Take out the Garbage

Breaking the Chains: The Blood of the Lamb and Tearing Down Generational Strongholds

Introduction: The Power of Christ's Blood (Colossians 1:21-23)

Colossians 1:21–23 MEV

And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight, if you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and are not removed from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

This morning I want to talk about pulling down strongholds. We began talking about this in Wednesday night teachings and I feel like the Lord laid this on my heart for today as well. We are going to be starting a serious talking about the Blood of Christ this month, and this is the first thing I want to talk about.

I will not be keeping you long today as I am preaching from the roof, it’s warm out and I want to be respective of your time, but I feel like we need to talk about tearing down strongholds.

Each one of us have personal strongholds in our lives. Strongholds that have been passed down through generations. Strongholds that have just started in our life. On Wednesday we talked about different strongholds however this morning I want to focus on personal strongholds.

Personal strongholds are often strongholds that show up from a toe hold, to a foothold, and then to a stronghold. They do not often just show up out of the blue, but rather have started from some small thing in our lives somewhere.

We need to make a “Search and Destroy mission” on our life to pull out these generational strongholds, these personal strongholds.

There is no need for God to judge you if you will judge yourself according to the truth of the Scripture.

King David wanted to ask for assistence in his search and destroy mission he took part of. He said in Psalm 139:23-24

Psalm 139:23–24 MEV

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my concerns, and see if there is any rebellious way in me, and lead me in the ancient way.

I intend to talk about taking out the Garbage today.

Demons are like rats they desire evil thoughts, psychic hotlines, wicked ways, fleshly attitudes, thoughtless words, filthy magazines, lewd conversations, unforgiving grudges, arrogant mindsets, and rebellious spirits to feed on.

Wickedness like what I’ve described is often like garbage, it draws rats, it draws demonic involvement. Vulturs and flies are drawn to dead things in the physical world. In the Spiritual world demons are drawn ot the dead things of this life which some individuals allow into their personal lives.

This is how strongholds are built in our lives.

So what’s the answer?

Take the garbage out.

Whatever is sinful, degrading, unholy, unlike Jesus is full of death and should be labeled garbage.

Give the demons no food and the flesh no provision. Don’t let your garbage pile up, take it out.

Take it to Calvary and be washed in the blood of the Lamb of God. We have victory over every stronghold in Christ!

I want to quickly touch on a few Generational Strongholds this morning that need to be taken out! I will have practical applications as well for us to be able to take it out with.

Breaking Generational Addiction Through Christ's Reconciliation

Addiction is one of the most visible generational strongholds we encounter. Whether it's substance abuse, gambling, pornography, or even less obvious addictions like workaholism or approval-seeking, these patterns often run in families.

Science confirms what many of us have observed - addiction has both genetic and environmental components that pass from one generation to the next.

But Colossians tells us something powerful: we who were once alienated have been reconciled.

The word 'reconciled' in Greek is 'apokatallassō' - it means a complete, thorough change from one state to another. This isn't a surface-level adjustment; it's a fundamental transformation of our very nature.

**Practical Steps to Break Generational Addiction:** 1. **Acknowledge the pattern**: Identify the addictive behaviors in your family line. Bring them into the light rather than hiding them in shame. 1 John 1:7 tells us, 'But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.'

2. **Apply the blood through confession**: Just as the Israelites applied blood to their doorposts during Passover, we must deliberately apply Christ's blood to these areas through specific confession. Name the addictive patterns and renounce them as having no authority over you.

3. **Have a mind transformation*: Romans 12:2 instructs us to 'be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' Science shows our brains can form new pathways. When temptation comes, redirect your thoughts to Christ's finished work. Memorize scriptures like Colossians 1:13-14: 'He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.'

4. **Seek accountability**: James 5:16 says, 'Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.' Breaking generational patterns requires community support. Find trusted believers who will stand with you through the process.

Overcoming the Stronghold of Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness is perhaps the most insidious generational stronghold because it often disguises itself as righteousness or self-protection.

Families can carry grudges for generations, with children inheriting enemies they've never even met.

Bitterness becomes a family legacy, poisoning relationships and preventing healing.

But our passage reminds us that Christ's goal through reconciliation is to 'present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.' The blood of Jesus doesn't just cover our sins; it transforms our hearts from accusers to forgivers.

**Practical Steps to Break Generational Unforgiveness:**

1. **Identify inherited resentments**: What grievances have been passed down in your family? What groups of people have you been taught to distrust or resent? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these patterns.

2. **Apply the blood through identification**: In Daniel 9, we see Daniel praying for sins he personally didn't commit but were part of his people's pattern. Similarly, we can confess the generational sin of unforgiveness even if we didn't start it. 'Lord, I confess the bitterness my family has carried toward _____. I apply the blood of Jesus to break this pattern.'

3. **Practice forgiveness as a decision, not a feeling**: Matthew 18:22 tells us to forgive 'seventy times seven' - meaning without limit. Forgiveness isn't a one-time event but a daily choice. When memories of hurt resurface, respond with, 'I've given this to Jesus and chosen forgiveness.'

4. **Replace curses with blessings**: In Luke 6:28, Jesus commands us to 'bless those who curse you.' Begin actively blessing those your family has historically resented. This doesn't mean approving harmful behavior, but it does mean releasing them to God's justice rather than your vengeance.

Dismantling Religious Strongholds with Gospel Truth

Perhaps the most difficult strongholds to recognize are religious ones - patterns of legalism, performance-based acceptance, and spiritual pride that get passed from generation to generation.

These can include rigid religious practices without heart relationship, using scripture as a weapon against others, or believing God's favor must be earned through perfect behavior.

Colossians warns us not to 'move from the hope held out in the gospel.' The gospel - the good news that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works - is our protection against religious strongholds.

**Practical Steps to Break Religious Strongholds:**

1. **Examine your religious assumptions**: Ask yourself, 'Where did this belief come from? Is it truly biblical, or is it a family or cultural tradition?' Galatians 1:14 shows how Paul had to break free from the traditions of his fathers to embrace the true gospel.

2. **Apply the blood to areas of works-righteousness**: Confess the ways you've tried to earn what Christ freely gives. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast.'

3. **Replace religious performance with relationship**: Jesus criticized the Pharisees who honored God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him (Matthew 15:8). Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus through honest prayer and meditation on His Word.

4. **Embrace grace-based community**: Surround yourself with believers who emphasize grace over performance. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to 'consider how to spur one another toward love and good deeds' and to continue meeting together.

Practical Steps: Standing Firm in Freedom

Now let’s look back at our passage in Colossians. After telling us we've been reconciled, Paul adds an important condition:

'if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.'

Breaking generational strongholds isn't a one-time event but a continual process of standing firm in the freedom Christ has purchased with His blood.

Here are final practical steps to maintain your freedom:

1. **Daily apply the blood**: Make it a practice to consciously apply the blood of Jesus to your mind, will, and emotions. Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12:11 MEV

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.

2. **Create new generational patterns**: You are a transition person in your family line! 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 MEV

Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.

Be intentional about establishing new, godly patterns for future generations.

3. **Maintain vigilance**: 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to

1 Peter 5:8 MEV

Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The enemy will try to pull you back into old patterns. Recognize his tactics and resist them.

4. **Celebrate progress**: Take time to acknowledge how far God has brought you. Philippians 1:6 assures us,

Philippians 1:6 MEV

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Satan plays mind games with Christians if he can get away with it. He accuses, berates, tempts, attacks, and lies to any believer whenever he can. He will try to distort who you really are in your own eyes. He wants you to have a defeated negative perception of yourself. Listening to Satan as he describes you is like looking into a cracked mirror.

Distorted and ugly.

Do not look into a Cracked Mirror

Do not look at yourself through the lens of the accuser.

Satan is afraid when you start to look into the mirror of the Word of God and you will see yourself being “conformed to the image of his son.” Romans 8:29

When the enemy of our soul seeks to dominate us with this spirit of Accusation, this spirit of fear of Condemnation. This cracked version of you as you stare with the cracked mirror. We can win the battle with 2 simple sword strokes of the spirit.

Romans 8:31 MEV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:34 MEV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes, who is risen, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

I know we are outside today and you might feel a little uncomfortable, but there’s no need to be uncomfortable about what God wants to do in your life.

I invite you to lift your hands and receive the freedom that Christ's blood has purchased for you. No generational curse, no family pattern, no stronghold can stand against the power of the cross. The chains of addiction, unforgiveness, and religious bondage are being broken right now by the blood of the Lamb.

Let us pray: 'Father, we thank You for the power in the blood of Jesus. We apply that blood today to every generational stronghold in our lives. By Your Spirit, give us the strength to walk in this freedom, to stand firm in faith, and to create new patterns of blessing for the generations that will follow us. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.'