Identifying Existing Strongholds
Once the nature of strongholds and their role in opposing movements is understood, one can then begin to identify the specific ones that reside within a given location or people group.
The area of focus could be as large as an entire city or as small as a neighborhood, park, or city block. \u201cSpiritual mapping\u201d is often the term given to describe the process of researching inroads Satan has established that hinder people from responding to the gospel. Effectiveness in removing these spiritual strongholds increases to the degree they are specifically identified. This is why detailed research and spiritual discernment are needed.
Because many of these strongholds are tied to the culture of a specific people group or individuals living within a particular location, they often remain hidden. Below are some key questions to assist you and your team in uncovering and identifying them. Researching history (past and present realities) and obtaining spiritual revelation can help in this quest. After strongholds have been identified with a degree of certainty, you can begin to engage in the task of removing them.
Past History
\u2022 Who were the people who founded the city or region, and what were their beliefs and philosophy?
\u2022 Is there any record of curses that have been made on the people group or territory?
\u2022 Why was it originally settled?
\u2022 What is the significance of the name of the city, street, or particular area? Does it have any meaning?
\u2022 How have various people groups been treated? Has there been any trauma caused by mistreatment, bloodshed, or wars?
\u2022 What religions have been practiced by the people who have inhabited the area?
Present Day
\u2022 What non-Christian religious groups live or operate in the area today?
\u2022 What are the present-day \u201cgods\u201d that people worship?
\u2022 Is there a group that is being oppressed?
\u2022 What patterns of sin or lies from the enemy are prevalent?
\u2022 What political, economic, and religious institutions have dominated the life of the city?
\u2022 What is the level of openness to the gospel?
Spiritual Revelation
Note: In many cases, it is helpful to elicit the help of mature individuals who have strong gifts in prophetic discernment and revelation.
\u2022 What do you and others have a heavy burden for or a strong sense of knowing?
\u2022 What words of wisdom or knowledge have been spoken about the target location?
\u2022 What has been revealed through spiritual discernment?
\u2022 What revelations have been confirmed by others seeking insight for your target area or people group?
\u2022 Are there any specific Scriptures that come to mind?
In researching the spiritual strongholds, it is important to look for patterns that are prevalent throughout history (past and present) and through the spiritual discernment process. Such patterns likely point to the spiritual forces at work. They also provide a roadmap for how to address them strategically.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Identifying Existing Strongholds Once the nature of strongholds and their role in opposing movements is understood, one can then begin to identify the specific ones that reside within a given location or people group. The area of focus could be as large as an entire city or as small as a neighborhood, park, or city […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n