Breaking Chains (Part 1)

Paul defined strongholds as speculations or lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God.  It is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual's thought-life.

2 Corinthians 10:5 "...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..."

It's also a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept something that we know is contrary to the will of God.

Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

It is important to recognize that when we speak of strongholds and chains, we are not talking about random thoughts or occasional sins.  We are talking about things in your life that you are in bondage to and are having a hard time breaking loose from. It's those sins that want to keep building a wall between you and God and bind you with demonic chains.

1 John 5:19  "We know that we are of God, and 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 control 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 and 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.