Kingdom Thinking-2 "Strongholds"

Matt. 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Jesus’ Kingdom is the Radiance of His Presence, creating the Field in which He exists as its Treasure. To obtain the Treasure the Buyer must liquidate his real estate in the Kingdom of Darkness to purchase a relocation to the Field, the KOG. 2Cor. 10:3-5 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down STRONGHOLDS. We tear down arguments (STRONGHOLDS) and every arrogant obstacle (STRONGHOLD) that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. #1 Understand What STRONGHOLDS Are A STRONGHOLD IS A THOUGHT THAT HAS ACQUIRED GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER YOUR LIFE. It’s what causes you to say, “I know, BUT…” People are trapped/restricted by thoughts created through negative memories and impressions that have built up in their minds and hardened into barriers to their progress. These mental shackles & emotional chains are what Paul refers to as Strongholds…Arguments…Arrogant Obstacles that rise up against the knowledge of God, in your life. Example: Do you find yourself responding to things the Holy Spirit is nudging you towards, saying, “I know I should, but I can’t BECAUSE…” What follows is a STRONGHOLD over your life. The majority of our failure to make progress in our walk with Jesus in His K'dom, is due directly to memories-developed-into-reasons that become STRONGHOLDS. Understand this: these are STRONGHOLDS against the KOG, because they hold you back from selling all and buying The Field of Treasure… • A painful experience becomes a memory. • The memory leaves an impression. • The impression produces a conclusion. • The conclusion becomes an argument. • The argument repeatedly obeyed becomes a stronghold. Eventually you don't experience it as merely something you think, but as “the way things are.” This is the STRENGTH of a stronghold. #2 K-T Puts Obedience Over Strongholds. In order to have the kind of mental strength to confront and cast down strongholds…that resist the will of God, your heart must be established in a Culture of OBEDIENCE. By selling all and relocating to the KOG you’re surrendering the right to treat YOUR reasons as sovereign… • You may have reasons for your fear. • Reasons for your anger. • Reasons for withholding forgiveness. • Reasons for distrusting. • Reasons for refusing God's next step. Kingdom Thinking doesn't require you to deny the memory that formed your Reasons. It simply refuses to enthrone your conclusion that built the Stronghold. Kingdom Thinking doesn't convince you that your Reason wasn’t Painful. But that it no longer gets to Govern you. Kingdom Thinking captures the thought that captured you! #3 Obedience Needs An AUTHORITY To Stand On Your Culture of Obedience cannot be cultivated by simple human determination… • “Try harder.” • “Be tougher.” • “Be more disciplined.” • “Stop thinking negatively.” It’s the PRINCIPLES of God's Word that Define the K'dom and Project its AUTHORITY. Those PRINCIPLES that give you the Authority to cast down your Strongholds are: #1 - God’s Word is ALIVE! Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Kingdom Thinking says, My thoughts regarding reality aren't the highest authority. God has spoken. So when my Stronghold says one thing and God's Word says another, Kingdom Thinking says: THE KING GETS THE LAST WORD. #2 - Sin is your greatest Enemy Jas. 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. Facing the truth about the role Sin plays in your life, prevents you from empowering circumstances, other people, or even your painful experiences as your ultimate enemy. When you treat Sin as your enemy, rather than circumstances and people, Jesus becomes your Answer! #3 - God Living IN YOU is your greatest REALITY 1Jn. 4:4 He who is in YOU is Greater than he who is in the world. When the stronghold says: “I can’t.”, Kingdom-Thinking says: “Stop calculating your ability without accounting for Who lives in you!” #4 - Prayer Works! Jas. 5:16 The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. And therefore we aren't left trying to mentally argue against your Strongholds. Prayer stands you in the Kingdom with access to the King. And brings your Strongholds into the one place where they cannot survive: Our relationship with God.