Sunday, January 10, 2010
Most of us deal with obstacles or “spiritual giants” that serve as hindrances to our spiritual growth. These problems can come from something within us like worry, stress, procrastination, control issues, or bitterness. They can be caused by something outside of us like abuse, cultural pressures, unhealthy relationships, or materialism. Or they could be centered on personal distractions such as busyness, addictions, hurriedness, or laziness. Why are these obstacles associated with giants? Consider the characteristics of giants. They’re unhappy, sinister, grumpy, huge, unloving, and mean. Their strength and stature indicate the power of spiritual forces that oppose us.
Our problems or obstacles are referred to as giants because they overpower us, control us, take away our freedom, stunt our growth, intimidate us, wreak havoc on us, and devour us. They eat us up!
How do we fight these forces and overcome these strongholds?
1. Identify your obstacles or strongholds and trace how this obstacle affects you. When does it rear its ugly head? When did it start? What fears, questions, and concerns does it raise? Who are the people associated with this obstacle? In what areas of my life does it affect?
2. Realize you’re not alone. We all fight spiritual battles, even our most well-known Christians.
Apostle Paul - “ 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:19 & 20
Billy Graham – “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears I my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’”
Helen Keller – “The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome
3. Understand the battle begins in your mind. Get control of your thought power because every action begins with a thought.
The sequence of how strongholds develop in an individual is as follows:
1. Satan-inspired thoughts enter your mind.
2. You entertain these thoughts, which bring out emotions.
3. You give in to these emotions and that leads to some sort of action.
4. Continual participation in the action causes you to develop a habit.
5. As the habit develops, a stronghold is built.
4. Use your spiritual arsenal – the armor of God. By daily putting on the armor of truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the Holy Spirit, we will defeat our spiritual giants.
Ephesians 6:10-20 (New International Version)
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil i
n the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Use these strategies to slay your giants!
Our problems or obstacles are referred to as giants because they overpower us, control us, take away our freedom, stunt our growth, intimidate us, wreak havoc on us, and devour us. They eat us up!
How do we fight these forces and overcome these strongholds?
1. Identify your obstacles or strongholds and trace how this obstacle affects you. When does it rear its ugly head? When did it start? What fears, questions, and concerns does it raise? Who are the people associated with this obstacle? In what areas of my life does it affect?
2. Realize you’re not alone. We all fight spiritual battles, even our most well-known Christians.
Apostle Paul - “ 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:19 & 20
Billy Graham – “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears I my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’”
Helen Keller – “The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome
3. Understand the battle begins in your mind. Get control of your thought power because every action begins with a thought.
The sequence of how strongholds develop in an individual is as follows:
1. Satan-inspired thoughts enter your mind.
2. You entertain these thoughts, which bring out emotions.
3. You give in to these emotions and that leads to some sort of action.
4. Continual participation in the action causes you to develop a habit.
5. As the habit develops, a stronghold is built.
4. Use your spiritual arsenal – the armor of God. By daily putting on the armor of truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the Holy Spirit, we will defeat our spiritual giants.
Ephesians 6:10-20 (New International Version)
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil i
n the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Use these strategies to slay your giants!
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