Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Overcoming Sexual Strongholds

Breaking Free



(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) 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. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.




A stronghold is a prisoner locked by deception.  Living life by something that is not true. 




(Romans 1:21-25 NLT) They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools…As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie.




Sex Lies


• Sex is an animalistic action.




• Sex is a recreational activity.




• Sex is an isolated event.




• Sex is just physical.




(1 Corinthians 6:15-17) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”






(1 Corinthians 6:18-20) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.




Real love is defined by a commitment to a person not a feeling. 




Overcoming Sexual Strongholds

(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7 LB) God wants you to be pure and to keep clear of all sexual sin... For God has not called us to be dirty-minded and full of lust but to be holy and clean.




1. Make a commitment to God's way.




(Isaiah 1:18) Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.




(2 Corinthians 6:17-18) Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.




2. Manage my mind.




(Romans 8:5-6 NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.




(Psalm 101:3) I will set before my eyes no vile thing.




3. Maintain healthy relationships.




(1 Corinthians 15:33) Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”




(James 5:16 MSG) Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.






4. Magnify God's plan for my life.




(2 Corinthians 7:1 MSG) With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.


Don't be delivered from something.  Be delivered to something.


Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands



Video
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/overcoming-sexual-strongholds



Discussion Group
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/1-21-18.pdf
All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

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