Breaking The Chains Of Bondage (Part 5)

In this post I want to share with you why it is that many people never break free from the bondage they are in, and then give you a few steps that will set you on the path to freedom!

1. Why Many Never Break Free

The reasons are many, but one of the primary reasons is of a persons own doing.  In other words too many people refuse to put God first in their life.  God is always an "afterthought"  to them.  Another reason people stay trapped in their bondage, is that they never see it as a spiritual battle and they have lived with it for so long. They must be willing to take the time to learn God's Word and understand their authority before they will be "set free."
 
2. The Three Sources of Strongholds
Strongholds are derived from three sources:

• Our past experiences:  Strongholds have their root in the experiences you have had.  You must remember that what happened in your past is never the issue that brings bondage, but rather how we "related" to what happened is what brings the bondage.
• Our environment:  What is considered normal and acceptable by the world around us may be in direct conflict with the Word of God. These beliefs become entrenched in our minds and form strongholds that keep us in bondage.
• False Conclusions:  False information produces false conclusions in our thinking.  People accommodate a stronghold for so long that their personalities are identified with it.  Abnormal then seems normal!

3.  Nature of Bondage
You have to understand that everyone who practices sin is the slave of sin (John 8:34).  If anything

is controlling you (aside from Jesus), you are in bondage to it to some degree.  Only Christ can liberate us from the things that enslave our soul and spirit.

4. Process of Bondage
Bondage begins with a desire for something that seems innocent and harmless.  You begin by ignoring the warnings of your conscience, and believing that what you are doing is helping meet a need.  You believe the enemy's lie that it won't hurt you, although it has destroyed others. After a while you become comfortable with the sin because your conscience becomes dull.  Although you may hate the issue that keeps you in bondage you may dread confessing its power over your life even more.

5.  Admitting You Have A Spiritual Problem
The first step to freedom is admitting you have a spiritual problem and not a physical one.  If someone isn't willing to admit their problem is spiritual they won't find freedom.

6.  Making A Decision To Be Free
The decision to be free is up to YOU!  You must make that decision and turn from the bondage that Satan has put you in through his strongholds.  You must deliberately take steps to embrace God's freedom and power not yours.  If you need some guidance and accountability, just make sure the person helping you is Christ-centered and trustworthy.

If you believe that Jesus redeemed you from sin, then know He can and will set you free from any spiritual bondage.  Deliverance from bondage begins with crying out to God with a sincere heart just as David did (Psalm 34:17).

God is ready are you?


Pastor Temple

Breaking The Chains Of Bondage (Part 4)

Spiritual warfare cannot be fought successfully without some understanding of what a stronghold is and how it creates a bondage in your life.  And the bondage serves only one intent, and that is to destroy your relationship with God.  Unless you can be free from the bondage in your life, you cannot be as effective as God wants you to be.  Today, I want to share with you five aspects of strongholds and their affects on your life.

1. What Are Strongholds

A stronghold in the Old Testament was a fortification for protection from the enemy.  In this sense, a stronghold is a good thing if it's God's stronghold that is protecting you.  Unfortunately, too many strongholds have their origin with Satan.  And when you give into those, you come into bondage.  Paul defined strongholds  as speculations or lofty things that are raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Another definition would be a "mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept something that we know is contrary to the will of God."
 
2. How Strongholds Take Root
In order to fully understand how to rid ourselves from strongholds, it is important that we understand how they first take root in our lives. Strongholds come from "worldly influences."  Many strongholds are the result of an accumulation of uncrucified thoughts and unsanctified attitudes that have ruled our lives during our formative years.  We have a mindset that has been shaped by our parents and educators as well as the ungodly environment in which we live.  As Christians the only acceptable truth is the truth of God's Word.

3. Common Strongholds
Just because you are a Christian, it doesn't mean you are exempt from strongholds.  Some of the more common ones include: fear, resentment, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, apathy, unbelief, depression, anxiety, sinful thoughts, addictions, lust, pride, greed, drugs, alcohol, pornography, lukewarmness.

When identifying your strongholds, start with an examination of your heart. Any system of thinking that does not line up with the Word of God, or produces a sense of hopelessness in your life is a stronghold.

4. How People Act Who Have Strongholds
Strongholds expose an inconsistency between what we say and what we do! People with strongholds often cope with them by building a "partition" which separates their mind into two compartments.  On one side is the knowledge of God; on the other side is the knowledge of the world. This fragmentation makes us develop what James describes as a "double mind" and it speaks of instability (James 1:8).

5.  The Devastating Affects Of Strongholds
The most devastating affect of a stronghold is how it weakens your faith in important areas of your lives.  It affects you when you are trying to believe God for a breakthrough but you cannot forgive a past hurt. A stronghold affects you when you need to believe God for a miracle or when you need to have power to witness.  These strongholds will paralyze your faith, that's why it is so important to break the chains of bondage.

Don't allow the influence of the world to attach it's tentacles of bondage to your life!  God is ready to set you free from the enemies strongholds.  Don't allow spiritual darkness to take over your life.  Allow God's Word to light the path of your life. Tell me what you think.  Leave a comment.


Pastor Temple

Breaking The Chains Of Bondage (Part 3)

In today's post I want to cover what Satan's "intent" is against the believer and what the believer needs to do to "combat" his attacks.  For too long, the devil has stolen too much from God's people.  And he has stolen it because we have opened the door and let him.  But once we realize who we are in Christ and understand and exercise our dominion over him, his robbing and destroying days will be over!

Satan's Intent


Satan has six strategies he intends to use against the believer:

1.  To Capture Your Attention -- He does this in a variety of ways. He will use money, work, entertainment, activities, and other things that are a part of our daily lives and aren't wrong in and of themselves. But his underlying intent is to cause you to become "obsessed" with these things and thereby drawing your attention away from God.

2.  To Attack You When You Are Most Vulnerable -- Satan's intent is to come at you when you are sick, discouraged, hurt, suffering financially, or any other trial you may be going through.  He is looking for an opportunity to attack when your guard is down.  Be aware of that and stay vigil especially when you are experiencing tribulations and hardships.

3.  To Create Doubt -- Satan's strategy is to get you to doubt God and His Word.  He knows if he can accomplish that, you will be ineffective as a Christian.  But the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:9  "Whom resist steadfast in the faith..."

4.  To Get You In A Debate -- Rather than get into a debate with the devil, simply do as Jesus did and reply "It is written in the Word of God..." Don't get into a debate based on human knowledge and wisdom, just stick with the Word of God.

5.  To Deceive You -- Satan is the master of deception.  We can't be ignorant of his devices or his deception (2 Corinthians 2:11).  The only way we can stay away from Satan's deception is to know the Word of God and live accordingly.

6.  To Bring Division -- Be careful of the "division" Satan desires to bring into your life and into the church.  He knows that if he can keep you divided that he can make your life ineffective.  Division brings conflict, misery, confrontation, and destruction. (Matthew 12:25)  Don't fall into that trap!

How To Combat An Attack

I want to share with you four strategies that will enable you to combat and win the attacks of Satan.

1.  Identify The Enemy -- You can't fight the enemy effectively until you know who he is.  Often we are fighting the symptom rather than the cause. Lying, stealing, killing, drug addiction, homosexuality and others are all symptoms and not the real cause or enemy.  Don't focus your attention on the symptom, but rather on the real cause, which is Satan and on the answer which is God.

2.  Stay Prepared -- The enemy is always prepared and you must stay prepared also.  Many battles have been lost due to a lack of preparation. You must be constantly in tune with God and keep alert in prayer (1 Peter 5:8).

3.  Deal With It Immediately -- The most critical moment of decision is when Satan initially attacks you.  To ignore the attack doesn't make it go away. The enemy is persistent and we must be also.

4.  Depend On God And His Word To Help You -- It is the truth of God's Word that sets you free!  There are things we face in life that are bigger than we are and we can't depend solely on ourselves to defeat them. If we are going to be victorious and free, our dependency must be on God and His Word.

God wants us to walk in victory!  And this victory is made possible through the power of the cross!  As a believer you can be free from Satan's powers over your life, marriage, family, children, and business.  It's time to take back what Satan's has stolen.  Do it today!

Pastor Temple

Breaking The Chains Of Bondage (Part 2)

Make no mistake about it, Satan has his ways, but...God's ways are better!  Even though God's ways are better, most don't understand this and as a result they continue to live under an assault from their enemy the devil.  It is unfortunate, but I sincerely believe there has never been a generation on the face of the earth that has felt such a continuous assault of demonic forces as this generation in which we live.  If you plan to win these battles, then you must position yourself spiritually so that you can recognize the enemy forces when they come against you.  To do this, you have to know three things: 1.) How the devil works; 2.) What his objectives are; and 3.) The truth of God's Word.


1.  How The Devil Works

John 8:42-44 gives us a clear picture of how Satan works.  These verses tell us that Satan is a murderer, he doesn't hold to the truth, he speaks lies, he is the father of lies and that lying is his "native language."   In other words, Satan will never tell you the truth!  You need to know that.  Satan will try to cause you to believe as true every thought that comes into your mind.  But if that thought isn't consistent with the Word of God, then it is a lie!   2 Corinthians 10:4-5 admonishes believers to "demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive every 'thought' to make it obedient to Christ."  Your thought life is not to master you, but you are to master it as you submit your life to the power of Christ.

2.  Satan's Objectives

Although Satan has many schemes and plans to try to destroy your life his four main objectives are the following:

• To Draw You Away From God.  Satan is masterful at drawing God's people into the ways of the "world system."  He will use every means necessary, sports, entertainment, leisure, work, etc.  None of these are evil, but Satan uses them to keep you so busy with the "world system" that you neglect prayer, study, Bible reading, and fellowship with believers.
• To Hinder God's Purpose.  God has a plan and purpose for your life, but so does the enemy.  And the two are diametrically opposed to each other.  Just know that Satan will do all he can to keep you from God's plan.
• To Deny God Honor And Glory.  In addition to fulfilling God's mission to save humanity, one of your primary purposes is to give and bring honor and glory to God.  Satan wants to hinder that so he can steal it for himself.
• To Destroy Us.  John 10:10 clearly states that "the thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy."  But Jesus has come to give "life" and that more abundantly!

3.  The Truth Of God's Word

Luke 9:1-2, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure disease. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."

Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Mark 16:15-18, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

I John 5:4-5, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Romans 8:37, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Satan has his ways, but God's ways are better and more powerful!  Let's start living up to God's ways.

Pastor Temple

Breaking The Chains Of Bondage (Part 1)

So many Christians have fallen into Satan's trap.  The trap and scheme that convinces them they don't have the victory that God's Word has promised. How many Christians come to church, get all excited and clap their hands and praise God only to totally lose their confidence and victory before they are out of the parking lot of the church?

It doesn't have to be like that. It is time that we learn who we are in Christ, what Christ has done for us and what our rights and privileges are in Him. It's time we take back the victory and the authority Satan has either stolen from us or that we have relinquished to him willingly.  The question is, how do we do it?  I want to share with you three facts you need to know in order to be victorious.


1.  Your Real Enemy Is Satan

We attack people and blame everything in the world on them.  But what we need to realize is Satan is our real enemy.  Our enemy and battle is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) but it is against the devil and his demonic spirits.  How do we know Satan is the real enemy?  It's easy, Jesus himself identified the "thief" (Satan) as the one who came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).  It's time to stop fighting against flesh and blood and realize who the true enemy is.  You need to stand up and say, "I serve notice on you devil, you cannot have me, my wife, my children or anything that belongs to me."  You have the authority, use it in the "name of Jesus."

2.  Satan And His Demons Are Already Defeated
We don't have to fight the devil anymore, he has already been defeated. Satan and his demons have already been dethroned, disarmed, and defeated.  All that is left is for you to stand in the victory Jesus has given you.   Don't believe this?  Read Colossians 2:15 "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."  or Hebrews 2:14 "...by his (Jesus) death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil."  or 1 John 3:8 "...the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."  This is knowledge you need to know both intellectually and spiritually in your heart, which is the next point.

3.  Understand And Use The Biblical Knowledge Of Your Authority
You have the authority to drive Satan and his demons out of the arena of battle.  If it's going to be done, then you must do it.  Don't wait for someone else, it is your responsibility.  The Bible promises that if you will resist the devil he will flee from you!  It's time we sent the devil packing!

It's time we stop falling into the devil's traps and take authority over his attempts to steal, kill, and destroy.  Jesus has destroyed the devil's authority and as a believer, so have you!

What are you doing to take back what Satan has stolen?  

Pastor Temple

The Discipline of Giving (Guest Post)

This weeks blog is a guest post from Keith Fife.  Keith is the Associate Pastor at Bethel Church, Choctaw.  Leave him some feedback.

Chapters eight and nine of 2 Corinthians contain the most important passage in the New Testament on the responsibilities and joys of giving to support the Lord's work.  As you read this post, I challenge you to think about your own personal giving.  Consider the following questions as you read: How do you "feel" when you give? Why do you give? What do you give?  When do you give?  All these are important for you to consider as you develop a healthy attitude and discipline toward giving.

Paul was excited and yet a little concerned about the "collection" the Corinthians were receiving to give to the Christian Jews in Jerusalem.  He was so excited that he was "boasting" about it to the Macedonians and in turn they became so exited that they too wanted to give also.  But Paul was also a little concerned that the Corinthians may not do what they promised so he sent some "brothers" ahead to make sure they followed through on what they said they would do (2 Corinthians 9:3-5).  From theses first few verses in chapter nine we can learn some valuable principles about our "giving."

1.  Enthusiasm Stirs Others To Action:  In 2 Corinthians 9:2 Paul said "...and your (the Corinthians) enthusiasm has stirred most of them (the Macedonians) to action."  Your influence is important!  It can be positive or negative.  Ask yourself; How am I using my influence?  Am I using it to help people, or to bring them down?  If you are connected in any way with other people, you are influencing them.  Make sure it is for the good and that it motivates them to action.

2.  Don't Allow Covetousness To Influence Your Giving:  Giving shouldn't be an afterthought.  We should come prepared to give.  That's one of the reasons Paul sent the "brothers" ahead of him to Corinth because he wanted them to already have the "gift" arranged before hand.  In 2 Corinthians 9:5 it says: "So I thought it necessary to urge the brethern that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness."  Don't allow covetousness to "change your mind on giving."

3.  Give What You Have Decided In Your Heart To Give:  Don't subtract the cable or cell phone bill out of your giving.  Don't subtract Saturday night's "entertainment" out of your giving.  Don't give reluctantly nor out of necessity or compulsion.  But do give "cheerfully!"  Laugh and smile when you give!  God will "love" you for it (2 Corinthians 9:7).

4. And God Is Able:  What more do you need to know when it comes to giving and supplying your needs other than "God is able."  God's grace will provide all that you need, in every situation and every time you need it.  This grace will cause you to "abound" in every good work!  Giving will motivate you to work in the Kingdom!

5.  Your Giving Results In Praise And Recognition To God, Not The Giver:  Your giving is never about you.  It is about God and others.  As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 9:12-14 your giving will cause men (and women) to praise God.  It is also a demonstration of your obedience.  It validates your confession of the Gospel of Christ and your generous spirit.  When you give, it motivates others to pray for you and their hearts will go out to you.

The Men of Purpose at Bethel have a ministry call "The New Commandment Men's Ministry" and it is designed to be long term commitments to assist widows and single parents who need help with basic repairs on their home, cars, etc.  The following is from a card this ministry received from one of the widows they help:

Precious Heavenly Father, In the Name of Jesus, Father, I love you so much.

I want to thank you for all the blessings you have given me. I give thanks for my church and to the Men of Purpose.   Father God, you know I have had many needs concerning my home and you have touched the hearts of these men to help me and others that need help so desperately. Father, through the obedience of these men, I am able to stay a longer time in my house.

Father, I ask in the name of Jesus to bless the Men of Purpose ministry and enlarge them by growth in number, finances, and health.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen

This is my heart & prayer for all of you! God bless you!

-Wilma B.

I challenge you to read 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 again.  When you do you will see the parallel with this prayer from this widow.  This is the result of a giving spirit!

What about your giving?  Does it stir others to action?  Are you giving cheerfully and generously?  God will pour out "bountiful" blessings when we give.  And remember, God owns it all anyways! So start giving today.

---Keith Fife

Abounding Love (Part 4)

This is my final post on "Abounding Love."  In it, I want to emphasize the importance of "faith" and "love" working together.  The key to our faith working effectively is for us to walk in the divine love of God.

If  you have a faith that works by love, it will measure up to all the standards set forth in the Word of God.  We know that we receive things by faith, but it is a faith that works by love.  I want to share with you five ways that faith and love work together.


1.  Love Builds A Yielding Ability
In John 15:13, Jesus tells his disciples: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."  This ability to yield to others, as Jesus demonstrated, is built through divine love.  When you do this, it will help in your relationships with your spouse, children, boss, God, and others.

2.  Love Is The Way To Christian Maturity

Although there are many, many disciplines that help in our spiritual growth and Christian maturity, if we walk in love, we will see healthy and effective growth and maturation in our walk with God.

3.  It Helps Restore Others
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted."  (Galatians 6:1)  Many Christians want to tell everything on somebody who has been overtaken in a fault rather than cover that fault with love and silence and help restore them.  Abounding love and our faith will give us the ability to restore others who have fallen rather than tear them down.

4.  Love Will Cover All Sin
Two verses speak to the heart of this point.  The first is Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."  The second is 1 Peter 4:8 - "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

These verses don't mean you "ignore" it when someone does something wrong.  What they are saying is when you have abounding love you will not be offended when you are harmed by others regardless of their motives.

5.  Love Prefers One Another
Love doesn't seek to put "self" first, rather it seeks and prefers others over self!  This preferring is a way of honoring others.  Showing them deference  or humble submission and respect.  Love says, "If you are offended by what I am doing, then I won't do it!"  Romans 12:10 - "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another."  Love puts others first.


Share The Love
The love of God must be the controlling factor in your life.  Find a place to start showing love.  Help a neighbor, a friend, or co-worker and start giving away some of the love God has spread abroad in your heart.
 

-- Pastor Temple