Identifying And Confronting Personal Strongholds In Our Lives: Spiritual Warfare In Modern Times For Messianic Believers
Introduction: The Battle Within
As Messianic Jewish believers, we are not only engaged in a battle against external forces but also a profound internal struggle. This battle is fought on the battlefield of our hearts and minds, where personal strongholds—patterns of sin, lies, and wrong beliefs—can hold us captive. Strongholds are areas in our lives where the enemy has built a fortress of deception, keeping us from walking in the full freedom and victory that Yeshua offers. These strongholds are built through repeated exposure to lies, sin, and unhealthy patterns that oppose God’s truth.
Identifying and confronting these strongholds is critical in the spiritual warfare that we face in our daily lives. As believers in Yeshua, we are equipped with the power of the Torah, the cleansing blood of Yeshua, and the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit to tear down these strongholds. This chapter will explore how to recognize these personal strongholds and how to confront them with the tools God has provided, drawing from the Tanakh, the Torah, and the life-giving blood of Yeshua.
1. Understanding Personal Strongholds: A Fortress of Lies
A personal stronghold is essentially a lie that we have accepted and believed, often without realizing it. It could be a lie about God, ourselves, or the world around us. These strongholds can take many forms: fear, anxiety, bitterness, pride, addiction, unforgiveness, or even feelings of inadequacy and self-rejection. The enemy works strategically, seeking to deceive and entrap us in these lies, and in doing so, he isolates us from the truth of God’s Word.
In the Tanakh, we see how the enemy seeks to build strongholds through lies and deception. In Genesis 3, Satan deceives Eve by twisting God’s command and making her doubt God’s goodness. He questions God’s motives, suggesting that God is withholding something good from her.
> "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, "You shall not eat of every tree of the garden"?' And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die."'" (Genesis 3:1-3)
The stronghold of doubt and mistrust in God's goodness began here. Eve allowed this lie to take root in her heart, leading her to act contrary to God's command. This illustrates how powerful a single lie can be when it is allowed to take root in the mind. Similarly, in our own lives, the enemy uses lies to build strongholds, often convincing us to believe things about ourselves or God that are not true.
2. Identifying Strongholds in Our Lives
Before we can confront and destroy the strongholds in our lives, we must first identify them. This requires us to examine our hearts and thoughts, being honest about areas where we feel trapped or held back. Personal strongholds can manifest in various ways, and they often affect our emotions, relationships, and spiritual growth.
The Torah offers clear guidance on how to examine our hearts. In Psalm 139:23-24, King David prays a prayer of self-examination:
> "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)
This prayer invites God to search us, to reveal hidden strongholds in our hearts. When we ask God to reveal the areas of our lives where we have allowed sin, lies, or unhealthy patterns to take root, He is faithful to show us. Whether it's a root of bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, or a false belief about our worth, God will expose it so that we can confront it.
Personal strongholds can often be identified by repeated struggles in the same areas. For example, if you find yourself constantly battling fear or insecurity, it may be a stronghold of unbelief or a distorted view of God's love and protection. If anger and resentment have a hold on you, it may be a stronghold of unforgiveness and pride. Identifying these areas is the first step in confronting and breaking them.
3. Confronting Strongholds with the Torah
Once we identify personal strongholds, we must confront them with the truth of God’s Word. The Torah, which is the foundation of truth for Messianic believers, reveals God's character, His commands, and His promises. It is through the Torah that we are reminded of the truth about God’s holiness, justice, and love.
In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, God instructs His people to keep His commandments ever before them and to teach them to their children:
> "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
The Torah provides the truth that we need to dismantle the lies that support strongholds. When we meditate on God's commands and internalize His Word, it renews our minds and transforms our thinking. By focusing on the truth of God's Word, we begin to tear down the strongholds that have held us captive. The more we immerse ourselves in the Torah, the more we will be able to discern the lies that need to be replaced with God’s truth.
For example, if we struggle with fear, we can confront it by meditating on verses that declare God’s protection, such as Psalm 23:4, which says:
> "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
This verse reminds us that God is with us in every trial, and His presence provides comfort and peace. By replacing fear with this truth, we begin to break the stronghold of anxiety.
4. The Power of Yeshua’s Blood in Breaking Strongholds
While the Torah reveals the truth, it is the blood of Yeshua that gives us the power to break personal strongholds. Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross not only paid for our sins but also defeated the spiritual forces that hold us captive. Through His blood, we are forgiven, cleansed, and empowered to overcome.
In Zechariah 3:1-5, we see a vivid picture of how Yeshua’s blood cleanses us from sin and removes strongholds:
> "Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him.' And to him He said, 'See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.'" (Zechariah 3:4)
This passage shows us how God cleanses His people, removing the filthy garments of sin and replacing them with clean, righteous clothing. Through Yeshua’s sacrifice, we are spiritually cleansed, and the power of sin is broken. When we recognize the power of His blood, we can stand firm in the victory He has already won for us.
To confront strongholds, we must actively apply the power of Yeshua’s blood. This means acknowledging His victory over sin, rejecting the lies that have held us captive, and claiming His freedom. Through prayer, we can renounce the strongholds in our lives, applying the blood of Yeshua to break their hold.
5. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Breaking Strongholds
The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us to confront and destroy strongholds. After Yeshua’s resurrection, He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide and empower His followers to live victoriously. The Spirit reveals the truth, convicts us of sin, and gives us the strength to resist temptation and walk in God’s truth.
In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God promises to give His people a new heart and put His Spirit within them:
> "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
The Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in victory over strongholds. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He gives us the power to break free from the lies and destructive patterns that have held us captive. The Spirit strengthens us to resist temptation, live according to God’s Word, and walk in the freedom that Yeshua has purchased for us.
6. Practical Steps to Confront Personal Strongholds
To confront and break personal strongholds, Messianic believers can take the following practical steps:
1. Examine Your Heart – Ask God to search your heart and reveal any strongholds in your life. Be honest with yourself about areas where you struggle and feel trapped.
2. Repent and Renounce Lies – Repent of any sins or wrong beliefs that have given the enemy a
