NLBC Lady Lifers Daily Devotion & Bible Study

One Year Bible Reading Challenge: Read The Bible in One Year Challenge

2011-08-01T13:15:00.000-04:00

One Year Bible Reading Challenge: Read The Bible in One Year Challenge: "Beginning on August 1, 2011 we are asking every member of New Life Bible Church and anyone else who would like to join with us to read th..."

2011-03-28T07:17:00.002-04:00

Tearing down strongholds
Paul writes to the Corinthians:

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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." [2 Corinthians 10:4-5]

Paul further encourages the Ephesians [Eph. 6:10-18] to put on the armor of God in the waging of the battle. The armor of God provides the Christian with the characteristics of Christ Himself--truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the power of the Word of God.
And how are these weapons to be brought into action for the purpose of demolishing strongholds in our lives and in the lives of those we love?

"...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." [Eph. 6:18]

Paul’s instruction clearly applies to the use of the Word--the rhema, the word spoken, not merely the logos, the word understood. And his exhortation for prayer is for the kind of fervent, endless, purposeful prayer that he urged for every church and every believer under his spiritual authority.
That is because prayer is the battlefield. Prayer is the warfare. Prayer is the engagement, the assault on the stronghold we seek to bring down.
If you are in bondage to a satanic stronghold, or if you sense that danger in the life of a friend or loved one, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you:

1. Identify the stronghold--what is it, and what is its effect?

2. Claim the truth of 1 John 4:4: "...the one (the Spirit of Christ) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world..."
3. Accept your responsibility as a soldier of the King to put on the armor every day and engage the enemy in the battlefield of prayer.
4. Standing on the Word of God, and claiming the power of the risen Lord, through His blood shed on the cross for the defeat of Satan and his angels, pray until the stronghold is destroyed.
5. Enlist other prayer warriors to join you; share the details of the stronghold so that all prayers will be specific, direct and fearless.
6. Trust that God will respond as He has promised, and that the defeat of the enemy is certain through the victory already achieved by the Savior on Calvary.
7. Rejoice in the victory, even as you begin praying. God will honor your trust, just as He will honor your diligence and perseverance.

Never underestimate the influence and capabilities of Satan, but never fear him, either. He is a defeated enemy. He has no power to stand against the prayer of faith. The victory is won!

Scriptures that help you pull down of strongholds

2010-04-28T08:25:00.001-04:00

These are excellent verses to meditate on for the pulling down of strongholds! Print them out and go over them every day for a week and see if it doesn't make a big impact on your spiritual growth and freedom! Meditate on God's Word as King David did! These verses are truth, and will help you tear down strongholds (which are based on lies and deception).

Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Forgiveness of sins

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."

Titus 2:14, "Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from EVERY lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (NASB)

Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (The word 'riches' in the Greek here means abundance and fullness!!)

Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."

Micah 7:19, "...he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Joel 2:12-13, "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Psalms 103:2-4, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;"

How to tear down a stronghold

2010-04-27T00:25:00.001-04:00

Strongholds are birthed and dwell in deception (which are lies and false beliefs), so naturally the cure is to bring the truth in God's Word on the scene. You debunk the lies of the enemy, with the truth, which is in the Word of God! The Bible says that our weapons are mighty for the tearing down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.").
What is our primary offensive weapon? The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17, "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."). Truth dispels deception and lies, and therefore the more truth you bring into a situation, the more the darkness must flee. This is where it's important to grow in God's Word, is because it is your primary weapon for tearing down the strongholds of deception that the enemy has been feeding you.

In John 8:31-36, Jesus tells us that we can be held in bondage due to strongholds in our lives. And His solution was to, "continue in my word... and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (v. 32-32)

Strongholds are torn down as we meditate on God's Word, which is the truth!