By: Apostle Benny Mbai

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

INTRODUCTION (Definition of a Stronghold)

• A "stronghold" is a spiritual fortress where a power has control.

• Some dictionaries call it Strangle hold – place of Chocking, A base used to squeeze the life out of an Individual or a system.

• The other meaning is a Fortress (These fortresses exist in the thought-patterns, opinions and ideas that govern individuals, Families, Churches, Communities, Cities, Nations, Countries and Continents.

• In the O.T., a stronghold was a fortified dwelling used as a means of protection from the enemy.  These were physical structures, usually caves high on a Mountainside, and were very difficult to attack.

• Obviously, Paul uses the word "stronghold" to define the spiritual fortress wherein Satan and his demons hide and are protected.

• These fortresses exist in the thought -patterns and ideas that govern individuals and churches, as well as communities and nations.

As we begin to develop kingdom mindsets in the End-time church... it is imperative that we begin to Understand there are FORTRESSES TO BE DEMOLISHED.

NUMBERS 33:50-56

Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. ‘you shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger you shall give more inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.’”

Further definition of Strongholds

A stronghold is a source of defense for the devil, where demonic or sinful activity is actually defended within us by our sympathetic thoughts toward evil.

• Paul defines a stronghold as "arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God..." A demonic stronghold is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual's thought and emotional life.

• Listen to Jesus' testimony: "I will not talk with you much more, for, the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming.  And he has no claim on me - he has nothing in common with Me, there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, he has no power over Me. (John 14:30) Amplified

SOURCES AND EXAMPLES OF STRONGHOLDS                 

(This is not an exposition of all the strongholds and how they affect people. However, all these have proven to have devastating effects.)  In every territory Satan builds certain strongholds that programs the mindset of the people and  Manipulates their behaviours.  I have put them in the following categories

1.Occult Systems                                                                                                     

          1. Music - Heavy Metal, Rap, Reggae                                          

          2. Media - Movies, Computer Games, pornography                                   

          3. Witchcraft - Black Magic, sangomas                           

          4. Secret Societies – Cults, Sects, Freemasons,

2. The World Systems                                                                                                                                                       

        1. New Age – philosophies                                                              

        2. Media - television & newspapers                                             

        3. Values - Pre-marital sex (Hugh Heffner) sexual disorders

3. Life Experiences                                                                                                  

  1. Childhood experiences – incest                                          

  2. Rejection - unforgiveness, bitterness, anorexia 

  3. Fear - depression, unnatural withdrawal, addictions 

  4. Pride - rebellion, stubbornness, self-righteousness,   perfectionism                                                                      

  5. Curses – words spoken in anger,  

Example:  Joshua 6:26     At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: "Cursed before   the LORD is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:   “At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the   cost of his youngest  will he set up its gates.”

1 Kings 16:34   In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho.  He  laid its   foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set   up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in   accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of   Nun.

4. Generations   

Exodus 20:5 "You shall not bow down to them or worship   them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing t he children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth   generation of those who hate me…,”

Generational Sins - Alcoholism, sexual disorders, extrasensory   powers (Competence in Evils Spirits), domination etc.

“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected (finish my work). Nevertheless I must walk to day, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:31-33 emphasis added).

The same passage from the New International Version reads;

“At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day--for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!” (Luke 13:31-33 – NIV).

God has a goal for humanity and the earth that He seeks to accomplish within a certain timeframe. He is passionate about this goal. We should also be in pursuit of God’s goal and purpose, and an unveiling of it is needed so we can do our part in seeing it fulfilled. This goal is the reason for our existence and spiritual journey and walk with God. It all comes down to this!

As we come into the full understanding of the goal and purpose of God, we will begin to leave behind our programs and pursue a greater purpose in the Kingdom. Like the Samaritan woman who left behind her water pots to pursue a more satisfying well of living water, this pursuit will derive eternal value (John 4:1-30). Our personal vision outside the purpose of God is unprofitable and insignificant. This places demand upon our “personal ministry vision” and religious church programs to adjust to God’s vision and His Kingdom mandate.

Knowledge and understanding of God’s goal and purpose will assist us to align ourselves with His original intent for the Church. God lives in eternity, yet in His dealings with men He has limited Himself to a certain period in which to accomplish His plan and purpose. He has limited Himself to seven days (7000 years). This is the period God intends to both begin and accomplish (finish) His goal in the Church and the earth.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8).

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4).

We need to understand the scriptures and the arithmetic of God. In the sight of God, 1000 years = 1 day and 1 day = 1000 years.

God’s original intent is contained in Genesis, because that is a prototype and pattern for now.

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 1:31 to 2:1-3).

The works of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth took six days to begin and accomplish (finish). On the seventh day, He rested from all His works.  Note well, the seventh day was an eternal day of everlasting rest, because no night was recorded. It speaks of our eternal dwelling with the Lord in the city (New Earth) where there shall be no night (Revelation 21:25; 22:5).

God rested, not because He was weary, but because nothing formless, void or empty remained. His creative works were finished, totally effective and perfect. God is not intending to repeat, repair or reverse the deeds since creation. He wants to restore. God is more interested in restoring His order and pattern than in reviving things that are dead. In this new day, God is making all things new. 

The Church must yearn, not for revival, but for restoration and ultimate reformation. We do not live only in the days of revival; we live in the days of restoration. There is a difference between “revival” and “restoration”. 

To revive means to repair or give life, to bring back to life that which is dead. Revival has to do with those who are dead that need new life, the resurrection life offered by the Lord Jesus Christ.

To restore means to recover, or the idea of returning to the starting point. It comes from the Greek word “apokathistemi”, which means to reconstitute. This word is the heartbeat of apostolic reformation. It is not about revival, but restoration. 

Many seek the old time revival in the Church yet it will not bring about the fullness of the purpose of God for now, because we are living in a new season and we need new technology that suits the present terrain. 

Revival is not obsolete or archaic as the cry for revival is FROM the Church FOR the nations that do not know the Lord.

The Church is the instrument of God to bring forth restoration and finalization of the purpose of God in the earth. 

Some may be satisfied with what was done before, but the present apostolic Church will seek after what God is doing. We are in a time of transition and all around us is change. We should be dissatisfied with what our grandparents had and cease to celebrate what God used to do so we can move on. This is a new season. The Church is changing. It is so because God is sovereign and does not need man’s permission or approval to move.

Genesis is a prototype of the present purpose of God. He has limited Himself to seven thousand years (7 days). In this period, God intends to begin and will accomplish His purpose in the earth. We need to determine our time in the calendar of God so we can access our works thus far in measurement to what He is doing.

A line must be drawn about teachings from science and eschatology about cosmetology and the age of the earth. If it is not the Word, then it is not of God.

Let us determine the age of the earth from the days of Adam from the Bible. Though we may not be very accurate with the dates, but from the chronology of scriptures it reveals that:

       The days of Adam to Abraham were about 2000 years (2 days)

       The days of Abraham to Jesus Christ were about 2000 years (2 days)

       The days from Jesus Christ to this present (21st Century) have been about 2000 years (2 days).

The above accounts for about 6000 years (6 days). This means that we are standing on the threshold of the end of the sixth day and the beginning of the seventh day. 

In other words, we are living in the last day, a defining moment in God’s Kingdom. This is a kairos moment and incredible things will happen through greater release and performance of the purpose of God on the earth. A deeper level of revelation, understanding and relationship will see the Church fully matured. This will bring in the glory of God upon the earth. The ministry of revelation and glory is about to be unveiled and fully manifested in the earth.

Understand the principle of spiritual timing and recognize that we are living in a crucial moment of God’s kairos, the precise time when He steps in to fulfill His purpose. We stand on the threshold of the end of the age and the beginning of “The Day of the Lord”. 

The world recognizes this timing and has adjusted the dates to what is known as AD, the Greek word “anon domino”, meaning “The Present Day of the Lord”.

We are about to step into the seventh day of eternal rest that is also referred to as the Third Day. Jesus spoke about this in Luke 13:31-33, a discussion that occurred four thousand years (the fourth day) after Adam. 

The Lord Jesus, from the fourth day in His time spoke about reaching His goal, coming to perfection, completing, and finishing the work by the Third Day.

Four thousand years (4 days) had elapsed and three thousand years (3 days) remained to complete the seven thousand years (7 days) which is the period in which God intends to accomplish His purpose in the earth. 

The Third Day refers to the remaining three thousand years (3 days) from the day of Jesus Christ when He was in the earth.

We are the Third Day Church but we have not yet entered into the fullness of the Third Day, the rest, maturity, completion and perfection. The third day will reveal a matured Church walking in the fullness of the Glory of God and will usher in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth.

Though we speak about the Third Day as the day of the Lord and us as the Third Day Church, the primary purpose is to understand both who we are in Christ and His goals for the Church and the earth.

What is the goal of God that He seeks to reach?

1.     God’s goal is that the gospel of the Kingdom is declared to all nations of the World (Matthew 25:14, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 4:43).

2.     God’s goal is to reach the outcast in society and to bring them into His Kingdom (John 4:25-37).

3.     God’s goal is to finish the building of His house, so that His glory can dwell and abide. (He is seeking to dwell among His people). (Isaiah 66:1, Revelation 21:3).

4.     God’s goal is that the saints should take over every kingdom of the earth and manifest the Kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:13-18).

5.     God’s goal is to undo all the works of the devil through a restored man standing in the earth. (I John 3:8, Isaiah 26:12-13;17-18).

6.     God desires that there should be a revealing of His glory upon the earth through an operational ministry of revelation and glory. (Habakkuk 2:14, Numbers 14:21).

7.     God seeks a generation that will finish His purpose and plan in the earth (Psalm 22:30-31).

The process of reviewing the Church’s goal to determine whether it aligns to the goal of God will result in adjustments. These adjustments in our plans, our mindsets and our programs will change our mission and model of ministry. Authentic apostolic ministry has a primary focus on the goal of the Kingdom of God.

Let’s briefly discuss some of the goals of God as stated above:

His goal is to reach the lost and outcast in society. In the main, the Church has lost the focus of reaching the outcast in society. This is evident in our surroundings, programs and choice of activities. The size of monuments and church buildings has been our focus, rather than the developing of an effective apostolic agenda to reach the outcast in society. The primary interest has become the money coming into the Church account and storehouse, rather than bringing souls into the Kingdom.  We have lost the vision of the great commission and we are walking in great omission. Church has become about our own interests, needs and agendas, rather than the interests of God. The goal of God is that the outcast in society is reached. The great commission according to Matthew 28:19-20 is not an evangelical work, but it is an apostolic work.

“In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” (John 4:31-36)

The Samaritan woman was an outcast according to the custom of the Jews, but the goal of the Lord was to reach her and the Samaritan community. The Lord declared that He was sent “to do the will of him that sent me and to finish His work”.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – (The name “Jesus”), teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 New Century Versions).

The Lord will not return until the purpose of God is established in the earth (Matthew 24:14). The Church must rise to her apostolic task and complete the commission to make disciples of all the nations and to teach them to observe Jesus’ commands.

The lack of understanding of the Kingdom message and the apostolic assignment, hinders the mandate. The responsibility to educate and accurately discern the assignment is upon the eldership of the Church so that we can become more accurate in the ways of God.

“I will make the lame a remnant And the outcasts a strong nation, And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on and forever.” (Micah 4:7 NNAS 1995 Edition).

Where the message of the Kingdom of God is not taught, the people are set on the course of a sudden flight to heaven. For the last two thousand years (2 days) the Church has been characterized by this mentality, but we need to know that God’s goal is not just to heal the sick, cast out devils and then take His Church to heaven, even though this is part of the deal or benefit, but the primary ministry and focus is to preach and declare the Kingdom of God to the outcast and rejected in   society. God wants His Kingdom to fill the earth. This is His Goal and intent for the Church.

He desires that there should be a revealing of His glory upon the earth – (The ministry of revelation and glory must be in full operation).

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14).

 “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” (Numbers 14:21).

The goal of God is for a revelation of His glory in the earth, even as the heaven is constantly declaring God’s glory. 

“And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:5).

The glory of God is not a mist or smoke that is to cover the earth like a fog. The Hebrew word for “glory” is “kabod” which means weighty, splendour or copiousness. The glory that will cover the earth is the display of redeemed men and women. This will spread forth in every corner of the earth revealing the knowledge of God’s glory being manifested on the redeemed, and in the New Earth.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27).

“….for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:….” (1 Peter 4:14b).

The fullness of the earth is God’s glory that is manifested in His creation. God will redeem and restore the earth through a restored man standing that will deliver the earth from the corruption of bondage. God’s glory is about to invade the earth. His Kingdom will be established and it will declare and display the splendour of God’s weightiness. 

 “and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23).

God seeks a generation that will finish His purpose and plan in the earth (Matthew 1:17, Psalm 22:30-31, Isaiah 53:8-10).

As I have said, one of the goals of God is that He is seeking for a generation that will finish His purpose and plan in the earth - This I believe is the "Missing Generation" in Matthew 1:17. The 42nd Generation after Jesus, which is called the CHRIST - "The Corporate Man, which is the many-member Body". The 42nd Generation is not Jesus when you look at the genealogy of Jesus according to Mathew Chapter One. Jesus is the 41st Generation, but the 42nd Generation is called the "CHRIST". We are the CHRIST of God to be manifested in the earth. We will come forth in the true image of God. The earnest expectation of creation is waiting for the CHRIST – “the manifest Sons of God” to be revealed that will deliver creation from bondage. There is a greater dept of revelation in this.

The Third Day – The Day Of The Lord:

This is a defining moment in the Kingdom of God as we stand on the threshold of the Third Day. It is the end of the second day and the beginning of a new day in God. The Lord is bringing His Church into the Third Day, from the realm of Pentecost to the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a time of transition from one day to the next and the command to the Church is to rise up and move with God, or we will be left behind. God is doing a new thing and He has moved beyond the Pentecost realm. 

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day:....for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.” (Exodus 19:10, 11).

In preparation for this new day of the Lord, there must be a consecration and cleansing of God’s people. A powerful measure of apostolic grace will be released in this season as the Kingdom of God makes a final impact in the earth. We must be ready for this as the transition into the third day requires preparation on our part. As we become the generation that seeks the Lord wholeheartedly, the preparation will occur. Through the revelation of present truth from God's word we will be led into the Third Day glory of God.

This new day dawns with a divine stirring of the Holy Ghost upon the Church to do a new work in the earth. As we step into this threshold of the Third Day, we will complete God’s house so that His fullness and presence is manifested, His glory revealed, and His Kingdom will rule over all the earth. 

The term “Third Day Church” should not scare us as if this is a new phenomenon, even though there is much emphasis on this by the present apostolic reformation ministry, but it is a biblical term and it is not a new phenomenon.

The manifestation of God on the Third Day upon Mount Sinai, brought about a clear direction of the desire of God to dwell among His people through revelation concerning the Sanctuary.

We move towards perfection as we come into the Third Day (also referred to as the seventh day). It is the day where there will be a consummation of all things, the restoration of all things. The Church will come into her place of maturity according to Ephesians 4:13. The seventh day is an eternal day of everlasting rest because there was no record of night. When the Church comes into the place of maturity and perfection on the third day, then we will be ready for the coming of the Bridegroom. It will be a time of eternal rest with the Bride and the Bridegroom.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13).

The scripture speaks clearly concerning the Third Day and what it is bringing to the Body of Christ: 

"Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." (Genesis 22:4-5). 

"And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people." (Exodus 19:11). 

"Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius." (Ezra 6:15). 

"Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court that she found favour in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter." (Esther 5:1, 2). 

"After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth." (Hosea 6:2- 3). 

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." (Matthew 16:21). 

The Third Day ushers the people of God into divine favour and empowerment. There will be a release of blessing and power as the doors of heaven are unlocked to enable the fulfillment of the purpose of God. 

The Third Day is a day of restoration and resurrection power as the former and latter rains are released. It is the time of resurrection life, with signs and wonders being released in the heavens and the earth. 

The Third Day speaks of fruitfulness in the great harvest of souls, and the end of barrenness in the lives of His people.

As we step into the fullness of the Third Day, realize that the Father seeks to consummate His work so we can enter into His rest and come to perfection. The rest of God is a product of the Third Day. Every leader must build with a finishing mentality. The apostolic work is not an ageless mandate. The apostolic commission is to accomplish the purpose of God and it will be achieved.

The Third Day also brings restoration and completion of God's house as a Holy habitation of His glory.

 Paranormal Proceedings:

We need to be aware that paranormal proceedings will take place in the earth as we boldly declare that we are on the threshold of the Third Day, even though we cannot be specific, as knowledge has not been given to anyone to fully comprehend this. We may not be exact with the dates and settings, but there is a general concession by the Body of Christ about this understanding of the calendar as the Holy Spirit begins to give us a glimpse. Bear in mind that in each millennium God does something spectacular. From the understanding of the scriptures, God has always done a supernatural thing in every millennium (1000 years).

As my kindred brother Apostle Paul Galligan of Revival Ministries Australia put it, it is a “Millennial Change – God Works in Millenniums.” 

“God created the first Adam approximately six thousand years ago.

At the end of the first millennium from the creation of Adam, Enoch was translated [987 years according to biblical reckoning given in Genesis 5].

2000 years from Adam , Abraham was called out of Babylon [ Ur of the Chaldees] and called into God’s eternal purpose. From Abraham would come the promised Seed to “crush the head of the Serpent”. Through Abraham, God did a new thing in the earth!

3000 years from Adam, King David ruled on the throne of Israel. There was a manifestation of the Kingdom of God in the earth in the life and rule of David, a type of Christ and His Kingdom!

4000 years from Adam, Christ was born. Through His death and resurrection a new age began which will be consummated when He returns to be united with His glorious bride, the Church. This age is for two millennial days and a day with the Lord is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). Jesus said, “Go tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow and the third day I shall be perfected” (Luke 13:32). The two thousand years of this age are coming to a close.

Millennial change, while ushered in by or consummated by a particular event such as the birth of the Messiah, the call of Abraham or the translation of the Church; is a generational thing. The millennium takes a generation to come into effect. We are the generation that will see the return of the Lord. The signs of His coming and the end of the age are being fulfilled in our generation. Are you ready for His coming? Are you “purifying yourself?” (1 John 3:2-3)”

“I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (Hosea 5:15 – 6:1-2).

The concept of “The Third Day Church” is a biblical perception when the doctrine and the purpose and plan of God are accurately discerned. 

The Third Day saints will see the Lord return to the earth in the fullness of the power and glory of God

Benny, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints at THE WISDOM PALACE CHURCHES and other members of the body of Christ who will go through this apostolic epistle, and are faithful in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   

"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27)

           I take this opportunity to prepare your heart as we engage ourselves in the awesome journey of 40 Days of WISDOM, VISION & PURPOSE as a family. When I began seeking the Lord concerning this apostolic project; the spirit of the Lord began to speak to me about a Foundation. In Psalms 11:3 the Bible posses this question to every believer “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

            1 Corinthians 3:9-12 “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a Foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw”

            The Foundation of a building bears the weight of the entire structure. If the Foundation is not properly laid the building will eventually collapse. The Foundation determines the STABILITY of the building.  If we are going to survive the current spirit of apostasy and the doctrinal heresy of our day; one must make sure that the Foundation of his or her Christian life is sure. If we will survive the we must build upon the "rock" (Scriptural DOCTRINE) because our "foundation" will determine our ability to stand firm in this season.

THERE ARE FOUR PURPOSES TO STUDY DOCTRINE:
1.  To GROUND our Faith firmly on the Word of God.
The Bible says in Colossians 2:7 , “Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

2. To INSTRUCT the believer how to function properly in the House of the Lord.
1 Timothy 3:15  “I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth”.

3. To EQUIP the Believer to do Good Works
2 Timothy 3:16,17 “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”.

4. To PREPARE the Believer for Spiritual Warfare.
Ephesians 6:17          “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”.

SOUND DOCTRINE HELPS US...
1.  To guard against DECEPTION
1 Timothy 4:1   “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

2.To Teach people how to OBSERVE the Word of God.
Matthew 28:19,20 "Go therefore and Make Disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;

3. To give a REASON for our confidence in Jesus.
1 Peter 3:15  “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

4. To shape our DESTINY    
2 Peter 1:8 “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THERE ARE FOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTRINE;
1. Doctrine must be SOUND.
2 Timothy 4:3,4  “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.

2. Doctrine must be PURE.
Titus 2:7,8  “Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.

3. Doctrine must be based upon SCRIPTURE:
2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

4. Doctrine must be PRACTICAL. 
Luke 11:28   “But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!"

Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover they warn thy servant; and in keeping them there is a great reward”

For  Prayer, Ministry Relationship or Any other Inquiry please write to Apostle Benny Mbai                 through: [email protected]  or Call: +254 720386549 / 780323280