Demolishing Strongholds Through Declarations. 

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. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

“If you want to identify the hidden strongholds in your life, you need only survey the attitudes in your heart. Every area in your thinking that glistens with hope in God is an area which is being liberated by Christ. But any system of thinking that does not have hope, which feels hopeless, is a stronghold which must be pulled down.” 
Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds


God wants to transform and bring His freedom to every area of our lives. His plan is to cause of minds and emotions to be like a land flowing with milk and honey. To be people who experientially enjoy God's love, hope, joy and peace.

The new birth brings us into a relational promised land of enjoying God. Spiritual adoption is all a work of His grace, we receive the gifts of belonging, acceptance, forgiveness. The status of being a son or daughter is our starting point. 

Grace brings us home, once home we are called to experientially possess what is now ours through Christ. Practically this means our spiritual warfare guns need to shift from rebuking outward circumstances and instead point at our beliefs, strongholds, any arguments, lofty opinions, warped ideas and barriers that block the experiential enjoyment of God's truth of who we already are. The lies believed about God, ourselves, others and our circumstances are the giants in our thinking, that must be taken captive for us to enjoy the benefits of the land. It's not about fighting for victory but demolishing strongholds is about fighting from victory.The believer doesn't have to try and get something that has already been given. At the Cross Jesus took all our guilt, shame, rejection, in demolishing strongholds there is simply the decision to line up and agree with God. 

Strongholds are patterns of thinking that have been built up by habitually thinking in a particular way.  It is a fortified ways of reasoning and thinking.  Our manifest metamorphosis, and transformation requires that we demolish the strongholds that block the flow of who we truly are impacting the world around. We will know when a stronghold has been demolished when our emotions line up with what we say we believe. Faith, conviction, inner alignment and unity with truth will be expressed in emotions that agree with what we say we believe. 

Strongholds hinder progress, maturity and fruitfulness. Perfectionism, rejection, hopelessness, comparison, shame, guilt, and fear. These arguments can become the lens we see God, ourselves, others and our circumstances through.

Declarations are a powerful means of demolishing strongholds, for tearing down the argument that protects and maintains it's defence,  and for building up new ways of reasoning.   Freedom comes and is maintained through the capacity to think in a new way. To reason biblically is what tears down patterns that previously held us captive. Declarations harness the power of words to pilot us towards lived out freedom. 

It not about will power, or self effort, declarations are about positioning yourself to hear the saviours words, Jesus' words are spirit and life, God's word carries enabling grace. His words have divine power to tear down and build up. Declaring His words lets us see life from Heavens perspective. Through intimacy and connection with God, He becomes like a hammer in the believers hand, so that through co-labouring with Him we break apart the stones that form strongholds in our thinking.

 At first making declarations feels fake, it doesn't feel true. We need to remember that our minds are used to reasoning "if it feels true then it must be". Emotions become attached to a stronghold, these emotions form the warped way of thinks greatest defence, "you are rejected, because you feel rejected" These distorted arguments need to be taken captive, to take down a stronghold is a violent act, it may not go easily, there may be discomfort.

 It is also important when we start to make declarations we remember that many beneficial habits are not exciting at first. For example exercise and nutrition , it often takes time to overcome discomfort. Stick at, most often demolishing strongholds is a process, punctured by suddenly's, ah ha moments, illumination and revelation.

For more resources to encourage Intimacy, connection and trust in Father God please download the Dream Revolution smartphone App by clicking the link.

http://get.theapp.co/4ee1

 

Jamie Lee, 07/10/2018
Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

New to Church?


Welcome! Whether you've just moved to the area, or have lived here all your life, we hope our website helps you to find out everything you want to know about our Church.

 

Some key information about the church...

 

Where & when does the church meet?

The church meets every Sunday at 11:00 am for our Sunday Service. There is plenty of free parking around the CCK building. We are walking distance from Plumstead Train station and local buses. It’s good to get to the meeting 15 minutes early to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee before the service starts.

We meet at the church building in the middle of Plumstead

The address is:

46 Lakedale Road
Plumstead
London
SE18 1PS

You can see a map on our contact us page.

 

What should I expect when I visit the church?

You will receive a very warm welcome particularly from our Welcome Team who will be able to answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go.

Sunday is special because it’s the main opportunity in the week for the whole church family to gather, worship God, enjoy his manifest presence together, minister to one-another, receive encouragement and exhortation from God’s word and be refreshed by God’s Spirit and one-another’s friendship and support.

There will be approximately 45 mins of singing with opportunity for church members to pray, prophesy or read a passage from the bible. After the notices there will be a preach, we take time to understand the bible’s message and how this can teach us about God, about ourselves, about the world that we live in and about what authentic Christian lifestyle looks like in practice. At the end of the preach there is always a chance to respond.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.

 

What happens to the kids at church?

As a family church we are thrilled to have people of all ages involved in our Sunday morning meetings. Typically, after worshiping together for 30 minutes or so, the children and young people will leave for their own activities.

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church for ages 0–14. Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the relevant age groups for you under church life.

Is there a dress code?

No! Please just be yourself and come dressed in your 'normal' clothes.

 

Will I have to join in?

Not at all!
You are free to simply observe or participate as much as feels comfortable for you.

 

Useful Links...

We have more information for you specifically if you…

 

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them.

Please feel free to contact us.