STRONGHOLDS

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of Strongholds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

strongholds=ochuroma(Greek)=fortress; to make firm; of those things in which mere human confidence is imposed. mere human confidence.... (Strongs)

mere=no more than, only, solely, simply, for this and no other purpose. (Websters)

If you do not have a good Bible concordance and dictionary or an on-line resource, i strongly suggest you find one. Knowing the meaning of God's word is the most important thing you will ever do in your life as you GO for Him. There is a treasure of life giving wisdom in the pages of your Bible.

i am going to share part of my life with you this morning. Our battles begin in our heart. We either have a regenerate heart or an unregenerate heart. First, when i say heart, i mean the place of mans entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and emotional elements. The hidden man...1 Peter 3:4. (Vines is a good Bible dictionary) A heart that is alive in Christ Jesus, is regenerate, it is in the man who has come to Jesus in Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) to repentance and salvation. The unregenerate heart is a man still walking in the sin nature, he sins because he is a sinner. i am not talking about him today. Until he is saved, he is lost. Those men are who we live to reach. Ok, this is for you saints, saved by the blood.

In our mind we build up strongholds which manifest in the flesh, one of my earliest was alcohol. i was brought up with an atheist, smoking, alcoholic father who could be violent in that state. i began drinking at 15 and exhibited some of the same traits as my Dad. When i gave my heart to the Lord one of the first things to be healed were the alcohol and smoking strongholds.

Another stronghold is money and how to handle it. This one is tricky. Here we have the heart of the story. i never learned to handle money. My dad would borrow from my Nonni (Italian grandma) to go on family vacations and never pay it back. He ran several business which went bankrupt, then when He and my mom divorced, he took off and lived a deviant lifestyle of alcoholism and lived on Disability and SSI, which he still does today. His alcohol abuse is less and he just quit smoking, but he thinks death is going to be a "great adventure" and is not saved. i have talked to him so much about Jesus, but he will not have him. i pray God sends someone to him or when he dies that will be the last of my earthly father. Oh yea, i grew up Roman Catholic, but now i am saved!

So, back to the money stronghold. When i gave my heart to Jesus, this stronghold did not go all at once and still is a little battle today. i have, with Jesus help alone, been able to pull down most of it. But here is the thing. i have given my life to God. i have given Him dominion over every aspect of my life. It is no more an abstract concept to die daily (deny myself), pick up my cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). It is no longer some abstract concept, it is a reality. So why is it i still struggle with this? Glad you asked. Well, this stronghold has been the strongest and longest in my life. i believe that God is going to give me full victory in due time, but for now, here is the thing. i am His, flaws and all, i have the victory in Him, i am made perfect by His blood and victory at the cross. i am totally and completely His. When i fall, i repent and let it go. All my sins were nailed to the cross at Calvary, so i am righteously perfect in Him when i become His. i am walking in a state of righteous repentance nanosecond by nanosecond. i have been separated from the sin nature by Jesus and i walk with Him. i love that. i love Him with all my heart, soul and mind. He knows it. He knows my struggles and is there for me in it all. He forgives me every time i fall and i am new in Him. i am His.

So, yesterday i failed. i had $80 in my checking. i went grocery shopping and spent $67. OK, you say, so what. Well, that $80 is all i had and i have a $24 bill due on the 14th. i now do not have the money for the bill. You see, this seems a small matter to the world, but to me it is a matter of sin and obedience to God (Romans 6:16, 1 Peter 1:14). i failed God, displeased Him. It brought me sorrow. i did not do what i should do, i sinned, as all saved people of God do. BUT, i have victory, i repented of it when i realized i had done it, i brought my sin to God and i know God has forgiven me and will provide for the bill. He always does. He knows i am His and i am doing my best to follow Him. i have many stories of His Glory manifest in my life since leaving my home and family in California. i cannot tell you how blessed i am to be in His care. So, regenerate and unregenerate lives have strongholds, but we, the saints of God, his remnant church on earth, we have the victory over them in Him. The unsaved will keep sinning without any victory till we reach them. Sinners sin because they are sinners, like dogs bark because they are dogs. We saints are being molded into Gods image (Romans 8:29) and when we sin, He forgives. Every time. And never forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). AMen.