When Christians contemplate their health problems, they tend to gravitate toward one of two extremes:  (1) All my health problems are physical, or  (2) All my health problems are spiritual.

The truth of the matter is that while our health problems are usually physically caused, they can sometimes be spiritually caused.

In the first extreme, someone with obvious emotional and/or spiritual problems, will keep trying vitamin after vitamin hoping the next “wonder product” they try will finally solve their problem.  In the second extreme, someone will believe that diet, natural medicines, or even conventional medicines are not the answer, but only faith and prayer.  This view is often seen in adherents to the “word-faith” and “deliverance” movements.  Let’s look at the biblically balanced approach to spiritual issues that most definitely can affect your health — the issue of spiritual strongholds.

WHAT IS A “SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLD”?

A spiritual stronghold might be identified as:

An area in which we have surrendered “spiritual ground” to Satan, and from which Satan can attack our lives.

So then, what is “spiritual ground?” “Ground” refers to JURISDICTION.  A little biblical history:  When Adam and Eve surrendered to Satan’s temptation, jurisdiction over the earth was transferred to Satan.  This was obviously still true at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry when Satan offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would only fall down and worship him (Matt. 4:8-9).

The Good News is that through Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan has been defeated and his kingdom is under judgment (John 16:8-11).  Though Satan’s authority has been removed, his presence has not, and will not be removed until the final judgment.  Thus, we have a new King—Jesus—in heaven in authority over the earth, and yet there is a lot of previously “surrendered ground” on earth that must progressively be taken back by believers in their own lives, as well as in the societies they live in.

But this isn’t just a matter of ground surrendered by Adam or ground surrendered by ourselves before we became Christians.  Any Christian can surrender jurisdiction to Satan in any area of his life, thus giving “ground” or a “place” of authority to him.  This prompts the scriptural admonition:  “ . . . and do not give the devil a place (ground)”  (Eph. 4:27)

With each surrender Satan is given more authority to control your mind, will and emotions.  In this situation we become more and more spiritually defeated, even in seemingly unrelated areas.  We become disillusioned as we sin, confess, repent only to fail again and again.  We fail to understand that the “surrendered ground” provided a place for Satan to build a “stronghold” from which to attack other areas of our lives.  Even physical health problems may result.

SYMPTOMS OF “SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS”

So how do you know if you are suffering from “surrendered ground” and “spiritual strongholds”?  Here are some common symptoms:

1.   Extreme mood changes — Depressive mood swings for no apparent physical reason.
2.   Repeated night terrors — More intense and alarming than nightmares.
3.   Addiction to rock music — especially heavy metal.
4. Compulsive behavior — usually involving sensual appetites such as food (gluttony, binging, anorexia, bulemia), sex (premarital sex, extra-marital sex, masturbation, homosexuality), drugs, etc.
5. Isolation from family —  extended time alone.
6. Involvement in occult games — Dungeons and Dragons, addicting and time-consuming computer games.
7. Continual fantasizing — Mentally fulfilling roles of evil.
8.   Strange friends — Companionship with those who are in bondage.
9.   Extremely negative self-image — Bondage to bizarre fads.
10.   Preoccupation with the color black — Black clothing and fingernail polish.
11.   Persistent thoughts of suicide — Feeling that there is no hope for the future.

TWO ROOT CAUSES

While there are numerous potential ways someone might develop a spiritual stronghold problem, perhaps the two areas that most often invite Satan to set up shop are (1) Bitterness and (2) Sexual Immorality. 

            When you are wronged by someone — a parent, spouse, sibling, co-worker, employee, employer, friend, or whatever — you open the door for Satan to establish a stronghold from which to torment you in other areas, such as depression, uncontrolled anger, lust, eating disorders, or some other physical symptom.

The same is true with sexual immorality.  This area especially illustrates how Christians get drawn into the world’s way of thinking and living.  The world says, “If it feels good, do it” and “Marriage is not required for sex.”  I understand the unregenerate person believing these lies.  But I am saddened, almost to tears, with the Christians that have been drawn into such deception.

Sexual relations outside the bond of marriage, like bitterness, can open the door for all manner of emotional and physical health problems.  One that’s especially interesting is recurrent vaginal yeast infections.  I’ve noted over the years that this problem happens a lot more often with women having sex outside of marriage than it does with monogomous married women.  It’s been said: “We don’t break God’s laws; God’s laws break us.”

TAKING BACK “SURRENDERED GROUND”

Spiritual strongholds, like most problems, are fixable.  Here are some steps:

1. Confirm that you are a child of God —The fact that God created you doesn’t make you His child. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him [Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God.”

            SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am incapable of saving myself and  am deserving of eternal separation from You.  But I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation from sin and from Satan.  Amen.”

2. Renounce the Works and Ways of Satan —Christ came not only to save us from thepenalty of sin in the hereafter, but from the power of sin in the here and now.  The Bible describes in I John 2:15-17 the “world system” through which Satan operates as consisting of  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.  In any area of life we can choose God’s way or Satan’s way.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Dear Father, I acknowledge that I have been deceived by Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44), and that I have also deceived myself by pursuing the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.  I hereby renounce and turn from all of the works and ways of Satan and open my whole life up to the searching eyes of a holy God.  Amen.”

3. Commit yourself to the truth at any cost —We defeat Satan’s deceptions by agreeing with the truth of God’s Word: “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:31-32).

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Heavenly Father, I hereby commit myself to learn and obey Your truth, even though it may seem contrary to my natural inclinations.  Amen.”

4. Affirm your “position” in Christ —The biblical term “in Christ” refers to the fact that through Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, Satan has no legal authority over those trusting in Christ’s work for their salvation. It is from our “position in Christ” that we hold or surrender “ground” to Satan.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Dear Father, I believe that I am now seated with Christ in the Heavenlies (Eph. 2:8).  I am a member of Christ’s body and take my position of victory over Satan and all principalities and powers (Col. 2:10) through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Amen.”

5. Recognize and deal with all bitterness —

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Heavenly Father, I acknowledge God’s mercy that led me to repentance (Rom. 2:4). I ask, Lord, that You would bring to my remembrance those to whom I have not extended your forgiveness.  Amen.” 

            List names as God brings them to mind, including resentment toward yourself or God.  Then, one-by-one, state:  “I now forgive (name) for (state specifically how this person offended you).  Then destroy the list.

6. Confess how you have hurt others —Guilt provides ground for Satan to build strongholds. True, appropriate guilt occurs when our conscience convicts our mind and spirit that we have offended God or some other person.  Guilt is removed by confessing our offenses to God and to the person offended, asking for forgiveness.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Dear Father in Heaven, I purpose to make a list of those whom I have offended as You bring their names to remembrance.  I will write down how I offended each person and work out a specific plan to make things right.  Amen.”

7. Turn all rebellion into obedience —In I Samuel 15:23 we read the relationship between rebellion and satanic strongholds: “. . . for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft . . . “  Refusing to recognize God-appointed authorities (parents, husband, pastor, employer, etc. ) in our lives causes us to surrender spiritual ground.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Dear Lord, show me where I have not been submissive to your authorities, whom You desire to work through.  Amen.”

8. Confess specific sins of the flesh —In I John 1:9 we’re instructed to confess specific sins to experience God’s cleansing and forgiveness.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Heavenly Father, You have told me to make no provision for the flesh and its lusts (Rom. 13:14).  I acknowledge that I have given in to fleshly lusts which wage war against my soul (I Pet. 2:11).”

9. Acknowledge the sins of your ancestors —Even though we are notresponsible for the sins of our forefathers, or required to confess their sins, their sins do affect our lives.  Just as Adam passed on a sin nature, so demonic strongholds can be passed from one generation to another, as stated in Exodus 20:5:  “. . . for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of those that hate Me.”

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Father, as your child purchased with Christ’s blood, I reject and disown all the sins of my ancestors and cancel out all the demonic working that has been passed from them to me.  I now command every familiar spirit and every enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ that is in me or around me to go to the place where Jesus Christ sends them.  I do this in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

10. Rededicate your body to the Lord —Failure to rededicate ourselves to God once the previously surrendered ground has been reclaimed gives Satan continued jurisdiction, as taught in the parable of the unclean spirit leaving and then bringing back seven others more wicked than itself (Matt. 12:43-45). There’s no neutral ground here — either we’re totally dedicated to Christ, or by default, Satan controls our mind, will and emotions.

SUGGESTED PRAYER RESPONSE:  “Dear Father, I dedicate my body as a living sacrifice to God, and I yield all the members of my body as instruments of righteousness for the Lord and His Kingdom.  Amen.”

            WELCOME TO TRUE FREEDOM!

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1066, Sisters, Oregon 97759, Phone (800) 255–4246 with a branch clinic in Portland, Oregon.  E-Mail:  drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com.   Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author.  Reproduction Prohibited.

DISCLAIMER:  The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment.  Rather, this material  is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems.  Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.