How Do You Find Freedom? Week 9

REASONS WE STRUGGLE

BECAUSE OF WHAT WE’VE DONE TO OURSELVES BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE TO US BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL HAS A PLAN FOR OUR LIVES

“The problem is most people overestimate or underestimate spiritual warfare. Funny how the devil likes when we over believe or under believe just don't bible believe” C.S. Lewis

 

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT

 

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13 NLT

 

KNOWING YOUR SPIRITUAL CLIMATE IS CRITICAL TO RECEIVING THE VICTORY THAT IS ALREADY YOURS.

 

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 NIV

 

…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT

 

EFFECTIVE WARFARE PRAYERS

 

Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 2 Corinthians 10:1;3 NLT

 

1. WE MUST GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT

 

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil; Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11:13-17 NLT

BELT OF TRUTH BODY ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOES OF PEACE SHIELD OF FAITH HELMET OF SALVATION

CHARACTER ALWAYS TRUMPS KNOWLEDGE

 

2. WE MUST FIGHT WITH THE RIGHT WEAPONS

 

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons… 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT

 

OUR FOUR PRIMARY WEAPONS

WE DECLARE GODS WORD

…Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NLT

 

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:10-11NLT

 

He launches his promises earthward—how swift and sure they come! Psalms 147:15 MSG

 

WE NEED TO REPEAT GOD’S PROMISES UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROMISE

WE GIVE GOD PRAISE

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—Psalms 149:6 NLT

WE STAND BEHIND THE NAME OF JESUS

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:14 NLT

 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Philippians 2:9-10 NLT

WE HAVE VICTORY BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Revelations 12:11 NLT

 

3. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE REAL BATTLE

 

…knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT

 

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT

 

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Amos 5:14 NLT

 

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life. Ephesians 4:22 NLT

NEGATIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS NEGATIVE WORDS NEGATIVE ENVRIONMENTS NEGATIVE MINDSETS

 

 

But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. Luke 11:20-22 NLT

 

When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. Luke 11:24-26 NLT

 

4. WE MUST HAVE THE RIGHT FOCUS

 

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT

 

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

 

ACTION STEPS

 

EXPECT IT

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 NLT

DETECT IT

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14

REJECT IT

 

He launches his promises earthward—how swift and sure they come! Psalms 147:15 MSG

 

WE NEED TO REPEAT GOD’S PROMISES UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROMISES.