Pulling down the Stronghold/Fortress

Recently I heard a sermon on the radio discussing 2 Corinthians 10:3-5(KJV).

2 Corinthians 10:3 (Amplified)
For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Some quotes and research on the subject I thought worth sharing....

A stronghold or fortress is “a place having strong defenses – a fortified place.” All strongholds begin in the mind. If we entertain any thought long enough, whether it is good or bad, it becomes established in our thinking. Paul says we do not fight with weapons of this world, but bring every thought in our mind into the captivity or obedience of Christ. the good news is that we do have spiritual resources that are categorically different. They are supernaturally powered as verse 4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (NASB).

We are first "destroying speculations," theories, or arguments, the rationalizations which act as walls around the fortress of lies and destructive beliefs. These rationalizations are based on false assumptions which buttress disappointment, discouragement, and depression. The walls prevent the mind and heart from seeing God's love and power and goodness.

Next is "destroying prideful arrogance," the pride and intellect that exalts itself and keeps people from seeing who God is. Paul is not attacking intelligence, because God gave us intelligence, but intellectualism, the high-minded attitude that makes us think we know more than we do. In Romans 12:16 Paul calls it being "…haughty in mind…" or "…wise in our own estimation."

"…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." The concern here is destructive thoughts. I think it's important that we apply this final verse personally to ourselves. Think about our own sinful tendencies to fantasize, to imagine ourselves as successful and powerful, or to daydream that life or relationships are somehow better or different. Christ calls us to clear-minded realism. Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 10:5 calls it, "…fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." It's allowing Christ to take control of our thinking and our feeling, constantly giving our minds and hearts, including all the loose ends, to him to conform them to the love, purpose and power of who he is.

Know the Voice of God – Philippians 4:8 You must recognize the voice of God and understand what the Bible says your thoughts should be. Read God’s word and meditate on it and they will be full of revelations for you. God’s word will stop harmful, negative thoughts that may be lodged in your mind and reveal how to counter the Devil’s onslaught.

If thoughts come to encourage you to be different so that you can make a name foryourself, those thoughts are originating with the Enemy. Jesus was a prophet and an intercessor, yet He was practical – Matthew 4:1-11; 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 9:28; 6:12. God is a practical God – an everyday kind of God. Be transformed by renewing your mind. – Romans 12:2 , Prepare your mind for action. – 1 Peter 1:13 ,Take every thought captive in obedience to Christ(2 Corinthians 10:4)

Faith of a child

Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, Georgi. He was very sick and they had done everything they could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now . . . and that was out of the financial question. She heard Daddy say it with a whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in a cold-weather-kerchief, she slipped out of the apartment and made her way to the corner drug store.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her attention. . . but he was too busy talking to another man to be bothered by an eight-year-old. Sally twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. She cleared her throat. No good. Finally she took a quarter from its hiding place and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick . . . and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist. "My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now . . . so how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I can't help you." "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much it costs."

The well-dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my folks can't pay for it . . . so I have my money. "How much do you have?" asked the well-dressed man. "A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And it's all the money I have in the world." "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well-dressed man. A dollar and eleven cents . . . the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother. He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents."

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, renowned surgeon, specializing in solving Georgi's malady. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Georgi was home again and doing well. Mommy and Daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery," Mommy whispered. "It's like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?

Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents... plus the faith of a little child.

Heal our land oh God

"I exhort therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Tim. 2:1,2)

Abba, our most holy Father, thank You for our leaders. We pray for all those in authority in the body of Christ, for those in authority in this nation and the world. That Your people may live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in Your sight, as You, LORD, have said "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn." We pray, LORD, that Your people, throughout this whole nation, who are called by Your name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek Your face, and turn from any wicked ways. And we pray for Your forgiveness of our sins and the sin of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

We pray knowing You will hear from heaven, and will forgive sins, and heal our land. Blessed, loving Father, we pray that You will heal our land. We pray that You will pour Your mercy and grace upon us. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in this nation, and in all the earth, as it is in heaven.

Power of the believers

Gospel of Mark 17-19 (KJV)

and Jesus said:

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God

The Fall Feast begin 29 Sept 2008 with Feast of Trumpets.

An Interesting article.

Feast of Trumpets

For Signs and Seasons...

Since we need a new post, I thought I’d see what is the general consensus on the blood red moons and solar eclipses that occur in the 2014/15 Jewish year? I know the the Sun, Moon and Stars are there for SIGNS and seasons, and I would be really, really, really happy to have the rapture on 30 Sep of 2008 (50 days from Aug 11 (today)). These are the Referenced sites...

Interview with Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries on Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2014/15 Video(Part 1) and Video(Part 2)

and a follow up from Steve Hadley of Harvest Family Fellowship in Reno who has counted the 1260/1290 days from scripture and claims it falls within the parameters of the Bible with a start date of 30 Sept 2008.
Video of A Purim Connection...?

Here are the notes I took (had to keep rewinding for interruptions so take them with a grain of salt)?

I can only make this work by using 29 Sept 2008 as a start date for the Rapture (I’m hoping for this date).

Given 29 Sept 2008 as the date of the rapture (Yom Teruah(Rosh HaShannah) is the only festival that no man knows when exactly it will occur. This is due to the fact that it begins on the new moon. The new moon was sanctified when two witnesses see the new moon and attest to it before the Sanhedrin in the Temple. This sanctification could happen during either of two days, depending on when the witnesses come. Since no one knew when the witnesses would come, no one knew when the Feast of Trumpets would start. On the 30th of each month, the members of the High Court assembled in a courtyard in Jerusalem, where they waited to receive the testimony of two reliable witnesses. They then sanctified the new moon. The new moon is very difficult to see on the first day because it can be seen only about sunset, close to the sun, when the sun is traveling north. So, looking for a very slim faint crescent moon, which is very close to the sun, is a very difficult thing to do. If the moon’s crescent was not seen on the 30th day, the new moon was automatically celebrated on the 31st day. )

Wow this is going to be a long post…

Anyway adding 2550 days (1260 + 1290) to 29 Sep 2008 gives Yom Kippur on 23 Sep 2015. With Sukkot following 10 days later on 28 Sep 2015 with a Total Lunar Eclipse.

Adding 1260 days to 29 Sep 2008 gives 12 Mar 2012 with Purim occurring on 8 Mar 2012 and the given theory is that the 2 witnesses are killed on Purmin (I didn’t know that Purmin was celebrated with gift giving, celebration, etc hence dancing and gift giving when they are killed)

Then we assume that after 3 days they are raised from the dead on 11 Mar 2012 thus showing the Jews that their on the wrong side. With the following day 12 Mar 2012 ending the 1260 day period and starting the 1290 day period which would end on Yom Kippur 2015.
Also worth noting is that from 8 Mar 2012 to 7 Apr 2012 (Passover) is 30 days

The eclipse are defined as : Total Lunar on 15 Apr 2014 Pesuch – Total Lunar 8 Oct 2014 – the day before (sunset) of Succott on 9 Oct 2014 – Total Solar 20 Mar 2015 – listed as declared day of new Religious Year (though I can’t find on any Jewish calendar) – Partial Lunar 13 Sep 2015 the day before (sunset) of Rosh HaShannah 14 Sep 2015 (same senerio that gave us the starting Rosh HaShannah of 29 Sep 2008) – and Finally a Total Lunar Eclipse on Sukkot 28 Sep 2015.

Gifts of the Lord

Could think of anything smart to post. But I recently read Phillippians 4(amplified Bible). It's a good reminder of all that God provides us.

(4)Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

(5) Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon] .

(6) Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

(7) And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Marantha

Can we show Abba a Tsunami or a Splash?

The Wave
Can we show Abba a Tsunami or a Splash?

What a Great Idea.

From El Shaddai Ministries

Greetings to everyone from around the world! You know how at sporting events they have “the wave” where one group starts it and then it cycles all the way around back to the beginning? Do you remember when at the year 2,000 they showed on television all the New Year celebrations going on around the world as the New Millennium began? Here is what I want to propose. Let’s have an around the world shofar assembly in every time zone on the Feast of Trumpets at sunset (the evening of September 29th) announcing to Messiah we are awake and anxiously anticipating His return. What a dress rehearsal! Won’t that stir His heart!!

We listed the 24 different time zones on a chart that you'll find at http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/thewave. Join us by submitting the email form to get your information placed on the grid in your time zone segment. We will add your city to the list of cities and groups that are participating. Hopefully we can get people from every tongue, tribe and nation participating as we join together proclaiming Yeshua as our coming King of Kings!


Marantha!

Mike