Humility
Gen 15:1 ...Abram accepted the blessing offered by Melchizedek. This act speaks of Abram's humility,
for in Old Testament times the greater person blessed the lesser, ... character and turn to him as a model of unselfishness, loyalty, courage, humility, dependence on God, and readiness to
publicly give God glory for...

Lev 1:1 ...or not. Quotable "Heretics are to be converted by an example of humility and other virtues far
more readily than by any external display ... arm ourselves with devout prayers and set off
showing signs of genuine humility and go barefoot to combat Goliath.
"—Dominic The Variety

Reading Plan ... Num 15:1 ...susceptible to those subtle expressions of unbelief, pride, and jealousy. In contrast,humility
in leaders is a sign of continuing trust in God.

"Moses ... Deut 12:1 ...you the ability to produce wealth" Deut. 8:10-20. Pride and humility are contrasting attitudes.

The humble person acknowledges his dependence on God. ... Judg 6:1 ...9-14),
Gideon attacked and routed the Midianites (w. 15-25). Gideon'shumility avoided
intertribal war (8:1-5), but he decisively punished Israelite ... 2 Sam 2:1 ...man who had serious weaknesses. What distinguishes David from Saul is David'shumility
and his willingness to confess his sins, not only to the ... 1 Chron 1:1 ...his own stubborn refusal to admit his sins and to bow in humility before the Lord. Personal

Application Feeling angry at God may be ...
Jer2:1 ...or by ourselves. In this case, however, Jeremiah's protests indicate more than humility.

The future prophet's objection was rebuked, as if he were using ... Dan 10:1 ...deeply moved by how short we fall, come to Him in penitent humility. Then, in His presence,
with head and heart bowed, we like ... because of Your great mercy." Personal Application
Pride cancels out prayer; truehumility wings it to the Lord.

"It was pride that caused ... the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is still humility.

Not that there are no other precepts to give buthumility, but ifhumility
does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless."—... Micah 3:1 ...and wail" Micah 1:8-9a.



In biblical times individuals showed their humility before God,
their grief over and confession of sins, by loud ... always have a choice. It is not a choice between arrogance andhumility, between proud independence and submission to God.
Oh, no. The choice... Nah 1:1 ...King, and show it in a simple lifestyle of justice, mercy, and humility.

"I have begun to destroy you" Micah 6:9-16. The ... rebelled against His will. Justice and mercy are mocked in Israel, and humility was a joke God is King, and such ... place between the godly, because those who deal in justice, mercy, andhumility can be trusted to care about others.
But in a society...Haggai 1:1 ...comes, we can find shelter in the Lord. All it requires is humility.
What is humility?
It is an attitude in stark contrast to that of those Matt 3:1 on the Roman ruler. How difficult for us to judge greatness and humility if we look only at outward appearances.


Jesus, the Son of... Matt 8:1 ...his own and others' frailties, will accept God's forgiveness. That attitude of humility which frees us to experience forgiveness is the very attitude that... Luke 2:1 ...to the Lord's plan for her life. Mary is an example of humility.

Twice in that poem known as Mary's "Magnificat," she mentions her"...Luke 6:1 ...to Him, others are just as special as we. It takes true humility to relate to God in this age of grace.

We must... John 14:1 ...should stoop to wash the disciples' feet, was a stunning example of humility (13:4-5).
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all... Acts 16:1 ...write, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Each of you should look not... Acts 21:1 ...ourselves is a key to building intimacy.
Paul served the Lord with humility (v. 19).

"IN ALL THINGS,

PUT ME FIRST, AND I SHALL DIRECT YOU AND CROWN YOUR EFFORTS WITH SUCCESS. I SHALL ANOINT YOU AND EVERY SENSE GIVEN YOU TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF MY DIVINE GUIDANCE. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, GRACIOUS AND LOVING. REST IN MY LOVE. WALK IN MY WAYS. YOU WILL MASTER ALL THINGS THROUGH MY SPIRIT. I AM WITH YOU TO BLESS YOU. IT IS NOT WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHAT YOU ARE THAT PROVES MY WORK IN YOU. AND WHAT YOU DO IS A PRODUCT OF WHAT YOU ARE. I AM ALL POWERFUL AND THE DIVINE EFFICIENCY OF MY POWER IS BEING BROUGHT TO BEAR ON ALL YOUR AFFAIRS.
I LAY MY LOVING HANDS ON YOU IN BLESSING. WATT IN LOVE AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THEIR TENDER PRESSURE, AND FROM THEM WILL FLOW COURAGE AND HOPE IN YOUR BEING. RECEIVE WITH GLADNESS MY WORD AND YOU SHALL SEE IT MANIFESTED, AND YOU SHALL PROSPER, SAITH THE LORD."

Compassion
transcends both natural human sympathy and normal
Christian concern, enabling one to sense in others a wide
range of emotions and then provide a supportive
ministry of caring and intercessory prayer.
Also called the gift of Mercy.

Discernment
is the heightened ability to read or hear a teaching,
to encounter a problem, or to consider a proposed
course of action, and then determine whether the
source behind the teaching, problem, or action is
divine, merely human, or Satanic.
This will be a much needed gift near the
End of the Age.

Evangelism is a special ability to lead unconverted persons
to a saving knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The person with this gift has the wisdom to know when, who,
and how to call the rebellious into the Kingdom of God.
Evangelists are the spiritual "obstetricians" in the church.

Exhortation is the gift of being able to encourage others by
well timed and wise counsel. This gift builds the Body of Christ
by helping new, young and adolescent disciples to turn from
sin and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Also called the gift of Counseling, or the gift of Encouragement.

Faith as a gift is an extraordinary confidence in God that is unshakable by situations, pain, apparent failure, or ridicule.
This gift strengthens the individual and other believers
(by example) to endure persecution and wait upon the Lord.

Giving empowers one in a sensitive way to detect material or financial needs and meet those needs with Spirit inspired generosity. Recipients of help from Christians with this gift have a clear sense
that God has provided, not man.
Healing is a "sign gift" which enables one to function as an
instrument of God's healing grace in the lives of hurting people.
The gifts of healings (double plural in the Greek text) include miraculous healing of the body, the mind, the emotions, and relationships.

Helps enables one to assist people in skilled ways that are supernaturally enhanced by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The helped person has the impression that they have been
touched by God. Those with this gift should be highly esteemed
in the Body.

Knowledge is an ability to remember Scripture or have it supernatural quickened, or to know a fact or truth about a person or situation revealed directly by the Holy Spirit.

 Leadership in the Greek is actually "he who provides leadership in giving aid".
These go first and lead by example, so that others are motivated to follow.
(1 Corinthians 11:1)
Those with the gift of leadership are quick to identify problems and show by
doing how to minister to those in need.

Miracles another "sign gift" where the gifted person is able to cast out demons,
show a supernatural sign to unbelievers, or perform a public healing—
even in a hostile and unsupportive situation—all to the glory of God.
Those with this gift will be humble, broken people, full of the fear of God.
Postering is the collective (plural in Greek) ministry of the Elders to
"shepherd" an individual or community of Christian believers.
This gift is a special passion and empowering to lead people into
green pastures, steer others away from danger, fight off predators,
and bind up wounds.

Prophecy is speaking what God wants said with clarity, creativity,
and power. It is also called the gift of Preaching.
The primary ministry in this gift is not prediction, but in confronting
people with the truth about God and man—with conviction and repentance as the result.

Serving is a gift which expresses the love of Christ by taking care of lowly or time-consuming tasks to allow others to be more effective ministers. Similar to the gift of Helps, but here the work performed is menial rather than skilled. Those with this gift are the truest and highest leaders in the church, and ought to be recognized as such.

Teaching is the ability to understand and communicate the Christian faith so as to make the truth clear to others. The result of this gift is the equipping and maturing of others in the body of Christ so that they will grow in grace and be more effective disciples.

Tongues enable some Christians (1 Corinthians 12:30) to praise God either in another language not learned (Acts 2) or in ecstatic utterance which is not an earthly language (1 Corinthians 14). In either case, one's prayer is directed to God, not to other people (1 Corinthians 14:2).

Interpretation of Tongues is required if speaking in tongues is exercised publicly in a loud voice. This gift allows one to declare to others the intent or meaning of the public ecstatic utterance, so that the entire Body is built up.

Wisdom is special illumination that enables one in a specific instance to grasp divine insight regarding a fact, situation, or context. This gift is useful in directing the Body in what to do next; in making God's will known.

                     ONE STEP WITH JESUS UNDERSTANDS THE CRAVINGS KEY BIBLICAL CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
CRAVINGS: Temptations in the form of desires, lusts, appetites, and passions for drugs, alcohol and other works of the flesh practiced in the old lifestyle. They may be stimulated by old thoughts, memories, feelings, attitudes, behaviors, environment, and old friends from a past lifestyle.
"SPIRITUAL SHORT CIRCUITING": Using God's resources, spiritual disciplines (Word, praise/worship, fellowship, etc.), and Christ's authority (rebuking) to interrupt, and cancel out cravings before they can become actions.

MENTORING:
A Biblically based relational learning process. A new believer is befriended by a more mature believer, who has been successfully involved in the restoration process of assisting the new believer in reaching their full potential in Christ Jesus through using God's resources.
TRIGGERS:
Any person, place, or thing that activates temptations in the form
of desires, lusts, appetites, and passions for drugs, alcohol,
and other works of the flesh practiced in the old lifestyle.
Triggers may be internal:
old thoughts, memories, relational: feelings, attitudes, behaviors,
or external; money, environmental stimulus, old neighborhoods, ect.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this study you should be able to:
Define a craving.
Describe the 2 different types of cravings.
Identify what major factors can cause cravings.
Describe the three critical areas of relapse.
Describe the strategies for "short circuiting" cravings

WHAT IS A CRAVING?
Cravings are temptations in the form of desires, lusts,
appetites, and passions for
Drugs, alcohol, and other works of the flesh practiced in the
old lifestyle.
They may be stimulated by old thoughts, memories, feelings,
attitudes, behaviors, environment, old friends
from the past. different types of cravings and their origin
body (physical
MEDICAL) PHYSIOLOGICALI CRAVING
Soul
(MIND, WELL, EMOTIONS)
PSYCHOLOGICAL*
early stages of restoration chemical need
or imbalance
mental, emotional, social needs
(works of the flesh)
throughout THE restoration process

WHERE DO CRAVINGS COME FROM?
Ephesians 2: 3
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
James 1: 14-15
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
• A Christian must acknowledge and understand that prior to salvation, cravings of the old sinful nature controlled how an addicted person lived. In their past lifestyle, they acted on the thoughts of their carnal mind and fulfilled the lusts and desires of the flesh. As a result, they ended up in bondage to alcohol/drugs.physical craving
poor diet (Nutritional Problems) brain damage (Drug/alcohol Poisoning) lack of exercise (Failure to Restore Chemical)

BRAIN DAMAGE
(Reduced Chemicals)
Alcohol and other drugs such as cocaine and heroin interfere with the chemical balance of the brain by neurotransmitters and eventually damage the brain's regulatory system. Once the itters are reduced during addiction to a level lower than the brain's normal functioning brain experiences withdrawals causing depression and physical pain (cravings).
from a particular experience.
It was not God's intention that we would derive such an intense pleasure from a particular "P"™"
Station or what is better known as the intense "high" that drug users experience. This over using because of the chemical imbalance that was caused
by the use of drugs.what can activate (trigger) A psychological craving?
boredom (too much idle time) relationships (old friends) power of suggestion (enemy)
geographic locations (old neighborhood) finances (possession of money) environmental stimulus(TASTE, SMELL, SIGHT)
memories, thoughts carnal mind

(euphoric recall) negative emotions sexual immorality
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ACTIVATE CRAVINGS
Believers in restoration from the effects of addiction must learn to develop a proper understanding of their new identity (position [relationship]) in Christ and have faith to walk in that new identity. Not having a proper understanding of their position in Christ and not having the faith to walk their new identity places a believer in serious emotional danger.

LOW SELFESTEME: SATAN"S WEAPON
David Seamonds, in his text, Healing for Damaged Emotions, makes the following comment regarding Satan's deadliest weapon, low self-esteem.
"Some of the most powerful weapons in Satan's arsenal are psychological. Fear is one of these. Doubt is another. Anger, hostility, worry and of course, guilt. Longstanding guilt is hard to shake off; it seems to
hang on even after Christian claims forgiveness and accepts pardoning grace Satan's greatest
psychological weapon(low self-esteem) is a gut-level feeling of inferiority, inadequacy, and low self-worth.
He states how Satan uses his most deadly of all emotional and psychological weapons of low self-esteem in four ways to defeat the children of God, causing them to fall in their Christian walk
:Hosea 4: 6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Nor understanding & hating faith in YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST
Low self-esteem loneliness
(HEBREWS. 13:5, ) (WORTHLESSNESS 2CO. 5:17, EPH. 2:1O)

rejection (Ro. 5:1-2, EPH. 2:19) self pity (R0.2:1O-11,EPH. 6:9, Co. 3:25)

guilt (Ro. 8:1, Ro. 8:33) fear (2TlM.l:7) shame (PR. 11:2,13:18) hopelessness (Ro. 5O-5)
LONELINESS: A negative feeling of being separated, alone, isolated from others, a feeling of not belonging or fitting in with others,
This feeling comes from not knowing that you are a fellow citizen with the rest of God's people in His family.
(Eph. 2: 19)
HOPELESSNESS: A negative feeling of despair, being discouraged, depressed, lack of faith, trust, or confidence in your future.
This feeling comes from not knowing that you were created in Christ to do His work that He planned beforehand that you should do.
(Eph. 2: 10)
WORTHLESSNESS: A negative feeling of having no value, of being inadequate, having no ability. This feeling comes from not knowing that you
are a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession and that you are complete in Christ.
(1 Pet. 2: 9, Col. 2: 9-10)
REJECTION: A negative feeling of not being accepted by others, a desire to belong but feeling that others don't approve of you, feeling disconnected
 in being apart of a relationship or of what is going on. This feeling comes from not knowing that God chose you and drew you to Jesus.
 (John 15: 16,6: 44, 65)To paralyze their potential for spiritual growth and development.
To hinder them from fulfilling their God given purpose for their life.
To ruin their relationships with themselves, God, and others.
To hinder their service for God within the "Body of Christ."

Matthew 22:37-39
3 7 Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all vour heart, with all vour soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself/
Every believer's "self esteem" has to be viewed in a proper vision of their "God esteem." The first and greatest commandment is to
"love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all vour mind" and the second greatest commandment is to "love vour neighbor
as yourself."
Scripture implies that when a believer learns to love God, "first greatest commandment," that then
and only then is a believer able to love their neighbor as they love themselves.
Somewhere between learning the first and second greatest commandments believers learn to love
themselves,
A believer must understand who they are in Christ in light of Who God is in their life, and develop faith in their position (identity)
in Christ. They will be able to love their neighbors because they
love themselves and they will have godly "self-esteem" because of their "God-esteem."
The carnal mind with its worldly attitudes propagates negative emotions that have become major strongholds and powerful internal triggers during a lifestyle of addiction. If not addressed, these emotions could seta believer up for relapse.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Bitterness: A continued feeling of harshness toward another person due to resentments caused by holding a grudge for something that took place
in the past. (Col. 4: 12-13)

Wrath (rage): Violent uncontrollable outbursts of anger.
Anger: A feeling of hostility, dislike, and displeasure toward another person. A secondary emotion felt due to hurt, or loss.
Clamor (brawling): Becoming involved in heated verbal and physical confrontations with another person.
Evil Speaking (slander): Falsely attacking another person's character through lying on them. (Col. 3: 8-9)
Spiritual maturity through Character development plays a significant role in a believer's restoration from alcohol and other drugs, relapse prevention (returning to "sowing to the flesh"). Scripture cites four crucial steps leading to character development.

Mark 11: 24-26
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 
Believers being restored from the effects of their addiction must understand that an unwillingness to forgive others not only hinders their prayers,
but their relationship with God, their Heavenly Father as well. They do not have the luxury of not forgiving others, if they want to be forgiven by
their Father in heaven.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

"SELF-PITY: A negative feeling that you are always being picked on, singled out, that you are destined for bad things to happen to you,
 feeling sorry for yourself. This feeling comes from not knowing that you are a joint-heir with Christ sharing
His inheritance, and have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. (Rom. 8: 17, Eph. 1: 3)

GUILT: A negative feeling stemming from past behaviors, a feeling of being condemned for past actions during your lifestyle
of addiction. This feeling comes for not knowing that you have been justified, completely forgiven and made righteous.
(Romans 5: 1)

SHAME: A negative emotion caused by believing something is wrong with you, a feeling of being inadequate, of humiliation.
This feeling comes from not knowing that you have a new identity, that you are a new creature in Christ, given a new spirit and heart.
(2 Co. 5:17, Ezk. 36: 26-27)

FEAR: A feeling of being afraid, a lack of faith, being insecure, nervous. This feeling comes from not knowing that your relationship is secure with God, that He will never leave yon or forsake you and that God did not give you a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
(Hebrews 13:5, 2 Tim. 1:7)

UNFORGIVENESS LEADS TO NEGATIVE EMOTIONS THAT CAUSE CRAVINGS
2 Corinthians 2: 10-11
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
lack of forgiveness of self & others bitterness (resentments) brawling slander rage

RECEIVING FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS Matthew 18: 21-22
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him,
"I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matthew 5: 23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Remember when you ask for forgiveness from others that the other person is not obligated to
forgive you. You shouldn't expect everyone, even close family members, to forgive you immediately and some individuals may never forgive you.
You need to understand that, in asking for forgiveness from others, you release yourself from
being bound whether others choose to forgive you or not. You have done what God has required
of you.
LEARNING TO FORGIVE YOURSELF John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, '"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Healing damaged Emotions, makes an extremely significant statement regarding forgiveness that applies to believers in the restoration from addiction.
"There is no forgiveness from God unless you freely forgive your brother from your heart. And I wonder if we have been too narrow in thinking
that brother only applies to someone else.
What if you are the brother or sister who needs to be forgiven and you need to forgive yourself! Does it not apply to you too?
The Lord says to forgive your enemies. What if you are the worst enemy? Does that exclude you?

 

Healing from Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders


Multiple Personality Disorder, and other Dissociative Disorders.
How Common is Dissociation?
Transient and mild dissociative experiences are common. Almost l/3rd of people say they occasionally feel as though they are watching themselves in a movie, and 4% say they feel that way as much as l/3rd of the time.
The incidence of these experiences is highest in youth and steadily
declines after the age of 20.
7% of the population may have suffered from a dissociative disorder
at some time. But these disorders are difficult to identify and may go undiagnosed for many years.

Other Forms of Dissociation
Other dissociative disorders include "psychogenic amnesia" (the inability to recall personally significant memories), "psychogenic fugue" (memory loss characteristic of amnesia, loss of one's identity, and fleeing from one's home environment), and "multiple personality" (the person has two or more distinct personalities that alternate with one another. This is also known as "Dissociative Identity Disorder" or "Multiple Personality Disorder").
Treatment
What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a mental process that causes a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memory and sense of identity. Dissociation seems to fall on a continuum of severity. Mild dissociation would be like daydreaming, getting "lost" in a book, or when you are driving down a familiar stretch of road and realize that you do not remember the last several miles. A severe and more chronic form of dissociation is seen in the disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder, once called
When dissociative experiences are the central, chronic, and overwhelming problem, treatment usually demands long-term individual psychotherapy. People with these disorders often have good reasons to mistrust authority as well as a lifelong habit of keeping secrets from themselves and others.
A working alliance must be established with an often demoralized and suspicious person who believes the world is unjust or that he/she is an
evil person.

What are Strongholds
1 What is the Spiritual War?
2.Who is Satan?
3. Who are Demons and Angels?
4 How does Satan wage war?
5. What is our position?
6.Putting on the armor of God:

Overcoming Strongholds , Pulling down Strongholds , Waging War in Spiritual Realms

What are Strongholds in Spiritual Warfare?
Putting walls around your settlement, with a gate, gave the inhabitants a source of protection and control, since the walls needed to breached, before contact made.

This picture of the physical stronghold is used to also represent the spiritual stronghold.

Spiritual strongholds are represented in scripture, in the same way as physical ones. They are points of operation, where attacks are waged
on outlying areas. The become points of offensive operations, which are hard to remove, unless concerted effort is made to remove them.

Spiritually speaking, Paul defines strongholds as an "argument or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God".
A stronghold is a point of operation from where Satan can keep the unbeliever captive or the believer incapacitated. See 2nd Corinthians below.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty
in God for pulling down strongholds. 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Israel an example of war
Waging war in the spiritual realms illustrates events in the physical. Israel entering the Promised Land is an illustration of the faithful entering the land of promise and rest. We see from Israel's example, a nation, who because of unbelief was not able to receive the promises of God, because they lacked faith.

Only when they believed, could they enter, but the faithless generation was kept out. In the same way today, many "born-again saints"
fail to receive the blessings promised because of disbelief. We do not believe God is strong enough, to overcome the strongholds
in our life.
Before Israel was to enter the Promised Land, Moses had the nation of Israel send out 12 spies, into the land to see what the cities were like, including if there were any stronghold in the land
(Numbers 13:19).
Spiritual strongholds are represented in scripture, in the same way as physical ones. They are points of operation, where attacks
are waged on outlying areas. The become points of offensive operations, which are hard to remove, unless concerted effort is made
to remove them.

Spiritually speaking, Paul defines strongholds as an "argument or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God".
 A stronghold is a point of operation from where Satan can keep the unbeliever captive or the believer incapacitated.
See 2nd Corinthians below.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty
in God for pulling down strongholds. 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Israel an example of war
Waging war in the spiritual realms illustrates events in the physical. Israel entering the Promised Land is an illustration of the faithful entering the land of promise and rest. We see from Israel's example, a nation, who because of unbelief was not able to receive the promises of God, because they lacked faith.

Only when they believed, could they enter, but the faithless generation was kept out. In the same way today, many "born-again saints" fail to receive the blessings promised because of disbelief. We do not believe God is strong enough, to overcome the strongholds in our life.
Before Israel was to enter the Promised Land, Moses had the nation of Israel send out 12 spies, into the land to see what the cities were like, including if there were any stronghold in the land
(Numbers 13:19).

17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains,
18 "and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many: 19 "whether the land they dwell
in is good or bad: whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds:
Numbers 13:17-19

The twelve spies returned and reported what they saw; we get two different perspectives from the spies.
Ten spies reported the land was too strong to take, cites were fortified (Strongholds) and large, the inhabitants were giants, according
to the 10-spies.
27 Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
28 "Nevertheless the people who dweil in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large: moreover we saw the descendants
of Anak there. 29 "The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amohtes dwell in the mountains;
and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.
" Numbers 13:27-29

Caleb and Joshua rejected the view of the 10-spies; they saw God as capable of giving them victory over the giants and strongholds
of the land. The ten spies rejected Caleb plea, restating the hopeless situation of the nation found itself. All hope was lost; the nation would need
to find a leader to take them back to Egypt.
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.
" 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.
"Numbers 13:30-31

You could almost see the struggle, the faithful minority versus the faithless majority. The people were so defeated and faithless
in God's ability they would have stoned Moses, Joshua and Caleb if the Lord did not intervene
(Numbers 14).


They were planning to go back to Egypt after they selected a leader. The Lord would have destroyed the faithless generation,
but Moses interceded. God instead allowed the generation of faithless Israel to wander the deserts of Sinai and die there.
We must remember, this rebellion follows the miracles of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, and their seeing God's presence
leading them in
a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. Israel's plight illustrates a point, when we reject God's promises because of unbelief;
we end up wandering in a wilderness, because we refuse to take God at His word.

This is the reason we need to put on the whole armor of the God. Joshua and Caleb were able to see victory despite the strongholds
in the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb were wearing God's armor, as opposed to the 10-spies.

They were willing to wage war on the Canaanite cities, because they new it was not them, but the Lord who would give them victory.
Wearing the Armor of God Israel sets the example for the faithful; within the nation were two groups, those who believed the Lord
and those who did not. Because of the unbelief of the majority, the nation was forced to wander in the dusty and rocky Sinai desert
for 40-years.

We (the saved), grafted into the covenant of Israel, should take notice, why did Israel fail to enter the land? Was it because God
was unfaithful? No, it was because the people would not trust Him. Why did Israel tremble in fear at Goliath, and David boldly
want to fight?
In both cases, the faithful trusted the Lord, Joshua and Caleb saw God open the Red Sea, they saw Him in the cloud and fire,
they knew their God. David too, knew his God; He was more then capable of giving David victory
(I Samuel 17).

Before the battle took place in the field, it was in the mind. The minds of the 10-spies were controlled by fear.
The army of Israel before the Philistine Goliath, a giant, was defeated in the mind, before on arrow flew. The battle began in the mind,
just as it does for us.

The armor of God gives us the ability to be victors in the battle of the mind. Putting on the full armor of God, allows us to stand against the schemes of Satan, whose goal is to pin the faithful to the ground. Here we stand, God's warriors about to enter battle, how are we
 to wage war? First, we must remember Paul's instructions, we need to put on the full armor God, having done that, we need to make
the conscious decision to stand. We need to choose to stand, as opposed to being taken down by our opponent Satan.
We must prepare for battle, in the spiritual war; our objective should always be victory through the Lord's strength, not our own power.
verse 10 and 11 of Ephesians,
what is the key to ~ success? 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10-12 1

The key to Joshua, Caleb and David was their reliance on the Lord's ability, His power and might.
They were strong in the Lord. In verses 10 and 11, our part is to make a conscious effort. Verse 10 tells us,
of faith be strong, verse 11, says put on.

Are you willing to move forward in battle trusting the Lord? Preparing to assault strongholds: Spying out
the land for all the saint? Using Israel as our example, what was their first action before I they entered
the promise land?Moses told them to spy out the land, I to survey it, locate the stronghold.

We need to do the same; we need to locate places where the enemy has strongholds in our life.
Remember our battle is not physical but spiritual.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, only two pieces of the armor are offensive in nature, what are they? They are the sword (vs. 17) and prayer.
In describing the armor, many times people stop at verse 17, but verse 18 is just as much a part of the armor. 18 praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
Ephesians 6:18

I The sword of the Lord, the word of God and Prayer are offensive weapons against the strongholds, which allows Satan to keep people captive. With these two weapons, we can take the offensive, rather then being I defensive. We can pursue our strongholds,
to pull them down. We need to enter the battle wearing our armor, prepared to assault the stronghold with our sword and prayer.

Looking back at Israel, the first generation of the Exodus failed to enter the land of promise, however the
next generation, now led by Joshua did not fail. Because they believed, they prepared for battle against the stronghold of Jericho.
The Lord Himself led the battle as the commander of Lord's hosts; Joshua was merely to follow orders
(Joshua 5).

They succeeded; Jericho fell because the nation obeyed the Lord (Joshua 6). However, the next battle was not so successful,
because the nation disobeyed; the stronghold of Ai was able to defeat the armies of Israel
(Joshua 7).

Why could a little stronghold defeat Israel? The nation sinned, when Achan of Judah took garments from Jericho, he violated
God's command and the whole nation suffered, falling to the stronghold of Ai.

Take a personal inventory of your life. What areas of your life cause you to fail? Like faithful Joshua and Caleb, we need
to spy out the land. We need to determine where Satan's strongholds are. Our goal is to enter the"Promised Land"
of God's promises.
The issue here is not salvation, but victorious Christian living .

In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-28), the seed is sowed on different types of soil, in the end, the abundant crop comes from good ground. Why did the good soil produce a fruitful crop? Good ground was clear of those things, which prevented growth. In the parable, the weeds, stones and thistles, choked off the seed (word) planted by the sower (Jesus). Jesus describes the weeds as the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
" Matthew 13:23

Jesus tells us the key to bearing an abundant crop in this life requires we
Hear the word
Understand the word
Bear fruit

Satan does not want us to bear fruit, his goal is to defeat us, and prevent us from having fruit.
The strongholds are points of operation, allowing Satan to maintain power over us.

Only through the Lord's power will we be able to be break free from Satan's control. We have no power from within or without, except
for the Lord. God's word reveals the control of Satan in our lives, through strongholds. Satan uses these strongholds to launch attacks
on us. Therefore, we need to identify where these stronghold are, and remove them. Just like an ancient army first had to remove strongholds, to hold the land, we need to do the same.

Identifying your strongholds

Wearing the armor of God, prepares us for battle, we need to identify just where our strongholds are located. Paul in several portions
of scripture identifies specific areas, where the flesh is opposed to the spirit. The scripture below lists areas or strongholds
where Satan can wage war.
Therefore, we need to identify these strongholds in our own life. How does Satan continue to cause us to fall?
What area of our life gives him the ability to wage war with us? Read the scriptures below, can you identify your strongholds?
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of th e Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who. being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:17-19
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves
once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed
in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Colossians 3:5-10
20 For I fear lest, when I come. I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there
be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again,
my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness,
fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Once we begin to identify the strongholds, we need to wage war against them. Paul describes the type of warfare the Spiritual warrior
is to engage in. For example,
Satan had a stronghold in my life (the author); he made me think money was the only way to have friends, power or value.
Therefore, from the age of 15,
I remember making a concerted promise to gain wealth, so I could master the world around me. My whole life from that point was focused on money and power; I made it my god and idol. Only after my idol was crushed in my early twenties did I out of desperation, seek to find truth. Satan ruled over my life from his stronghold, from there, he was able to keep his hold on me; I was a bitter and angry person, who did not want to live. I found Christ and my life changed.

The strongholds of life still existed however, Satan was able to wage war with my thinking, causing me defeat and fear.
Through scripture, I was able to make these thoughts captive to Christ. I learned from scripture the riches of this world were very temporary, that even if I was able to gain the whole world, I would be broke when I died. Scripture revealed to me,
true treasure was what you could keep forever. The words of Jesus became instrument of spiritual warfare, Jesus said in Mark 35

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 "Or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul?
Mark 8:35-36

Therefore, every time Satan would whisper to my mind, the importance of great wealth and fame, I learned to quote this verse back.
Soon I was able to wage war against this stronghold in my life, and claim victory, no longer trusting in earthly riches as my hope.
I soon learned to move on to other strongholds and areas where Satan would launch attacks. Like the armies of old, my goal was
to claim territory from the enemy, I needed to assault his strongholds, and free the "Promised Land" from his control.
Once free from strongholds, I learned to rest in His promises.

Waging war on your stronghold
In 2nd Corinthians 10 verses 3 to 5, we are instructed on how to war against strongholds, where Satan launches his attacks.
What can we learn from this portion of scripture about spiritual warfare?
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The battle is not physical
Our weapons are not physical Our weapons are able to pull down strongholds, arguments and high things
The war is that which exalts against the knowledge of God (The Word)
Victory is achieved by bringing every thought into captivity of obedience of Christ.
We have two offensive weapons in this battle, one the sword of the Lord (God's word) and two, prayer.
These are two mighty weapons, which allow us to pull down strongholds. Our warfare is against that which is opposed
to the knowledge of God.
The revelation of God's word exposes these strongholds, for that reason it is important to combine God's word, the sword
with prayer to overcome these points of satanic power.
Satan knows if we are able to remove these strongholds, a mighty warrior will emerge. His goal is to prevent the victorious
spiritual warrior from taking the field.

DEVELOPING CONVICTION
Putting sin to death starts with developing conviction.
First, we need to develop a general conviction that living a holy life within God's will is important.

Second, we need to develop convictions in specific areas of our lives,
We should have no difficulty developing convictions about areas that God's Word spells out dearly.
For example:
a. Lying - Ephesians 4:25
b. Stealing - Ephesians 4:28
c. Sexual immorality -1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

But what about areas and issues not specifically mentioned in Scripture?
Determining Right from Wrong
 Is it helpful? - spiritually, physically and mentally?

                                       I Corinthians 6:12 2). Does it bring me under its power?
                                                I Corinthians 6:12 3). Does it hurt others?
                                                I Corinthians 8:13 4). Does it glorify God?
                                                                I Corinthians 10:31

*It is often not the activity itself that determines whether it is sinful or not,
but rather, our response to that activity.
What about areas and issues that Christians differ on?
Three governing principles:

1). Do not judge others whose convictions are different than ours.
-Romans 14:1-4

2). Whatever our convictions are, they must be developed out of a sense of obedience to God.
-Romans 14:5-8

3). Whatever convictions we have developed out of a sense of obedience to God,
we must be true to them.
-Romans 14:23
* Going against our own convictions is sin for us, even though it may not be sin for someone else.

                                  Bible Prophesy

"But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

SODOMY / Homosexuals

Definition: Unnatural sexual relations, especially between male persons or between a human being and an animal
(Sodom, to whose people this practice was imputed/ Funk & Wagnall's Standard Encyclopedic Dictionary

Genesis 19:4-5 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old,
a the people from every quarter, and they called to lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight?
Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them."

OLD TESTAMENT LAW
Leviticus 18:1, 22-23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ... "You shall not He with a male as one lies with a female;
It Is an abomination. 'Also you shall not have Intercourse with any animal to be defiled with It, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with It; It Is a perversion.

Leviticus 20:1, 13 Then the lord spoke to Moses, saying,... 'If there Is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them.

WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT LAW
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I came to abolish the law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the law until
all Is accomplished.

Mark 7:7-9 'Bur in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts OF men.' "Neglecting the commandment
of God, you hold to the tradition of men." He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment
of God In order to keep your tradition,

WHAT JESUS' APOSTLE PAUL TELLS US
1 Timothy 1:9-10 ...realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who killtheir fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornlcators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1:25-27 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned In their desire toward one another, men with men committing Indecent acts
and receiving In their own persons the due penalty of their error.

THE BAD NEWS
As you can see in the above Bible verses, homosexuality is not the only violation of God's Law. In fact, the Bible states
that no one is good enough to go to heaven. We have all broken God's Laws and all deserve to be in Hades (hell) forever.
If only someone would love us enough to take our punishment for us.

THE GOOD NEWS
John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin Is death, but the free gift of God Is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 2:24 And He Himself bore our sins In His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds you were healed.

Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Luke 17:29-30Acts 2:24, 31 but God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. He [David] looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to hades, nor did His flesh
SUFFER DECAY.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
John 3:16,18 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.



BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT
Since eternal life is a free gift, not a reward. God is not asking you to make any promises or commitments to Him. As you see in the above Bible verses, God wants you to put your faith and trust in God the Son, Jesus Christ. You must believe that you need a Savior because you have sinned (broken God's Laws) and deserve to be in the flames of Hades (hell) forever. Jesus was God in flesh. He was beaten before He was crucified on the cross. Then He died and suffered in Hades for three days—all this to pay your sin debt in full because of His love for you. Then He resurrected, having purchased the free gift of eternal life for you through His sinless sacrifice. The Bible verses above make it clear that if you believe in and accept His death and resurrection for your sins, you have eternal life—total and everlasting forgiveness. Now God's Holy Spirit will give you the desire and the power to have victory over sin in your life.