STRONGHOLDS BARRIERS THAT KEEP US FROM LIFE AND HEALTH

WHAT HOLDS US BACK? We all desire to live healthy lives We all desire to have a deep relationship with God and receive His blessing. We are just kidding ourselves if we say we don’t. However we often believe lies about these things that will hold us back from receiving form God or living a healthy life. “God isn’t really that good.” “It won’t be worth it” “I am doing just fine the way I am”

KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IS A MAIN KEY TO LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE. Example- Person who says “I’m so dumb” will end up doing dumb things. Person who says, “I am just too lazy to do _____” will end up believing that they are actually lazy in everything. These are Self-fulfilling prophecies- Believing a lie builds a stronghold which will in turn affect our actions and behavior A stronghold serves as a base of operation or fortified defense for Satan to influence our lives. The stronghold becomes a launching pad that will affect our behavior and choices.

ACTIVITY/DISCUSSION On the Board - What are behaviors that “we” as people engage in that can be barriers to healthy living?

FOR THE RULER OF THIS WORLD IS COMING, AND HE HAS NOTHING IN ME. (JN. 14:30) Strongholds of Sin are established by opening doors to Satan through sinful actions and belief systems. Satan’s sphere of activity is the domain of darkness. Wherever there is darkness, he has legal access. If darkness is in our hearts, then he has legal access to us. Jesus had no place of darkness or agreement with Satan in His life. Thus, Jesus gave Satan no legal access points into His life.

A GOOD PERSON PRODUCES GOOD THINGS FROM THE TREASURY OF A GOOD HEART, AND AN EVIL PERSON PRODUCES EVIL THINGS FROM THE TREASURY OF AN EVIL HEART. WHAT YOU SAY FLOWS FROM WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART. - LUKE 6:45 (NLT) Behavior comes from the overflow of our hearts. When seeking to change behavior we must get to the root of the problem.

QUICK TIMEOUT: IF WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND FULLY CLEANSED FROM OUR SIN…WHY DO WE STILL SIN? SIN NATURE…? At Salvation, we are fully cleansed from sin. We have become the righteousness of God because of Christ (2 Corinthians 5) But we can still choose to allow sin to be present and control our lives. Example- Even though followers of Jesus Christ belong to God, they can give the enemy a place or jurisdiction in their lives. It is like driving a car: You do not have to have the title to a car to drive it; all you need is the key. With that key, you can go anywhere you please. So it is with Satan. A Christian forever belongs to God, but if we give the enemy jurisdiction in an area of our lives, he will certainly take us for a ride!

ACTIVITY/DISCUSSION What are some ways we give Satan the key? What are root issues or mindsets or heart issues that may grow into these behaviors (previously listed on the board)?

STRONGHOLDS OR BARRIERS ARE NOT BUILT OVERNIGHT Strongholds start with a thought 2 nd Corinthians 10 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

STRONGHOLDS OR BARRIERS ARE NOT BUILT OVERNIGHT The choices you make now have consequences. Even in your thought life. Example – A man who commits adultery did not just wake up one morning and decide to be unfaithful to his wife. When he married her he intended to be faithful. What happened to change his mind?

HOW DO YOU KILL OR PULL OUT A ROOT (HEART ISSUE) ? 1.Repentance 2.The Truth (the truth will set you free –John 8.32) 3.Submission to God (James 4.7 Submit to God, Resist the Devil and He will flee from you)

HOW DO YOU KILL OR PULL OUT A ROOT (HEART ISSUE) ? 4. Forgiveness (yourself and others) – Eph In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Matthew “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 5. Authority in Christ (believers) – Thank You Holy Spirit You will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one… (Eph. 6:16) We resist these influences by Active Faith ---committing to obey Jesus and declaring the truth of God’s Word.

EACH ONE IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY BY HIS OWN DESIRES…WHEN DESIRE HAS CONCEIVED, IT GIVES BIRTH TO SIN; AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FULL-GROWN, BRINGS FORTH DEATH. (JAS 1:14-15) When we sin, we give Satan legal entry into our lives to work in a greater way in us. He wants our weaknesses to escalate to wickedness. Sin does not stop with one act, but continues to grow until it is full-grown (Jas.1:15). Sin that is not rejected continues to increase in our life. Augustine said, “Lust (SIN) yielded to becomes a habit, and a habit not resisted becomes a necessity.”

I AM SECOND VIDEOS Lecrea Michelle Aguilar Christian Hosoi Josh Hamilton