There are two types of issues we must deal with: surface and root!
Christ has given us His supernatural authority and power not only to remove the surface issues in our lives, but also to remove the root issues. “Surface issues” are current thoughts, emotions, and desires that quench God’s Spirit.
“Root issues” are things that have occurred previously and that we have never dealt with but simply pushed down and buried, mainly because we didn’t know what else to do with them. They are issues that have not been dealt with, such as resentment, discouragement, and unforgiveness that have become root issues or strongholds of bitterness, depression, and hatred.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:
15 Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.
If we don’t understand the power and authority that we have in Christ to dissolve these hideouts of the enemy and replace them with God’s Spirit, we become perfect targets for more of the enemy’s deceit, lies, and traps.
It is written by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 44:
20 A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
In other words, if our spirit is quenched and our heart covered, we’ll not be able to recognize the lies that are keeping us captive—meaning, we’ll continue to be open to deception!
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 1:
6 If we claim that we share Life with Him, but keep walking in the realm of darkness, we’re fooling ourselves and not living the Truth.
7 But if we keep living in the pure Light that surrounds Him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, His Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we boast that we have no sin, we’re only fooling ourselves and are strangers to the Truth.
9 But if we freely admit our sins when His Light uncovers them, He will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and He will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What often happens is that we erect our own “walls of protection,” our own “truth,” to cover our vulnerabilities. These self-erected defenses can actually assist the enemy, rather than defeating him.
Paul also wrote in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
24 For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the Truth, having great patience toward the immature.
25 Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the Truth. 26 This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.
It is written by THE SPIRIT in Judges chapter 2:
1 Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.
2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My Voice. Why have you done this? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.‘”
4 So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these Words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.
It’s imperative that we surrender every negative emotion, every self- centered thought, every selfish desire, every attitude, every fear, and every stronghold––inside and out––that might create opportunities for the enemy. We do this by recognizing our sin, by confessing and repenting of it, by giving it to God, and by replacing it with the Word!