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ATTAINING VICTORY OVER STRONGHOLDS--PART 1
VARIOUS SCRIPTURES
Introduction
In May of this year, Lord willing, we are planning on beginning a new ministry here at our Church to help those who have strongholds in their lives. This series of messages will be designed to help get us ready toward that end.
When I refer to “strongholds” I am talking about habits or patterns of behavior that are destructive in our lives. These things may be destructive to us and/or others around us.
We might also refer to these “strongholds” as addictive behavior of any sort.
When we think of strongholds or addictions in folks lives, we don’t like to think we have any. However, more likely than not, we all have areas in our lives where we need help in overcoming addictive behavior. So, this series is also designed to help us with the strongholds in our own lives.
What can people be addicted to?–Alcohol, Drugs, Pornography, Food
But what about some other things?–Anger, Gossip, Filthy Communication,
I. WE MUST TAKE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN. (Galatians 5:19-21)
(i.e. If God is against it, so are we.)
If we don’t hate sin, we will likely end up embracing it.
A. We Are To Abhor And Hate Evil
Romans 12:9–“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Abhor–means “to utterly detest.”
Proverbs 8:13–“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
Psalm 97:10–“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil. . .”
Psalm 101:3–“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
Psalm 119:104–“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Amos 5:15–“Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:”
Hebrews 1:9–says in reference to Jesus, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
B. We Are To Depart From Evil.
Psalm 34:14 and Psalm 37:27–“Depart from evil, and do good”
Proverbs 3:7-8--“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
Isaiah 1:16–“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;”
2 Timothy 2:19–“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
1 Peter 3:10–“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
eschew–means to deviate from or to shun. (Job feared God and eschewed evil)
WE MUST TAKE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN. (If God is against it, so are we.) Abhor Or Hate Evil.
Depart From Evil.
II. WE MUST KNOW WHERE SIN ORIGINATES.
(i.e. Every sin has its origin in the heart.)
Satan’s Sin Originated In His Heart.
Isaiah 14:13-14–“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Mankind’s Sin Originates In His Heart.
Mark 7:21-23–“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
A. The Bible Says That Our Hearts Are Deceitful And Desperately Wicked.
Jeremiah 17:9–“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
deceitful–means fraudulent. It will lie to you.
Proverbs 28:26–“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
B. The Bible Says That Our Hearts Are To Be Guarded With Diligence.
Proverbs 4:23–“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Romans 13:14–“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
C. The Bible Says That Our Hearts Are To Be Guided In The Way.
Proverbs 23:19–“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.”
Psalm 139:23-24–“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
WE MUST TAKE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN. (If God is against it, so are we.)
Abhor Or Hate Evil.
Depart From Evil.
WE MUST KNOW WHERE SIN ORIGINATES.
(i.e. Every sin has its origin in the heart.)
The Heart Is Deceitful And Desperately Wicked.
The Heart Is To Be Guarded Diligently.
The Heart Is To Be Guided Wisely.
III. WE MUST KNOW THAT IT IS EASER TO KEEP THE HEART CLEAN THAN IT IS TO CLEAN IT AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEFILED.
Taking an attitude of “well, I can sin now and confess later” is not wise.
Proverbs 22:3– “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
No one sins with impunity.
Proverbs 6:27-28–“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?”
A. Lessons From The Life Of Lot. (Genesis 19)
Lot would have been a lot better off had he never pitched his tent toward Sodom.
1. Sin Can Have A Powerful Effect On Us Personally.
2 Peter 2:8–“For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;”
2. Sin Can Have A Powerful Effect On Those Near And Dear To Us.
Romans 14:7–“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
a. It Affected His Wife.
b. It Affected His Children.
3. Sin Can Have A Powerful Effect On What We Have Materially.
Lot entered Sodom a wealthy man and left it with the clothes on his back.
4. Sin Can Have A Lasting Effect.
The Moabites and Ammonites.
B. Lessons From The Life Of Achan. (Joshua 7)
1. Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out.
2. The Gain That Sin May Bring Is Not Worth The Loss That It Brings.
3. Our Sin May Cost Us Our Lives And/Or The Lives Of The Ones We Love.
C. Lessons From The Life Of Samson.
It would have been much easier on Samson if he had kept the power of God on his life than it was to get the power back again.
1. Sin Is Binding.
Romans 6:16–“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;”
2. Sin Is Blinding.
3. Sin Is Grinding.
Proverbs 13:15–“Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.”
D. Lessons From The Life Of Jonah.
1. Sin Will Take You Where You Don’t Want To Go.
How many drunks set out to be on skidrow on purpose?
How many drug addicts set out to have the kind of life they now live?
How many people with STD’s became immoral to get those diseases?
2. Sin Will Keep You There Longer Than You Want To Stay.
3. Sin Will Cost You More Than You Want To Pay.
Sin has consequences.
Conclusion
What kind of strongholds do you have in your life?
What is your attitude toward those things that God hates in your life? (Your Sin)
What are doing to guard your heart from sin?
Why not spend more time on the front end keeping yourself from sin rather than trying to pick up the pieces of your life after sin has shattered your life.
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!