Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Monday April 12, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel, chapters 3-5. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-12

Title: Bible Study: Let Go of Personal Strongholds
God wants the best for His children, even here on earth, yet oddly enough many Christians have strongholds in their lives that keep them from receiving the best. A stronghold is a group, person, or thing that is the center of all that we do, when Christ is our stronghold we prosper and are blessed, even through circumstances. Personal strongholds suggests secret thoughts and desires that keep Christ from becoming Lord of their lives and receiving the blessings God has in store for them. If we truly want Christ to be Lord of our lives and see His true blessings we need to let go of personal strongholds.

After the death of Saul, David was rightfully to be the king of all of Israel, but under circumstances, Abner, the powerful commander of Saul's armies, proclaimed Saul's son Ishbosheth king of Israel. His motive, he desired to be in control of Israel and since his was not son of Saul, the next best thing would be next in command. “Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.” - II Samuel 3:7-10. The crown was rightfully meant for David, but David knew that he would be king of Israel when it was his appointed time to do so. Often, people that go over God's commands think they have won and are in control of their own destinies, but they fail to realize that God is always in control and sooner or later He will bring all things to pass as He never goes back on His Word.

About seven years later, there was a fierce quarrel between Abner and Ishbosheth. When confronted by Ishbosheth over Abner's deceitfulness, Abner tried to take control of the situation by threatening Ishbosheth. “And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” - II Samuel 3:7-10. Abner conceitedly reminds Ishbosheth that he was the one that made him king, admitting also that he knew that David rightfully was chosen by God Himself to be king. What he was really saying was that he went over God's head and succeeded so he had the right to do whatever he wanted. This resulted in Abner going to David to form a league with him instead. "And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee." -II Samuel 3:12. David agreed and Abner then contacted the elders of Israel, reminding them that David was anointed to be king over Israel to begin with. However, a short time after Abner met with David, he was murdered by Joab, the commander of David's army, and then Ishbosheth was assassinated by two of his own guards. No one can escape going against God, He will even use their wickedness to see that things happen the way He commands. Abner thought he was in control, but he found out the hard way that God is always in control.

Abner's personal stronghold was his ego, he wanted to be powerful and in control, using whatever charm and deceitfulness he could to receive what he desired. Many people have personal strongholds that are harming not only themselves, but their relationship with God as well. There may be a place hidden from human view that is the center of the heart, this can be physical improvement, a career, a forbidden love, or a habit that one has never surrendered over to God. It is important to realize that any person who call on Jesus to save them from their sins are now His Temples and no matter how good we are at hiding things from the human eye we can not hide them from God. Of course He wants us to be healthy and take care of ourselves, but we can not let the personal strongholds of the world to become the center of our lives. Such strongholds are overcome as we daily read and obey God's Word and are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We are to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." -I John 2:15-17. We can all be in the will of God and see great blessings, but we must first examine ourselves and ask ourselves if we need to let go of any personal strongholds keeping us from seeing them. Then and only then can we be forgiven, reconcile with God, and receive His blessings. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” - Romans 5:9-11. Prasie God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation