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We have spent the last six weeks teaching about prayer models, and my hope is that you enjoyed the series and that you are applying the teaching to your daily prayer life. P-R-A-Y is great, taking a prayer walk through the tabernacle is awesome. Having a committed daily prayer is needful, but how many will agree that's not where it ends? A six-week series on prayer models is not all there is. This is NOT where we close the book and say, “we have it all figured out.”

Hebrews 6:1
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; […]

The writer says, we must “go on unto perfection”. Why? Because the author understands that we have an adversary, the same adversary whom Peter warned us about.

1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We have an enemy who is going to fight us with everything he can, and because of this we must learn how to enter into Spiritual Warfare. Because there will be point that P-R-A-Y is not going to be enough. There will be days where you walk through the tabernacle and as you pass through that veil you feel that you are all alone. Why? Because our enemy is going to take advantage of something known as strongholds.

In layman's terms a stronghold is simply a “fortified structure”. Think of it as a wall or a defined perimeter. Something that has been built with the single purpose of preventing passage. Our enemy is looking for strongholds that he can use to prevent our passage into the fullness of God's glory.

Please understand when this happens, I am not saying you are lost. I am not saying that you never truly had or have lost the Holy Ghost. Nor am I saying that God has left you high and dry. What I am saying is we can allow strongholds to be built in our lives, and these strongholds will be used by our adversary, to his advantage, to prevent us from experiencing all God has for us. But the good news is you can overcome them.

Romans 8:37
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

2 Corinthians 2:11
11 lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

So, what are strongholds? Spiritually speaking, a stronghold is an established pattern of thought or behavior that is contrary to Biblical truth. These patterns originate from the carnal nature and are exploited by Satanic forces. [Theological note: Iniquity is inward (thought), while transgression is outward (behavior).]

Keep this in mind, the enemy comes to “kill, steal, and destroy” [John 10:10]. Every demonic force has the same mission. They are out to destroy us. However, the strategies and tactics they use to accomplish this mission are different for those who they are attacking. A spirit of fear attacks your faith. A spirit of rejection attacks your identity. A spirit of infirmity attacks your health. But we must bring back to the forefront of our minds that God has given us authority over the enemy.

Matthew 16:19
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Many people believe that strongholds are created by Satan, but the reality is that is not true. Strongholds are created by us. Satan comes in after we have begun construction and takes control, using them to his advantage. So where do strongholds come from? Our thoughts and our behaviors [revisit the definition].

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Any thought that you have that persistently puts itself above the Word of God will become a stronghold. Any action that you repetitively do that is against the Word of God will become a stronghold. Think of it like this: unbridled thoughts will become inappropriate actions, inappropriate actions will become unholy habits, unholy habits will become strongholds. AND Strongholds will be used by the enemy to hinder your walk with God.

This is why Paul admonishes the church to “think on these things” [Philippians 4:8].

The spiritual warfare of pulling down strongholds will begin in the mind and it will end in a physical work. This week ask God to reveal areas in your life where you have allowed thoughts to become actions, actions to become habits, and habits to become strongholds. We must begin by identifying what is preventing us passage to God’s glory.