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Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus, part of the growing repentance remnant, cleansing as His Bride, getting ready for His soon return as our Bridegroom-----
I believe the woman above is filled with joy having just destroyed, with the Helper Holy Spirit, an old lie of the enemy, a stronghold. She then replaced that old lie with the Truth of God's Word, and is now in His Kingdom, having received the indwelling Holy Spirit. The lie had blocked for years the fullness of God's love towards her.
Today, the stronghold to "chew-- to dine on" [Revelation 3:20] with the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, is "slander/gossip".
Sin strongholds are false beliefs picked up at some point in our minds which, until removed by the Holy Spirit and our free will decision to repent, still govern our responses to circumstances, still mute and cover up God's Truth in His Word. All your thoughts can be traced back to beliefs based on either the truth of Scripture or on satan's lies. If that thought is based on satan's lies, it will lead to fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a strong mind. ( 2 Timothy 1:7) Fear will then lead to trusting some form of idolatry the enemy plants in your mind and heart. In this particular case, with the issue of slander or gossip, instead of learning the Word of God, and choosing to follow the Word of God and honoring above all else His Word to tell the truth, you may well have never even thought about avoiding all gossip, or rationalized that you needed to share stories in some sense to protect yourself.
"Recall that spiritual strongholds are (1) inherited from past generations; (2) established when you try to meet basic needs that God created in each of us [ dignity, authority, blessing and provision, security, purpose and meaning, freedom and boundary, intimate love and companionship ] through ways that are contrary to His will; (3) maintained when you live in a state of unrepentance. The end result is demonic influence in areas of your mind, will, and emotions. Once a stronghold is established, you provide a "foothold" for the devil, a base of operations for the "strongman. (Matthew 12:29)."
This series, going through Passover, God willing, is intended for you and me to remove strongholds as did this woman above. The process is: 1) repent, return to God, convert (Acts 3:19) from the world and the flesh, die to that old rebellious spirit into which you and I were born (Ephesians 2:3), die to the old self, stop playing church, truly come into His Kingdom if you're not in already (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19); 2) receive the indwelling Holy Spirit; and 3) spend time with that Holy Spirit, the Helper (John 16:7-15), as often as possible, day after day, asking Him if you have even a residue of the sin issue presented that day. The process is private, between you and Him. Again, there's no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1).
But old sin patterns blocking His Eternal Word have no place in a Holy Spirit-filled believer, now a "temple of the living God." ( 2 Corinthians 6:16). Given all His promises, including that He will be a Father to each of us believers, and we are His sons and daughters, we are called to " cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; 1 Peter 1:15).
The Risen Christ already sees us as His Bride. He will sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26, the sword of the Spirit ). As each lying stronghold is demolished, replace forever the old lie with the word of God. Be washed in HIS Truth. In that repentance and cleansing process, the Lord is presenting us to Himself, "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27). He is the soon-coming Bridegroom (Matthew 24:36-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-9).
The classic scripture to remove strongholds is in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Here it is in the amplified version: "For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ...,"
Strongholds are pulled down, and old mental blocks are broken, as you and I use spiritual weapons the Lord has given us, particularly the sword of the spirit. (Ephesians 6:17).
here is a short teaching on strongholds on one of our Zoom calls:
https://youtu.be/ykQ90uy7evo
Today's issue is "slander/gossip." Proverbs 10:18 could not be more clear: " Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool." Similarly, in setting forth the qualifications of deacons, Paul says to Timothy, and to you and me today: " Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things." 1 Timothy 3: 8-11.
This is underscored again in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5: " But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
Being candid with yourself and the Holy Spirit, is any remnant of this old gossip pattern still present ? an old issue needing to be confessed? And then repented of ? Do you think His Word is only for the disciples 2,000 years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of gossip/slander as an issue for such a time as this? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?
God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom and Comfort on this issue. May you go forward on His narrow path, "perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1).
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Pastors preaching repentance are seeing amazing results. But at the same time they need support for food for their families and neighbors, for chlorine bottles to combat cholera, for gasoline and repairs for their old cars, etc. Whenever you sow into their work through NDR donations, you too receive their FRUIT! (Matthew 3:8;Mark 6:12,13; Philippians 4:17)
This is a recent word from our dear brother Joseph Kazembe, head of our NDR supported OUT repentance training that has brought over 6,000 young people into Jesus' Kingdom through repentance and finding OUT one's life purpose: "Jesus said in John 15:16 l chose you to bear fruits that will remain and on verse 17 he said l command you to love one another
And the day of Judgement he said on that day he will say l was hungry and you feed me not
We are blessed to be part of this mission making smile to many families where Out graduates comes from
We need more well wishers to help us donate food to these precious people
Joseph
God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Daly
National Day of Repentance
www.repentday.com
www.americankneels.com
www.globalrepent.com
pastorjeff@repentday.com
here is a copy of a recent "Cleansing the Bride" zoom call every Wednesday. Please email for zoom info, and join us ! https://youtu.be/t6XnBSa83mw
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The Lord makes it clear: Luke 13:1-5, repent or perish. Here's a NDR video on this key scripture: https://youtu.be/oT15XrDvv9c
and this video on ETERNITY: https://youtu.be/evrL-H29908
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