Strongholds: Introduction

Constructed in the 1930s in response to lessons learned during World War 1, the Maginot Line was intended to prevent the Germans from ever again invading France. At the very least, the designers believed that the interlocking system of fortifications would slow a German invasion for two or three weeks, allowing the rest of the French army time to mobilize. To that end, the Line was virtually impervious to aerial bombing and mobile artillery fire (i.e., tanks). Its living quarters were air-conditioned, and its emplacements were served by underground railways to ferry troops and ammunition. In those emplacements, troops wielded 75mm artillery guns, mortars, and a mixture of heavy and light machine guns. In addition, great pains were taken to camouflage as much of the Line’s defenses as possible. Forward observation points were built to resemble civilian structures, the most significant fortifications were largely underground, and troop and supply entrances were concealed.

In essence, the Maginot Line was designed to be difficult for German forces to see and even harder to attack. Indeed, it was virtually impregnable, even if the surrounding countryside was entirely occupied.

Unfortunately, although the Line extended to the English Channel, its planners had anticipated that any invasion would come directly from Germany or the two nations’ smaller neighbor, Luxembourg. Thus, when German forces launched an invasion of Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands in May 1940, they were able to circumvent the strongest of the Line’s defenses, entering Paris unopposed on June 14.

Interestingly, though cut off from any hope of reinforcements and surrounded by German forces, one of the Line’s Gros Ouvrages (i.e., heavy fortresses), Ouvrage Fermont, did not surrender until June 27.

With its strong fortifications, heavy armaments, and camouflage, Ouvrage Fermont is a prime example of a military stronghold. For an invading army, these installations are difficult to see and even harder to attack. Left intact, however, they pose a profound danger to the occupying force, threatening to launch a counterattack at any time. It is no wonder, then, that the Germans quickly circled back to secure Fermont and the rest of the Maginot Line.

In our churches and in our own lives, we pronounce ourselves “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 CSB) and sing anthems like “Victory in Jesus” and “Faith is the Victory,” all of which is true, but quite often, just as Ouvrage Fermont remained after the fall of France, some strongholds persist. That is, even after we have repented, there remain sin issues in which we have not yet experienced complete victory, over which we have not yet entirely relinquished control, and of which we are not yet aware. In other words, even after Jesus has already won, Satan has not surrendered just yet. He and his surviving strongholds will counterattack. He will try to reassert control. And if left unchecked, he will establish new strongholds from which he will eventually overthrow Jesus.

Fortunately for us, in Revelation 2-3, Jesus himself dictated a series of letters designed to outline strategies for effectively neutralizing these remaining strongholds. These letters were addressed to the seven principal churches of Asia Minor because, though decades had passed since they were planted, these congregations were still dealing – or rather, not dealing – with these strongholds, and as a result, Satan was threatening to re-occupy and destroy them.

It is easy for us, two thousand years removed, to underestimate the threat to these churches, but Jesus could not have been more clear. In Revelation 2:5, he warned the Ephesians that, if they did not repent, he would come and remove their lampstand. That is, even if they continued to exist in some form, they would cease to be a church. In Revelation 2:16, he threatened to fight against the church at Pergamum. In other words, they would become God’s enemies. In Revelation 2:22-23, he threatened to strike dead the children of Jezebel who had permeated the church at Thyatira. He warned the church at Sardis that they were on the brink of death (Revelation 3:2) and he was about to “come like a thief” (Revelation 3:3), and he vowed to expose for all to see the shameful nakedness of the church at Laodicea if they did not change their ways (Revelation 3:18).

To trivialize these strongholds, then, is to either assume that they no longer exist within our lives or the Church or to disregard Jesus’ warnings as empty. Rest assured, however, that these strongholds still exist in our churches and in many of our lives, and as we shall see, Jesus’ warnings are anything but empty.

To Jesus, these strongholds represented an existential threat not only to our personal faith but to our entire congregations and even the Church as a whole. Just as the Germans would not allow Ouvrage Fermont to remain, then, there is no chance that he will allow these strongholds to remain. One way or another, they will be destroyed. The only question is whether we will be destroyed along with them.

This blog series is about how Jesus intends to obliterate the strongholds which still survive in our lives and churches. It is about the role that we must play in liberating the enemy’s last footholds in our lives. And it is about truly claiming the victory of faith and living as more than conquerors.