The Violent Take It By Force

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/13/2003

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in
God for pulling down strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3

According to websters dictionary a stronghold is
1 : a fortified place
2 a : a place of security or survival

A stronghold can also be a place we have allowed satan
to take hold of our thinking or life. This comes from a time
when we were weak, tempted, or caved in to thoughts,
desires, or temptations.

A strong hold upon our life, is a place that
has taken root in our heart and spirit and become
a bondage within us.

We want to change that from a strong hold of satan the
loser upon our lives to a strong Hold of God upon our
spirit. A refuge, a place of comfort, away from the
enemy surrounded by God's angels, and fought by
mighty warfare.

So how do we change this?

1. Recognize the areas of your life that are not dedicated
to God. Perhaps you have become addicted to something,
or perhaps you are committing adultery. Perhaps you
have been thinking or doing things you know are not
right, but you continue. It can even be a way of
thinking, such as negativity, or gossip, or even
unforgiveness. All of these are negative, satanic strongholds.

2. Recognize that God is greater than any of these.
His might is not limited by our thinking. He is able to
pull down strongholds and defeat them forever.
Do not limit his ability by your thinking or unconfessed sin.
Recognize your need, confess it, and allow His
mighty spirit to overcome the strongholds within you.

3. Learn to fight back. We fight back several ways.
We learn to think differently -- righteously. We get into
the Word, and plant it in our heart, speak it to our problems.
We get into praise.. remembering God is worthy of praise
and inhabits the praises of His people. WE get into
fellowship, and learn to find encouragement and
wisdom from a Pastor and Teachers that God sends to us.
Speak the word, often, powerfully, it is alive and
will go forth and accomplish God's purpose. Nothing
can stop it!

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.
It shall not return to Me void!
But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper
in the thing for which I send it.
Isaiah 55:11

I am reminded of that popular saying now..
when one doesn't want to hear what someone else is
saying. They hold up their hand and say "Talk to the hand".
Basically because they are emphasizing they won't listen.
(A common problem now)

But.. I thought about this, and thought this is what we should
be doing to satan the loser every time he comes in with
a negative thought, or temptation, or lust, we should hold
our hand up and say, NOOOOOOOOOO!

I am a child of the King of Kings. I am covered by the
blood of the Lamb. You have no place in my life.
Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world.
And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
has exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into CAPTIVITY every thought to the
obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We have power in the name of Jesus to overcome
the powers of darkness! Take charge and fight back.
We are His warriors. Never forget that. Never cave in.
And never let defeat be spoken to you. Take every
thought into captivity in the name of Jesus and by
the blood of the Lamb.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying Lord, even
the devils are subject unto us through your name!
and Jesus said to them, I beheld satan as lightning fall from
heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy;
and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:17-19

Claim it, believe it, receive it, cling to it, live by it
and hold up that hand and tell satan the loser you have
power over his demons and domain by the blood of the Lamb
Put on the armor of God daily, and fight back my friends.
We will not lose.. we will win.. and God is still on the throne.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it
by force.
Matthew 11:12

As the kingdom of heaven advances, we fight the conflicts
of the powers of darkness with violent spiritual warfare..
According to Jack Hayford: The upheaval caused by
the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation
or armed advance. It is the result of God's order
shaking relationships, households, cities and nations by
the entry of the Holy Spirit's power working in people.

Hallelujah! Power in the blood of the Lamb!
Praise God saints, and fight back!

Ephesians 6:10-18
(read these daily, practice them with all your heart,
and God will prevail)!

Turn It Into A Prayer

copyright 9/27/2003 Millie

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 4:17

A day hemmed in with prayer, is less likely to unravel!

If today you are in a financial crisis,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you are ill or in pain,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel alone or abandoned,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel overwhelmed by your problems,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you are depressed,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel the oppression of the enemy,
turn it into a prayer.

No matter what you are facing today,
there is no problem that God's abilities are not greater still!

Your doubting, or lack of faith does not change
how great and powerful God is. Tap into His
strength and hope, by turning to God in prayer.

Do not look to the right or left, turn into the driveway of prayer!
Focus your eyes on Jesus, till the world and it's cares fade out,
and His comfort seeps into your spirit filling you with hope
and peace.

Everything would pull on us and drain us,
use us, defeat us, worry us, until we lose hope.

Instead turn it all into a prayer.

If today you find the world's problems are larger
than your ability to cope with them,
turn it over to God in prayer.

Nothing that happens in your life today is your business.
Turn it over to God in prayer.

Casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7.

Hey, you are not still sitting there worrying are you?

Turn it into prayer.

Don't hesitate, don't put it off,
don't find other things to do,
don't try to control it yourself,
don't give into feelings of depression and hopelessness,
this comes from the father of liars, satan the loser.

Run to the arms of God, turn your cares into praises
and leave your cares at the throne of Jesus.

No matter what thought comes to mind,
take it captive, and give it to the Lord.
Even if you have to do it 50 times until you learn
to let go. Turn it over to God in prayer.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the Love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.
Romans 8:38,39

Fear thou not, for I am with the, be not dismayed,
for I am THY God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall
run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not be afraid.
Isaiah 40:31

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Hope For The Day

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

—Psalm 42:11

Hope is a hard commodity to find in this world anymore.
The situations around the world, money crisis, war,
people not having enough funds to maintain their own life and
needs. Illness, loneliness, a sense of desperation about
their situations, or even depression rob us of the very
joy and hope we need each day.

I have found when I wake up each morning, that the first
things I think are going to set the tone for the day. I used
to suffer from severe depression, and it became a
pattern for me when I woke up to think about my problems,
about my hurts and those who I felt had let me down, or
my own sadness or recrimination for those I felt I had let down.
I seemed unable to forgive myself most of all. And therefore
I couldn't even love myself. Life just seemed full of despair.

Then.. over time.. I realized each day I was feeding these
thoughts, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was entertaining
them, and they were controlling me.

I realized then it was absolutely a mental choice. I learned
I could change those thinking patterns, and seek a new
way to start the day. I found that starting the day with
praise music, with time in God's word was vital, and
made a huge difference in my strength level and my
perspective of facing the day.

Our focus is everything. What are you focusing on today?
How is that working for you? Are you feeling hope or despair?

My precious friends, there is a answer. We have a heavenly
Savior who is mindful of our needs. The word says
every hair of ours is numbered (Matthew 10:30).
The Bible says that God saw us even as we were being
knit in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). In Psalm 139 verse
2 it says: You know when I sit down or stand up. You know
my thoughts even when I am far away.

This means God knows about each of the details of our lives,
He was with us at birth and will be with us when we enter
eternity. He has plans for our lives . Jeremiah 29:11:
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

Dear friends, you do not have to feel hopeless.. The God
of the universe has plans for you! Tap into those. Open
your Bible and spend time talking to God.. spend time
reading his word. Let him refresh your spirit and infuse hope
into you. Read all he has planned for you and his great love
for you. He is a personal God and is waiting to hear from
you right now.

Love
millie