Title: What you need to break the stronghold
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Ever felt “Why am I in stronghold, if I am saved” - feel Saved, but not set free.
Read scriptures | In church for years | Still struggle with stronghold.
Might ask questions like;
If Jesus loves me, why is my marraige so difficult?
I’m saved, when am I going to be saved from this addiction?
I love Jesus, but where is my Joy.
Why does it feel like we are Child of God but still struggling. If you, not alone.
Problem is, Enemy is so cunning in growing lie about who we are and keeping us from deliverance.
Today - Let’s find freedom.
Title: What you need to break the stronghold
My Hope: Change in mindset today - When pick up Bible, See real power.
One of our core values:
We are Truth-Seeking, Spirit-Led, Faith-Filled, Warriors of God
Might say “Mat, I’m just trying to make it through the day...”
I want to let you know - God wants to give you freedom today.
*prayer*
New Sermon Series; The Almighty and all of us
We are partnering with Almighty, to do His kingdom work here - What I want to do, over next few weeks, is go through values as Church and explore what God has laid on our Church for His Kingdom.
Today - Our first core Value; We are Truth Seeking, Spirit Led, Faith Filled, Warriors of God.
Was going to be 1- now 2.
Not a throw away buzz line - Instruction so you can fulfill your calling in Christ - It’s a heart posture. Not alone = As a community.
let’s start with first thing - We are Truth Seeking.
In John 8 (Maybe read)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
First thing to notice = Jesus is saying this to Jews that BELIEVED - Jesus saying “you believe, now let me set you free”
Free= To be released = so you can complete what God need you to. That’s what today is all about.
A lot of people find themselves shackled as POW = Prisoner of War.
Behind enemy lines, unable to get free. Accepted Jesus but something holding them back.
Saved but Addicted. Saved but still got a temper. Saved but still cussing. Saved but still looking at Porn. Saved but still in stronghold.
There is GAP = Time of Salvation + Time of Liberation.
Why do we need liberation? Because of what JESUS says next =
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
The reason people aren’t set free, is because it has a grip | not a bad habit = it’s a chain.
This gets worse when you start viewing yourself as your sin and becomes identity.
The enemy will try and change your identity, from Son of God, to Slave of Sin.
“I just get angry” “I am lustful” “I am a curser” “Yep, that’s my vice” - The enemy likes to grow the lie - and then make you wear it.
Question: How do we get free from the Sin that clings to us from before we where saved?
All your human efforts can’t do it.
Many of us, don’t address it - They decorate themselves - In jail, believe can’t get out - so they dress it up with church, bible study, they got a good lookin jail cell, but they still in jail.
Some people manage their slavery | Keep it to side | only them and the HS see it.
However, there is freedom for you today. If you feel saved, but still in a stronghold - this is for you.
So how do we get out of stronghold?
Jesus gives us clue = If you know TRUTH - it sets you FREE. Jesus is talking about inward spiritual Transformation.
He says - Verse 31- if you ABIDE in my WORD - Beyond being saved - if you CONTINUE in my word.
So how did people that believed Jesus respond?
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
In other words- they weren’t dealing with reality.
Spiritual miscalculation - Leads to a spiritual conclusion.
You won’t get spiritual help to get spiritual release.
Our arrogance, in thinking that we know and knowledge is preventing our freedom.
Knowledge is important, but relationship is what saves and sets us free.
Our goal is not to know of God, it,s to know God
Satan’s goal = get us to contaminate the truth - Satan wants to twist Word of God, so it loses it’s ability and power. He did it to Adam and Eve - He tried to do it to Jesus and he is doing it to us. Keeps us binded.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
What holds us hostage - Satan’s ability to keep a lie going - he has ability to treat lie like truth - We need something stonger than devil to beat him.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Indeed = Fo Sure = For Real.
Dynamic relationship between written word and living Word. Jesus is Word of God - And so when we say we are TRUTH SEEKING, We read Written Word with the GOAL of KNOWING the LIVING WORD.
Jesus says, if the SON will set you FREE, you shall be FREE INDEED. He has authority.
Freedom is found in Submission and Surrender, not control and arrogance.
Humility is not a weakness.
Interior Light Story.
Important distinction: It is the TRUTH that sets you FREE not what you believe is the truth. doesn’t matter how long you believe it, it’s not our belief system - it’s what He Says - We must always be seeking His Truth.
Lacey as a Soccer Player
When you invite Jesus into situation, it becomes an unfiar fight.
The Son brings Resurrection into your Situation - Got to want to seek THE truth though.
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Truth-Seeking is only part of our equation - We are going to Find Jesus, and Jesus is going to speak and act into your Situation
But not enough - This is where next part of our Equation is required.
We are Truth-Seeking, Spirit Led - Why? because our Flesh, can’t take us somewhere that it has never been - Need something Supernatural to lead us out of the Jail cell and into Kingdom Mission.
Jesus says;
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Power? What is this Power? Dynamis - Jesus says, I am leaving, but I am leaving behind POWER - Give you something that’s going to blow mind.
Wasabi Story.
This is what Jesus says about HS:
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Let’s try walk with this - Starts with God the Father - Everything Dad has, Jesus has - they are both God - God father declares to Son, Son declares to The Spirit - Spirit declares to you -
They are all God - don’t serve 3 God’s, we serve 1 God - you’re gonna need some faith to understand this.
Word says he does 2 things. 1st: “HE will guide you into ALL Truth” - The Spirit will ONLY Transfer Truth - Jesus - I am the way the truth and the life!!
2nd thing; (Verse 14): Spirit will glorify Jesus - We hang out with Jesus in TRUTH we start realising that the thing that God wants to set us free from gives God Glory
As we understand WHO he IS and WHAT He has pulled us out of - Our heart starts to align with God’s and we start to live with desire to Glorify God.
The Holy Spirit does the Leading - It’s called…Conviction - Because it’s something we’re not use to - hits us right in heart.
** Go in the cage and play this out - Take Bible - Find Truth, Listen to the Holy Spirit, Act = out of Bondage**
You have no idea what 1 Truth-Seeking-Spirit-Led decision of obedience will do.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
So many Christians in bondage, because they won’t let the Holy Spirit do a new thing.
Close
Close
So we seek THE truth - and we start aligning with God - and The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to get us out of Jail -
As we are lead by Holy Spirit we find ourselves in uncharted territory = where we are required to have BIG FAITH, and because we are taking ground, we find ourselves being a Warrior for God - and we are a warrior for God because we have big faith in HE holds the Victory, and because we know that we are lead by the Spirit into all TRUTH.
Who are we? We are Truth-Seeking, Spirit Led, Faith Filled, Warriors of God.
So What do we do?
- We claim our identity of Child of the God most High - We don’t let enemy make our Sin our identity.
We read the Written word with the Goal of wanting to Know the Living Word
We submit and surrender to where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us
When we are convicted, we lean into, not shy away from what the Holy Spirit wants to do.- Let Him bring Resurrection to your situation.
Why?
We are being equipped to advance God’s Kingdom and bring glory to God through all that we do.
You’re required - You’re valued - but most importantly, your loved too much by God to remain in bondage.
What might happen?
Free from your stronghold - Free from addiction - Free from what ever it is that is stopping you from being a fully devoted follower of Christ. Why?
Because Jesus Died for it - He went to the cross to take away the penalty for your sin - The same Spirit that rose Christ from the grave now lives in you and gives you the POWER to defeat your stronghold.
As a church we will be Truth Seeking, Spirit Led, Faith FIlled, warrirs of God.
Why? Fo His Glory, and our good.
**Prayer**