STRONGHOLDS

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

There is was in big white letters against a smoky grey background. Just one word.

Strongholds.

That can be a very “churchy” word.

It is bandied about quite a bit in small groups, church revivals and Sunday services. Someone from the “street” might not understand its meaning or connotation. Yet throw it out to a group of believers willing to be honest with themselves and that word can strike right between the eyes; cut to the quick; hit the mark so to speak.

Defined, a stronghold is:

“a well fortified place; a bastion or bulwark”.

And while that noun drums up images of castles, forts and the compounds for James Bond’s villains, in the “mind and heart” a stronghold takes on a different perspective.

A stronghold can refer to some old and deep bitterness that lingers from a hurt levied years ago.

The stronghold might refer to a difficult or unhealthy habit that one can’t seem to shake.

Maybe a stronghold is the lustful lure of images on a computer that only serve to distract and harm yet one can’t keep from clicking.

Maybe a stronghold is disguised as the false security found with friends like Jack Daniels, Jim Beam or Mary Jane.

Strongholds can be and are fashioned in many different forms. They can be emotions, they can be “responses” and they can be addictions. Yet simply put, strongholds are those things that siphon off or block our relationship with GOD.

And let’s be frank, GOD isn’t a fan of those types of “blessing blockers”.

GOD wants to the “strong tower” (that bastion and bulwark) in our lives…

Psalm 61:3

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

…and anything else is merely second rate and unacceptable in His eyes.

Deuteronomy 11:16

Be careful not to let your hearts be fooled so you turn away and work for other gods and worship them.

So the question this morning is a simple one. What are your strongholds? What are those things you have allowed in your life that are siphoning off GOD’s best for you? What are those areas of life that you continue to make excuses for or that you provide rationalization and justification?

Be honest with yourself. No one is immune. I could quickly name a few in my life; some that I would be sad and even embarrassed to share.

Yet GOD wants us to allow HIM and HIS WORD to tear these strongholds down; to let Him demolish those arguments and justifications so that HIS grace and HIS truth can bless and impact our lives!

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

…use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him.

So let’s resolve today to ALLOW GOD to begin to break these STRONGHOLDS down!

Ephesians 4:23-24

…everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

Have a great day!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney