Removing Hindrances to Victorious Christian Living

joelI used to live in Quito, Ecuador. Like many cities in Latin America, there wasn’t a lot of centralized planning. Squatters would often build shacks on the outskirts of the city, hoping for a better life. After erecting their make-shift houses, the government had a hard time removing them.

Paul says, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-4). The word picture in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 is of the conquest of Canaan. God told the Israelites to wipe out the heathen nations because of their blatant idol worship and animism.SETfree The Israelites took some of the land–but not all of it. Certain strongholds were under the control of others and the heathen people remained “squatters” for centuries.

Here’s the application: even though we have given our life to Christ, some areas may be “out of control” (e.g., anger, lust, fear, resentment). Satan gains ground in our lives through such entry points. Strongholds can come from: habitual sin (e.g, pornography), unforgiveness, occult Involvement, generational bondage, traumatic life experiences.

I’m increasingly convinced that Christians need to be set free from enemy strongholds that weigh them down and cause them to live defeated Christain lives. An Encounter Retreat is designed to help believers deal with areas of bondage and to live victorious Christian life–to get rid of the satanic squatters that have erected strongholds in our lives.

As part of my five-book equipping series, I’ve designed an Encounter Retreat, that you might want to check out. I’m increasingly convinced that churches should take their people through the process of being set free. This is what Jesus wants for His church. He said in John 8:34-36: “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Comments?

Joel

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