Category: Faith
Tearing Down Strongholds
Strongholds in our lives can manifest in various forms, often related to our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that can hinder our spiritual growth and our relationship with God. Here are a few examples:
1. Fear and Anxiety: Worrying about the future or feeling overwhelmed by life’s circumstances can be a stronghold that prevents us from trusting God. Philippians 4:8 offers guidance on focusing our thoughts: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
2. Unforgiveness: Holding onto grudges can create emotional barriers, affecting our peace and relationships. This stronghold can prevent us from fully experiencing God’s grace and forgiveness in our lives.
3. Pride and Self-Reliance: Believing we can manage on our own without God’s help can lead to a stronghold of pride. This can isolate us from guidance and support found in community and Scripture.
4. Negative Self-Image: Lies we believe about ourselves, often rooted in past experiences, can form strongholds that inhibit our identity in Christ. It is important to counter these lies with the truth of God’s Word.
5. Addiction: Engaging in behaviors such as substance abuse or unhealthy habits can create strongholds that become difficult to break without God’s intervention and support from others.
6. Legalism: Focusing on rules and regulations rather than on a relationship with God can create a stronghold that leads to guilt and shame, distancing us from the grace that Christ offers.
As you reflect on potential strongholds in your life, remember that you have the spiritual resources to confront these challenges. As noted in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Engaging in prayer, reading Scripture, and seeking accountability from fellow believers can all assist in tearing down these strongholds.
The Sacrifice of Christ
Hebrews 10
Legacy Standard Bible
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,
“Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me;
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come,
In the scroll of the book it is written of Me,
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until His enemies are put as a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Warning Against Willful Sin
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and afflictions, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you also showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away that confidence of yours, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37 For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 But My righteous one shall live by faith,
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Don’t be Afraid
Joshua 10:25 GW
Joshua told them, “Don’t be afraid or terrified! Be strong and courageous, because this is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you’re fighting against.”
St John 1:1-14
St JOHN 1: 14
The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Providence
What’s the longest book you’ve ever read?
The longest book I’ve ever read is Providence by John Piper
Providence by John Piper
What’s the longest book you’ve ever read?
Be Strong-
Ephesians 6:10-20 LSB
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, [15] and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. [16] In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, [17] also receive THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, [19] as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel— [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains—so that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
