Creating a Godly Stronghold in your Home. (Pt 1)
Updated: Sep 3
Building Spiritual Defenses for your Family against the Enemy’s Attacks
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." — Proverbs 18:10
Many times when we think of a stronghold a negative image flood our thoughts. We instantly see the areas where Satan is impacting someone's life through strategies such as fear, unbelief, anger, deception, or bitterness.
However, as God’s children we are instructed to establish godly strongholds—spiritual fortresses built upon His Love, His Word, His presence. Through worship, prayer, faith and obedience.
A godly stronghold will be our place of refuge when we are facing temptation, trials, or should the enemy's attacks increase. It will
protect our relationship with God and enable us to have victory in spiritual battles.
Let's never forget that Satan's primary goal remains constant: ....... he comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." — John 10:10
So, we must purposefully build spiritual strongholds that will withstand and out last every attack. The enemy is not waiting until tomorrow to attack. Right now he seeks to weaken our prayer life, distract us from God's Word, diminish worship, compromise our obedience, destroy faith, and isolate us from godly fellowship.
But God has not left us defenseless.
He has provided spiritual pillars for us to build a fortress that Satan cannot overcome:
The Name of the Lord
The Presence of the Lord
The Word of God
Confidence in God’s Love
Prayer
Worship
Obedience
Faith
Fellowship
The time to build is not when the storm arrives; the time to build is now.
Build a Stronghold in the Name of the Lord
In the Bible, a person's name represents their whole identity, authority and sometimes their reputation. The "name of the Lord" stands for all of His divine attributes , such as His omnipotence , omniscience, omnipresence, faithfulness, love and His mercy.
Proverbs 18:10 NLT
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
The Strong Tower: In ancient times, a stone tower was a high, fortified place where the people fled to be safe from an enemy attack. It provided thick walls, a high vantage point, and safety until the danger passed. Calling God a strong tower means He is an unshakable impenetrable refuge that we are safe in during life's trials and Satanic attacks.
The name of the Lord and God's character are switchable phrases. In Psalm 9:10 David said, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” God reveals His character to us through His Word, and through the multi-faceted revelations expressed by His various names.
The name of the Lord is tantamount to Himself.
He is God the Creator whose name is Elohim;
He is the all-sufficient, all-powerful, God Almighty, whose namen is El Shaddai; He is the Good Shepherd, who leads, guides, and protects.
David continually hid in the safety of the character of God. For us as God's beloved let the presence of El Shaddai strengthen our stronghold.
Psalms 91:1-4 TPT
[1] When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. [2] He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. [3] He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. [4] His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.
Build a Stronghold of the Presence of the Lord
If no one understood the urgency for carrying and dwelling in God's presence Moses the leader of approximately 3,000,000 murmuring and complaining Jews knew. He knew that without God's ppresence he would surely fail at his God given assignment.
So, he prayed:
"If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." — Exodus 33:15
To that prayer God's response was My presence will go with you” Exodus 33:14
These words of comfort guarantees the truth that a human being can obtain divine relational closeness, tangible support and function from a place of spiritual rest and peace.
God could have assigned angels, but there are times when He chooses to come close to us in our times of need.
Moses recognized that God's presence was his greatest protection.
The enemy fears believers who consistently dwell in God's presence. As parents entrusted with the divine responsibility of raising, naturing and leading our children into their Godly purpose, we must establish a pillar of God's presence in our personal lives and our homes.
John 14:23 TPT
[23] Jesus replied, “Loving me empowers you to obey my word. And my Father will love you so deeply that we will come to you and make you our dwelling place.
We can confidently live in victory over the enemy and his schemes, if we position ourselves to become a dwelling places for God to inhabit.
Psalms 91:1 TPT
[1] When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.
Build a Stronghold of God's Word
Satan is as a roaring lion ,seeking whom he may devor. He's unrelenting and if he tempted Jesus then why not us?
However, our ability to overcome is rooted in the power of knowing, understanding and wisely applying God's Word. Jesus gave this key for victory in His testimony of Satan's temptation in Matthew 4:1-11.
After fasting for forty days, Jesus was tempted by Satan. But every temptation was met with only effective weapon: God's undiluted Word of truth.
"It is written..."
Jesus did not rely on his thoughts or feelings, but stood firmly and declared the word of God. In His humanity the Scriptures were the pillar of Jesus's impervious stronghold.. He did not enter into an authority arguement with Satan.
When Satan attacked:
Jesus steadily answered with Scripture.
( Matt 4:4)
When Satan twisted the truth, Jesus responded with Scripture. (Matt. 4:7)
When Satan made irresistible offers Jesus answered with Scripture. (Matt. 4:10)
So, Satan could not penetrate Jesus' stronghold fortified by God's Word.
By abiding in Gods word we will develop the spiritual strength to become living breathing strongholds of the Lord.
When we are armed with divine understanding of the Bible it becomes the Sword in our hands - that offensive weapon to annihilate Satan. (Ephesians 6:17)
Biblical meditation includes seriously contemplating on God’s truth. Psalm 119:15 says, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways” (NLT).
So, there must be deep reflecting as we study God’s Word. We must be intentional as we allow ourselves to think on the importance of what is being conveyed, and how it applies to our lives or situations.
The believer who regularly meditates upon God's word is spiritually stable. A believer who obeys God's Word develops and maintains fortitude.
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." — Psalm 119:11 .
One who feeds on the Word of God has a stronger resistance against sinning, and is not easily destroyed.
Final Thoughts from dabaR
Today, let's make the decision to rebuild or shore up the areas where our spiritual fortresses are damaged. Let's return to daily prayer and reading of God's Word. Revive our worship life. Commit to walking in loving obedience to God.
Rebuilding these godly pillars, will make us true overcommers against Satan's attacks.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..." — Revelation 12:11
As we build our strongholds with the aid of the Holy Spirit. We will see the enemy as the defeated foe he really is.
To be continued........
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