LIVING A VICTORIOUS LIFE PART II
DEMOLISHING STRONGHOLDS 2 CORINTHIANS 10:2-5
2 COR 10:3-5 MKJV For though walking about in flesh, we do not war according to flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ.
2 COR 10:3-5 AMPLIFIED BIBLE 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
I.DEFINATION OF A STRONGHOLD It is an area in your life from which devil operates from. ( demonic fortress thoughts) It is a weakness in your life used by the devil to attack you or influence your action. Through strong holds, the devil gains legal rights in your life. They are built in your life especially in your mind.
HOW THEY ARE BUILT 1) Satanic-inspired THOUGHTS are introduced into your mind. 2) Entertaining these thoughts brings on EMOTIONS. 3) Giving in to emotions eventually leads to taking some sort of ACTION. 4) Continual participation in this behavior causes you to develop a HABIT which becomes
II. HOW TO BREAK STRONGHOLDS
1. Deception 1 Timothy 4:1 The source: Wrong doctrines, deceiving spirits Deception from the devil, and from the world.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ( ESB)
GENESIS 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. Gen 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, Gen 3:5 for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
2. The root of bitterness. Hebrews 12:15. The source: Resentment because of unmet needs, abuse, hurts and circumstance of life. To be free you have to forgive
Ephesians 4:31-32 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ. ( English Standard Bible)
3. Heaviness.Isaiah 61:3 The source: Lost hope, lack of trust in God Symptoms: Depression, Despair, suicidal thoughts.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:3, KJV
How do you overcome heaviness? Put on the garment of praise Trust in God s faithfulness
4. Jealous James 4:1-4 Symptoms: Judgmental feelings Ungodly competition Gossiping Lack of appreciating others
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? (1 Corinthians 3:3). Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it (Genesis 4:6-7
How do overcome Jealousy? Repent Pray for God s love in your life Do acts of love.
5.Root of rejection. Isaiah 53:1-3 Source of rejection: Lack of Love from parents Physical changes in the body Divorce or separation Abuse- self denial
Results of Rejection Emotional immaturity Loneliness and fear- Fear of further rejection Self- rejection- Negative of self image Loss of self identity This can lead to home sexuality. A love Vacuum-
The person with a love Vacuum becomes jealous and possessive, domineering and has a controlling spirit. Will demand the other person s attention constantly and if this is denied, they feel rejected. It becomes a one way relationship, with one person giving and others receiving. (By Fiona Des Fontaine)
Because of the Vacuum - Possession indicates success - Career gives acceptance - Intellectualism gives recognition
They become self centered They want self gratification Sex- Lust and perversion
Coming out of rejection Forgive those who rejected you Surrender your rejection to Jesus He bore your rejection Isaiah 53:1-3, Jer 30:17 Find your identity in Christ. Eph 1:6, Allow Christ to fill you will with Love Revelation 3:20, song of solomon 2:4
6.The root of rebellion 1 Sam 15:23 Source: Rejection, resentment, hurts, Adamic nature, occult, Lack of discipline at home Signs: Can not submit to any authority.
For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He too has rejected you as king (1 Samuel 15:23, CJB).
7. Fear and insecurity. Prov 28:1; 1 Tim 1:7. Results of Fear Inferiority Inadequacy Pleasing People- fear of man Anxiety Over Injury, Death Inability to Set Goals
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15).
8.Sexual Impurity Hoseah 5:4; 1 Cor 6:16-20 Adultery Pornography Masturbation Lust
Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD (Hosea 5:4).
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, The two will become one flesh. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:16-20).
9. Worship of Idols Anything that is above God in your life is an Idol. Anything that depend and trust on more than God is an Idol Witch doctors Charms
Exodus 20:4-5 You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments.
Judges6:25-26 That same night the LORD said to Gideon, Choose your father's best bull, the one that is seven years old. First, use it to pull down the altar your father built to worship Baal. Also, cut down the Asherah pole beside the altar. Then build the right kind of altar for the LORD your God. Build it on this high ground. Then kill and burn the bull on this altar. Use the wood from the Asherah pole to burn your offering.
Before Gideon went to the war, he destroyed the alters of Baal that belonged to his father. He build an altar for the Lord Destroy other idols in your life.
10.Unbroken evil covenants Deu 12:2 You shall completely destroy all the places in which the nations which you shall possess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. Deu 12:3 And you shall overthrow their altars and break their pillars, and burn their pillars with fire. And you shall cut down the carved images of their gods, and destroy their names out of that place. Deu 12:4 You shall not do so to Jehovah your God.
Family spirits( ancestral worship) Occult involvement Witchcraft Consulting witchdoctors False religion Secret societies( freemasons)
How to break the covenants Repentance is the key for your freedom. Renounce and break the covenant thru prayer Break the strongholds Jeremiah 1:10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
11.The root of Pride Seeks Positions Ungrateful Self-righteous High opinion of your moral Self-centered Insensitive, Materialistic, Stubborn Mocking
Results of Pride Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18 God opposes the proud Hard to forgive and Cant say sorry
III. The Summary of 1 Cor 10:3-5 1.How to break the strongholds Repent. Area where you have opened the doors, the habits and sins Pray and destroy the spirit behind the stronghold
Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. (MKJV See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." (ESB)
2.Pull down every imagination in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. 2 Cor 6:7
3.Take every thought Captive to obey Christ You are controlled by the Sprit Put on the weapon of Righteousness. Confess and speak and the word to the stronghold Choose what you feed your Mind Win the battle in your minds
PRAYER