Strongholds: Our View of God

1. Strongholds: Our View of God

2. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” *

3. Breaking it Down • Not against flesh and blood – not fought with humans resources, strategies, tactics • Weapons – mighty in God • Destroy: to extinction; violent and deliberate • Strongholds: a fortification; seat of authority • Arguments and Lofty Opinions – inflated imaginations and delusional reasonings from a corrupt and darkened mind that argue with your faith.

4. Breaking it Down • Against the Knowledge of God – Who He is, His ways, His Word, His will. • Take Every Thought Captive – imprison them, render them useless, powerless, inoperative and non-threatening. • To Obey Christ – Make that thought – or repeated thinking – bend its knee to the truth, character, ways of Jesus.

5. What is a Stronghold? A satanic lie, a generational mindset or a human wounding that you have listened to long enough, believed strongly enough, and owned deeply enough that it becomes part of your identity. It has fortified itself in you and dictates your thoughts, beliefs, actions and reactions. It is an unholy filter through which all thoughts pass. (Pastor Steve Berger)

6. Examples of Strongholds Rejection Unforgiveness Pride Unbelief Fear Anger Control or Passivity Shame and Condemnation, etc.

7. Stronghold: How We View God Genesis 3:1-7 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?” And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'”

8. Stronghold: How We View God ...But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate…

9. Stronghold: How We View God …Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” *

10. Satan’s Sabotage Satan’s strategy here was to undermine God’s character, persuading them that God did not love them and is not trustworthy. • Instilling doubt by accusing God of lying • God did not have their best interest at heart • God withholding something good from them • Ultimately, God is not trustworthy • This cultivated a predisposition (bent) towards acting independently of God

11. Satan’s Sabotage • From the very beginning of your life and mine, Satan’s aim has been to distort, disfigure and destroy the character of God in your heart and mind. • In childhood – through our teen years – into adulthood, Satan will strategically play on the events of our lives to drive home a distorted image of the One who loves you. “Steal, kill, destroy” – John 10:10

12. Satan’s Sabotage • Satan knows that if we see God for who He really is that we’ll fall in love with Him, be conformed to the image of Jesus, and have His vision for our lives – thus fulfill God’s purposes, glorify Him, and become a serious threat to the purposes of hell. • The image of God you carry around in your heart and mind affects your daily life!

13. The Result in Our Lives? A stronghold (fortification) in our thinking about who God is and is not; how He does or doesn’t relate to you; what He will or won’t do for you; what He’s able or unable to do in and through you.

14. Pause with me for a moment.How do you view God?Where are your strongholds of thinking?

15. A Misrepresented God • What “image” of God rules your mind? • How have those “images” come to be? • Authority figures? Other people? Our own sin? • Words? Actions? Hurts? Disappointments? • Life circumstances? Traumatic events? • Satan looks to pounce and take advantage! • Which of these “images” have become fortified thinking (strongholds), robbing you of relationship, joy, peace and destiny?

16. Moving Forward • Jeremiah 9:23-25: • “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’”

17. Moving Forward • Exodus 34:6-7 • The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…

18. Moving Forward • Repentance • “Owning” the reality that we’ve not walked in the truth about God revealed in the Scriptures. • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 • Realigning us to the truth of who God really is.

19. Moving Forward • Engage God’s Character in the Scriptures • His Names, Titles and Attributes reveal Him • Example: The Book of Revelation • Alpha and Omega; The One who was, is, is to come • Holy, holy, holy; Worthy of honor, glory, praise • The Living One; Lord God Almighty • The Lamb of God; King of Kings, Lord of Lords • The One who sits upon the Throne • Ruler of the kings of the Earth • The One the nations worship, etc.

20. Moving Forward • Seek God’s Ways Throughout Scripture • Exodus 33:13: “Show me now your ways that I might know you…” • One’s ways are an extension of who they are • God’s ways reveal how He goes about things • If you want to live – you must die to self • You experience grace when you embrace humility • To walk in wisdom you must Fear the Lord • To become great we must become servants

21. Moving Forward • Observe God’s Works in Scripture • God’s acts display who He is / what He’s like • Examples from the Scriptures: • The parting of the Red Sea reveals His power, protection and commitment to His promises. • David’s defeat of Goliath demonstrates God’s ability to accomplish much through yielded vessels. • How Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery shows us the extent of His forgiveness.

22. Moving Forward • Listen to God’s Words in Scripture • God’s words show us what’s in His heart • Examples in Scriptures: • “Let Us make man in our own image…” reveals God’s heart for man and unveils the Trinity. • “Honor one another above yourselves” shares how we are to relate to one another. • “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…” shows us how we enter in to relationship with God • “Its more blessed to give than receive…” let’s us know God’s heart towards giving.

23. Review: A Stronghold is… A satanic lie, a generational mindset or a human wounding that you have listened to long enough, believed strongly enough, and owned deeply enough that it becomes part of your identity. It has fortified itself in you and dictates your thoughts, beliefs, actions and reactions. It is an unholy filter through which all thoughts pass. (Pastor Steve Berger)

24. From Stronghold to Truth • Begins with Repentance • Realignment via the Scriptures & Daily Life: • Engage God’s Character • Seek God’s Ways • Observe God’s Works • Listen to God’s Words What steps will you take today?