Freedom from Strongholds: Embracing God's Deliverance

Jun 29, 2025

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in the spirit of praise, gratitude, and expectation, lifting up hallelujahs to the God who has carried us through every trial and provided for every need. We celebrated the gifts and service of our community, recognizing that each act of love and sacrifice is a reflection of God’s grace at work among us. Turning to Zechariah 5:5-11, we explored a powerful vision given to the prophet Zechariah—a vision that speaks to the heart of our journey with God, our struggles with sin, and the hope of liberation.

The vision centers on a mysterious basket, an ephah, which in ancient times was used for measuring grain and offerings. In Zechariah’s vision, however, the basket represents the iniquity of the people—a symbol of how sin can permeate every aspect of life, from daily work to worship. Inside the basket sits a woman, personifying wickedness and idolatry, not as a condemnation of women, but as a symbol of how sin and strongholds can become enthroned in our lives, holding us captive and limiting our potential.

Yet, the story does not end with confinement. God’s response is not to shame, but to reveal and remove. The basket, with its heavy lead cover, is lifted by two women with wings—heavenly agents—who carry it away to the land of Shinar, the place of former captivity and idolatry. This act is a vivid picture of God’s desire to remove strongholds from our lives, to take our sin far away, and to set us free for authentic worship and service.

We are challenged to identify the “baskets” in our own lives—the strongholds, fears, and patterns that confine us. But we are also invited to become like the women with wings: those who refuse to be defined by their limitations, who rise above oppression, and who help others to do the same. Through Christ, our sin and shame have been carried away, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to rise, to heal, and to live in the freedom God intends. No matter how messy life becomes, God is able to clean up every mess, break every stronghold, and give us wings to soar.

Key Takeaways

1. Sin and strongholds can become so familiar that they permeate every area of life, from our work to our worship. The vision of the ephah reminds us that God sees the totality of our struggles and desires to bring them into the light—not to shame us, but to set us free. We must be honest about the ways we have allowed sin to become “enthroned” in our hearts, so that God can begin the work of liberation. [44:37]
2. Naming and confronting our strongholds is essential for spiritual growth. Whether it is fear, shame, bitterness, or any other force that confines us, God calls us to identify these barriers and refuse to let them define us. Only by calling out these strongholds can we experience the freedom Christ offers and move beyond the limitations of our past. [54:08]
3. God’s act of removing the basket to Shinar is a powerful image of sanctification—the ongoing process by which God not only delivers us from external bondage but also uproots the internal residue of captivity. True freedom is not just about leaving a place of oppression, but allowing God to remove the spirit of oppression from within us. [56:55]
4. We are invited to become “women with wings”—people who rise above the confines of our circumstances and help others do the same. This is not a call to self-reliance, but to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to overcome, to heal, and to lift others out of their own baskets. Our liberation is always connected to the liberation of those around us. [61:44]
5. The finished work of Christ means our sin and shame have already been carried far away. Even when life feels overwhelming and messy, God is on the throne, working all things for our good. Our hope is not in our own strength, but in the God who gives us wings to rise, to heal, and to live well in the freedom of Christ. [64:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Praise and Thanksgiving
[03:45] - Honoring Our Volunteers and Servants
[06:30] - Introduction to Zechariah 5
[09:20] - Historical Context: Return from Exile
[13:00] - The Basket: Symbol of Iniquity
[17:45] - The Woman in the Basket: Wickedness and Idolatry
[22:30] - Naming and Confronting Strongholds
[27:10] - The Lead Cover: Containment of Evil
[31:00] - The Women with Wings: Agents of Deliverance
[34:50] - The Basket’s Destination: Shinar and Its Meaning
[39:00] - Becoming People with Wings
[44:00] - Living in Freedom and Helping Others Rise
[49:30] - The Finished Work of Christ and Our Hope
[54:00] - Invitation, Prayer, and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Baskets, Strongholds, and Wings to Rise”

Bible Reading

Zechariah 5:5-11 (NKJV)
Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now and see what this is that goes forth.” So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket that is going forth.” He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?” And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”

Observation Questions

What does the basket (ephah) represent in Zechariah’s vision, and how does it connect to the people’s daily lives? ([34:32])
Who is sitting inside the basket, and what does she symbolize? ([47:03])
What is the significance of the lead cover on the basket? ([44:37])
What do the two women with wings do with the basket, and where do they take it? ([56:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to show the people their iniquity in such a vivid, symbolic way instead of just telling them directly? ([44:37])
The woman in the basket is described as “enthroned” and given a temple in Shinar. What does this say about how sin or strongholds can become established in our lives? ([47:03])
The act of the women with wings carrying the basket away is described as a picture of sanctification. How does this vision help us understand the difference between being freed from external circumstances and being freed from internal bondage? ([58:20])
The sermon says, “Our liberation is always connected to the liberation of those around us.” What does it mean for us to be “people with wings” who help others rise? ([01:01:44])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to identify the “baskets” in our own lives—strongholds, fears, or patterns that confine us. What is one “basket” you recognize in your life right now? How does it show up in your daily routine or relationships? ([44:37])
The preacher said, “When there are some things going on, we have to give it a name. We have to call it out so that we can deal with it.” Is there a stronghold (like fear, shame, bitterness, or something else) that you need to name and confront this week? What would it look like to start that process? ([54:08])
The vision shows God not shaming the people, but removing their sin and strongholds. How does this change the way you think about your own struggles or failures? Do you tend to hide them, or are you willing to let God “bring them into the light” for healing? ([44:37])
The women with wings are described as “heavenly agents” who rise above limitations and help others do the same. Who in your life needs someone to help them “rise” right now? What is one practical way you could encourage or support them this week? ([01:01:44])
The sermon says, “Through Christ, our sin and shame have been carried away, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to rise, to heal, and to live in the freedom God intends.” Is there an area where you are still living as if you are in captivity, even though Christ has set you free? What step could you take to walk in that freedom? ([01:04:46])
The preacher talked about “wings” as a symbol of resilience, strength, and the ability to rise above trouble. When was a time you felt God gave you “wings” to get through a hard season? How can you remember that the next time life gets messy? ([01:04:46])
The message ended with a reminder that “no mess is too big for God to clean up.” Is there a “mess” in your life that you need to trust God with today? What would it look like to give it over to Him and believe He can bring good out of it? ([01:04:46])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to name and confront their strongholds, for the Holy Spirit to give them “wings” to rise, and for the freedom and healing that only God can bring.

Sermon Clips

“The overriding message of the book of Zechariah rings loudly in the ear of men and women of God. See, that according to the plan of God, all who can call on his name must never allow sin or strongholds to control or dominate their lives. The good news is that God is not distant nor oblivious. So God knows what is going on all the time, and even in this situation, God is awe -inspiring. God is fearsome. God is fascinating. God is full of splendor, and he is attentively aware of what's going on in the world.”

“No matter how long your journey is or has been, know that God is with you and God wants you to get it right. He wants us to do what's right. You may be tired. You may be sick and tired of trying to do what's right. But what you got to do is pull it up from the bottom of the tiptoes and say, okay, God, I'm still hanging in here with you because I know that you're going to make a way.”

“If all of our sins were scrolling on the screen behind me, all the hurt you caused others, all the grief you caused, all the hurt you caused yourself, and all the grief you caused yourself as well. So that's what we see right now. But then we have this basket and there's something inside the basket.”

“The woman in the ephah seems to be representing the idolatry that the people are experiencing. They're forgetting about who God is and the power of God. I also want to point out that the woman here is apparently small enough to fit inside this basket. See, the prophet even described her as a woman sitting in the basket. She's sitting much like a little figurine might sit. She's enthroned like a queen, and she seems to be some kind of idol.”

“So what is this face behind this iniquity in all the land? It's fundamentally idolatry. We see an idolatry's name is wickedness. See, this is the wickedness that the Lord warned the people against about from the very beginning. He told them, hey, no other gods before me know who I am.”

“When we don't seek God's counsel and we ignore him and plot our own path our spirit isn't right we get influenced by guilt and fear even if we don't express it on the surface even if it's on an unconscious level deep in our hearts we're not whole we're we're there's something a little off about our spirit there is something taking place but now the exile is over and God is holding their iniquity before them in this ephah.”

“What I've learned is when there are some things going on we have to give it a name we have to call it out so that we can deal with it we want to call it out so that we won't be dealing with stuff that isn't even ours right so if it's guilt call it out if it's shame call it out if it's low self -esteem call it out if it's despair call it out what God is doing he's holding it before them but get this it's not to throw it in their face it's to show them what he's about to do.”

“For you and me this woman in the basket represents part of all who are oppressed and attacked by sin that's what she represents we don't belong there but because of our bad choices because of our unfortunate circumstances because of destructive forces because of some strongholds we are in the basket but this woman she wants to rise out of this basket but because of life emotional abuse physical abuse situations and circumstances she lives beneath her potential trapped in the basket.”

“The truth is many of us have lived in the basket we have been in a basket many of us are in baskets of our own creation we find ourselves in places of confinement and restriction because of the disorder in our lives some are in baskets because of the lies we believe some are in baskets because of the spirit of depression some are in baskets because of bitterness some are in baskets because of unforgiveness some of our in baskets because you've been listening to the wrong voices some of us are trapped in the baskets because we don't know how to live outside of the baskets.”

“The imagery is harsh, but it's a reminder that evil strongholds, those things that are not of God need to be contained. See, God put wickedness in its place. He gives them a good look at what wickedness looks like. Hey, look, look, look, look. This is what it looks like. And just in case that one's not yours, here's one. I'm going to pull one out that looks like what your situation is. But it's so that we can look at it, see it and say bye bye. Bye bye. As he sends it away.”

“We cannot let wickedness or strongholds run rampant in our lives. It cannot be a controlling force. It must be stifled. It must be suppressed. The strongholds in our lives should be relegated to the basket. So the rest of who we are can be free. Remember, God has a purpose and a plan for your life. And it's for us to live free and live to where God wants us to live. We have great potential.”

“Your strongholds are not more powerful than God. They are not more powerful than God. I know. You're like, well, what's the stronghold? You're talking about these baskets and the lead top on top of the baskets. Well, what I want you to get is, God wants to put those things and then send them away. He wants us to wave bye -bye. And he wants us, God wants us to know that God is God and God can handle it.”

“We have two kinds of women in this world. There are women in the basket who are confined, who are constricted, who are constructed, who are downtrodden, who are oppressed, who are suppressed, who are restricted and confined by the limits that the world has placed on them and that they have placed on themselves. And then there are women who will not be confined or crushed by their circumstances. Who are you?”

“We do not want to be confined by anything. We want to be operating in God's place and best for us. We want to know that God has given us the power to be able to break free, to have freedom, because whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”

“So, when your hope is in God, not in the flesh, you have wings to rise. When your hope is in God and not in the flesh, you have wings to rise. When you do not worry about the opinions of others because you know my help comes from the Lord, you have wings to rise. When you give the Lord the control of your life, right, and decide to identify and eliminate mental bondage, you have wings to rise. When you are transformed by the renewing of your mind, you have wings to rise.”

“While we may have known basket existence, we can be set free. We will live authentically when we refuse to be controlled by strongholds and are able to resist the temptations and the self -destructive behaviors that we have in our midst.”

“Women with wings are not...weak, and afraid. They're committed to their own liberation. They understand that they have been set free, not by themselves, but because they've placed their life in God's unchanging hand. They are committed to the liberation of not only themselves, but they're committed to the liberation of other women, their family members, those who are in their circle of influence, because they want everybody to get well, live well, and stay well.”

“When you believe in God, God is there by your side. He said in his word, he would never leave you nor forsake you. And you can be restored through God's power in this situation. We see that their faith tells them that because Jesus, they are able to press and rise above. Because of the death and the resurrection of the Savior, they are not defeated by ungodly systems. They are not defeated by strongholds, but they can fly.”

“Their ever -present motivation is this. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. If you've got that in your spirit, just say amen.”

“The Lord gives us the help we need to fly. In this story, as I passed through and was looking at all of the imagery and all of this, I just decided, I said, you know, I got over the fact that wickedness had to be who she was. But what I learned is it doesn't matter because when God uses, God can use whomever he so chooses. And we know that all things work together for good.”

“With these wings, I can rise up. With these wings, I can rise up. And I rise up as a woman of faith, a woman trusting God, believing God, understanding that I walk by faith and not by sight. I may be broken and bruised, but still I rise. Often knocked down to my knees, but still I rise. Persecuted and lied on, but still I rise. Crushed by problems, but still I rise. So let me just say this, because I want you to know you too can still rise.”

“If we're going to make it through, if we're going to get well, live well, and stay well, we got to remember that we still have to rise. We still have to get up with the power, knowing that God has placed everything inside of us, everything we need in order to rise and soar high.”

“When women have wings, we know that we have the potential to get up and improve that which is detrimental. We have the potential that we can run and not be weary, walk and faint not. We can escape from the enemies who would imprison us in the things of the flesh that want to hold us back. We will not be swallowed by our problems. We are resourceful and determined. We are peacemakers. We are wise because we trust God.”

“When women have wings, we have healing in our hands, a healing that comes because we have a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit in Christ Jesus. So when trouble comes, we fly straight to the arms of Jesus. When trouble comes, I invite you to fly straight to the arms of Jesus, straight to the arms of Jesus and let him wrap you up like you've never been wrapped before.”

“The good news that we have here is that the power to mount up on wings like evils and soar will take us to places unimaginable. It will get us to our healing. It'll get us to our breakthrough. It'll get us to what we need. So remember this, if your faith resides in Jesus, your sin has already been taken to a faraway land. Your strongholds have already been taken to a faraway land. Those things that setbacks and circumstances that are trying to hold you back, they've already been taken away to a faraway land.”

“Because of the finished work of the cross, your wickedness, my wickedness, my sin, your sin, whatever it is, has already been taken far away. Far, far away. Far away. So in Christ Jesus, you are justified before God. God is on the throne. And those strongholds and that wickedness will not prosper. We are justified. We are sanctified. God is on the throne of God and there is sin.”

“These verses remind us no mess is too big for God to clean up it may feel like the the strongholds are winning but this vision reminds us that God is on the throne God is on the throne and what man means for evil God means for good because Jesus Christ is our hope of glory Jesus Christ is our hope of glory we are continually being renewed into a better person a better being we are continually released from those basket lives right we are continually being relieved of and understanding that God has a new place a new position for us where we may enjoy God and experience getting well living well and staying well.”

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Freedom from Strongholds: Embracing God's Deliverance

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Key Takeaways

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Freedom from Strongholds: Embracing God's Deliverance

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