Strongholds in Spiritual Warfare

Strongholds - human reasoning that support our sin patterns.

Japanese soldiers who kept fighting

Transformation is the the key to demolishing strongholds

Our vision is to create a multi-ethnic, multicultural movement that manifests the kingdom of God

At Sandusky Life Church we value transformation: We invest in change of lives, communities and cultures as a result of divine encounters with Jesus

Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Owning a home. “This is ALL going to have to come out”

we can find strongholds of old thinking almost anywhere

The devil knows where these strongholds are. He knows where our thinking has not been transformed

stronghold: money/possessions

stronghold: food

stronghold: amusement

stronghold : relationships

In a home remodel it does VERY little good to just tear something out with out replacing it with something better

English Standard Version Romans 13:13–14

. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

English Standard Version Ephesians 4:22–24

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

How do you put on Christ?

get in the Word

reading, listening, studying alone and together

Transformation is never complete

That brings us to So What? But really so what for the whole series.

summation of where we have been

reality of the war and the nature of the war and the enemies

the armor

the importance of prayer

the sufficiency of Christ

and rooting out strongholds

Through the power of Christ:

1. We Want to Stand Firm and Resist the Devil

Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective The Goal of the Christian Life Is to Stand and Resist

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9)

2. We Want to Move Forward and Claim Territory

Love wins:

Christ love for us -

Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for

justice will be served

Our love for him in obedience

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Our love for others

Gal 5:13-14 for you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

sacrifice will be required

Rom 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”