Oppression Defeated.
Acts 10:34-38KJV
One man stated—Men ablaze are invincible. The stronghold of Satan is proof against everything but fire.
Most of us are familiar with this song—it’s the theme from the television show Friends. But have you ever caught the lyrics to the song? They read, in part: So no one told you life was gonna be this way, Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A. It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year… Many find themselves saying things like, “whatever can go wrong will go wrong.” We have a pessimistic, browbeaten, downcast view of life. We suddenly find that we can’t sleep, we’ve lost (or gained) weight, some days we just don’t want to get out of bed. If you can relate to what I’m talking about, then you might just be depressed or oppressed.
Acts 10:34-37KJV Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Overview—God’s no respecter of persons. Fear God and believe (worketh righteousness) you’re accepted.
I want to stop right there, because the next verse represents a shift. Say, “A shift.”
Acts 10:38KJV How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Where had Jesus been? Getting prepared: Upon the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and the heavens opened while God’s voice, Matthew 3:17NKJV And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Do you know for sure that your faith is approved?
Jesus is anointed to defeat any stronghold of oppression. A stronghold is something that has been around a while. Strongholds don’t get nervous over your self-will and or your self-determination. The very word stronghold indicates its here to stay.
Strongholds developed out of oppression, oppression can be defined as prolonged cruel control that lives on and on; therefore, a person lives beaten down, and strong holds become a way of life.
Acts 10:38TM Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
So what causes strongholds? Your family history, your history, false or legalistic religion, false or legalistic teaching, judgment, lies and generational traits passed down. Childhood, things heard and seen. Siblings, their actions and treatment toward you. Teen years, Peers and their pressure, too much idol time. Parents, their rules, punishments, anger, sins etc.
I want to give you some analogies of a stronghold:
In the book of Joshua, God gave Joshua instructions to follow, and Jericho’s wall would come down!
Pharaoh in Egypt was a strong hold, Moses commanded freedom.
In the New Testament Book of Acts, Diana made idols, it became a strong hold the apostle Paul set her free in Jesus’ name.
In, Luke 4:16-21TM, we can hear Jesus’ plan for mankind. 16 He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”
Before you walk in God’s spirit you need to proclaim this:
Jesus saves, heals and delivers.
Jesus is anointed to preach the gospel to the poor.
Jesus is sent to heal the brokenhearted.
Jesus is sent to proclaim liberty to the captives.
Jesus promotes recovery of sight to the blind.
Jesus is sent to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
Jesus is sent to proclaim the year of Jubilee. Favor, Restoration…
Have you ever walked against the wind? Walking in the flesh is like walking against the wind.
The Apostles Paul writes in, Galatians 5:16AMP But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
The flesh responds. It cries for attention. The flesh acts on impulses without any regard to God.
How do controlling bondages develop?
First, Idols—placing things higher than God.
In the Book of Exodus, the first 3 commandments express God’s heart and His expected love from us.
Second, intentionally giving allegiance to something or someone other than Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:14NKJV Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Third, refusing to receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, refusing grace, refusing love, not- forgiving yourself, or others, staying bound to some past sinful experience, painful loss, or a person.
Fourth, Sexual sin…thought life… adultery… fornication.
1 Corinthians 6:16NKJV Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”
You’ve got to break away! P.H
1 Corinthians 6:18NLT Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
Fifth, occult practice, curses, being wrongfully treated, wrong thinking, being controlled by people or groups in the past.
Does any of this ring a bell?
Jesus states in, Luke 11:24-26NLT “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. 26 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”
Fact—when the house becomes empty it has to be filled by God.
You have to come to the complete realization that in dealing with strongholds, Jesus has given you complete authority. P.H
Mark 16:15-18NKJV And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
When do you know the devil is lying? When his lips move.
Here’s more proof that you’re free. Colossians 2:14-15NLT He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Paul writes, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5NLT We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
4 keys to remember when dealing with strongholds.
God’s Word.
God’s presence.
Your faith in God.
Your spiritual growth.
Today and everyday, He’s the answer.
Benediction.
