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In each region you see their activities when they take full advantage of the works of the flesh, then they influence the culture, the environment and finally unleash their wicked forces to steal, kill and destroy! They use thought patterns, cultural beliefs and acceptable norms in any culture to perpetuate their wickedness. Strongholds are actually thought patterns that many have yielded to in that region. These forces constitute the rule of Satan in any region. Daniel 10 helps us see that over natural governments, there are ruling spirits. So these forces influence governments and peoples to do their bidding.

Now we see why the Apostle says we should pray, first of all, for those in authority. See 1 Tim. 2:1-4. To live a quiet life needs us to prevent those evil spirits from controlling natural governments so the preaching of the gospel can happen freely.  God will have all saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! Truth needs to take the place of lies in the thought patterns of people.  The truth has the power to set people free from satanic control, so he does his best to keep them believing lies so his grip on them is strong.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us of thoughts, high things and strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.  For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,  [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

Ephesians 6:10-18

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].  Put on God’s whole armour [the armour of a heavy- armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.  Therefore put on God’s complete armour, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm- footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].   And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).”

The goal of these spirits is in accordance with their master's wish and that is to steal, kill and destroy! They want to eradicate the knowledge of God in the land. They attack to stop the gospel being understood, they pollute hearts through encouraging disobedience, they pervert purposes through distractions and deceptions. They want to destroy all Godly structures of family, society and the church so they can rule without any hindrance from these structures. They introduce MINDSETS that make these structures look un-progressive.

They actually want the human race to live in bondage to fear, bondage to sin, bondage to all kinds of lusts and find ways to produce Godlessness in its entirety.

The only ones who can stop them is the Church of Jesus Christ! Jesus said "I will build my church and the gates (authority) of hell cannot stop it".  The church is to put on the whole armour of God according to Ephesians 6.  The individuals in church are to pull down strongholds or thought patterns before they get built up inside them.

Every region's control is determined by the acceptable thought patterns in that region.  The thought patterns either empower or strip these spirits of their influence in the land.  Thoughts become imaginations, these become high things and eventually they have a strong hold in the region. These strongholds play a major role in the type of human activities in that region.  Show me what is being done and I will tell you what spirits are influencing those actions!

Three aspects are necessary if we are going to be free of these influences, they areKnowledge, Prayers and Lifestyle.

Knowledge! The truth can set you free if you allow it!

Knowing these things from a biblical stand point is the first thing to do. Knowing what Christ has done for us through the cross and what authority we have to cast out demons, needs to be a major revelation in our hearts!  Our new identity, our new authority and our right standing with God need to be established in our hearts!  We are responsible for casting out the devil wherever we see him operating.  When we see sickness, we know from Acts 10:38 that he is the oppressor and Jesus is the deliverer!

Prayers!

Prayers, coupled with fasting, is a sure way to unmask Satan and his plans. We generate power through praying. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much! It makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.  In prayers we can bind the operations of these spirits.  We are to reign in life through Jesus Christ!  As kings and priests, our priestly roles determine our kingly functions. Our prayers play a major role in this matter. These spirits can tell if you know that they have no authority over you.  When you have a relationship with God through Christ Jesus and know your authority, they get to know you, so whenever you command, they obey! They will then look to subtle ways to get you to compromise your authority.

James 5:16-17

“Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offences, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart].  The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.”

We have the authority, responsibility and power of the Holy Spirit available to us. When this is coupled with adequate knowledge in God's word to understand our scope, we can, and should, keep these spirits in check in the regions we operate or wherever God tells us to govern! We are to exercise the authority by faith in the name of Jesus and release the power by prayers and the final aspect is our lifestyle!

Lifestyle !

The early church captured a lifestyle that can put the devil in check. Their lifestyle is seen in these activities:

They continued steadfast in the word ; they were in regular fellowship with the word of God! They were being discipled. This means constant study, sharing, meditations in the word of God. They were in fellowship; love was their way, not holding anything against one another! They continued in prayers and breaking bread in covenant fellowship! These activities can be described in the following way: discipleship, fellowship, worship, ministry (serving others) and mission (evangelism).

We need a lifestyle that will give no room to the beast of the land, in our entertainment, leisure activities and general way of conducting ourselves! If through the life we have lived in the past we had opened ourselves to the beast of the land, then we, more than anyone else must cultivate a lifestyle that stops any attempt by the beast to return to its former position in our lives! We need to be constantly aware of this!

The choice of entertainment, the choice of friends we keep, the choice of things we do with our time should be such that we keep the door closed on the beast of the land!