Only spiritual weapons can defeat spiritual strongholds. Dr. Tony Evans says the problems facing married couples are too serious to be solved with worldly wisdom. If you are rebelling against the authority of Christ over your life and over your home, don't blame God if your family's falling apart. This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. As far back as the Garden of Eden, Satan has been using family conflict as a weapon against us. In today's message, Dr. Evans shows us how to tear down the strongholds the enemy set up in your home.
Let's listen in. Everyone under the sound of my voice is either in a family or it's close to a family that is falling apart. Whether it's a husband and wife relationship that has become paralyzed, whether it's children who are living rebelliously, or whether it's a generational curse that you are under. And so you want to throw in the towel, you want to go to the divorce court, you want to give up because you just don't see how in the world you will be released from this stronghold.
The principle is clear. Only spiritual weapons can defeat spiritual strongholds, and often we apply spiritual weapons last and not first. What is the cause? First of all, the cause of family strongholds. In Genesis chapter 3, the deterioration of the first family, Adam, was caused or initiated by an angel, for Satan is an angel. He came and he visited the first family and caused spiritual deterioration which led to relational deterioration. It wasn't relationships first that went bad between human beings, it was relationship with God that went bad. And it worked itself out in the human environment because Satan's premier goal next to destroying you is the destruction of your family. The first thing Satan got to produce control of this first family was the reversal of biblical responsibilities and biblical roles.
Lady, you don't need God and you sure enough don't need Adam. He got her to act independently of God, to reverse God's ordained order. He then influenced Adam becoming a passive male, for verse 6 says that Adam was with her.
He heard the conversation but he did nothing about it. He took over the leadership, he became the submissive one, the roles were reversed, and Satan had an open door. The cause of family strongholds is satanic infiltration. Let me say that again, the cause of family stronghold is angelic infiltration. Satan or one of his minions infiltrate the family through the flesh or through the world or through your past or through any number of things and he exacerbates evil that is already present.
How does he do it? What are the conditions of family stronghold? One of the vehicles through which Satan gets opportunity to bring a stronghold into your home is unresolved anger. Look with me at Ephesians chapter 4.
He says in verse 25, therefore laying aside falsehood speak truth each one of you with his neighbor for we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the Sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil an opportunity. It is the prolonged buildup of anger that provides the steering wheel for Satan to turn a problem into a stronghold because he says in verse 27, for Satan that becomes a what?
An opportunity. Satan needs certain vehicles in order to break into your life and to break into your home and unresolved anger is one of them. He uses another thing to destroy families and to bring them in strongholds. He uses rebellion. Rebellion means to go against God's authorized order of authority. Second Peter has some strong words about rebellion as it relates to angels and the angelic conflict and he ties it in the people and then I'll relate it to the family. Look at what he says in second Peter chapter 2 verse 4, for if God did not spare angels when they sinned but cast them into hell and committed them the pits of darkness reserved for judgment and he didn't spare the ancient world so he didn't spare angels and he didn't spare the ancient world doing Noah's time and if he condemned verse 6 Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes, rescuing verse 7 Lot, then he comes in verse 10 and he says and especially those who indulge in the flesh and its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring self-will they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties whereas angels who are greater in might and power verse 11 says do not bring a reveling judgment against them before the Lord but these like unreasoning animals born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed reviling where they have no knowledge will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed.
He says these people have no respect for powerful angels and therefore they place themselves under the judgment of God. The point is simply this, wherever there is rebellion against God's legitimate chain of command there is God's judgment and not God's help. If you are rebelling against the authority of Christ over your life and over your home don't blame God if your family's falling apart, man. If you bought into the feminism lie, if you bought into the women's lib lie and I'm not talking about equal pay for equal work, I'm talking about not respecting God's chain of command in the family, don't blame God if deterioration sets into your home because God must always operate by virtue of his chain if you're going to get his help to break your stronghold. God said in Exodus chapter 20 he said that down to the third and fourth generation could be cursed by the disobedient of the parents if the kids don't reverse it themselves because of what parents can hand over to their children.
And many of us as families are not only messing up our lives, we didn't already ruin our grandchildren because we set a series of events at work in our rebellion against God's authority that will show up in them. Let me give you an example of this in 1st Corinthians 11. His concern is the role of women in the church, but he lays out a principle here in talking about that that illustrates my point. 1st Corinthians 11. He says in verse 3, but I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. So this even applies to Jesus. He's under the authority of the Father. Every male, every Christian male is under the authority of Christ and every wife is under the authority of her husband. Now please notice verse 10. Therefore the women ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels.
Now that's interesting. He's talking about a woman doing something publicly in the service and he talked about her having a covering over her head, but the reason he gives is because of the angels. The question is what in the world does a woman having a covering have to do with angels? Everything.
Here's what it is. If this woman in this particular church was reflecting a rebellious heart against her husband or against the male leadership of the church and so she broke up in the independent speech unauthorized in order to assert her independence, as illustrated by the removal, oftentimes the woman wore a headdress and they would take off their covering as a way of refusing to submit to God's ordained authorities, that not only in Paul's mind did she rebel against her husband or the male leadership, she rebelled in the midst of angels. Because the Bible says when we come to worship we join angels, Hebrews chapter 12. You say, well what's the big deal? So I insulted angels.
Let me tell you the big deal. When you insult angels because you show them you are rebelling against authority, then what you can bite on is that God will not supply you, lady, any angelic assistance in dealing with that man that you have to deal with. When a woman rebels against legitimate authority, she rebels against angelic assistance because angels are one of the primary ways that God comes and he provides help to his children.
So in this case, a rebellious woman who in front of the angels rebel because they're in a context of worship, then put themselves in a position where God will not provide angelic assistance to the needs in their lives. We'll return with more from Dr. Evans in just a moment. First though, don't miss your chance to get some great resources we're recommending as a way to follow up on today's study. Tony's powerful book, Victory and Spiritual Warfare, along with all 12 full-length audio messages from the series we're hearing from. As we've been learning, many of life's problems are symptoms of the invisible spiritual battle going on around us and this book coupled with the two-volume audio series, Spiritual Warfare, can help you not only learn about the nature and history of spiritual battles, but also how God gives you all the power you need to stand firm against any attack the enemy can mount against your marriage, health, career, or finances, virtually any area of your life. Visit tonyevans.org to make a contribution and we'll say thanks by sending these powerful resources your way. But do it right away since we'll only be offering this unique package through tomorrow. Again, that's tonyevans.org or call 1-800-800-3222, where resource team members are standing by around the clock to assist with your request.
I'll have that contact information for you again after part two of today's lesson and this. The threat of global catastrophe looms over us. Earthquakes, fires, it seems like the world is falling into turmoil.
Are you ready to face Armageddon? Dr. Tony Evans' latest book, Thy Kingdom Come, emerges as a light amidst the sin-ridden depths of our world, guiding you through the murky waters of uncertainty. Within these insightful pages, wisdom intertwines with revelation. You'll dive deep into the mysteries of enigmatic prophecy, where solace awaits the weary soul. Dr. Tony Evans' unparalleled mastery and deciphering the complexities of Scripture will ensure clarity in the face of confusion and illuminate the path towards hope. Arm yourself against the impending storm and let not the hour of reckoning catch you unaware. Be prepared for what's to come by picking up your copy of Thy Kingdom Come at tonyevans.org. Comes with a bonus sermon series staying right with God.
Do not be caught off guard. Another thing that will produce a stronghold in chapter 7 of 1st Corinthians is selfishness. He says in verse 3, let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife and let the wife also to her husband and he says stop depriving one another except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer and come together again let Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control. He says a third thing, selfishness.
Now he's talking about the area of sexual intimacy but the point of bringing it up was selfishness. That the husband was so selfish he wouldn't meet the needs of his wife. The wife was so selfish she wouldn't meet the needs of her husband and that went beyond just the physical but the things that lead up to the physical, the relationship that should eventuate in the physical and he says stop, verse 5, depriving one another except both agree lest it become a vehicle for the devil. And so when husbands and wives go days and weeks and months without talking you didn't just go mute on one another you said Satan you are now welcome into my home because the devil is looking for an opportunity. You do not have to open the door for the devil unlock it he'll open it himself and he has infiltrated far too many families far too many times. Too many of us want to get a divorce before we've dealt with the spiritual problem.
You want to get rid of your mate and you haven't even dealt with your own selfishness. You want to get rid of your husband when you've not submitted as the church should submit to Christ. You want to, well my mother raised me like this. Well if your mother didn't raise you like God said raise you mama was wrong. And if your daddy didn't raise you in concert with what God says daddy was wrong and we still have too many mothers and fathers in our relationships either directly or indirectly thereby because they on the telephone or because they're still influencing. So either by unresolved anger by rebellion or by selfishness Satan can create a stronghold in the home. So then what's the cure? The cure for the family stronghold the cause is angelic intervention in the family the conditions unresolved anger rebellion selfishness all of vehicles to which he comes in what is the cure?
And I know what some of you are saying because I hear it all the time. I'm trying. I tried.
The man says I tried the woman says I tried. The parents say we're trying. The kids say we're trying. Everybody's trying. But the question is not are you trying. The question is what are you trying? Are you trying spiritual weapons or are you just using a little secular method springing a little Jesus on top? What are you trying? It's not that you try. The issue that we face is what did you try?
What did you try? Colossians 3 says very quickly what we need to do. He says first of all everybody must first have in verse 16 the word of Christ dwelling in you richly.
You've got a the word of Christ just can't be Sunday morning. It's got to be a rich thing in your life. It has got to be the basis of your decisions. First of all wise be in subjection to your husband's as fitting to the Lord. Or put it another way honor your husband's headship. Honor your husband's headship. You don't even have to like him to do this. Say well I don't like my husband.
You don't have to. A lot of you don't like your bosses but you honor their position. This has to do with recognizing his divinely ordered position. It doesn't mean agree with everything he does or agree with everything he says. It means to honor him like Sarah who called Abraham Lord. You say what's the big deal? It's a big deal.
To honor his position even though you may not like his person even though you may disagree with his point. The Bible says Sarah called Abraham Lord and what did Sarah get? I'll tell you what Sarah got. She got a miracle. That's what she got. Ladies 90 years old. Been wanting a baby for 90 years. She calls Abraham Lord and she got a miracle.
God miraculously intervened in her life and she got a miracle. If you want God to change your man then you must honor his position even if you don't like his person. Am I right man?
I figure I had to let y'all get that out because I'm here too much huh huh back there. And that's what 1st Peter 3 says. It says when a woman operates this way it is precious in the sight of God. And some of you women need to apologize for your rebellious attitudes toward your husbands toward their position because a man is head of the home by position.
It's a post. Even if he's doing a bad job when a president is a bad president he still is the president. He still is the president and you must say Mr. President you may not like him you may not vote for him next time but as long as he's in office he's the president or the mayor or the governor it is his post. And that's why even Michael doesn't bring a railing judgment against the devil. You think Michael likes the devil?
No. But he knows his position. Secondly husbands love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Some of us men have attitudes. Men love your wives.
How do you know if you're loving your wife? Simple. What are you sacrificing for her? Because we're the loving like Christ loved the church.
That has to do with sacrifice. Well let me put it another way. Make sure at the end of the day you've made more deposits than withdrawals into her life. At the end of the day when you look at the balance sheet have put more into her account than have taken out. We men, all of us, have the propensity, we come home we work hard, we want to know this and that and she's got to meet this need and that need and she is constantly having to make withdrawals and her account is empty. We are to make more deposits than withdrawals and the question that all of us, I forget it, most men forget it, the question that we've got to ask when we wake up is what can I deposit in my mate's account today?
And you will find out if you make regular deposits the account will grow with interest but if you make regular withdrawals the account will come empty. Children, obey your parents. Honoring your parents is a mighty thing because it is the first commandment with promise and the best thing a child can do is honor their parents. If you live in their home eating their food, sleeping in their bed, in the house where they pay their note, obey their rules.
All right? And even when you move out, honor them. Honor them.
And then parents, verse 21, do not exasperate your children that they may not lose heart. Encourage your children. Don't discourage them. Don't tell them they're nothing and never gonna be anything. Tell them what their possibilities are under God.
Correct them when they're wrong but tell them what their potential is under God. When we do those simple things as hard as it may be to do, we can make people thirsty for the marriage again. So what we need is not a divorce, we need a marriage to know. Dr. Tony Evans with some practical principles that can get your family out of Satan's grip. Now if you'd like to get a full-length copy of today's message it's called tearing down family strongholds and it's just one part of Tony's series on spiritual warfare. A collection that will teach you how to use God's power instead of your own to fight back against the devil's efforts to destroy your life. We're offering this two-volume audio collection as our gift when you make a donation to the ministry. Along with it we'll send you a copy of Tony's companion book for this series, Victory in Spiritual Warfare.
As soon as we receive your contribution you'll be able to download all 12 messages in their entirety so you can begin your deeper personal exploration of this important subject right away. This special offer ends tomorrow though so be sure to contact us before time runs out. All the details are waiting for you at TonyEvans.org or call our resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 for some in-person help. Again that's 1-800-800-3222 or online at TonyEvans.org. One quick reminder, the latest episode in the second season of the popular animated series, Stories from the Storyteller, is being released tomorrow. Find out how your kids can watch the newest story when you visit TonyEvansTV.com.
Again that's TonyEvansTV.com for Stories from the Storyteller. Is there a connection between a church's history and its health? We'll explore that question tomorrow as we learn ways to keep Satan from trivializing our churches. Right now Dr. Evans is back to leave us with this important thought. Imagine a life free from pain, suffering, and regret, where you encounter no hardships, no limitations, and make no mistakes. Well that's the life God meant for you and me, and that's the life He offers to those who are willing to accept it. God's promise of an eternal existence in heaven, filled with His presence, free from the burdens and struggles that accompany life here on earth, awaits each of us who believe in Jesus Christ. You can invite Jesus into your life right now and experience His profound gift of eternal love and peace. Just say this simple prayer with me, but mean it for yourself. Heavenly Father, I know I'm a sinner and I can't save myself. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son who died on the cross in my place for my sin, and I am trusting Him alone to forgive me and give me the free gift of eternal life He promised to anyone who came to Him for it. Thank You for saving me. Help me from this day forward to live a life pleasing to You. In Jesus's name, amen.
