Click on the fade text or the praying couple for prayer to break strongholdes
Click on the back button or the Severe sword to go Back to Elisha's Mantle Home Page!

Send this Web Page to a Friend!

Site Last Updated Saturday, January 06, 2001. 23:55:41