STRONG HOLDS
OF SATAN.
(Verses herein are quoted from the NIV And NKJV)
The validity of our lives is measured not by what you say, nor even by what is in our minds but by what
is in our hearts.
When we were at the feast of Tabernacle last year at Kissi, a man who was there for the first time and
who had never attended any feast before, said that one of the things that can help us inherit the Lords Kingdom
is that we must worship Him in truth. He just commented that in the audience listening that day were some
Christians who were false. They were not truly converted.
Now we all know from Jesus parable of the sower. That the tares would be amongst the wheat up until
the day of harvest. (Matthew 13:30, 38). It is one of these facts that we must know that there are those who are
not converted but are among those who call themselves Christians.
Some people want a cushy, comfortable, easy ride into the Kingdom of God. There are no such route. The
easy road leads to perdition. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only
a few find it" ((Matthew 7:13-14).
Those with wrong motives out number Christians with right motives and pure hearts. They are poor in
spirit. They don't have high opinion of themselves. They are meek and teachable. God can reach them and
correct them. All they seek for is righteousness above all. They don't want revenge but to love their enemies as
they love themselves. They are pure in heart.
But these people are often persecuted for seeking what is right (Matt 5:10).
Is it not ironical that for doing what is right, the sons of God are victimized, abused, falsely accused and
vilified. Know clearly that among our chief persecutor are false believers. Remember the analogy that Paul used.
"...the son born in ordinary way persecuted the son born by power of the spirit" (Gal. 4:29) It is the same now!
There are various reasons and ways of persecution. It's not something anyone seeks, but it will come. It's
inevitable to all who will live God's way. When you pursue the righteousness of God as first priority, hostilities
are sure to come. "If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teachings, they will
obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the one who sent Me"
(John 16:20-21). False believers persecute the true Christians. One example of that unrest is due to true
believers confronting the "strongholds of Satan." Darkness does not want to comprehend light. It can only
tolerate so much.
True believers demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God...(2 Cor 10:4). Have you ever asked yourselves, if false Christians are pretentious? Don't they think
themselves important? They do not like to be shown their mistakes, and for that reason, they vigorously resist
correction. They oppose pure truth and they reject true teachings of God.
"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Eph 5:11). The
margin gives us an alternative word for expose. It is "reprove". It is very appropriate. " The Lord knows those
who are His... Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim 2:19). "In a great house
there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay some for honour and some for dishonour
(v20). "The honourable vessels call upon the Lord out of pure heart (v22). The dishonorable ones don't. They are
hypocrites.
It is our duty when there is a need to protect the church, the people of God from wrong concept and from
false ministries, to oppose what is wrong and expose it. "In humility, correcting those who are in opposition, if
God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth" (2 Tim 2:25)
TRUTH
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction, and understanding"(Prov 23:23).. "Reject profane
and old wives' fables and exercise yourself towards godliness" (1 Tim 6:20).
What follows will illustrate the reproach which the righteous suffer for exposing reprobates. But it is
necessary exercise in the pursuit of godliness. "For to this end we both labour and suffer reproach, because we
trust in the Living God" (1Tim 4:10). Let us take heed and know that some people are out to destroy God's
Church by gossiping! but they will have their rewards when Christ shall return with His kingdom.
Bradox Ochieng, Kenya
CURSINGS OF LEV. 26
14 "But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 And if ye shall despise My statutes, or if your soul abhor My judgments, so that ye will not do all My
commandments, but that ye break My covenant:
16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall
consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 And I will set My face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign
over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of
the land yield their fruits.
21 And if ye walk contrary unto Me, and will not hearken unto Me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon
you according to your sins.
22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and
make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate.
23 And if ye will not be reformed by Me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of My covenant: and when ye are gathered
together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the
enemy.
26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall
deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto Me, but walk contrary unto Me;
28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of
your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour
of your sweet odours.
32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it."