Pastor Mark has been teaching on spiritual warfare. I continue in that vein this morning by talking about strongholds used by the enemy to try and destroy our relationship with God. It's not only satan who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but it's a whole host of spirits that seek our destruction. One of their most insidious methods of seeking our destruction is by establishing strongholds in our minds that conflict with Holy Spirits's work in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ and to enable us to fulfill God's purpose.

Spiritual warfare, as we have been learning through this series, is real and everyone is engaged in it. No one is a casual bystander. Many people are unknowingly prisoners of the enemy; while others are confused by the chaos and noise surrounding them. They find themselves asking "Who is friend? Who is foe?"

We’ve been unpacking many of the detrimental effects of spiritual warfare …..so……how do we overcome, win and have victory in these battles? Satan has many effective strategies to destroy and defeat us. God's strategies are much stronger and much more effective to neutralize, defeat, and give us victory over satan's strategies and plans... we need to know what our weapons are and how to use them!

We've been unpacking what spiritual warfare is and what it looks like... Last week I touched on our spiritual armor. Today I will continue teaching on the different parts of God's armor.

Today concludes our season of 21 day prayer and fasting. Thank you for participating. I know there will be fruitfulness from our diligence in seeking the Lord! Let's continue to be sensitive to the Lord and develop a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, reading the Word and seeking the Lord and His will.

Prayer and Fasting are powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. We are 14 days into our 21 day fast. 1 week to go. Let's continue to be diligent in seeking the Lord!

Spiritual Warfare is real. The enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy! Jesus came to give us abundant life. Join us in this series as we learn to identify and stay strong in the battle. Prayer and fasting give us strength. We have completed 7 days in our 21 days fast. I hope you will continue to participate on some level and continue praying for the specific areas we've identified.

Prayer and fasting are powerful tools to help us in this relationship with the Lord. This week, we begin our 21 day fast and I’m asking all of us to spend some time in prayer and fasting, seeking Him. There is a lot of transition going on in the world, maybe in your lives as well and there is no greater thing that if we can spend some time with the Lord. When we fast and pray, there is something that happens in our lives as we seek Him with all of our heart , soul, and mind.

Last week, we unpacked this relationship that we have with the Lord. This week, I want us to experience the dynamic of building relationships together.

Every follower of Christ is a part of the body of Christ. Together we form God's family.

God has a purpose, a plan, and a process for bringing us into an intimate, personal relationship with Him.  And His process requires a genuine commitment from us.

Arrival to your destination, generally requires following a map or a plan. Through Christ, God has provided a road map and plan to help us get to our destination that he personally designed for us!

You are a blessing! You were planned and created for a purpose. Through Christ we are made new! We're not the old with a new paint job. Christ makes us completely new!

Being a Servant of the Lord: Has benefits now and for eternity! Is an honor and privilege Requires of us.

Family has become an interesting word in our culture. For some of us, sitcom labels and holiday fiascos have turned the word "family" into 'those people I put up with because I have to." However, God shows us family is important. The family of God is a privilege and an honor to be a part of. As a son or a daughter, we have been purchased with the highest price and we now have rights and privileges... and we have the greatest inheritance the world will ever know! So, what we do - with what we've been given - Matters! How do we live, walk, function after becoming a part of God's family?

What do you want? I love statements that their entire meaning can change based on inflection. It can be about the thing you're wanting... What do you want? it could be about the details.... What do you want? it could be about how strongly you feel about it? What do you want? it can be about the person asking... What do you want? but - our society makes the question mostly about us... and that's not Jesus. Jesus was all about what the Father wanted... and this question should be out heart's everyday response to God.

Serving with purpose means acting intentionally to make a lasting impact that aligns with a greater mission, like uplifting others or showing God’s love. It’s about faithful, meaningful service that reflects a higher calling and transforms both those we serve and ourselves.

These teachings Jesus gave are to help us grow up and mature. Mature believers will have abundant spiritual fruit! How abundant is the spiritual fruit in your life?

Through accepting Jesus, we have full access to approach our Heavenly Father. Jesus is the only way to having a relationship with the Father. There is no other access. Jesus says to simply reach out to God: ask, seek, and knock and the door will be opened.

The Bible provides truths and principles that teach us how to live in the abundant life. An important part is having faith and trusting in God. We were not designed to live in fear and worry. Without faith and trust in God, fear and worry can consume us.