Strongholds Session 1

STRNGHLDS 2021

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO HELP AN OLD PERSON WITH TECHNOLOGY?

GRANDPA — IPHONE — THERE’S SO MUCH MORE IT CAN DO

MY FEAR IS THAT YOU WOULD MISS OUT ON EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR YOU

THERE IS A BATTLE GOING ON — IF THE ENEMY CANNOT KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HE’S JUST GOTTA GET YOU DISTRACTED

ONE SIDE IS COUNTING ON YOU FOLDING — ON WHEN YOU FACE FEAR YOU BOW OUT

BUT GOD KNOWS WHO YOU COULD BE AND IS ALWAYS PROVIDING A WAY

STRNGHLDS

WHAT YOU’RE FIGHTING ISN’T BRICK AND MORTAR — IT’S SPIRITUAL

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 ESV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

THE GOD OF THE BIBLE HAS THE ABILITY TO BREAKDOWN ANY STRONGHOLDS IN YOUR LIFE

Psalm 27:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

YOU GOTTA MAKE GOD YOUR STRONGHOLD BUT TOO MANY OF YOU ARE TAKING SHELTER IN THE WRONG THING

WE HAVE TO REALLY ASK “WHAT DOES GOD SAY?”

DEFINE WHAT A STRONGHOLD IS

A STRONGHOLD IS WHAT YOU RUN TO WHEN YOU’RE IN TROUBLE — MOM TICKET STORY — A LOT OF OUR STRONGHOLDS ARE THE SOLUTION WE COME UP WITH THE FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS — STRONGHOLDS ONLY LET IN WHAT HELPS

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

PICTURE THIS WALL AROUND YOUR HEART — USE YOUR HANDS

IS IT YOUR FAITH? — YOUR HOPE IN JESUS

ANGER — Lashing out — tearing others down

LONLINESS — Worth in relationships — sleeping around — compromise standards

INSECURITY — Gossip — Destroy them so I can feel secure — whatever it takes

OUT OF CONTROL — EATING DISORDER — MANIPULATING OTHERS — LYING CHEATING

FAILURE — PORN — ALCOHOL — SELF HARM

YOU CAN’T BREAK A STRONGHOLD YOU IGNORE

THE BIGGEST REASON YOU WON’T BREAK IT — IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW OTHERS CAN’T ALWAYS SEE IT

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD SEE’S IT

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

A LOT OF YOU CONVINCE YOURSELVES THAT AS LONG AS YOU “LOOK CHRISTIAN” THEN YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR STRONGHOLD — Decorate it — make it look nice

YOU CAN’T BE HEALED OF SOMETHING YOU CAN’T ADMIT YOU HAVE

TODD AIRPORT — DAD — BY DRIVING TO DOCTOR HE’S ADMITTING HE HAS THIS CONDITION AND ONLY THEY CAN FIX IT

YOU WERE MADE FOR MORE

THERE IS FREEDOM PURPOSE AND MEANING AVAILABLE

2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.