Cindy Jacobs in her book, “Possessing the Gates of the Enemy,” quoted Ed Silvoso’s definition of a stronghold: “a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something that he/she knows is contrary to the will of God.”
Rights we have to give up in order to tear down strongholds:
- The right to be offended.
- The right to our time.
- The right to do what we want with our possessions.
- The right to self-pity.
- The right to self-justification.
- The right to be understood.
- The right to criticize.
Isaiah 10-12 explains how to possess and regain territory lost to the evil one. We judge idolatry, injustice, pride, self-confidence and independent spirit. We return to God and rely on the Mighty One to remove burdens. We receive godly wisdom to decide correctly about the poor. We raise the Lord’s banner and fight spiritually to fill the earth with His knowledge to transform and possess every cultural sphere for His glory. We praise and trust God for salvation to share His deeds with the world.
Judge Idolatry and Injustice
Woe to those who make unjust laws and decisions to deprive the poor of their rights and rob the oppressed of justice. At judgment day, your riches are worthless and God’s anger remains. God sent and commissioned Assyria to trample a godless nation like mud in the streets and destroy many nations whose idols and graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria. God judged both Jerusalem and Samaria (Is. 10:1-11). God judges idolatry and injustice against the poor.
Judge Pride, Self-Confidence and Independent Spirit
When God finished His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He punished the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and haughty look in his eyes. Assyria trusted his strength, wisdom and understanding to defeat nations and gather their riches. A tool cannot exalt itself over the one who wields it. Therefore the Lord Almighty sent a wasting disease upon their sturdy warriors. The Holy One burned thorns in a single day and destroyed soul and body like a sick man wasting away (Is. 10:12-19). God judges pride, self-confidence and an independent spirit destroying a person’s soul.
Return to God and Rely on Mighty One to Remove Burdens
The remnant of Israel would rely on the Holy One instead of Assyria. They returned to the Mighty God but He planned complete destruction according to righteousness for others. Do not fear the Assyrians since God would eventually destroy them like Egypt at the Red Sea. He would remove your burden and break their yoke (Is. 10:20-34). People return to God and rely on the Mighty One to have their burdens removed.
Receive Godly Wisdom to Decide Correctly About the Poor
A shoot will bear fruit from the stem of Jesse with the Spirit of the Lord resting on Him consisting of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in the fear of the Lord and not judge by what His eyes see nor make a decision by what His ears hear but judge and give decisions for the poor according to righteousness and justice. He will slay the wicked with the breadth of His lips. Righteousness will be the belt around his loins and faithfulness the belt around His waist (Is. 11:1-5). The Holy Spirit provides godly wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the fear of the Lord to make righteous and just decisions concerning the poor.
Raise Lord’s Banner to Fill Earth with His Knowledge in Transforming Every Sphere
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid and the calf and lion will be together with a little boy leading them. The cow will feed with the bear and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra without being hurt. For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day, the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will rally to Him and His place of rest will be glorious (Is. 11:6-10). God’s people raise the Lord’s banner to fill the earth with His knowledge in transforming every cultural sphere.
Fight Spiritually for His People to Possess Land in God’s Glory and Peace
In that day, the Lord will reach out His hand a second time to reclaim the remnant from various nations. He will raise a banner for the nations, gather the exiles of Israel and assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. Judah’s enemies would be cut off and they will possess Edom and Moab with Ammon subject to them. The Lord will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea and break up the Euphrates River so men could cross over it with sandals. A highway for the remnant will be left from Assyria like Israel when they came up from Egypt (Is. 11:11-16). God fights for His people so they can possess the land for His glory resulting in true peace.
Praise and Trust Lord for Salvation to Share His Deeds with the World
On that day you will praise the Lord for His comfort and salvation. You will trust and not be afraid since the Lord is your strength and song. He has become your salvation to joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. You will thank the Lord, call on His name and make known His deeds among the peoples so they can remember His name is exalted. Praise the Lord in song for He has done excellent things. Let it be known to all the world. God’s people shout for joy because the Holy One of Israel is great among you (Is. 12:1-6). God’s people praise and trust the Lord for salvation in order to share His deeds with the world.
Sylvia Gunter in “Prayer Portions” says the first step in victory is to recognize the war that we are fighting. The next step is to know how to fight the enemy. Finally, the last step is to actually take a firm stand and intentionally go after the enemy. Lift High the Lord Your Banner helps aggressively fight the enemy and push him out of our territory. We stand on higher ground and have an advantage over him.
Choose a few of the enemy banners that you see in your life today. Use one of God’s names to wage war against the enemy. Pray the prayer using the format below:
Lord, I renounce_____________________
You, Lord, are greater. I praise you that you are_________________
For example:
Lord, I renounce my bitterness, keeping accounts, hard-feelings, and ill will towards others.
You, Lord, are greater. I praise you that you are God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10), Jehovah-Rapha (Healer) Exo 15:26 and Father of Mercies (2 Cor. 1:3-4). In Jesus’ name. Amen!
