This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Soma Games earns a small percentage from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you, but all of our recommendations and opinions are our own.
Welcome to the Soma SoulWorks Podcast! This podcast serves to help people, particularly those who may label themselves as "creatives," to seek wholeness and calling so they are ready to embrace the mission God has for them. Consider this podcast a rogue harmony of professional development and self-care, hosted by John Bergquist and Chris Skaggs.
What’s covered in this episode:
- Strongholds, by which we mean spiritual strongholds, are referenced in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds,” (ESV).
- According to Chris, strongholds are, “A battle for the mind.”
- John “JB” says, “We live in a broken world, and we don’t come in or go out without a wound, without losing our identity, and that place we’re supposed to live in Christ.” We need to find the negative strongholds and replace them with the mindset of Christ.
- Unrecognized or unexamined strongholds can have a toxic hold on one’s life. Often, addictions and bad habits are rooted in strongholds, and the unwanted behavior is the symptom. Attempting to eliminate the symptoms may help, but it won’t solve or cure the underlying stronghold.
- Producer’s Note: Addictions of any kind should not be treated lightly. Please seek professional (medical and/or pastoral) help if embarking on a journey to resolve an addiction.
- Satan will lie to us because that’s his job. It’s common for him to share or reinforce a lie during painful times. When someone is experiencing pain or deep emotion, those feelings are so real the lie can slip in and seem real too.
- John 8:44: (esv)
- Good strongholds do exist, and produce good symptoms. Good symptoms are more commonly referred to as “fruit.” Galatians 5:22-23
- We learn to identify strongholds by first seeking to understand what you find hurtful or irritating. Identifying the underlying cause of these issues can reveal the stronghold. Another reaction to consider is defensiveness, as it is natural to defend our strongholds.
- Don’t choose complacency. Satan is going to lie; no one is immune to strongholds. Chris says, “Going after strongholds is next-level stuff for the Christian walk. It’s hard. When we go after strongholds we are attacking the enemy’s fortified position. We are picking a fight.”
- Next, examine the message of the stronghold. For example, envy's message is "I not just want what someone else wants, I don't want them to have it either".
- After identifying these we turn to God's truth in scripture and find out what it says about the stronghold as well as how to live differently.
Resources mentioned:
- Danny Silk -- Seek to understand rather than convince
- Bethel Pastor Eric Johnson’s sermon -- Don’t get distracted and lose sight of what God is doing.
- Sign up for the Tempus Divum newsletter
- Bootcampnw.com
- Killing Kryptonite: Destroy What Steals Your Strength by John Bevere
- Free to Live: The Utter Relief of Holiness by John Eldredge
Email us ideas, questions or suggestions at tempusdivum@somagames.co
Activity