PRAYER & SPIRITUAL WARFARE: PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5)

It has been said that “he that need peace must prepare for war” The church is the only power that can convey the light of Gospel to the rest unsaved world. So, the devil will do all that is in his capacity to stop the church by placing strongholds in the church. (Acts 2:1, Mat. 16.18), The Devil has been losing in the past and he will continue to fail, if we map out strategies to the pulling downs of his strongholds Satan has a target, he does not only launch out his attack against the church from outside but also attack the church from inside.

PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

A. Strongholds

Stronghold speaks of the high places of Satan or the seat and headquarters of Satan in the church.

Stronghold is also a combination of two words, strong and holds. This implies the place that the devil holds tenaciously unto serve as impediment to the operation peace and progress of the church

B. Types of Strongholds

Inside some churches the stronghold of sin reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of coldness and lukewarmness reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of witchcraft reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of quarrelling reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of poverty reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of sickness reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of occult reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of divination reigns-Acts 16:16
Inside some churches the stronghold of death reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of failure reigns
Inside some churches the stronghold of problem and bad episode reigns.
Inside some churches the stronghold of curses reigns
Inside some churches spiritual tapoin covers
Inside some churches spiritual skeleton walks around

These strongholds serve as bulwarks, barriers, obstacles and hindrances to the growth, health and well-being of the church. These strongholds come through secret sins, rebellion, strange fre on the altar, strange doctrines, disobedient to God, Injustice, cheating and ungodly Incidents

C. How To Pull Down The Strongholds

1. Take your strength in the Lord

Wading upon the Lord for strength and renewal is mandated. For the weapons of our warfare are not carmal

2. Pray to discover the location of the enemies in the church.

You can borrow a leaf from an hunter An hunter shoot to kill. Apply operation four F’s-Find, Face, Fight and Finish

3. Saturday Night Prayer

There must be prayer volunteers group to serve as midnight soldiers, who will prayer to destroy all the plans of satan against Sunday service programme.

4. Sunday morning workers prayer

The workers must come to the church E. earlier than the members. They must pray to sanctify the church and for open heaven

5. Operation Jericho

Workers must pray around the church to destroy the work of Satan and also to change the atmosphere and the environment of the church with the Holy Ghost fire

6. Warfare prayer during the service

This should range between 15-20 minutes. Every member must participate and it must be vigorous prayer lead by an evangelist

7. Intercessor

These are needed for the spiritual photograph of the church These will do the spintual, physical and historical research of the church.

D. Principles Of Warfare

Be sure you are in proper relationship to God
Confess all known sins, if you attempt to bind a principality or power while you harbor sin in your heart, you will surely be defeated
Seek healing for persistent sin patterns
Allow your spiritual barometer to be ready by others
The higher God calls you to leadership. The higher your standard of holiness. If you feel you are gifted and called to this kind of ministry be especially strict with yourself
Put on Gods Amour Eph. 6.12. Putting on the whole amour of God is the only way to dress for success in the Lord, because the whole armour of god is the Christians battle dress.

E. 15 Essentials In Casting Out Demons

Personal preparation and methods of operation

Be sure you are free form sin Psalm 66:18
Always cover yourself and your environment and properties with the blood of Jesus, especially when you are about to do the casting out. Rev. 12:11
Quote the scriptures at the devil Psalm 107
Never enter into dialogue with demon but give a word of command for them to go out and they will obey Mark 16:7
Use the name of Jesus throughout and Satan will bow
When you are a group praying for the demonized, always allow a single person to exercise authority in casting out while others follow in agreement to avoid negation of authority.
Be confident in the Holy Spirit that you can cast demons out
Depend upon the anointing for success Act 1:8
Tell the demon where to go after leaving the demonize Isa. 10:27
Warn the demon never to enter the individual again
If there are demonic instrument in the possession of the individual he must submit all after deliverance Acts 19:18
Prayer and fasting is very helpful in casting out demons Mark 9:28-29
Be quick to exercise your authority over devils, never allow him to gain any advantage over you Luke 10.19
After the deliverance the individual must be sufficiently fed with the word of God 1 Peter 2:1-2.
After every successful casting out case, give all the glory to God and never be puffed up Isaiah 42:8.

Our effectiveness in casting out devils depends on how much we follow the laid down biblical patterns and upon our level of anointing. We can, however, identify the demonized by the operation of the gifts of the spirit. I Cor. 12:10; Acts 16:16-18, mark 1:23-26.