The Barriers to success in Christ
( page 4 of 5 )
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Why are so many believers living so far below their potential in Christ?...Ignorance, lack of repentance and faith in God, and unresolved conflicts keep people from growing.[1]
Hosea 4 (v. 6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge....
Generational sins are some of the biggest demonic strongholds in a person’s life. Most do not even recognize it as a pattern that was passed down, but just “something they live with”.…Many children are born with this sin pattern that indwells a child’s flesh.[2]
Generational sins are patterns that bring about strongholds in a family because of sins perpetuated by family members in a number of generations. This pattern is carried out through the nature of the flesh. This sin pattern brings about bondage to the same sins as the parents. This bondage will occur during an individual’s life, until that individual addresses the sin issues that had put the sin into effect.[2]
Exod 34 (v. 6) And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “....the Lord God, merciful and gracious.... (v. 7) keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.
Any attempt to push yourself beyond what you know to be true about God and His ways is to move from faith to presumption. You choose to believe God according to what you know to be true from His word.[3]
I Sam 15 (v. 23) For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.... [NET]
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The only way to increase your faith is to increase your knowledge of God, who is the believer's only legitimate faith object.[3]
Rom 10 (v. 17) ....faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God....
Faith is only an instrument or a channel by which we receive Jesus Christ and His righteousness. In other words, it is the object of faith which is Jesus Christ, that saves us. Faith is only making Christ’s righteousness effective.[4]
Rom 5 (v. 11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
The only limit to your faith is your knowledge and understanding of God, which grows every time you read your bible....[3]
Prov 18 (v. 15) The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Demons have many attack strategies they can use to undermine the faith of a believer. However, the mind of a person is the main focus of attack. They will plant thoughts in the unguarded mind of a believer and intensify the evil that is already in one’s human nature. Satan and his demons assault the believer’s mind with doubts and fears. They put forth challenges to the believer’s faith and undermine his confidence in God’s goodness and promises. A believer will then have perceived inconsistencies, or vain imaginations, in God’s treatment of His people or others. A believer must learn to stop the demonic assault by rejecting their false accusations against God in his mind.[5]
Matt 16 (v. 21) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must....suffer many things.... (v. 22) Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (v. 23) But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me....”
Satan's strategy is to introduce his thoughts and ideas into your mind and deceive you into believing they are yours....
If satan can place a thought in your mind, (and he can), it isn't much more of a trick for him to make you think it is your idea.[6]
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John 13 (v. 2) And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him....
If you knew it was satan, you would reject the thought, wouldn't you? When he disguises his suggestions as your thoughts and ideas, you are more likey to accept them. That is his primary deception.[6]
Jam 4 (v. 7) therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (v. 8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you....
If satan can get you to believe a lie, you can lose some element of control in your life....if you fail to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, you may be allowing satan to influence your life in a negative direction.[7]
II Cor 10 (v. 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
Satan has no authority or power over you except what you yield to him when you are deceived into believing his lies....many christians are hearing voices in their minds, but they are afraid to tell anyone for fear others will think they are going crazy.[7]
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John 8 (v. 44) You belong to your father, the devil....for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Because satan's primary weapon is the lie, your defense against him is the truth. Dealing with satan is not a power encounter; it is a truth encounter. When you expose satan's lie with God's truth, his power is broken.[7]
That is why Jesus said:
John 8 (v. 32) You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free....
More demon lies: there are two main false teachings in the church today in regards to demonic activity. First, that a believer should not be concerned with thoughts that a demon could be their problem. Second, that a believer in Christ cannot be demonized. These false teachings allow the devil and his demon army a “freedom” to bring fear, mental torment, jealousy, hatred, lust, pride, self-pity, addictions, oppression, depression, unforgiveness, and many other forms of bondage....all undetected by the Body of Christ. These teachings are a part of satan’s strategy to undermine God’s people and take them captive.[8]
As long as you are focusing on what you don't have, you will be unhappy. When you begin to appreciate what you already have, you will be happy all your life.[9]
I Tim 6 (v. 6) But godliness with contentment is great gain. (v. 7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (v. 8) And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
Actually, you already have everything you need to make you happy forever. You have Christ. You have eternal life. You are loved by a heavenly Father who has promised to supply all your needs.[9]
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Phil 4 (v. 19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Christ and His love are inseparable and identical. If you have the one, you have the other; if you lack the one, you lack the other. Christ and His love are inseparable, they are identical. God is love, and Christ is love. God and Christ and the divine love can only be known by having them.…by their life and power working within us.[10]
Rom 8 (v. 38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life…. (v. 39) ….nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When struggling believers resolve their personal and spiritual conflicts through repentance and faith in God, they too will experience their freedom in Christ....[11]
Gal 5 (v. 1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
II Cor 5 (v. 17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The [Apostle] Paul would later tell the Corinthians that we become new creatures in Christ. What did Paul mean by this?...He asserted that when a man or woman is born again, when the death he was referring to actually takes place, we become new creatures, from the soles of our feet to the top of our heads. That doesn’t mean the old man won’t show up occasionally, or that we will never stumble; but his appearance only proves that satan understands the old animal nature and knows how to produce circumstances and situations that are calculated to bring about our downfall.[13]
The following list compliments the “Who you really are in Christ” list from webpage 2 of 5. These statements further describe your identity in Christ. It is called “Since I am in Christ” and you should read this second list aloud to yourself repeatedly until it becomes a part of you.
Since_I_Am_in_Christ.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [216.1 KB]
Perceiving those events from the perspective of your new identity in Christ is what starts the process of healing those damaged emotions.[14]
Rom 12 (v. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
People who are motivated by fear are not experiencing their freedom in Christ....Fear compels people to do what they should not do and inhibits them from doing what they should do.[15]
Psm 34 (v. 4) I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (v. 7) The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Every time that I hear the song below (We Belong to You), I am constantly reminded of what the bible says: “....you are not your own....For you were bought at a price....”
We belong to you, Lord. Your song flows through my lips. Your work moves through my hands. Your thoughts stay on my mind. Live in me.[16]
When we belong to God, this is our confession: Your words, my mouth. Your thoughts, my mind. Your love, my heart. Here’s all of me.[16] Listen to it for yourself!!
We Belong to You, Lord! music video ref. [16]
References:
1. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.98, Bethany House.
2. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.121-122, Real Deliverance Ministry.
3. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.111, Bethany House.
4. Vineyard Ministries. “The Gospel’s Great Danger” Tape 12. Gospel in Galatians, Audiocassette.
5. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.57, Real Deliverance Ministry.
6. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.159-160, Bethany House.
7. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.161-162, Bethany House.
8. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.56, Real Deliverance Ministry.
9. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.146, Bethany House.
10. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.56, Booklet.
11. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.150, Bethany House.
12. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.188, Bethany House.
13. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.84, Booklet.
14. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.189, Bethany House.
15. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory over the darkness, p.221, Bethany House.
16. Casey J. (Official Lyric video) “I’m Yours” Online video. YouTube, 10 July 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp7mh-5RuEg
Image #1: Into The Waters, (2015). A list of common strongholds. Retrieved from https://www.intothewaters.com/strongholds.html
Image #2: Prayers and Promises, (2015). Faith in the power of God. Retrieved from https://dianarasmussen.com/2015/08/14/maybe-my-faith-is-bipolar/
Image #3: Michelle Walling, (n.d.). Negative voices in your head. Retrieved from http://howtoexitthematrix.com/2018/05/20/negative-voices-in-your-head-the-thats-a-lie-program/
Image #4: Psychology Today, (2011). How we know you are lying. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuronarrative/201106/how-we-know-youre-lying
Image #5: The Preachers Word, (2017). God will supply all of your needs. Retrieved from https://thepreachersword.com/tag/great-verses-of-the-bible/
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