Tearing Down Strongholds

Of Addictions

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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" (II Corinthians 10:5).

QUESTIONS:

1. What does the stronghold represent? A stronghold is a fortress of lies that we have come to believe that controls any area of our lives. Specifically, an addiction is anything that we hold on to which takes the place of God in our lives.

2. What does the cannon represent? The cannon is representative of the Bible, which is the Word of God.

3. What do the cannon balls represent? They represent the specific scripture or scriptures which address the lie.

    A stronghold is fortress of lies within in which the enemy resides. It is not enough to just cast out the enemy and leave a vacant fortress for the enemy to return. There is a need to tear down the walls and then cast out the enemy, then he will not have a place to return.

    To tear down the stronghold of lies, each lie must be answered with the truth of God's Word. However, to be able to use the Word of God, you must also know what the Word says. To tear down the stronghold, you must submit yourself to God and then resist the devil, then will flee (James 4:7).

    There is also a need to watch for the enemy's return so that you can resist him.

I. "My body is my own and I can do what I want to with it."

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Corinthians 6:20).

"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (I Corinthians 3:17).

II. "My addiction doesn't hurt anyone else. "

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).

"And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it" (I Corinthians 12:26).

III. "I really need it when I get low."

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3).

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

IV. "It isn't as bad as what some other people do."

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:9-10).

V. "Everyone else does it."

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).

VI. "If I give it up, I will lose some close friends."

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14).

VII. "It really makes me feel better and I enjoy it.

"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25).

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

VIII. "No one is perfect."

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

IX. "I can quit anytime that I want." (pride)

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

X. "This is just the way I am. God made me this way."

"In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge"  (Jeremiah 31:30).

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14).

XI. "I would not be this way, if I hadn't been hurt."

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Colossians 3:12-13).

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18).

XII. "I have tried to change, but it is impossible."

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

XIII. "Why should I change? No one cares about me anyway."

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" (I Corinthians 12:14-16).

XIV. "It is just a family trait that all of us have."

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:5).

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).

XV. "I have this problem because my parents deserted me."

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up" (Psalms 27:10).

"I will not leave you comfortless (as a orphan): I will come to you" (John 14:18). 

XVI. "I don't need anyone's help."

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour" (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15).

XVII. "I have tried to do what is right, but my circumstances haven't changed."

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:3-5).

XVIII. "No one understands my problem."

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

XIX. "Since I am saved, it doesn't matter what kind of life I live."

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6).

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (I Peter 2:11-12).

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (I Corinthians 3:11-15).