“How do I deal with the strongholds in my life?” Gordon reminds us in his classic message from August 1998, that “dealing with so-called ‘strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4) is a Christian trend. This ‘spiritual navel-gazing’ and ‘wrong pre-preoccupation with self’ has never been so prevalent as it is today. “It makes Christians feel like they can’t serve Jesus Christ,” he states.

Gordon points out that “there is no place in the Bible that we are told that Christians have strongholds that have to be torn down in the area of some kind of sin.” He states that “the battlefield, according to Paul is in the mind (2 Cor. 10:5). When someone tries to tear down so-called strongholds in a Christian, they interfere with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:11). The Holy Spirit changes us inwardly by replacing ‘the works of the flesh’ with ‘the fruit of the Holy Spirit’ (Gal. 5:19-24).”

“What we have going on inside of us is ‘self’ in conflict with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 7:14-25). The Holy Spirit makes some critical changes inside of us.” Gordon stresses how “falling into temptation, sin, failure, and guilty memories are not considered strongholds.

We completely belong to Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 7:23). So as the Holy Spirit makes changes in us, most people feel strange and they mistake this ‘sanctification’ (1 Cor. 6:11) for the work of the enemy. It is ‘the flesh with its passions and desires being crucified. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:16-26). This prepares us to tear down the strongholds that exist in the minds of other people.” 

Gordon explains how as with other examples of transferring blame, “strongholds teaching" demonstrates how we might shift the blame from ourselves to external forces: “this is just another ‘mind game’ that doesn’t work. Paul makes it absolutely clear that the strongholds are ‘sophistry’ (Greek word, logismos), arguments: or wrong teachings about God that sound reasonable and logical. Too many Christians fall into bad teaching because, like the Sadducees, they know ‘neither the scriptures nor the power of God’ (Matt. 22:29).” 

He goes on to warn us to “watch out for well meaning Christians who are trying to get rid of non-existent strongholds out of other Christians. Gordon emphasizes the importance that we take responsibility for our own thoughts through scripture: ‘We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete’ (2 Cor. 10:5). ‘...We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Cor. 2:16) to protect us from unbiblical teaching.”

“The only strongholds that we can have are those which consist of wrong, unbiblical teachings that tell Christians that they are somehow under the control of the devil when they are really under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This stronghold teaching does not understand the grace of God.” 

Lastly Gordon reveals “other popular and trendy unbiblical teachings and ‘sophistry’” such as “generational sin” (Ez. 18); and people claiming “that spirit-filled Christians can be demon-possessed in part or in whole (1 Jn. 4:4)”; and that ‘Christians can be cursed by witches and people in the occult (Nu. 23:8; Prov. 26:2).” He concludes that “there are so many” unbiblical teachings today that are embraced by the body of Christ.  

Good news, though: Gordon assures us that “we can protect ourselves and others from so-called logical but false teaching coming from misinformed Christians" when we "learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, by praying, using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, listening to the Holy Spirit, studying the Bible, witnessing and letting the 'signs' (Mk. 16:16-18) follow us." 

If you would like to have prayer to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, healing, encouragement, or any need you may have, we invite you come to one of our house church meetings, online or in-person, or contact us.