Like a somersault, a flip-flopper turns direction and tumbles over in beliefs, and actions. Too many direction changes can shock and surprise others and as a result, a flip-flopper is hard to believe or trust. The dictionary describes flip-flopping as a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy. But what does the Bible say?
What’s wrong with changing direction? Can that become a stronghold? We’re all subject to changing our opinions or attitudes when we become more informed or mature in any area, right? Yes and no. That statement is not flip-flopping. It’s a fact. There are a lot of decisions to make and paths to take. However, there are some things that cannot be changed in order to be credible. That’s where a flip-flopper fails.
If a stronghold sets in, other strongholds may be attached such as indecision, insecurity, gullibility, low self-esteem, intimidation or any number of other strongholds depending on whether or not we can stay focused and move in the right direction. Too many direction changes are made by those easily addicted to outside influences.
So, what does the word of God say about changing direction and how can we avoid taking the wrong paths? Are we doomed to leave an opening for flip-flopping, and be on the defensive throughout all our years?
Hebrews 12:15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it—
2. Before making a decision on anything, consult with God’s word and his will.
Psalm 119:113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
3. Add wisdom to any change you make without changing your path once you have received Christ and know that you are traveling in the right direction.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
Psalm 17:5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
4. Always stay close to the vine (God and His Word–Jesus Christ). You’re in the right place at the right time, with the right decision, if what you’re doing, or planning to do, lines up with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.21 Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart22 because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.
5. Before you choose anything more, choose to believe in Christ. There is no room for turning back or flip-flopping our decisions once we made that vital decision.
Revelation 2:5 Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
Although joyful and servant seem to be an oxymoron when put together, the ideal life on earth according to Jesus Christ is of servitude. Imagine a world where we all are helping each other, where we actually enjoy serving, and where being responsible for ourselves and others, is normal. That’s a world where selfishness does not exist, love and giving take priority, no one is left out, everyone does their part, respect prevails, and peace and harmony always permeate the atmosphere.
Philippians 2:5-7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
The joy of giving of ourselves in servitude to God and others brings heaven to the natural world. God is not surprised by our actions whether in giving, loving, sharing, and helping or in taking, hoarding, hating, or walking away from the needs of others. When we reach out in love we fulfill the command of Christ to love, our lives take on new meaning, and we walk joyfully.
Dorfkrippe von Baumkirchen Nativity
The only problems we might encounter in a world where servitude is a priority in life would come if God were not considered. In that case, our servitude would be distorted at best and subject to our control according to our own thinking, desires, needs, and opinions. Servitude without God is manipulative at best.
The unfolding sky (Photo credit: badjonni)
Isaiah 64:6 For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
5 Biblical tips to the joy of serving:
1.Pray. Prayer is the most important service we can give our fellow man. If we pray for the needs of others and pray for God to open our hearts to know and give what is truly needed, the Holy Spirit will guide us.
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
2. Ask. Reach out to your neighbor and ask if there’s anything you can do to help them.
1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
3.Be receptive and grateful.When others serve us they receive a blessing from God in return.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
4.Love your family. God has given us a family for a good reason and a service of love toward your family, whether wife, husband, brother, sister, mother, father or family in Christ is expected and desirable.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Proverbs 11:29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Have a respectful fear of God. Honor the emperor.
Romans 12:10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.
5. Bless your enemies.As difficult as it may seem, another way of serving God is to forgive and love even our enemies.
Luke 6:27 “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you.
Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.
The gift of Christ's birth. Remember, a religious spirit does not glorify God. It attempts to oppress, distress, depress, suppress, and otherwise harm God’s people. This stronghold of religion is found in many different types of religious groups. We should not allow it place in our lives. If we do, it will permanently give Christmas and other Christ-centered holidays over to a pagan spirit. A spirit of darkness will replace a time of joyfully celebrating Christ.
Although Jesus was not born on December 25th, the day of his birth celebration shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that he is the reason for the celebration.
Technically, Jesus was born during the time of taxing. The Jews were to be taxed in on the New Year in the old calendar. If we give this day to Satan it will be distorted and twisted to take glory away from the one and only savior and light of the world.
God gave us this life. In the very least, the day of our birth, and particularly that of the birth of Christ, should be a day of praise, re-dedication, and retrospect of this great gift of life we’ve all been given.
Matthew 28:8-10 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor), 17Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word.
2. Keep Christ in Christmas. Take your stand.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the world’s Light.
John 12:46 I have come as a Light into the world so that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] may not continue to live in darkness.
John 6:32-33 Jesus then said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Moses did not give you the Bread from heaven [what Moses gave you was not the Bread from heaven], but it is My Father Who gives you the true heavenly Bread. 33For the Bread of God is He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.
John 6:35 Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty.
3. Move. A church that won’t allow a time to celebrate Jesus, his birth, resurrection, or his goodness, could be an anti-Christ church, false religion, or a church filled with a religious spirit. Some religions actually believe that Jesus is an angel.
John 1:1 In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”
Matthew 2:11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh.
Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he [God] says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Colossians 2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
4. Don’t put the focus [of celebrating] on your gift to someone else or from someone else. The gift of Christ is the reason for the season. The gift(s) you give are symbolic of the greatest gift. Never teach your children to focus on what they get but instead to focus on what Jesus gave.
2 Corinthians 5:18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with
Him].
5. By all means, decorate. But decorate with celebrating Christ in mind.
Psalm 118:27 The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest’s court, right up] to the horns of the altar.
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. 17Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.
Luke 2:11 For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!
Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that the wise men had tricked him, he became furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the exact time he had learned from the wise men.
Luke 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
It’s amazing how much of what our accusers say about us seems to hit us dead on. There is a hint of reality in every accusation, but only a hint and it is never justified when we are in Christ. Since the great accuser is Satan, his tactic is to take some of what is true and twist it into a false accusation.
From the editorial Free from the Stronghold of Accusation written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka. This editorial is meant to be a stepping stone in uncovering the demonic strongholds that keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Explore the website to see how strongholds may be trying to surround you and strip your life of God’s blessings.
The spirit of accusation stands ready to point a finger when it is challenged. Why? What is this spirit of accusation and how can we rid ourselves of it permanently?
A fault finder, or host of accusation, looks for perfection. The accuser spirit becomes a stronghold when a host is seeking an assurance of security and self-justification. Accusing is a way to sanction personal inadequacies while blaming others, thereby taking the attention off the real problem, which could be in something the host is harboring. Like other strongholds, an accuser stronghold invites reinforcement to sanction it’s right to the host–blame, defensiveness, false religion, and any number of other spirits can follow or proceed this demonic stronghold.
If a stronghold of accusation is built, the host of accusation will forever be unhappy, forever be left unsatisfied, and forever search for that justification that only is found in a right relationship with God.
The woman taken in adultery
5 Biblical tips to overcome a stronghold of accusation.
1. Ask God to help you see things from His point of view. A worldly POV would only keep us accusing even those made righteous. When we see the beauty around us we spend less time looking at the faults of others.
Romans 3:23-24 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
2 Corinthians 6:8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest.
2. Be cautious and wise before you judge. There are very few righteous accusers. Even our Creator will not judge the world until the judgment time comes.
John: 8:6-1010 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?
3. Put your trust in the salvation of Jesus Christ and don’t be overwrought by the accusation of others for anything you did in the past before you came to Christ and turned from sin
Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
4. Once you come into the kingdom by receiving Christ Jesus and turning from sin, don’t go back to a life lived in sin. Your past is forgiven, your accusers cannot destroy your future. A religious spirit cannot take you down.
Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
5. Never fear false accusations or accusations from sins of your past. The accuser that tries to infiltrate our thoughts, lives, and those around us is an enemy. He was an accuser from the beginning. Do not join him.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
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New Creatures in Christ (savedbygraceblogdotcom.wordpress.com)
Like a somersault, a flip-flopper
turns direction and tumbles over in beliefs, and actions. This double-mindedness can shock and surprise others and as a result, a person who changes directives is hard to believe or trust. The dictionary describes
flip-flopping or double-mindedness as a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction,
belief, attitude, or policy. It comes from the Greek word, dipsuchos, meaning “a person with two minds or souls.” But what does the Bible say?
What’s
wrong with changing direction? How can that become a stronghold? We’re
all subject to changing our opinions or attitudes when we become more
informed or mature in any area, right?
There are a lot of decisions to make and
paths to take. However, there are some things that cannot be changed in
order to be credible. That’s where a double-minded person fails.
If a
stronghold sets in, other strongholds may be attached
such as indecision, insecurity, gullibility, low self-esteem,
intimidation or any number of other strongholds depending on the
original cause of the flip-flopping. They say, "A person who doesn't stand for something, falls for anything."
So, what does the word
of God say about flip-flopping and how can we avoid this stronghold in
our own lives? Are we doomed to leave an opening for indecision and
be on the defensive throughout all our years?
1. Exercise foresight. Once you make a decision after careful consideration, don’t be tempted to change and turn back too quickly.
Hebrews 12:15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and
fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual
blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or
hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it—
2. Before making a decision on anything, consult with God’s word and his will. Keeping focused on the word of God will guide us throughout our life and since God never changes, if we follow His Word we will be able to make the right decisions in any type of situation.
Psalm 119:113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
3. Add wisdom to any change you make without changing your path once you have received Christ and know that you have the right direction.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
Psalm 17:5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
4. Always stay close to the vine
(God and His Word–Jesus Christ). You’re in the right place at the right
time with the right decision if what you’re doing or planning to do,
lines up with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.21 Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart22 because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.
5. Before you choose anything more, choose to believe in Christ. There is no room for turning back or changing our decisions once we make that vital decision.
Revelation 2:5 Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
The greatest enemy of our faith is the enemy that draws us back into sin. Listening to or participating in, anything that sets itself up against the word of God invites this enemy into our lives. The enemy is backsliding. --Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.
****
Temptation to Sin
This editorial is meant to be a stepping stone to uncovering the demonic strongholds that may keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Explore the website to see how strongholds may be trying to surround you and strip your life of God’s blessings.
Backsliding invites us to relapse into bad habits, sinful behavior, or undesirable activities. Like every other demonic stronghold it can separate us from God.
It is a thief with the power to kill, steal, and destroy and when it comes back, it brings many other demonic strongholds along with it. Some of these strongholds are familiar from our past, but some of them are new and alluring.
The only way to avoid this stronghold is to avoid the near occasion of sin. That is, when the danger is certain and probable because of what we know from our past, we must resist it at all costs. Why?
Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, MORE
1. The first and most important step to take is to stop turning back and turn again permanently to the one who first loved you.
1 John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us.
2. Do not allow freedom of choice to blind you. The choice is between life and death.
1 Corinthians 8:9 Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin].
3. Don’t allow anyone or anything [temptation] to steal [your light] from you. Resist the temptation to give it over. Darkness can be a lonely, miserable place.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
4. Remember that living a sinful life is much more painful the second time around and can lead to permanent death.
2 Peter 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
5. Shake off the temptation quickly and decisively. You have control over sin, don’t allow sin to master you any longer.
Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval.
Revelation 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Have you ever noticed how much we pride ourselves on our busyness? It gives us a great feeling of importance to be occupied and preoccupied all the time, going here and there, doing this and that for whatever we insist is important, or whatever we anguish over as a life or death situation. In fact, the opposite is a life or death situation.
English: Jesus at the house of Mary and Martha (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The enemy does not want us to spend time with the Lord, in prayer, in quiet gratitude, or in doing anything that gives us peace and connection with God. After all, if we stood still a moment reflecting on the Lord’s goodness and omnipotence or reading the Lord’s will in scripture we might even hear from him, right?
Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
The enemy of our peace is Satan and part of his tactics are to keep us so busy that we have no time for God. Even when we’re doing work glorifying to him we have no time to stop and consult him. Yes, the enemy loves a busy person–a person too busy to consult, love, or admire and worship our dear Lord.
How can we accomplish what we feel called to do without being too busy and without inviting a stronghold of busyness to take the place of God?
Psalm 46:10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
2. Pursue his presence often and without reservation. When we make a daily habit of taking the time to know him, worship him, be humble in his presence, and enjoy his words and promises, we gain peace, direction, guidance, and strength.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Proverbs 3:3-6 Do not let mercy and truth leave you. Fasten them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favor and much success in the sight of God and humanity. 5 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.
3. Evaluate the importance of his life and will. His will is not your will and your will is not his will. After all who can understand the mind of God.
Romans 11:34 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor?
Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
4. Depend on God and him alone. He is our provider, the author of our peace, and the author and finisher of our faith.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 Corinthians 14:33 33 For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),
5. Rest in him at all times. Never face a problem alone (without giving it to him in prayer) and never allow a deadline to stress you out so much that it takes your mind off him. When you place your hands in his, he will take care of you.
Hebrews 4:9-11Therefore, a time of rest and worship exists for God’s people. 10 Those who entered his place of rest also rested from their work as God did from his.11 So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.
Have you ever wondered why distress never seems to leave us even though we pray for healing, blessings, peace, and well-being?
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well withyour soul.3 John 1:2
We need to check our thoughts, deeds, and words quickly at the door. What is occupying our time, our money, and our attention? What words are we speaking? Have we been spending more time thinking about or giving room to curses over ourselves or our family than to believing God for blessings, guidance, help, and healing? A simple threat might be spoken with good intentions, but a threat spoken over us even by our own mouths can set a chain reaction in motion for distress and eventual destruction. In other words, we could possibly bring on our own distress just by concentrating on what MIGHT go wrong. How you say?
When we speak words of defeat or fearful, in effect, words of destruction over ourselves or our children, we are speaking curses. (Anything that goes against the word of God and His will for us.) Curses cause fear and distress. When distress takes over, it builds a stronghold and invites other strongholds. Strongholds of pain, sickness, fear, worry, and many others soon join it.
Thinking we are doing well we may say, “My son/daughter will never amount to anything.” Our intent may be to have them prove us wrong. In effect, we have just set their lives up for a spirit of distress to enter and if this continues they will eventually begin to believe those words. Every day we are capable of speaking curses out of our mouths that can lead to a life of hardship, failure, and defeat for us or others.
In your own hands through your own words.
Have you ever owned a sickness? A stupid habit? A dumbness? A bad attitude? It has become a way of life and part of our personality to simply say, “my cold”, “my troubles”, “I’m always doing that”, “I’m all thumbs”, “you’re not gonna get me to change now”, and so forth. When we own a problem we invite that problem to linger, or worse, to stay indefinitely.
Does that problem really belong to us or to the enemy? How can we change the way we think and act so that we see and experience the good and the blessings more than the problems?
Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;
Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God’s word.”
2. Read the word of God (the will of God) and follow his instructions. The word of God is the will of God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 You were once dead because of your failures and sins. 2 You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us once lived among these people and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
3. Do not give in to thoughts of destruction, sickness or failure.
Psalm 77:11-13 I will remember the deeds of the Lord. I will remember your ancient miracles. 12 I will reflect on all your actions and think about what you have done. 13 O God, your ways are holy! What god is as great as our God?
4. Keep a distance from anyone who is feeding you bad thoughts.
Romans 13:10 Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses’ Teachings.
5. Watch your words. Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. This may take some time, but it is well worth the effort.
Matthew 12:37 By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words, you will be declared guilty.”
Destruction, unlike deterioration, has a definite end. The end of this present time and life is final and is promised in scripture. But does our understanding of the world have to end in destruction or can we be assured of a new beginning? In other words, are we setting ourselves up or causing our own destruction or can it be avoided?
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants will live.
Since destruction is inevitable for the physical body of a person especially one dedicated to the world our goal should be to avoid being destroyed, demolished or annihilated because of a mindset on worldly things. A stronghold of destruction sets in along with other strongholds that cause us to ignore our basic need for redemption and the things of God. Those of us in Christ live in the world but we are not of the world. Those of us without Christ are of the world and are guaranteed to end their lives in everlasting hellfire. Harsh? Sure it is. But the word of God assures us that we are given a choice (free will) and it’s up to us to get serious about that choice.
Deuteronomy 30:15 Today I offer you life and prosperity or death and destruction.
We have been given free will by our creator and that free will invites destruction when we ignore God and proceed to place ourselves in the center of the world (and sometimes universe) and its offerings. It’s so easy to abandon others and God’s will when this occurs. If we continue to ignore our creator we need to heed this warning "God cannot go against his own will."
Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”
What can be done in order to avoid the sure destruction that comes from wrong choices?
Luke 3:8 Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2. Receive Christ Jesus. If you receive Christ and choose to walk uprightly whenever it depends on you or your choice, your life is free from destruction.
Romans 6:23 The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Ask God’s help to deliver you from any sin that you’re struggling with. Never allow any sin to stay long enough to become a stronghold that will lead to destruction.
Philippians 3:18-20 I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things. 20 We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.
4. Fear God and Him alone. Do not allow peer pressure or fear of the opinions of others to keep you from turning from your sins.
Matthew 10:28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
5. Keep your mind and heart pure and free from sin as much as you are able. James 1:27 Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.
John 8:10-12 10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? 11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.
Panic is the epitome of fear. Fear taken to the extreme surprises its victims with an attack of panic that appears life-threatening. When a stronghold of panic is present the fearful extremes can repeat in panic attacks for days, months, and even years.
Words, places, people, and certain days can trigger the panic attack. Usually, its catalyst is an old fear that has never been resolved or released to the Lord. That's your hot button.
Panic-attack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you’ve ever had a panic attack you felt your heart racing and you might have even seen it pounding in your chest raising and lowering rapidly to the pace of the accelerated pounding. You have a hard time breathing, your head is spinning, and overall you feel as if you are going to die.
Even though you think you’re sure you are having a heart attack take heed and take heart, you are just a victim of panic. (At these times, try: breathing in a paper lunch bag slowly, relaxing your shoulders and back, walking slowly while concentrating on your breathing, stretching your arms, legs, and even body.)
That doesn’t mean the extreme emotional response that caused the panic won’t create a problem in your body, it just means that you should be able to seek out and resolve the trigger before panic can affect your health. As with all other strongholds, the enemy is working behind the scenes to disable and disarm you. Temporary solutions mean either medication or counseling. The only real solution is in Christ for complete deliverance.
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
When we allow the stronghold of panic to remain it invites other strongholds and itself could have been invited by a stronghold such as bitterness, unforgiveness, guilt, fear, anger, rage, and so forth. It’s hard to say how panic took root but the roots of panic usually lie inside of our thoughts, memories, circumstances or imaginings apart from God.
Psalm 53:5 There they are—panic-stricken— but there was no reason to panic, because God has scattered the bones of those who set up camp against you. You put them to shame. After all, God has rejected them.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts andplans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts andplansfor welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
2. Know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Mark 16:6 The young man said to them, “Don’t panic! You’re looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He’s not here. Look at the place where they laid him.
3. Allow God’s words to wash over you. The more time you spend in the word and getting to know the real Christ, the less panic, fear, and all other strongholds will have control over your life.
Proverbs 1:23-28 23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,25 And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic—27 When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me.
Psalm 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.
4. Turn your thoughts to thoughts of love, peace, forgiveness, and purity.
Philippians 4:8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
5. Follow Christ and rest in knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Rage demands its own way. It is always violently angry. It inflicts fear and terror in others. If it is allowed to become a stronghold it will eventually push everyone out of its host’s life. Selfishness, jealousy, rebellion and offense can invite it in.
This stronghold can end our lives or keep goodness and love at a distance if it is allowed to continue.
Job 5:2a For vexation and rage kill the foolish man.
When rage moves forward it does not take anyone or anything else into consideration except its own agenda. It has no compassion, no respect, no concern for the welfare or well-being of its host or those around its host. If this stronghold of rage is not stamped out it will kill. It may not be the death of a human but it will be the death of something good — something the host does not want to, or should ever lose.
5 Biblical tips to overcome rage:
1. Do not allow the stronghold of denial to cover over rage in your life. Be honest with yourself, God, and others.
Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,10And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.
2. Try to understand why you are angry before it turns into [verbally or physically] foolish violence.
Luke 6:11 But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
3. When you feel rage trying to stick its ugly head into your life find a safe, quiet place and look to God for help before it moves in.
Hosea 7:16 They turn back, shift, or change, but not upwards [to the Most High]. They are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the insolence and rage of their tongue. This shall be [cause for] their derision and scorning in the land of Egypt.
4. Turn to God if someone has raged against you [especially for a foolish or nonsensical reason].
Psalm 7:6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; lift up Yourself against the rage of my enemies; and awake [and stir up] for me the justice and vindication [that] You have commanded.
5. Do not argue with fools or allow an argument to turn passionate. If someone you know is acting foolishly, back off– before you allow rage to take over your or their countenance.
Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man has an argument with a foolish man, the fool only rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
Job 31:12 For [uncontrolled passion] is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); [that fire once lighted would rage until all is consumed] and would burn to the root all my [life’s] increase.
No matter how old or young we are or what baggage we may carry, God continually guides us toward a perfect relationship with him. He doesn’t begin this process after we have abandoned sin. This is a process that began early in our lives.
God never condones sin, nor will he judge the sinner until the time is right.
1 Timothy 5:22 Do
not be in a hurry in the laying on of hands [giving the sanction of the
church too hastily in reinstating expelled offenders or in ordination
in questionable cases], nor share or participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. Jesus never joined in sin but easily spoke to the sinner without hesitation because of his/her sin.
Our goal should be to seek out his will. If we take our eyes off the natural (using our five senses) and look to God who created all things, we begin to clearly perceive a pattern of the seasons of change in our lives.
Daniel 2:21 He
changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He
gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Strongholds brought on by carelessly disregarding God’s will may hide dormant for years or worse, they may increase and imprison us until we come to the point of total submission. When we begin to trust God, and trust in God, rather than in our feelings, our circumstances, or our five senses we shed the veil that has been obscuring our vision. It’s this very veil that can keep us in bondage to strongholds for the rest of our lives. Some may call it denial, but in effect, we may have become comfortable with what should be given over to a season of change.
Since God is drawing us to him from an early age, the enemy is also trying to take control. How can we take control back and go through the seasons of change in our lives without becoming bound by a demonic stronghold?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a
time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time
to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away
stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a
time to refrain from embracing;
2. Seek out the wisdom of God. It's so easy to turn away from God when we have a crisis or a change in our lives that we didn’t expect and we can’t explain. This is a season of change and an opportunity to better understand the love of God.
Daniel
2:21 He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up
kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have
understanding!
3. Do not dictate to God. Give God His right to keep some things about your season of change to Himself. His will for you is perfect after all and in the end, you will see the good he has done.
Acts 1:7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and
know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite
periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time),
which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred)
reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when
perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]
4. Don’t doubt God during your season of change. Continue to trust in and rely on him.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Romans 8:28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
5. Keep focused on doing right and on God’s words. Meditate on God’s words day and night.
Psalm
1:1-3 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked
people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. 2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night. 3 He
is like a tree planted beside streams—a tree that produces fruit in
season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he
does.
