Ch. 3
How Satan Builds a Stronghold In Us
We will see an example of how Satan builds a stronghold in us. Before Jesus became Lord of your whole heart, you walked after the deeds of the flesh. When you came to Jesus, you repented of unforgiveness in order to purify your heart and love your neighbor. One of the schemes of the powers of darkness is to cause you to once again walk in unforgiveness, so they can build strongholds in you.
Paul warned the Corinthians about this scheme of Satan: "To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also... Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:10, 11). We will see how Satan builds a stronghold of unforgiveness. Peter was asking the Lord Jesus about forgiveness. "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:2 1, 22). Jesus was replying, in effect, that you always forgive. Jesus then gave them a parable to show the judgment of God on unforgiveness.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave the debt" (Matt. 18:23-27). This is a picture of us coming to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness from our sin.
We see next what happened to this slave after he was released and forgiven: "But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Then his lord, after that he had called, said unto him, 0 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt... Shouldest not thou also have had COMPASSION on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?" (Matt. 18:28-33). The Lord had forgiven this servant, but he would not forgive a fellow servant.
We can see God's judgment upon everyone who breaks God's law of love by not walking in forgiveness. This judgment brings God's wrath and lowers the hedge and turns the servant over to the powers of darkness. "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the TORMENTORS, till he should pay all that was due unto him. SO LIKEWISE SHALL MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO ALSO UNTO YOU, IF YE FROM YOUR HEARTS FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER THEIR TRESPASSES" (Matt. 18:34,35). If this person continues to walk after the flesh in unforgiveness without repentance, the powers of darkness will continue to build strongholds until he is destroyed.
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let this (same) mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:3, 4).
If we walk with the mind of Christ, we walk in love and have peace because we are protected by God. If we walk with our mind set on the flesh, we have the mind of Satan. The hedge will come down on us continually because of these works until the powers of darkness bring death.
This is why Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:13, 14). In this Scripture you see both life and death, blessings and curses. In order to have the mind of Christ, we must be led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. This is how we purify our hearts. If we choose to continue walking after the deeds of the flesh, the hedge will be down for the powers of darkness who "cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10).
The hedge is down today, bringing death on the church, which is choosing to walk after the flesh.
Today the Lord is leading His followers out of this captivity and death. "And it shall come to pass when all these. things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee" (Deut. 30:1-3).