Um I know that Jesus tells us this is the stronghold in us
“For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:21-23 KJV
and it has been our problem since the knowledge of good and evil caused this
“And GOD saw that
the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and
it grieved him at his heart.”
Genesis 6:5-6
And I know his word in Christ can take those those of hearts and teach them
“For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
so to conquer strongholds we need to accept Gods word and it tells us where those strong holds have rooted and where the battle ground is
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holdscasting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV
you’ve heard the scripture “ the kingdom is within you “?
to overcome a stronghold we have to convert from Moses to Christ from flesh command to spiritual command
“Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
but I say unto you, That
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 KJV
remember where evil comes from ?
“from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,”
The reason we sin is because our heart and mind is corrupt in the world , it happened when man didn’t believe God and took the forbidden knowledge of good and evil it caused this inside man
“I find then
a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For
I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but
I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
Romans 7:21-23 KJV
This isn’t meant to be the case we aren’t supposed to know both good and evil but we’re meant to know and believe truth Gods word being those made in his image Gods word is meant to be our thoughts and heart not a conflict between good and evil it’s why he told them
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying,
Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 2:16-17
see Gods Will was to put Adam
into Eden and then he told him of the only danger because good and evil is t meant to be inside us God knew it would bring sin and death but they didn’t believe after Satan spoke to them they took his word instead and ate the fruit of good and evil and then God cast them out of Eden
now Satan has us in a snare , having corrupted us at heart and mind that law of sin inside our heart that’s the stronghold in us we simply need to allow the truth of Christ into our mknd and heart
some have lust , others have greed , others pride , others grudge bearing and Unforgiving , ect we each have things in us hat we need to let go of sexual lust is just an obvious example , the love of money and worldly things probably the most common. But if you notice Jesus doctrine is always focused inward where our problems are that cause us to act on sin
if we repent in the heart recognizing the inner things he taught us it is like breaking the bonds because of you overcome thinking about adultery , fornication fantasy and imagination of evil we no longer have motivation or reason to do those things we can overcome but not by our Will to overcome
we can overcome by faith the stronghold is why we sin the solution is to let the gospel be true and hesr and believe and learn and grow and the key of all of it is once you believe start applying it to daily life he really just teaches us how to live a decent life that’s helpful and good and kind to others he really doesn’t make us jump through hoops
just wasn’t us to start following the lord but the first step is for us to come to and learn from the gospel Jesus taught sinners to believe and learn from cause sadly that’s us , those sinners who need to do this
and even more fortunately we aren’t the ones scoffing at him because he is saving “those “ ole sinners way over there who don’t deserve to be included
“And the
Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying,
This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
Luke 15:2
almost “ ewwwww cooties “ they were so blind
to summarize this needs to happen
“that ye put off concerning the former conversation
the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;( that’s where the gospel comes in )
and that
ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV