First, we must establish what an open door is. It is an opening through which we enter or exit in the natural. It is the same principle in the spirit. We allow things to come in and we can also make things leave. This entryway or door is our mind. So if you look at it in the spirit a door is an opportunity given to Satan that gives him access to our mind. This is how he attacks us, through our mind. This is how strongholds form. They form by Satan speaking things to our minds and often we do not realize it until someone or God points it out to us, then we must pray and ask God for deliverance.
When we look at scripture in Genesis we see where Cain killed his brother Abel. Abel offered a sacrifice from the animals. He was a keeper of sheep. Cain offered a sacrifice from the field. Not only did Abel offer God a blood sacrifice but the sacrifice he offered was the firstborn. God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice and he accepted it, but he was not pleased with Cain’s offering.
After God told Cain his offering was not acceptable he became full of wrath. But God who is a loving and merciful God told him he should not be angry, but if he brought him a proper offering he would accept it. He was given an opportunity to close the door. We cannot just give God anything; we have to give him what he asks for. We have to give what he requires. Cain’s disobedience and refusal to listen to God opened a door to Satan and one day while out in the field with Abel his brother, he committed murder.
Eve also opened the door when she was drawn away of her own lust, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. She allowed the devil to come in and tempt her, as she looked at the tree it became something to be desired. She gave Satan the entryway into her mind. She believed the lies of Satan that God was withholding something good from them. Genesis 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Satan saw the open door, he entered and Eve was deceived. She opened the door for a spirit of deception to enter. We must keep doors closed. This is very important, more important than we often realize. Eve gave Satan access to her mind; she gave him access to her spirit, Ephesians 4:27 says, “neither give place to the devil.” We should not give him an opportunity to deceive us; we should not give him an opportunity to gain access to our mind and spirit.
As I mentioned earlier in the teaching on Breaking free from spiritual strongholds, we learned how strongholds are formed often beginning in childhood, through traumatic events, through emotional, verbal or physical abuse. Doors can also be opened through ignorance of God’s word because if we do not know what the word of God says we will not know what to do when he attacks. If we are ignorant we will not have the weapons necessary to fight in the battle.
During other times in our lives disappointment also opens the door for the devil to enter in. What I mean is that so often there are times in our lives when we are looking for a promise from God to be fulfilled, we are believing God for something and because it does not happen in a timely manner it causes a spirit of disappointment to develop. If we do not bring the feelings of disappointment in check then this could lead to depression and anger, anger at people and anger at God. This disappointment can also develop into a spirit of depression. Depression is a powerful stronghold and it can be difficult to overcome.
One thing we need to be aware of is that strongholds do not form overnight; they form a little at a time over a period of time. A stronghold of disappointment does not happen because of being disappointed one time however it occurs through a series of events which causes disappointment. Satan will talk to us and make comments such as, if God loved you so much then he would not have allowed this to happen, if God loved you so much you would have gotten the job, if God loves you as much as he said he does then you would not be going through all of this trouble that you are experiencing right now. If we listen to and grab hold to that voice then the feelings of disappointment we are experiencing will grow stronger and stronger and we will sink deeper and deeper in those feelings. As I mentioned earlier these strongholds are not formed overnight but a little bit at a time.
Anger is also a powerful stronghold. I found myself dealing with was a spirit of anger. I had to go back and look at my past to discover the root of my anger. I would find myself getting angry over little things, things that were of little importance but they seemed important at the time. I had to pray and ask God to deliver me from this spirit of anger. Many people are bound by this spirit. There is so much anger in our society. People in the news media are angry, children are angry, husbands are angry at their wives and wives are angry with their husbands. Parents are angry with their children and children are angry at their parents. Blacks are angry with whites and whites are angry with blacks. The Republicans are angry at the Democrats and vice versa.
Often when we get angry we say, “this is just how I am.” However this is not true, it is a lie from the enemy because it is not just how you are. It is a spirit. This spirit has found a door to enter into and was able to gain access into your mind and spirit.
Often strongholds can prevent us from doing what the word of God says. For example, suppose you are bound by a spirit of fear, it can grip you and hold you so tight and you don’t know how to be set free. Fear can prevent us from following the instructions of God; it can stop us from praying for someone or prophesying to people. Fear can also prevent us from speaking truth to people because we do not want to offend them or because we think they won’t receive what God has given us. But we must speak the truth in love. Perfect love casts out fear, 1John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” When we have a spirit of fear it shows we do not trust God, we do not believe what he has spoken.
In Mark 4:35-41 when Jesus and the disciples were on a boat going to the other side a storm arose. The disciples were afraid and they were running around the ship looking for Jesus who was asleep in the bottom of the boat. When they found him he rebuked them and said, “why are you so afraid, where is your faith?” Without faith, it is impossible to please God and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
The word of God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The word of Gods says we are kings and priests, it says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When Satan comes to us with fear we can close the door by knowing the word of God. 2Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Fear robs us of joy and it can also cause physical problems it can cause heart attacks, panic attacks, it can cause phobias, nightmares and stress. It can manifest in many different ways. So if you are bound by a spirit of fear know that God does not want you to be bound. Jesus died to set you free.
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19, “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, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Let me reiterate, strongholds are not formed overnight but little by little. Because of the lies of the enemy, we find ourselves believing these negative thoughts. He pounds us and pounds us all of our lives. However, we might not listen to the voice at first but gradually over time as we find ourselves in different situations these negative thoughts are reinforced.
Perception is another door through which Satan can enter. Satan can use the perception of not knowing what a good father is. We might not know what it means to have a good father; one who takes care of our needs, a father who is there to provide protection, a father who spends time with us and helps us when we get in trouble and comforts us. We might not know a good father like this so, therefore, our perception of God as a good Father is not there. Therefore a door of negativity towards God is opened because of different situations we experienced concerning father. Now when someone comes to us and says God is a good Father we will have a hard time believing it because of our experiences. The person cannot relate to God providing for their needs or taking care of them in times of trouble. So Satan uses their experiences to blind them to the fact that God is a good Father. They might see God as distant, stern, cruel and unloving. They might see God as a taskmaster and someone who gives rules and says do this and don’t do this. If you do this you will be blessed, but if you don’t do this you will be punished. These views of not knowing God as a good Father opened the door to misperception.
In order to close doors, we must change our way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23-24, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. This renewal process is something we must do on a daily basis. Paul said I die daily. We must die to our flesh each and every day. We have to close doors daily until we get to the point where Satan is not able to gain access and enter in. We have to kick him out and say Satan you will no longer have access to my mind, spirit, and soul. I kick you out and you are no longer welcome.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul has given us information on what we should think about, how we should think. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” If we think on these things whenever the devil comes to us and tries to convince us about something negative about ourselves or about someone if we think on these things then the negative thoughts will not be able to gain a foothold in our minds and spirit.
Never believe this is just how you are because it doesn’t line up with the word of God it is not true, it is a lie and a deception. Deception is one of the weapons Satan uses against us. He comes to deceive us and to be set free we must pray, speak deliverance over ourselves because we have the power. The scripture says death and life is in the power of the tongue. God has given us power over all the power of the enemy. Satan does not have power and control over us unless we give it to him. We have the authority to speak life over ourselves and over others; we have the authority to speak healing. We must bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Often people quote this scripture and they only say resist the devil, however, for this to happen we must first submit ourselves to God. We make a choice, which means it is a conscious decision. We choose whether we will have faith in God, we choose whether we will listen to the voice of the enemy. We choose.
Right now it might seem as if whatever you are going through is impossible to overcome but it is not an impossible task. All things are possible Romans 13:3. We have the power when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God has given us power to overcome the enemy, we only have to believe and have faith that the word of God is true. We can overcome; we can break free from strongholds that have us bound. I know because God has delivered me, he has broken strongholds from my life. As we continue walking in the word of God, praying and fasting and seeking him these strongholds will begin to be broken and eventually one day they will no longer have control. Praise God for deliverance. In Jesus name. Amen.
Nadine Richmond
