What is a stronghold? In biblical times, strongholds were fortresses erected for men’s protection and defense. Spiritual strongholds, like the ones referred to by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:4, are demonic fortresses erected by Satan in the lives of people for his protection and defense. Hidden in their strongholds, the devil and his demons are able to keep themselves securely entrenched in people’s lives.

In Ephesians 4:27, Paul gives us this solemn warning: “Don’t give place to the devil.” Unlike most people today, Paul understood that Satan’s strongholds begin with simple footholds. All the enemy initially requires is a little room in our lives to begin his operations. Once given a little elbow room, the enemy quickly proceeds from there to a full-fledged hostile takeover of our lives. The next thing we know, Satan has erected a stronghold and our only hope of deliverance is divine intervention.

Perhaps, the most famous biblical example of a stronghold is Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27). This enemy stronghold stood between the people of God and God’s will for their lives; namely, the conquest and possession of Canaan. It had to be overcome, even though overcoming it was humanly impossible. Its walls could not be dug under, tunneled through, or climbed over. Israel’s only hope of victory was divine intervention, for only God could pull down the walls of Jericho. 

Many of your lost loved ones and friends have spiritual Jerichos in their lives. These strongholds of the enemy are keeping them from knowing God. Though it is humanly impossible to demolish these spiritual strongholds, they must be brought down; otherwise, there is no hope of your lost family and friends ever coming to know God and His will for their lives. The demolishing of these strongholds requires God’s miraculous intervention and our fervent intercession.

It was Samuel Chadwick who said, “The devil laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” It is no laughing matter to Satan when the saints bow their heads and bend their knees on behalf of lost souls. Therefore, all prayer warriors volunteering for front line service in the war for men’s souls should expect the fiercest fighting. The hoards of hell are not about to stand idly by while we drop to our knees in a strategic offensive designed to demolish demonic strongholds in the lives of the lost. Instead, they will counterattack with a ferociousness that only prayerful importunity can prevail against. Are you up to the fight?