The Necessity of Strongholds

We often talk about strongholds in our lives. We preach about tearing down strongholds. We sing about destroying strongholds. However, we can become so concerned with tearing down one stronghold that we forget we must be builders of strongholds as well. The casting down of strongholds is short lived if we don’t learn how to rebuild after the victory is won. For the next few minutes I’ve come to preach

“The Necessity of Strongholds”.

Castles, strongholds, fortresses, we use several different words to define a structure that is both refuge for those who live within its walls and an obstacle to those who wish to overcome it.

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Strongholds are for securing a victory. From the most ancient of times to the early 20th century physical structures we call strongholds, castles or fortresses were designed and constructed as the final piece of a successful campaign.

After an enemy has been defeated and the spoils of war have been disbursed a stronghold needs to be built to maintain control of that land and its people. In both physical and spiritual realms the construction of a stronghold communicates a couple of things:

1. To the former occupant it communicated, “we aren’t leaving so easily. We value this piece of land. We are ready and willing to expend valuable time and resources to secure our victory in this area.”

2. To the inhabitants of the land it communicated, “you are under new management”. You are who and what we say you are.

This is what the enemy is communicating to you every time you come to the altar and you feel a wall between you and God. Because there is! Somewhere along the way you allowed the enemy to come in and set up shop and he took his time feeding you a constant line of communication saying:

“You’re under new management! The battlefield of your mind, I’ve conquered. I’ve constructed a stronghold of shame, of guilt, of doubt and fear so you will know who is in charge here. You are what I say you are.

And in a world that is dominated by strongholds of the enemy, we find ourselves living in a world distracted and asleep to what the enemy is doing in these last days.

We live in a world that is doing everything they can to revive their favorite sport or recreation. They’re doing everything they can to salvage the pleasures that have been shut down. They’re doing everything they can to get their favorite bar or social gathering spot opened for a good time in the hopes of wishing away the current crisis they’re facing.

But I’m here to say I want to do everything I can to see revival in our church! I want to do everything I can to get into the presence of God! I’m not searching for a momentary, temporary victory! I’m here to enter into the refuge of the Most High!

This world humgers pleasure BUT WE NEED A HUNGER FOR APOSTOLIC POWER!

This world yearns for distraction but we need A DEMONSTRATION OF THE HOLY GHOST AMONG US!

THIS WORLD IS SEEKING A DIVERSION FROM THESE LAST DAYS BUT GOD IS CALLING EACH OF US TO TAKE DOMINION OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF OUR MIND!

Now more than ever before it matters what I spend my time on.

Before we can take spiritual dominion of this city — and we are commanded to do that — we must take apostolic dominion of our minds for THIS is where the battle of your soul will rage until the trumpet sounds and THIS is where strongholds are constructed for good or evil.

If we can’t get our minds — as the elders would say — STAYED ON JESUS then we’ll never accomplish what we were created and sanctified to do! Spread the Gospel!

THERE ARE A LOT OF OPINIONS ABOUT HOW 2020 HAS TURNED OUT BUT THIS I DO KNOW — WHAT IS MEANT FOR EVIL AND CAUSES DESPAIR GOD CAN USE FOR GOOD AND TO POINT TO ETERNAL HOPE!

AND THE WORLD IS RIPE FOR REVIVAL MORE THAN EVER BEFORE!

WHILE WE ARE BESIEGED BY AN INVISIBLE ENEMY BOTH IN THE PHYSICAL REALM AND THE SPIRITUAL, THERE IS A GROWING DESIRE FOR REFUGE AND SAFETY! AND THE CHURCH IS THE PHYSICAL ANSWER TO AN INVISIBLE ENEMY! THIS WORLD HAS GOT TO SEE JESUS IN YOU!

And while the world may need their next high to get through the day, my Bible tells me His Spirit goes before me! His angels encamp round about me! It tells me He’ll be with me in the highs of a Sunday service but also in the lows of Monday morning! He’s there when I turn to Tuesday. He’s there when Wednesday smacks me in the face and wears me down. He’s there when Thursday arrives with bad news and further obstacles. And His presence is more intoxicating than a Friday night on the town! AND THIS SAME JESUS CAN BE YOUR REFUGE TODAY!

And because I know in whom I have believed, I’m building strongholds of faith where fear once stood! I’m building strongholds of mercy where shame once loomed. I’m building strongholds of praise where oppression once took dominion!

Let me tell you something: hypocrites are the ones who fall and decide not to get back up! But I’m telling you today get back on your feet! REPENT! THEN TAKE UP THE HAMMER AND REJOICE! The moment you decide to get back up you’re not a hypocrite! You’re a fighter! You’ve still got some praise left in you! You’ve still got some fight left in you! Don’t count me out yet Devil! I found my Refuge!

I can’t afford not to get back up. I can’t afford not to keep fighting! There’s too much on the line!

I’m here to tell someone today THE ENEMY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO BUILD STRONGHOLDS! YOU CAN BUILD THEM TOO!

The enemy is AFRAID of you finding out you’re just as empowered to build as you are to cast down and destroy!

He doesn’t mind you throwing down a stronghold here and there on any random Sunday worship service! What he’s afraid of is a child of God waking up on Monday morning that has learned, “I can’t leave this battlefield unattended. I’m picking up my hammer and taking dominion of the land!”

*pause*

Somebody listen to me right now. Just because you fail doesn’t mean you are required to spend 3 days in shame before you rise again! Jesus has already paid for your sin!

Just because you failed doesn’t mean the whole day is a waste. Get back up! That voice in your mind calling you “hypocrite” is the ENEMY trying to rebuild his stronghold in your mind!

That’s why you feel so powerful on Sunday but come Monday or Tuesday you’re staring down temptation again! He knows he’s got to move quickly while you’re too distracted by last night’s victory to focus on today’s spiritual construction project.

Psalm 30:10–12 KJV 1900

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Somebody needs to rise up and give God some praise!

You know what the enemy is trying to tell you right now under the sound of my voice?

“You know you shouldn’t be shouting. You barely prayed this week, you don’t mean it!”

“You know you shouldn’t be dancing! You were backbiting your so-called brother just before service started!”

“You know you shouldn’t be lifting your hands! You were sinning this morning before you got here!”

“That preacher didn’t mention your sin specifically, you ain’t redeemable today!”

“You know you’re not being spiritual! You’re in the flesh right now! God can’t get anything out of your praise!”

Honey let me tell you right now — YOU WERE A SPIRIT BEFORE YOU EVER BECAME FLESH! YOU’RE FIRST INSTINCT IS TO RAISE YOUR HAND, CLAP, DANCE, RUN, SHOUT BECAUSE THAT’S WHO YOU REALLY ARE! NOT WHAT YOU DID IN YOUR PAST!

AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE!

YOU’RE GONNA BE STUCK IN THIS FLESH FOR AS LONG AS GOD SEES FIT AND AS MANY TIMES AS YOUR FLESH HAS LED YOU DOWN PATHS OF SIN AND CARNALITY UNTIL YOU BEGAN TO EMBRACE IT AND LIKE IT, I PROMISE YOU GOD AINT GOT A PROBLEM WITH YOU FORCING YOUR FLESH DOWN PATHS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP UNTIL IT LIKES IT! YOU WERE COMMANDED TO PRAISE! YOU WERE BORN TO WORSHIP!

SO GO AHEAD AND RUN THE AISLE!

GO AHEAD AND SHOUT TO GOD AT THE TOP OF YOUR VOICE!

GO AHEAD AND BEGIN TO TRY OUT A NEW DANCE BEFORE THE LORD!

GO AHEAD AND TAKE DOMINION OF YOUR LIVING ROOM OR BEDROOM OR WHEREVER YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS RIGHT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE!

YOU’RE BUILDING STRONGHOLDS OF APOSTOLIC POWER WHERE THE ENEMY ONCE STOOD!

A SONG TO THE LORD WHO PRESERVERS AND PROSPERS HIS PEOPLE

Psalm 144 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. 1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I trust; Who subdueth my people under me. 3 Lord, what is man, that thou Takest knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: Shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; Rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, From the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: Who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, Whose mouth speaketh vanity, And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: That our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; That there be no breaking in, nor going out; That there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

144 Blessed be the Lord my Rock,

Who trains my hands for war,

And my fingers for battle—

2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,

My high tower and my deliverer,

My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,

Who subdues [a]my people under me.

3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

4 Man is like a breath;

His days are like a passing shadow.

7 Stretch out Your hand from above;

Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,

From the hand of foreigners,

9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;

On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

10 The One who gives [c]salvation to kings,

Who delivers David His servant

From the deadly sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,

Whose mouth speaks lying words,

And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;

That our daughters may be as [d]pillars,

Sculptured in palace style;

13 That our barns may be full,

Supplying all kinds of produce;

That our sheep may bring forth thousands

And ten thousands in our fields;

14 That our oxen may be well laden;

That there be no [e]breaking in or going out;

That there be no outcry in our streets.

15 Happy are the people who are in such a state;

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

I want every person who is hungry for strongholds of the enemy to come down and apostolic strongholds to begin rising in your life to stand right now.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

REPENT (musicians come)

GIVE BEGINNER DANCE LESSON

THANK GOD FOR EVERY GOOD THING THAT COMES TO MIND

LET THE SPIRIT TAKE OVER

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