TEARING DOWN THE STRONGHOLDS IN YOUR LIFE

9/17/2019

IN EVERYONES LIFE THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS AT ODDS WITH GOD’S KINGDOM AND THE WAY THAT HE WANTS US TO LIVE. IT IS THAT THING OR THINGS THAT CAUSE US TO SIN. IT IS THAT HABIT OR DESIRE THAT IS AT WAR WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR CREATOR. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HANG ONTO AND COVET, NOT WANTING TO GIVE IT UP BECAUSE WE TELL OURSELVES IT IS OK, AND WE NEED IT. IT ISN’T THAT BAD, EVERYONE DOES IT SOMETIMES, AND I JUST CAN’T SEEM TO GET IT OUT OF MY LIFE, MY HEAD, MY BEHAVIOR…..SO I JUST GO ALONG, IGNORING IT, OR WORSE, FIGHTING IT OVER AND OVER ONLY TO BE DRAWN BACK IN. THE SAD THING ABOUT STRONGHOLDS IS THAT THE LONGER THEY STAND, THE HARDER THEY ARE TO GET RID OF. THEY FEED UPON THEMSELVES AND YOU, ALMOST AS IF EVIL WAS ATTRACTING MORE EVIL., AND THE EVIL THAT COMES IN IS EVEN STRONGER AND MORE DAMAGING TO YOUR SOUL IT FILLS UP THE FEELINGS OF WEAKNESS, SHAME, AND GUILT. WORST OF ALL, IT PUSHES YOU AWAY FROM GOD AND BELITTLES YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. IT CAUSES YOU TO TURN TO YOUR OWN FLESH, DISDAINING THE POWER AND BLESSINGS OF LETTING GOD RULE AND BLESS YOUR LIFE.

NOW THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT. WHICH ARE: IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, SENSUALITY, IDOLATRY, SORCERY, ENMITIES, STRIFE, JEALOUSY, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, DISPUTES, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS, ENVYING, DRUNKENNESS, CAROUSING AND THINGS LIKE THESE , OF WHICH I FOREWARN YOU, JUST AS I HAVE FOREWARNED YOU, THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Galatians 5: 19-21

I HAVE DEALT WITH STRONGHOLDS IN MY LIFE. THEY CAN BE TOUGH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO EXCISE THEM OUT OF YOUR LIFE IN TOTALITY. LEAVING EVEN THE SMALLEST PIECE OF DESIRE IN YOUR POCKET CAN CAUSE YOU TO PULL IT OUT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING IT BACK TO FULL STRENGTH IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A CALLING IN DELIVERANCE MINISTRY, AND OVER THE YEARS WATCHING HIM HELP PEOPLE BATTLE DESIRES AND SPIRITS AND YES, EVEN DEMONS HAS TAUGHT ME A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR GOD, AND ALSO THE POWER OF SATAN. GOD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU, AND HE ALONE HAS THE POWER TO HELP YOU TAKE DOWN THE STRONGHOLDS IN YOUR LIFE, BUT THE FIRST STEP IS ON YOU TO DESIRE IT GONE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND SEEK HIS HELP. MY FRIEND LARRY CAN PRAY, AND COMMAND IN GOD’S AUTHORITY, AND DO ALL HE CAN IN HIS GIFTS, BUT WITHOUT A PERSON’S HEART WANTING TO CHANGE AND PUSH THINGS OUT, IT IS ALL FOR NAUGHT. IN OUR FREE WILL, WE MUST DETERMINE TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; TO REPENT; AND TO HOLD OUR KINGDOM GROUND AND IDENTITY IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. FOR IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

TRULY I TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED, YOU CAN SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, “MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE”, AND IT WILL MOVE. “ NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU”. Matthew 17:20

“IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. STAND FIRM, THEN, AND DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE BURDENED AGAIN BY A YOKE OF SLAVERY”. Galatians 5:1

“HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU ? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! DO NOT TREMBLE OR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO”. Joshua 1:9

“FINALLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS NOBLE, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS ADMIRABLE - IF ANYTHING IS EXCELLENT - OR PRAISEWORTHY - THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS”. Philippians 4:8

KNOW THESE TRUTHS AND CEMENT THEM IN YOUR HEART AND MIND:

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR WALK ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN GOD, AND TRUST HIM IN ALL YOUR NEEDS AND STRUGGLES.

TRUE FREEDOM IN YOUR LIFE TO EXPERIENCE JOY, BLESSINGS, AND HOPE COMES DIRECTLY FROM JESUS. STAND FIRM IN HIM AND HIS TRUTH, AND NOTHING CAN ENSLAVE YOU.

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU. GOD IS LISTENING TO YOUR PRAYERS AND HE WILL ANSWER THOSE PRAYERS. LET FEAR FALL AWAY, FIGHT YOUR BATTLES WITH GOD’S HELP, AND TRUST IN HIS POWER, MERCY, AND LOVE.

SEEK WHAT IS RIGHT AND PURE AND WORTHY OF A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WALK AWAY FROM THE DESIRES AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD AND PLANT YOUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE FOUNDATION OF GOD’S WORD, CHARACTER, AND COMMANDMENTS FOR HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.

SEEK HIM EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY AND BE JOYOUS IN YOUR TRUST AND LOVE FOR HIM ! HE LOVES YOU COMPLETELY, AND THROUGH HIS SON, ALL YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. SELAH.

I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, AND ENJOYING ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSIONS IN LIFE, GOLF WITH GOOD FRIENDS. I’M SO THANKFUL THAT NO MATTER WHERE I AM GOING, OR WHAT I AM DOING, GOD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING TO ME, AND HELPING ME GROW. I PRAY FOR YOUR STRONGHOLDS TO BE BROUGHT DOWN, AND MAY THE LOVE OF CHRIST FILL YOU WITH STREAMS OF LIVING WATER EVERY DAY :) / JA