Message #15 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Praying for Protection"

by Kaye Johns

Second Corinthians 10:4 reads, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Jack Taylor, in his book, Prayer: Life’s Limitless Reach, says: "The word for stronghold in the Greek is a military word ... synonymous with ‘fortress.’ ...In military language it would refer to an area where the enemy is entrenched. In spiritual terms it is precisely the same, a place where the enemy is entrenched....

"The existence of a problem does not mean that one has a stronghold. For instance, the existence of worry does not mean that a person has a stronghold of worry. The probability is good, however, that if one gives in to worrying much and often, there will soon be a stronghold in which that person is bound and the matter of worry is no longer voluntary but compulsive....

"Compulsions, obsessions, fixations, and recurring involuntary thought processes would be included as suspects for strongholds. Unreasoning fear, helpless hate, unavoidable jealousy, violent temper, or a driving, aggressive spirit may be symptoms of a stronghold... [also] rejection, lust, timidity, distrust, criticism and phobias of varying natures." [Jack Taylor, Prayer: Life’s Limitless Reach, Broadman Press, Nashville, TN, pp. 144-149.]

Paul told us to apply the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God [Eph. 6:10-18] in prayer. The truth of God’s Word, offered in the name of Jesus and His redeeming blood, is our weapon for demolishing strongholds.

Pray with me now -- Father, we don’t want to look for the devil under every rock, but neither do we want to ignore his influence. Deliver us, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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