PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS_2012_2
(week 10/12)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article last week, we saw we need to pull down the strongholds of fear, love of sex and love of money in our minds by destroying them with effectual fervent prayer in the Spirit and rebuilding in our minds strongholds of divine love, divine contentment and divine wealth, by the revelation knowledge of these things.
This week, we will look in more detail at how to pull down these satanic strongholds and replace them with divine strongholds of the revelation knowledge of specific scriptures applicable to specific strongholds.
In particular for the fear of death: we need to understand that both physical and spiritual death have been overcome by the Lord Jesus.
Spiritual death is a separation from the life of God leading to a distortion and pollution of the divine life (just like a dammed pool of water separated from a spring of flowing water becomes stagnant and polluted) and consequently, character traits and deeds contrary to God’s character of love and humility.
Spiritual death is the origin of sin, sickness and physical death.
Spiritual death has been overcome by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and can be reversed by the sequential, though almost simultaneous, application of the blood of Jesus and the life God.
As you gradually remove by reversal, spiritual death from your soul: will, mind and emotions; and physical body, you will consequentially remove the fear of death, both physical and spiritual, from your heart.
To renew your mind from fear of death, meditate on and receive revelation knowledge of the following scriptures amongst many others in the Word:
Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Daniel 3:16-18 KJV: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Revelation 12:11 KJV: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Philippians 1:21-23 KJV: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Luke 10:19 KJV: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Psalms 91:11-12, 16 KJV: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
To pull down the stronghold of the love of sex, you need to have revelation of knowledge of the fact that in the presence of God, you have fullness of joy which is strength (Neh. 8:10) to overcome the temptation for sex and pleasures for evermore which are greater pleasures than the temporary pleasure of the sin (Heb. 11:25) of sex. As this truth gains ascendancy over your will, mind, emotions and body, you will no longer be attracted by the pleasure of sex outside the will of God: marriage; as you will have something far better in the presence of God. Of course you can still enjoy sex richly in a marriage relationship, but you will no longer have an inordinate desire for sex outside the will of God.
Psalms 16:11 KJV: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Finally, to pull down the stronghold of the love of money or self: the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10) we need to renew our minds with revelation of the Word that a good name: the character of love and humility and its attendant wisdom, skill and favour with men will bring far greater riches (including money) than money alone!
Proverbs 8:10-14 KJV: Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (11) For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (12) I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. (13) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (14) Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Proverbs 8:18-21 KJV: Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (19) My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. (20) I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: (21) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Proverbs 22:1,4 KJV: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (4) By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
As we renew our minds with the revelation knowledge of these scriptures backed with praying in the Spirit with all types of prayer (Eph. 6:12-18) including travail we will pull down these strongholds and simultaneously replace them with the divine strongholds of life, purity, contentment and dominion wealth.
