Discussion Time
The dreaded day is about to arrive. Downton Abbey. The honking movie.
I’ve never watched a full episode, but my wife loves that show. She will stay up ridiculous late watching episode after episode, streaming on the screen in the living room. She will try her best not to wake me up as she comes to bed well after midnight.
For some, it is TV shows. For some it is video games. A friend plays online late late into the night on his super high-powered gaming computer.
Do you ever binge on shows, games, or books? How do you feel afterward?
After the late night binge, (or all afternoon binge, or whatever…) Are you surprised by how you feel? Or, did you expect it?
So, what made you choose to continue that binge, knowing what it’s result would be?
Now, I am not against binge watching your favorite show… (Stranger Things, anyone?) But, isn’t this a little bit like a stronghold in our lives? Is it possible that in some way, the thing you binge has power over you, rather than you over it?
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT)
What are some examples of real strongholds in people’s lives…? Things that have power over them?
Do you believe that you have divine power to demolish strongholds? How does Paul, in the verses above, tell us that we win?
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NLT)
Do you remember from Sunday how we defined idolatry? (hint: it has to do with the first blank on your page)
Paul urged that we flee so much, that we have nothing at all to do with idolatry… In fact, he said that even though our conscience should be clear about eating meat offered to idols, we should still stay away…
I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:20 (NLT)
So, all of us seek what only God can provide… But when we seek in the wrong place, we may find demons instead, seeking to enslave us in addiction. I know it doesn’t always feel like it… But then again, addiction never pounces. It creeps.
Jesus wants us to be FREE from bondage to addiction, right? Read the following passages about freedom in Christ.
So Christ has truly set us free.
Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-36 (NLT)
“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)
How can we pray boldly for strongholds in our lives?