Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds!

In our previous blog, "My En Gedi, Revive Me, O Lord!" We talked about David and his men retreating to the caves of En Gedi! We talked about it being a place of retreat, a quiet place where David could get alone with his God, but it was also a stronghold, a fortified place, a place of safety from David's enemy, King Saul.

David was hiding from King Saul and his army who were pursuing him to kill him. Saul, was jealous of David and knew God had called him to be king. The Lord had once been with Saul, but withdrew His spirit from him. Saul's jealousy became an overwhelming hatred for David. Saul had sent his men out to discover David's hiding places. Saul was told David was in the "strongholds of En Gedi" in 1 Samuel 23:29 and so Saul went there, in pursuit of David and his men.

David and his men were hiding deep in one of the caves, when Saul went in to relieve himself. David, without Saul knowing it, cut off a corner of his robe and allowed King Saul to leave unharmed. David viewed Saul as a God appointed authority and out of respect, refused to harm him. David let Saul walk away unharmed, but called to Saul, as he was walking away and showed him the corner of his robe that he had cut off. Saul realized, if David had viewed him as an enemy that he would have and could have killed him and so, Saul and his men returned home and stopped pursuing David.

Psalm 21:22 says, "A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust."

In history strongholds have played a vital role, no army could successfully defeat his opponent and let his stronghold stand within the conquered territory, otherwise, the battle would still rage. One of the main objectives of an army would be to remove the strongholds. Saul was seeking to cut David off from his strongholds, his places of refuge, but there was a problem: David may have been hiding in the caves of En Gedi, but God was David's Stronghold and Saul could not compete with that!

God desires to be our Stronghold, our Refuge, our Place Of Survival ~ our Fortified Place. God desires to be our Place Of Refuge against the enemy's attacks. Those sins, that we struggle to overcome can become strongholds, fortified places in our lives or addictions: overeating, alcohol, drugs, lying, cheating, deceptiveness, anxiety, fears, etc. Unforgiveness can become a stronghold of bitterness or anger in our lives, it too only defeats us. Our sins break our fellowship with God. When we seek God's forgiveness, when we believe Christ's sacrifice on the cross to be enough, when we make God our Stronghold, our place of Refuge and Retreat, abiding in Him and hiding His truths in our heart, walking in His ways, we are making Him (God) our Stronghold. God is capable of bringing down all the other strongholds in our lives! All of them! Those fortified places in our lives that we haven't been able to overcome on our own, God can! Be honest with God, ask Him to do in you what you can not. Will you seek Him? Make Him your Stronghold!

Psalm 18:2 says,
"The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn Of My Salvation, my Stronghold."

Psalm 27:1 says,
"The LORD is my Light and my Salvation ~ whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Stronghold of my life ~ of whom shall I be afraid?"

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says,
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have DIVINE POWER TO DESTROY STRONGHOLDS. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (God's weapons, His armor, brings down strongholds!) Check out His armor in  Ephesians 6:11-18!

What strongholds have you allowed the enemy to set up in your camp? Many Christians, who find salvation in Christ, still struggle in their walk because they have failed to remove the strongholds in their lives. God is the one Stronghold that brings down every other! Look to Him with those things that you struggle with, those things that need to be brought under His Lordship. Bring them before Your Maker, ask forgiveness and turn and make God your Stronghold ~ look to Him for your peace of mind and comfort, not other things or people, they will fail us! May God bring the victory, my friend, as you make God your only Stronghold! Will He not do in you, what He already desires, if you seek Him and ask ~ trusting Him to do what you can not! Yes, He will! Step in faith believing! Cry out to Him for the victory and watch Him do it in you! May God bless you, as you seek Him!