Pulling Down Strongholds in Prayer

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: A Fortress and the Power of Prayer

In medieval times, enemy armies would sometimes surround a fortress for months. They would launch arrows, batter the gates and exhaust their soldiers trying to break through its stone walls. But often the stronghold wouldn’t fall by force. Victory usually came a different way. A soldier inside the walls, someone already within, would secretly open the inner gate from the inside. Only then could the army enter and take the fortress. That’s a vivid picture of what happens when we pray for lost loved ones.

The human heart can look like a locked fortress. Walled with pride, sealed with pain, guarded by lies. You can’t reason your way in. You can’t batter it down with arguments. But when we pray, the Holy Spirit begins working inside the heart. He’s the one who opens the gate from within. This is why Scripture calls us to pray with divine power, to pull down strongholds. To invite the Spirit to do what no human effort can. This morning we’re going to talk about Pulling Down Strongholds in Prayer.

We know that God desires all people to be saved. Yet, when someone close to us seems hardened to the gospel, mocking faith, chasing sin or numbed by unbelief, we can feel powerless. Sometimes our loved ones have never committed their lives to Christ, while others have wandered away from the faith they once believed. The problem isn’t merely stubbornness or lack of understanding. Scriptures says that unbelievers are held captive by spiritual strongholds. There are patterns of pride, deception and blindness that keep them from the truth. But too often we try to fight those strongholds with human effort, instead of spiritual authority through prayer.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (ESV) 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. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

We tend to fight people instead of the powers keeping them captive. We argue with words, despair at rejection, or withdraw in defeat. Yet, unbelievers are captive to invisible strongholds. Patterns of thought and deception are reinforced by the enemy. But when we pray, we invite divine power to tear down the walls that hold hearts in bondage. Through Spirit-led prayer, believers partner with God to pull down strongholds. To open hearts, and release His saving power into the lives of those held captive by darkness.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

This verse gives us deeper insight into the enemy that has deceived those we are praying for. There are evil invisible forces of evil of differing ranks in our world. These forces consist of Satan Himself who oversees demons of different ranks that create strongholds in our loved one’s minds. Those who are not saved or who have wandered from God are not our enemies. They have been taken captive by our enemy, the devil and are locked into strongholds of deception. Only the Holy Spirit can open the door of that stronghold so that God’s truth can pierce through the darkness and set them free.

Acts 26:18 (ESV) …to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

The spiritual eyes of the lost have been blinded so that they cannot see God’s truth. It makes no sense to them, they simply cannot understand it. The stronghold makes them see the truth as a lie and falsehood as the truth. Spirit-led prayer, especially prayer by groups of believers, can set them free. Once their eyes are opened, they will see the light and turn from the power of Satan to God. Let’s look together at three ways Scriptures teaches us to engage this spiritual battle in prayer.

Pray With Divine Authority

Luke 10:19 (ESV) Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

This verse is Jesus speaking to His disciples and to us. Jesus has given us as believers authority over the power of the enemy, Satan and his forces. We mustn’t make fun of the enemy because he is very powerful, but greater is He that is in us as believers, than he that is in the world. We have authority over the demonic forces that are controlling our loved ones. Our prayers can break through the stronghold and let the light of Christ shine into their hearts and minds.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

When you begin to get involved in spiritual warfare for your loved ones, you will be in a battle. Satan does not want you praying and interceding for your loved ones in the authority of Jesus. So, you need the armor of God on yourself, so that you can withstand his attacks on your life. This is not a game, this is deadly serious warfare when you are interceding for souls.

Mark 3:27 (ESV) But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

In this statement by Jesus, the strong man refers to Satan. Those who are not saved are part of his house, his kingdom. Our task is to plunder his house, his stronghold and release those captive to him. Jesus has already bound the strong man, Satan, so we have the authority to pray for and see release of those captive to him. When we pray for lost loved ones, we are exercising authority that Christ already gave us. We stand clothed in His strength and armor, not our own. Like solders under command, we declare Jesus’ victory over the enemy’s claims. We don’t command people, we confront the powers that blind them. Every believer is commissioned to bind the strong man through prayer. When we take our stand, we’re active participants in Christ’s mission to rescue the lost.

Application: Take Your Stand in Christ’s Authority

Begin your prayer times by affirming Christ’s authority over darkness. Use Scriptures when you pray, declare Jesus’ victory, rather than rehearsing defeat. Use the power of prayers of agreement with others. Pray together as a family for lost or wandering loved ones.

I am convinced that praying together with other believers for lost loved ones is key. You can pray for lost loved ones in Life Groups, as your prayer request. We are praying for lost loved ones in Revival Prayer every week. Every person needs to find a group where they can pray in agreement with other believers in order to see miracles in their lives and their loved ones.

Now just because you’re praying for your lost loved ones, does not mean that is all you should do. As you pray, ask God for how you should share God’s truth with them. God can give you spiritual gifts of words of wisdom and words of knowledge for them. You may be able to pray with them for some of their needs. Praying with divine authority is the key to seeing your loved ones saved.

Pray with God’s Burden and Compassion

Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV) Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

These verses speak of the phases of seeing a harvest of souls. First comes the sowing of seed, representing the word of God, the Gospel. Jesus taught us that people have different kinds of soils in their hearts. Some hearts are soft and receptive to the Gospel. Others are hardened and resistant to the Gospel. Sowing is hard work, and the tears are for those we are sowing into to receive the seed of god’s truth. The harvest with shouts of joy comes when someone is saved and becomes a child of God. We must care enough about our lost loved ones to weep over them in our prayers.

Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV) When I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah had just heard a report that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates were destroyed by fire. The city had been destroyed by the enemy and Nehemiah had a burden for it to be restored. People who aren’t saved or who have wandered from God are like that broken down city. Their lives have been destroyed by the enemy and have no defenses against him. Before God’s power comes compassion. God’s heart breaks for the lost and He calls us to feel what He feels. The most powerful prayers flow from tears for those far from God.

Romans 9:2-3 (ESV) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.

Paul ached for Israel’s salvation, for his fellow Jews to follow Jesus and be saved. When our hearts align with God’s burden, our prayers gain weight in heaven. Real intercession costs something: time, emotion and fasting. But every tear sown becomes a seed of future joy when salvation breaks through.

Application: Feel God’s Heart for the Lost

Ask God to give you His compassion, His heart for the lost loved ones in your life. And I might add for lost people not in your immediate family but beyond. Let your prayer move from obligation to taking up God’s burden. Pray and begin to feel God’s heart for the lost.

As God leads, fast a meal or for a day for a specific person’s salvation. Keep a list of names, could be your five friend focus that you pray for daily. Thank God in advance for their salvation. Let your prayers be in faith, believing that God will answer. Giving thanksgiving every prayer for the harvest of souls that is coming.

Pray For Spiritual Birth and Transformation

John 1:12-13 (ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Salvation is not reform, its rebirth, being born again into the family of God. Only the Holy Spirit can awaken the spiritually dead. When their blinded eyes are opened to the truth of he Gospel, they will believe in Jesus’ name. As they believe, they become born anew as children of God. Those who are saved have eternal life that begins in this life and continues forever. Their eternal destiny is to spend eternity with God and the family of God in the new heavens and the new earth. Their destiny shifts from an eternity apart from God in torment in hell to the joy of being in the presence of God forever.

Titus 3:5 (ESV) He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

One of the lies of Satan that has misled so many is that a person is saved by doing good things. No one is good enough to have a relationship with God based on their good deeds. Everyone has sinned and that sin separates us from a holy God. Only by believing in Jesus and being forgiven by Him leads to eternal life. When a person is saved, they are transformed into a new creation. The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of them.

Ezekiel 37:4-5 (ESV) Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”

These dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision represent lost people, dead in their sins. In the vision Ezekiel was to prophesy breath into the dry bones that they might live. When we pray, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit who breathes new life into the dry bones of those who are lost. Our role is to speak God’s Word in faith and call forth life where there is none. Each intercession is like Ezekiel’s prophecy, words carried by the Spirit to awaken hearts. We cannot save anyone, but God will not save anyone without prayer. In His design, intercession opens the door for spiritual birth.

Application: Pray New Life Over Names

Pray Scripture directly over the names of those God has put on your heart. Declare new life and transformation. Pray that God will help them take the next step closer to believing in Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe on each one you’re praying for, to give them new life.

Share the gospel with them when God opens opportunity. Remember prayer prepares the soil for the seed to be planted. Celebrate small signs of change as evidence that the Spirit is working and life is stirring.

Conclusion: Keep Praying Until the Gate Opens

We started this message thinking about a fortress that couldn’t be conquered from outside. Only someone working inside could open the door for the fortress to surrender. That fortress is a powerful picture of the heart of a lost person. Their eyes have been blinded to the truth of the gospel and the lies they have embraced have created strongholds in their lives, keeping them away from God.

But even that fortress seems impenetrable, God knows the gate. Your prayers are what invite the Holy Spirit to open it from within. When we pray with authority, compassion, and faith, walls crumble. Hearts soften. Lives change. What once seemed unreachable becomes a story of redemption. God calls us to pray with divine authority. To pray with God’s burden and compassion. And to pray for spiritual birth and transformation. Through Spirit-led prayer, believers partner with God to pull down strongholds. Prayer opens hearts and releases his saving power into the lives of those held captive by darkness.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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