THE PRISON CALLED CIRCUMSTANCE
Apr 092018
From birth to death, life is filled with choices, decisions, and circumstances, that create and build into us our mental and emotional self. As babies what we see, hear, and feel begin this process. Our parents instill in us our first impressions of the new world around us, and as we are helpless, we have no choice but to follow along the path set before us. By the age of 5, for the most part, we have all the mental and emotional foundations that will take us the rest of the way through life. After this the world and the life we live in it brings about the rest of it, and it can be good or horrible. Growing up is a whirlwind of emotions and choices that bring us into the adults we will become.
Very early in life we begin to exhibit our inborn human nature. Manipulation, anger, jealousy, malice, greed, resentfulness, bitterness, and the list goes on. Here it is needed to say that this nature is not really the nature of humans, but is rather the nature of the god of this world, and we inherited it from Adam at his fall in the Garden of Eden. This human nature, does in fact create circumstances in our lives that can and will in later years take control of our everyday life, and the interaction with others, bringing us to a place that holds us captive, and when we attempt to do good, can and will rise up within us, take control of us, and cause us to do that which we do not want to do. Romans 7:14-20 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The circumstances in our lives that have the greater emotional trauma go deep down under the surface of our personality, and embed into our soul and spirit, and it is here that the prison of circumstance is constructed by the enemy of our souls, to hold us captive, and to have a throne of authority from which to rule over us, and hold us in mental and emotional misery. Powerful guards called principalities, ( Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places) are stationed at the gates of this prison, and at any attempt on our part to get out, they immediately take control of our mental and emotional faculties, and force us even deeper into this dark dungeon, and can bring on all sorts of ailments, especially of the emotional sort. Without the Saving Grace of God, and the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ, it is impossible to escape, and live above our circumstances, and be free from Lucifer’s power and authority.
For a moment, let us examine what these demonic forces used to build this stronghold or prison in our spirit and soul. The building blocks of this stronghold are “WORDS”. Yes, I said, they are words. Words have tremendous spiritual power, whether they be good words or bad and harmful words. God created all that is, except for man, out of nothing, with words. These were words of “FAITH,” and carried great power and authority. Then He created man, out of what He had created with words. Then He gave man the same ability to create with words. All too often what we create with our words is destructive. If then, these strongholds are created out of words, they can also be torn down with words. The more we rehearse the circumstances, the stronger the stronghold becomes. We cannot see or understand this without the Spirit of God dwelling in us. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
When a person, no matter at what age, accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the gates to this stronghold are immediately unlocked. Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. At the instant that we are born again, through faith in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. At this moment, we are become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22.
Even though all things old have passed away, and all things have become new, the memories of the past circumstances of life remain with us. The doors of the prison have been unlocked, and all we need do is walk out, and believe God, and live above all that is in the past, but, human nature is to hold on to past hurts and pains, and to keep them close to us to remind us to not let others get too close………This keeps us under the influences of the demonic powers that constructed the stronghold to begin with,,,,so, here we are, born again, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, made the righteousness of God, are holy, and set apart as the child of God; hanging on to luggage full of life’s maltreatment, and our souls full of insecurities. How then do we tear down these strongholds, and learn to live above what life has dealt us in the past?
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 * And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
From this passage, we can see and understand that our mental and emotional selves can be transformed, by renewing the mind. To renew, is to restore, or make like new. Then this being true, our mind must have been some other way than it is now, or else it could not be renewed. The only person who ever in all of history that ever had a mind that was in complete fellowship with God was Adam. In his fall from fellowship, he lost the mental, emotional, and spiritual relationship with his Creator. From him we have inherited the nature of the enemy of God, and it has transformed our minds, and our spirits into a life of destruction and death.
Now, when we are born again, and old things pass away, and we become a new creature in Christ Jesus, our body, and mind did not gain anything from it. Our soul, and spirit, are made alive, and filled with life and light, but our mind and our body are still subject to the nature of death.
Paul tells us in Romans that our minds can be changed, renewed, brought into a relationship the Creator once again.
I am born again, made alive in Christ Jesus, but my mind is still trapped in the old world. I need to get my mind caught up with my spirit and soul. How this is done is by causing it to receive information from the Word of God, and come into agreement with it, call it truth. The more time a Christian spends reading, and meditating the Word of God, the faster this transformation takes place. I hear Christians say all the time……..Well, I just don’t read the Bible much. And they wonder why they cannot get the Victory!
You see, when you become born again, your soul and spirit are living in one kingdom, and your mind is living in another,,,,,you are divided, and the house will fall. Our mind can be brought into the same kingdom our spirit lives in, by feeding it the Word of God. Making the Word and Will of God of greater value than the old values from the world. As we begin this journey of renewing the mind, little by little, we begin to see victory in areas of our lives, and as truth comes, freedom increases in our thought life. When Gods Word rules our minds, then the emotional traumas that we experienced in years past, begin to lose their power, and ability to hold us in fear, doubt, and anxiety.
The more Word you feed your mind the greater power you have over the enemy, and in the end he loses his hold on your mind, and real freedom comes. It takes time, a lot of work, dedication, and perseverance.
The Holy Spirit is right there with you, leading you, teaching you, and giving you the power to overcome the enemy and walk free in Christ…………Live free my brothers and sisters in the Lord, live free.
written by pastor Dave, August 2012
Comments
TinaMarie04/13/18Thank you for telling me to read your blog. I have been reading in specific places in the Bible that God is leading me to. I have been really emotional the past month. I know God is working on me and my heart. God Bless you Pastor Dave