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Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus, part of the growing repentance remnant, cleansing as His Bride, getting ready for His soon return as our Bridegroom-----
I believe the man above is filled with joy having just destroyed, with the Helper Holy Spirit, a massive old lie of the enemy, a stronghold. Perhaps he was brought up without any study of the Bible and followed a pattern of occasionally attending a lukewarm church where the pastor and elders did not believe in the Holy Spirit. From them he heard watered-down sermons without the full Gospel. He attended church sometimes, but the old wineskin spirit of religion prevailed, and he never observed the leaders in the church operate from love and any power; possibly they were "hirelings" (John 10:13). They never spoke about the Day of Pentecost still being relevant 2,000 years later. Some guest speakers even claimed that speaking in tongues was "demonic." In due course I believe he met another person full of the Holy Spirit who shared the goodness of the Lord and His Kingdom and the Holy Spirit. Realizing his gross error, this man, having earlier been "taken captive by the devil" (2 Timothy 2:25,26) then repented, joined Yeshua/Jesus' KINGDOM, received the indwelling Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, and then replaced the old lie with the Truth of God's Word. He is now full of joy, bold for Christ, full of the Holy Spirit of the Messiah/Christ, growing that much more in His unique calling on his life (John 15:16). He displays "fruit" of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:8). The lie of the enemy had blocked for years the fullness of God's love towards him, His forgiveness to him and thus his love towards Him and his love and mercy towards others. Now he is witnessing to others, making disciples, preaching repentance by his new Godly conduct, to advance the Lord's Kingdom (Luke 24:47).
Today, the stronghold to "chew-- to dine on" [Revelation 3:20] with the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, is disbelief in His Holy Spirit and its empowering for ministry.
Sin strongholds are false beliefs picked up at some point in our minds which, until removed by the Holy Spirit and our free will decision to repent, still govern our responses to circumstances, still mute or cover up God's Truth in His Word. All your thoughts can be traced back to beliefs based on either the truth of Scripture or on satan's lies. If that thought is based on satan's lies, it will lead to fear. Fear will then lead to some form of idolatry, a false image, a stronghold, (2 Corinthians 10:3) instead of God's Eternal Word.
This series has been intended for you and me to remove strongholds as did this man above. Many more could have been presented. The removal of strongholds process is: 1) repent [really change your thinking] , return to God, convert (Acts 3:19) from the world and the flesh, die to that old rebellious spirit into which you and I were born (Ephesians 2:3), die to the old self, stop playing church, truly come into His Kingdom if you're not in already (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19); 2) receive the indwelling Holy Spirit; and 3) spend time with that Holy Spirit, the Helper (John 16:7-15), as often as possible, day after day, asking Him if you have even a residue of the sin issue presented that day. The process is private, between you and Him. Again, there's no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). We all fall short of the glory of God. He loves each of us!
But old sin patterns blocking His Eternal Word have no place in a Holy Spirit-filled believer, now a "temple of the living God." ( 2 Corinthians 6:16). Given all His promises, including that He will be a Father to each of us believers, and we are His sons and daughters, we are called to " cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; 1 Peter 1:15).
The Risen Christ already sees us as His Bride. He will sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26, the sword of the Spirit ). As each lying stronghold is demolished, replace forever the old lie with the word of God. Be washed in HIS Truth. In that repentance and cleansing process, the Lord is presenting us to Himself, "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27). He is the soon-coming Bridegroom (Matthew 24:36-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-9).
The classic scripture to remove strongholds is in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Here it is in the amplified version: "For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ...,"
Strongholds are pulled down, and old mental blocks are broken, as you and I use spiritual weapons the Lord has given us, particularly the sword of the spirit, the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17).
here is a short teaching on strongholds on one of our Zoom calls:
https://youtu.be/ykQ90uy7ev.
Today's final issue is disbelief in the Holy Spirit and its empowerment for ministry. The Risen Christ was clear. Jesus said: " for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." ( Acts 1;5). And He added: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8). He also said, "Behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49). Earlier, the Lord had said: " If you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13). So we are to ask for the Holy Spirit today; there was no time limit on Jesus' Truth that we are to ask for His Holy Spirit. Pentecost was simply the first day of its appearance to the 120 in the upper room; it's available today, once you've truly repented, stopped playing church, entered His Kingdom, believing the Risen Christ to be Lord. At that point it's His JOY to give you His Holy Spirit, indwelling in you, empowering you for the unique call ministry He has for you (John 15:16) to advance His Kingdom. That key mission can't be done without the supernatural Holy Spirit baptism.
Being candid with yourself, do you sometimes think the Holy Spirit isn't available today? Is there any old vow you made in this area that now needs to be removed? Do you think this is only applicable to the first disciples years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of this issue for such a time as this? Was it part of some teaching in a lukewarm church? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?
God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom and Comfort on this issue. May you go forward on His narrow path, "perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1).
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Isn't it clear from the shaking going on in all nations, that repentance is needed? The mission of NDR is "to awaken the Body of Christ globally to His Gift and His Joy of repentance." Would you like to be a part of this growing repentance remnant? Please pray to the Lord to see if this ministry is one He wishes you to seed into with any amount of your time, talent, and His Provision. Two volunteers have stepped forward to manage our websites and our zoom calls to the USA, Africa and Australia. Is the LORD calling you to be the next volunteer? You could use the talents He's already given you-------
Thank you for being "righteous, showing mercy and giving." As He gives you a "yes"---to donate, whatever the amount--- you'll receive His blessing: Matthew 25: 34-36.
God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Daly
National Day of Repentance
www.repentday.com
www.americankneels.com
www.globalrepent.com
pastorjeff@repentday.com
our "Cleansing the Bride" zoom call every Wednesday is now focused each time on Israel. Please email Susan Hammer or me for zoom info, and join us 10:30 AM Pacific USA time! The LORD is bringing us all together, Cleansing His Bride, in these end times as One Body, One Lord, One Faith. Here is a POWERFUL recording of the Cleansing the Bride call on May 1, 2024, FULL of Scripture, Prophecy and Declarations; great spiritual "food" : https://youtu.be/M5BbUhf7xiM
The Lord makes it clear: Luke 13:1-5, repent or perish. Here's a NDR video on this key scripture: https://youtu.be/oT15XrDvv9c
and this video on ETERNITY: https://youtu.be/evrL-H29908
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