From the Desk of Prophet Rev. Kathleen E. Lounsbury
Breaking Strongholds - Part II
Let's continue our study of breaking strongholds. This group of lectures are for the purpose of obtaining an inner revelation of what God can do for people who are caught in negative defeating cycles.
If old mind-sets are established and embraced, we run the risk of mishandling the Word of God. Some of us have two categories of thinking; what we should believe and then what we actually do believe. Since God cannot override someone's will of choice; even though the Word of God has power to change us, it can only transform us as we allow it to penetrate through our old thought patterns. Our problem will lie in our ability to let go of our old experiences, memories, and feelings. The Lord keeps offering us the truth, we must accept it as such. We must understand our Father is a caring, loving, kind, and nurturing parent. Always ready to encourage our development. However, many of us believe that He is the opposite so when we fail our expectations, we believe He is rejecting us.
We must understand that the enemy works in our own strongholds to destroy our relationships with God. Stop seeing yourself from your past, and see yourself in view of your potential in Christ. Satan may give you time to live on Hallelujah Lane and everything seems so easy. Prayer is easy, Praise is easy, but when we settle into everyday living the enemy begins to chip away at your new identity. These revelations of truth must be embraced to bring us into a life of freedom.
As our new nature begins to take hold, our old nature fights this disastrous new life. This is why we sometimes feel so undone. You have every right to live free and loose the bondages in your life. God will not force His will on you. But He will help you. As He quotes in His word through Phil. 2:13, "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."; and Jer. 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Satan wants to drag you down. He's interested in weighing us with lies and deception, until he breaks our will. We must reconcile ourself with ourself. We keep ourself from all God has for us when we remain trapped in defeat.
Milk will nourish us at an infant level, because we are not required in infancy to sustain much. All of our needs are provided for, we need meat to grow up. Because as we mature, more is required from our life. When the enemy is determined to overtake us, he is depending on our lack of food and its sustaining power. Knowledge must translate itself into doing something. Wisdom comes from the experience of acting upon knowledge. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31,32) God wants us to be sensitive and kind to the feelings of others and less sensitive to our own feelings. This begins to take root and place in our life as we submit our thoughts and actions to the Lord.
Psalm 7:9: "O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure."
Rev. 2:23: "I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Trying times are learning times. We must learn to:
1) Face the Truth - Get out of denial
2) Confess your Faults - James 5:16
3) Admit the Truth - Psalms 51:6
4) Receive Forgiveness - Forget your sin - Jer. 31:34; Ps. 103:12
5) Acknowledge yourself a New Creature - II Cor. 5:17
6) Open up to God - I John 1:5,6
We will then begin to see ourselves differently and one sign that we walk in the light, is that we have relationships with everyone we come in contact with. We begin to see inspiration without information has no revelation. Faith is now, it is not future or past tense, it is now. Faith is the stuff, the substance of things you want. Things are what you are hoping for. Begin everything with the Word. The Word and God are equal. Let faith equal the Word of God. The just shall live by the Word of God. You cannot say you believe it, you've got to drink it. Base your faith on the Word. NO WORD, NO FAITH! You must have a scripture to back what you believe. Evidence of things not seen; the Word of God is the confirmation number.
We are in the process room of the Lord. Old things are passing away, all things therefore are becoming new. We now have the right by God to become all He created us to be. Our ignorance can no longer entrap us as we follow Christ through His word.
The body of Christ needs to get ready for an outpouring of divine favor. Our breakthrough hinges on God bringing His help and favor to us. Supernatural favor is coming to the church. So it is our duty as leaders to learn all we can and to teach our people how to handle this new life in Christ.
As we love people, teach the word and live the word, our church will do the same. We will reflect to the world the love and transforming power of God. Are we ready? Are our churches ready? because Our Father is ready and waiting for our response.