God’s Word Will Make You…
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: A New Creation
3
Part 2: The Battle of Your Mind
12
Part 3: Free From Your Past 1
17
Part 4: Free From Your Past 2
27
Part 5: Understanding Our Adversary
35
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Part 1: A New Creation
Introduction Freedom Ministry is a biblical teaching about who we are in Christ, what He has already accomplished for us, and what we have in Him as a result of what He has done. It helps us to see the reasons we continue to struggle in certain areas of our being – our thought life, relationships, temptation, fears, etc. It explains to us who our adversary is and why he may have access to oppress us. It is also an opportunity to receive ministry that brings inner healing and freedom through deliverance from demonic oppression in common but critical areas. The Freedom Ministry goal is to help each individual achieve personal spiritual breakthrough through inner healing and deliverance. Inner healing definitively identifies and closes doors to demonic oppression so that deliverance is effectively achieved. The Freedom Ministry Process 1.
Group teaching and ministry In these five sessions, you will learn about your need for inner healing and deliverance, and at certain points in the seminar, you will receive ministry in the group setting concerning issues from your past. Also, toward the end of the seminar, you will have an opportunity in the group setting to take authority over demonic spirits. Understanding ------ Discovery ------ Ministry ------ Deliverance
2.
Individual ministry You will be given a ministry questionnaire. If you desire individualized ministry from a trained team of ministers, complete the questionnaire and turn it in to me. A ministry team member will contact you to schedule your ministry session. You are a new creation in Christ! You must know your true identity.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
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Is this true? Sometimes truth and experience don’t match up. In this first session, we will learn about our identity as a new creation in Christ – what that means and why sometimes our life experiences seem to contradict the truth. The Beginning: Adam and the Original Creation 1.
2.
The trinity of man: Adam was created as a “living being” with spirit, soul, and body. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. •
His spirit was alive and he communicated and related to God.
•
He was created as a three part being – spirit, soul, body.
The original creation became the “old creation” when Adam sinned – Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7 •
Before the fall, Adam’s source for life and living was God, totally dependent on Him.
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After the fall, Adam became his own source, independent of God (believing and following the lie was the sin before eating the fruit).
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Adam’s spirit died, and death and corruption entered the world.
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His being came under the dominion of his own soul (his mind, will, and emotions) rather than under the dominion of God.
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His world was now fallen and cursed.
You in Adam Before Christ Though you were created by God in your mother’s womb to belong to Him, you were born into Adam and derived your identity from Adam. You were independent of God until the day you would choose to lose your life in Adam and receive new life in Christ.
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Matthew 16:25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." You were of the old creation and you needed to be delivered from the old and made new. You needed: •
A Savior/rescuer
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Forgiveness from your sins (justification)
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Deliverance from your old identity (new birth, regeneration, a new mind, a new heart)
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Authority and dominion over death and sin
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A restored relationship to the Father 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. God’s solution for your need was the miracle of the cross and resurrection. You received your new life from first dying to your old self. Death precedes the new birth!
Colossians 1:21-22 NLT “This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Romans 6:1-7 MSG 1-3 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land! Page 5 of 42
3-5 That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. 6-11 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. In our new birth, we are baptized into Christ. We exchange our old nature and all that goes with it for a completely new nature and all that goes with it – becoming a new creation in Him. For those who are in Christ, the old creation has become the New Creation! Us in Christ – Christ in Us There are two great pictures of our union with Christ. Us in Christ, and Christ in us. Personalized, that would be, “Me in Christ, and Christ in me.” There are approximately 200 references of each of these in scripture. The Bible gives us these two distinct pictures because there is an important difference between them. 1. Me in Christ What happened to me at my new birth? The scriptures above tell us that in Christ, our old man was put to death and our new man was raised up with Christ. The “in Christ” scriptures are exactly the same for all of us. Our identity in Christ is exactly the same: •
We are all forgiven of our sins, washed clean.
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We are all given our adoption as sons.
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We are all given the righteousness of Christ.
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We are all a new creation with a new identity
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The finished work of Christ is equally applied to all of us. No one is more forgiven than anyone else, nor is anyone more of a new creation than anyone else. Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” This scripture says that all of us in Christ have been made complete in Him. The word for complete, pleroo, is a word that means “absolutely full.” No one is more pleroo (complete) in Him than anyone else. This is an absolute truth for all of us. It is how we are known by God in Heaven—complete in Him. 2. Christ in Me How am I growing into who I really am? Colossians 1:27 uses the phrase, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The word hope refers to the future; it is something that has not yet happened. The approximately 200 “Christ in me” scriptures are different for each of us, because they are descriptive of the unique work of renewal the Holy Spirit is doing in each of us. We have been made complete (pleroo) but we are becoming complete (telios). Paul said of himself in Philippians 3:12 that he has not yet attained telios. Telios is a word that also is translated as “complete or perfect,” but it is different than pleroo. It means “spiritually mature.” There is always a level of spiritual maturity that we have not yet attained. It’s important to remember: •
We are complete, but not yet! The key is in understanding the two words pleroo and telios. We have been made into a new person that is completely new, but we have to grow up into who we are.
•
We are becoming who we are. Our life experience, knowledge and understanding, and maturity are catching up to the truth of who we have already been made to be. It sounds like a paradox – that we are still becoming someone we have already been made to be. But this is illustrated by the Bible calling us “newborn babes” as new Christians. The DNA of who we are is already in there, but we have to grow up into the fullness of our being. This is why there are so many scriptures that talk about the renewing of our mind and the “putting off” of the old self and the “putting on” of the new self. It is though we are practicing our new reality until we “get it.” Page 7 of 42
“Getting it” is the key. Each of us must have our own personal revelation of who we are in Christ—our identity. It is a truth against which every life experience either stands or falls and a truth the enemy schemes to hide from us or distort. Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) We have “God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” (Colossians 1:13 MSG) The enemy (Satan) desires to keep us in bondage by keeping us in the darkness of not knowing.
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This is why we start with knowing our identity in Christ. In truth, it is the only identity you have. There is no other, so you must know it. What are some examples from your own life that seem not to align with the truth of who you are in Christ? These could be areas of recurring failure, obsessive fears, relationship failures, haunting memories or hurts, etc. ________________________________________
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Five reasons we still struggle, despite all things being made new: 1.
When born again, we are an infant version of who we are becoming.
2.
We have a new nature, but we still have our flesh – your flesh is who you are apart from the power and life of the Holy Spirit (e.g. attempting to overcome sin on your own).
3.
We have been given the mind of Christ, but our thinking has to be renewed.
4.
The enemy still seeks to steal, kill, and destroy – primarily through lies and deception.
5.
We still live in a fallen and corrupt world – the first creation (world) still awaits its redemption.
None of these reasons changes the bottom line of our new reality!
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Access Points for Demonic Influence We may wonder if what we struggle with is our flesh or demonic influence. We will learn more about this as well as the limitations of Satan’s power in upcoming sessions. Satan is our enemy. As the god of this world, he used to have us under his dominion. He no longer does, but he doesn’t play by the rules of honesty and he schemes to either hide the truth from us or distort it. He operates through our past to keep us from the provision of our future. He hates the freedom and power that are ours, so he exploits any of the five above reasons in which we still struggle, in order to make our struggle even worse. He deceives us to a point of discouragement and despair. The good news is, there is something we can do about it. We will learn that there are access points for demonic influence. Before you can go through deliverance, you must determine where the access points are that have given Satan a foothold in your life and take steps to close those access points. We will be learning about those access points and ministering in each area in our future sessions. They are:
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Un-forgiveness: mother/father wounds
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Mental and emotional strongholds
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Willful sin: shame, guilt
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Judgments and inner vows
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Hurts and traumas
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Unrighteous soul ties
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Generational iniquities/ word curses
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What the Word testifies concerning our identity and position in Christ (to be said aloud): Who I Am In Christ I am a son of God; God is my Father (Romans 8:14-15) I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing in His inheritance (Romans 8:17) I am a temple of the Spirit of God –His life dwells in me (1 Corinthians 3:16) I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:10) I am a prisoner of Christ (Ephesians 3:1) I am chosen of God (Colossians 3:12) I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) I am one of God’s living stones (1 Peter 2:5) I am the Bride of Christ as a part of the Church (Ephesians 5:27) I am the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9-10)
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Christ in Me Christ in me is my hope of glory. I am being brought to a place and state of glory. I am growing up into who I am – becoming the full, mature, healthy expression of who He has made me to be. This happens through: The surrender of us to the Lordship of Christ The redeeming work of the Holy Spirit The power of God’s living Word The relationship of sonship to my heavenly Father The obedience to my Father as a legitimate son The brotherhood of the community of believers I am and in the propagating work of loving others into the Kingdom
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Part 2: The Battle of Your Mind
“You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32 Two Contrasting World Views 1.
Kingdom of this world — a non-truth worldview that changes according to the needs of the moment. It pretends to be truth but has no reliability or consistency from one moment to another or one person to another. It is our adversary.
2.
Kingdom of God — God’s worldview is built on truth and uses the language of His kingdom. It never changes. It is simple, constant, completely reliable, and absolute. Discussion: Contrast the two kingdom views of both marriage and money.
We would like to think that the only truth we hold is God’s truth and not the world’s; however, our reality is that from the time we are born again, we begin a learning curve that takes place through what the Bible calls “the renewing of our mind.” Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Over time we replace old patterns of thinking with kingdom truth, but even spiritually mature believers are apt to hold old patterns of thinking without being aware of them. Typically, under certain circumstances, these old patterns will be triggered. This is what the Bible calls strongholds or fortresses. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,…
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Strongholds From childhood and into adulthood, we acquire and develop a set of core beliefs about life. When we are born again, we receive a new hard drive (mind of Christ), but we are still running some old software. Our core beliefs are the motivators, desires, longings, and perceptions that impact how we think, act, and feel about life and who we were created to be. Core beliefs are the filters we use to: • Look at ourselves • Relate to God •
Relate to others
We have legitimate needs that may be met or unmet in legitimate or illegitimate ways. Over time, our core beliefs are formed around how needs are met (or not), meaning we all have some core beliefs that are healthy and some that are unhealthy. Healthy core beliefs are ones centered on truth; unhealthy core beliefs are non-truth centered, based on lies. Sometimes we can tell the difference, and sometimes we can’t. The process of the mind being renewed is the ongoing and progressive “Christ in you” part of our walk, when our “already new” becomes “new” in our experience of living. Critical Core Belief Example From early childhood, we have a core need to know who we are and that we have purpose and significance. When we are in Adam, our pursuit of discovering identity leads us to the kingdom of this world. There are plenty of messages out there that bombard us, almost all of which are not based in truth. In other words, we are looking for our “name.” We seek an image we can present to others. Seeking to Understand the Name Given to You by the World: •
What are some names that have been spoken over you?
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Growing up, how did you perceive that others saw you?
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What inadequacies did you try to overcome to be more accepted by others?
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Did you compare yourself to others? Who? Why?
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What did you do or try to become to gain more value and self worth in the eyes of others? Page 13 of 42
When we are born again, our core beliefs about who we are and where our significance comes from must change. There are eight billion people in the world, and no two people are alike. What does that tell you? Our identity comes from Christ. We don’t belong to Adam (mankind) anymore, but to Him. Our sense of value, self worth, and significance, as well as our name, come not from the world but from Him. Who does God say you are? What name does He put on you? Two Types of Strongholds 1. Stronghold of God The stronghold of God is of His kingdom and of His beloved Son. God Himself is our fortress, or in Hebrew, Mesudah. It refers to a wilderness or mountainous place for hiding, for defense, and for gathering supplies to go on the offense and into battle. God’s fortress, or safe place, keeps His people on the go and battle ready. To be in God’s stronghold is to be in Him. It is not a place, but a person. Psalm 91:2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 18:2-3 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. David went into the wilderness to escape from Saul, and there he gathered the 400 downcast men who became his mighty men. His time of hiding was a time of preparing and strategy. It was his Mesudah. What does your Mesudah look like? 2. Strongholds of the enemy Strongholds of the enemy are built in our thoughts over time. The word stronghold is ochuroma – to fortify, to hold fast. They are any strong points or arguments in which one trusts. Page 14 of 42
These strongholds are not a person, but a place. They are many, they are varied, and they are personal to you. The enemy has had an assignment against you since childhood and has been instrumental in exploiting the circumstances, traumas, hurts, pain, and dysfunction in your life to build these fortresses of wrong thinking over time. These strongholds are not taken down simply as a result of you being born again, but they can be taken down only because you have been born again. Truth belongs to the believer, but it comes through the renewing of our mind. As we believe truth, it replaces wrong thinking through the process of renewing. How a Wrong Stronghold Develops 1.
A negative, painful, or traumatic event happens in your life.
2.
You assign a meaning to the event that may not be true, and the meaning forms a lie which you believe to be true. The lie you believe is usually how you see God or others.
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Because of the pain, you choose a defense to protect or comfort yourself, sometimes making inner vows or judgments. These defenses are things you turn to in order to avoid pain. Over time, they become essential to you and even appear to be “old friends.”
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Others react to your defenses, or you encounter similar circumstances, reproducing the pain and perpetuating the cycle.
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Layer upon layer reinforces over time, building a STRONG hold. It is not the event or pain that gets you into trouble, but the lies of the enemy and your belief of them. It is “strong” because “I have always thought this way!”
Pulling Down Strongholds A stronghold is a wrong pattern of thinking. Though it can be influenced by demons, it is not a demon and therefore cannot be cast out. Strongholds must be pulled down. In biblical times, fortresses were pulled down or defeated by siege warfare. Siege warfare, unlike face-to-face battles on the battlefield, took time. It was more difficult to see the enemy. The weapons were different. Discussion: What are some differences between siege warfare and hand-to-hand combat? Page 15 of 42
Pulling down strongholds happens when: •
A lie or wrong pattern of thinking is exposed.
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You repent. Repentance is the word metanoia, which means “new thinking.” Therefore, repentance means recognizing wrong thinking and having a strong desire and commitment to new thinking.
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You refresh yourself in truth frequently—truth about who you are and what you have in Christ. Do this even when you are not being attacked or threatened.
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You repeatedly practice raising truth above the lies, resulting in the renewing of your mind.
Mental strongholds are treated as a foundation in our freedom journey together because they are almost always a root for other problems. As we learn about the other access areas, we will be looking for root strongholds that must be pulled down. Discovering the truth about yourself – the ministry questionnaire Take home the ministry questionnaire and begin filling it out privately. No one will see your questionnaire unless you want them to. Be totally honest and thorough in answering the questions. Prior to filling it out, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and bring to your remembrance those things He wants to come into the light. Take your time. The process of filling out the questionnaire will begin your healing and deliverance. It will help you to understand our future lessons and ministry opportunities.
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Part 3: Free From Your Past 1
Now that we have learned about our true identity in Christ and we now know we are apt to have strongholds of wrong thinking that get in our way of healing and freedom, we are ready to start looking into the major access points for inner healing and demonic oppression. Remember, they are: •
Un-forgiveness and mother/father wounds
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Shame, guilt, and willful sin
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Generational iniquities
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Judgments and inner vows
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Unrighteous soul ties
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Hurts and traumas
The first two sessions established the foundation that enables us to look at issues you may continue to struggle with. The Holy Spirit will lead and empower us to safely and definitively confront our past. Analogy of the House Scripture tells us that we are a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are a home. Homes have doors, windows, and closets. Though the house has been made “perfect,” we may have clutter in some of the closets that needs to be removed. In “cleaning house,” we also will be shutting the doors and windows that permit demonic access. Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In Paul’s admonition, he tells us to “forget” what lies behind. The word for forget does not mean to ignore or to blot from your memory. It means to neglect the past in a way that it Page 17 of 42
loses its power to hold you back. There is a right way to deal with your past so you can move forward. Freedom Ministry enables and empowers you to deal with your past. We are going to clean house! Ephesians 4:30-32 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Objectives in this session: •
To understand the impact un-forgiveness has on me and others, and how to be set free by forgiving others.
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To activate the forgiveness of those God shows me I need to forgive.
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To understand the impact guilt and shame has had on me.
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To fully receive the forgiveness of God toward me and to be freed from shame.
Un-forgiveness: the inability, failure, or unwillingness to release, let go of, or resolve an offense, debt, wrong, suffered betrayal, or hurt. It is also a prevalent access point for demonic oppression. Un-forgiveness is not: •
Denial (pretending it is okay)
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Repression (burying the hurt caused by sin)
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Letting the offender off the hook
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Forgetting
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Allowing abuse to continue by acceptance of bad behavior
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The Consequences of Un-forgiveness: •
Creates bondage — a stronghold for the enemy to reside and operate in your flesh and mind
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Causes you to be blinded
I John 2:9-11 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. •
Leads to you making inner vows and/or the development of mental strongholds — deception, distorted views of reality, etc.
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Lack of trust, unhealthy and stunted relationships because you shield yourself from hurt
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Turned over to the tormentors, demonic spirits can manifest as:
Disease
Violence
Suicide
Resentment
Fear
Murder
Hatred
Bitterness
Anxiety
Depression
Revenge
Poverty
Confusion
Anger
Three Categories of Un-forgiveness •
Mother/Father Wounds
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Forgiveness of Others
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Forgiveness of Self
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Mother/Father Wounds For most of us, our parents have had significant influence on us growing up and may still influence us in our adult years. We have been shaped by our parents values, beliefs, actions, words – or the lack of any of those things. We have been influenced by what our parents did and didn’t do. That shaping can be good or bad. Mothers Mothers make their infants feel secure and loved from the womb through the formative years. Mothers impart femininity to both sons and daughters. Mothers represent the motherhood of God. • Fathers Fathers begin holding and affirming and extending affection in appropriate ways. Fathers impart masculinity to both sons and daughters. Fathers represent the fatherhood of God. From Your Mother and Father, You May or May Not Have Received: • Love and affection • Calling out of destiny •
Affirmation
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Discipline
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Identity
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Other
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Security and safety
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Abuse
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Abandonment or neglect
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Other
Wounding Experiences You May Have Had: •
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Negative comments about your abilities Punished from anger
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Punished when innocent
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Compared to siblings or others
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No one has perfect parents. To the degree the above experiences are true for us, we may have minimal or major mother/father wounds. We have been both generationally cursed and blessed. As we face our past, it is not in order to blame our parents for our problems, but to recognize the reality of our past, understand it, deal with it, and then move on. In moving on, we also want to recognize our generational blessings that remain with us and continue to bless us into our future. Blessings carry empowerment to succeed or overcome. Examples of Blessings: •
Work ethic
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Caring and compassion
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Fidelity in marriage
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Honor
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Honesty
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Other
Ministering Freedom from Un-forgiveness for Mother/Father Wounds A prayer for healing from mother/father wounds: Father, I give You thanks for the blessings of my parents and their efforts to meet my needs according to Your design. I especially thank You for ________________________________________
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I also recognize unmet needs I have because they were not perfect. I choose to forgive them and release them from performing those things as my parents, specifically for ________________________________________
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I look to You – perfect Father and Mother to me in every respect, and I receive from You the love, acceptance, affirmation, and promise of destiny, and specifically for Page 21 of 42
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Forgiveness of Others Discovery – who else do you need to forgive? ___ God
___ Other Family
___ Pastors/Church Leaders
___ Coach(s)
___ Spouse
___ Teacher(s)
___ Children
___ Friend(s)
___ Grandparents
___ Other
Identify a person from the above list you need to forgive. The process for forgiveness is: •
Repent (change of mind) to God for un-forgiveness and judgment (lay down your requirement for personal justice).
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Express as an act of your will to forgive, and what you are forgiving for (specificity is very important).
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Release the person from your judgment.
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Bless the person you have forgiven.
A prayer for forgiveness: Page 22 of 42
Lord, in Jesus’ name, I confess to You that I have held ____________ in un-forgiveness. I know that is wrong and I repent – having made a change of mind to forgive and release ____________ from my un-forgiveness and judgment. As an act of my will, I now forgive ____________ for _______________________________. I lay down all bitterness, all resentment, and all hatred. I release ____________ from my judgment and cancel the debt they owe me. They are completely released from any expectation I have for them. They are off my hook and they belong to You for Your perfect resolve of mercy and justice. I bless them in the power I have in You to desire Your very best for them. Thank You for cleansing me from the unrighteousness of un-forgiveness. There may be times when “proxy forgiveness” is helpful. Use a Freedom Ministry minister in proxy to speak to the person you are forgiving. Again, specificity is very important. Active version - (e.g. I sense that God would want you to speak forgiveness to your father for failing to fulfill his duties as a parent to you by not exercising his visitation rights and not providing adequate child support to your family.) Passive version - (e.g. Can you sense the Holy Spirit speaking to you about your first wife? What would He have you say to her?) Special issues: •
The person you are forgiving is deceased
•
The situation is ongoing Jesus doesn’t promise to help us cope, He promises healing and freedom! Forgiveness of Self Shame is an accusation and a judgment made against ourselves that attaches to us. Shame gets its power from two sources – our conscience and Satan.
Types of Shame: 1.
Shame with basis originates from an act we are guilty of. Our conscience has found us guilty and we know it.
2.
Shame without basis originates from a false accusation against us.
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3.
Toxic shame is extremely negative and damaging shame. It speaks lies to us about our self-worth and value. Toxic shame can leave us functionally and relationally damaged. It can be aggravated by a spirit of rejection, from both self and others.
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Conscience - We have a conscience. Our conscience can be our friend or enemy. It can be beneficial to warn us, guide us, teach us, and remind us. But it can also be a problem for us. Our conscience is not the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our conscience can be trusted and other times not. Sometimes it is truthful, sometimes not. The Holy Spirit is always truthful, is never wrong, and is always functioning for our benefit.
Satan Satan is evil. He seeks whom he may devour. He is a thief and a robber and a wolf, and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. One of his names is diablo, which means false accuser. He accuses both non-believers and believers. His accusations attack not the spirit of a man, but the soul. His accusations speak a basic set of core lies: • You are incompetent • You are alone •
You are dirty
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You are rejected
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You are unworthy or worthless
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You must be perfect
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You are unacceptable
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You are powerless
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You are unlovable
•
You are a failure
Shame is that sick feeling that says, “something is wrong with me.” We were not meant to carry or wear shame. We aren’t built for it. Guilt, and the penalty for our guilt, required satisfaction, which Christ accomplished in His finished work. So when we continue to carry shame, it does the following: • Separates us from God (on our side, • Causes heaviness and not His) discouragement •
•
Separates us from others through rejection
•
Breeds failure
•
Can lead to continual and willful practice of sin
Causes self-rejection and self-hatred and self-doubt Page 24 of 42
Dealing With Shame The shed blood of Jesus is enough to satisfy God, the accuser, and you and your conscience. The New Covenant is a blood covenant. The blood of Jesus ratifies the covenant for all who are in Christ. Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Ephesians 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Colossians 1:20 And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Hebrews 9:12-14 And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 1 Peter 1:18-19 Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.
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Let us say, by His blood . . . •
I am forgiven
•
I am justified
•
My sins have been put away
•
I am redeemed
•
The penalty for my sins has been paid – completely – nothing left for me to pay
•
I have been made perfect
•
I am a saint
I am in covenant with God
•
I belong to Christ. I am in Christ. Christ is in me.
•
Steps to Definitively and Finally Deal with Shame 1.
Face your past
2.
Confess and be healed
3.
Reclaim your sonship
4.
Reclaim your identity
A prayer for forgiveness of self: Lord, in Jesus’ name, I confess that I have held myself in un-forgiveness for ____________________________. I believe that Your shed blood is enough to satisfy God that my sins are FORGIVEN and REMOVED from me. I have been completely cleansed of all my sins – past, present, and future – and I stand in that glorious truth and refuse to carry shame and guilt any longer for what God has completely removed from me. Thank You Lord – in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
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Part 4: Free From Your Past 2
Generational Iniquities The word iniquity in Hebrew is avon – the crooked and perverse attitudes that originate with the fathers and are passed on to the children; to bend or twist. A generational iniquity is a form of behavior or attitude that you recognize in your parents’ lives or family history as being unbiblical and not representative of the character of God. There may be a tendency in the family to accept these attitudes or behaviors as normal. They have an influence on you and/or your family. In fact, these tendencies may be deeply rooted. We may actually see the generational iniquity as our default setting. We may have a “tendency” toward that behavior or attitude as we subconsciously see it as normal. Consider: In your family of origin, how was conflict resolved? How did they handle anger? How did they see the roles of men and women? Generational sin (behavior patterns) and iniquity (tendencies) can happen as a result of the following: •
Genetics
•
Law of sowing and reaping
•
Example
•
Demonic oppression
•
Values
Examples of generational iniquities: •
Rejection
•
Addictions
•
Control and dominance
•
Chronic illnesses
•
Freemasonry
•
Divorce
•
Witchcraft or the occult
•
Irresponsibility • Sexual sin
•
Mental problems
•
Other
•
Poverty Page 27 of 42
Take a few moments and catalogue those family influences that come to mind in one of the following categories. Blessings
Negative Behaviors
Iniquities
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
It has always been God’s design for each generation to carry God’s presence and to reflect His life and light and freedom and power and redemption to the next generation, until all the earth is filled with His glory. The fall has interrupted this design, and it is only through the finished work of the cross that we are able to break the power of iniquity and reclaim the design. Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” — in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Proverbs 26:2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. Breaking Iniquities and Generational Curses Father, I thank You for the generational blessings that have been passed to me. I especially thank You for _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ I also understand that the sins and iniquities of previous generations of my family have affected me. I confess the sins and iniquities of my family, such as ________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 28 of 42
I turn away and renounce any place that I have personally given to those sins and iniquities and I receive Your forgiveness and cleansing for them. Through my redemption through Christ, who has triumphed over my enemies by crushing the head of my enemy, I break the power these iniquities have had over me. I renounce and break any bondage or hold over my mind, will, and emotions. Jesus, I ask You to transform through the cross any and every curse and iniquity back into Your original design for my life. Today, I cover my past and my heritage with the blood of Jesus Christ. I also confess that I have been made a new creation in Christ and have been given a new heritage. I take back what the enemy has stolen from me. Thank You for giving me, my children and my future descendants a new heritage and a new future, in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Soul Ties A soul tie happens when we have bonded, become attached to, or become one with someone or something. A soul tie can be right and godly, but many soul ties are wrong, damaging, and must be broken. Mark 10:6-9 “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female,’ ‘for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” We are three part beings made by God. We are body, soul, and spirit. God made us to attach to others in our three-part being; however, there are ways we are meant to attach and ways that we are not meant to attach. Godly soul ties: •
Marriage
•
Some friendships
•
Parent and child
•
Fellow believers
Spiritually, when we are born again, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ – the church. This act forms a spiritual union among believers the bible calls, “Brethren.” The word for brethren is adelphos, which means “unity of the womb.” This is a type of righteous soul tie that is universal for all believers. God designed us to have relationships and to connect with one another. When we bond incorrectly, we form an ungodly soul tie. An ungodly soul tie is based on lies and deception and occurs when the relationship is unhealthy or sinful. These soul ties can be deep or shallow, but they still must be broken. Page 29 of 42
Ungodly soul ties: •
Sex outside of marriage
•
Living your life through your children
•
Porn
•
•
Being a victim of sexual abuse
Someone you work for, with an obsession for their approval
•
A best friend or anyone who takes the place of your spouse
•
Pets
•
Romance novels
•
“Work spouse”
Breaking Ungodly Soul Ties 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, Breaking a soul tie involves all three parts of our being. You can’t break a soul tie by just saying for it to be broken. You have to turn off a switch spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically, and keep it turned off. It begins with a recognition, a mindset change, a decisive act of the will, a spoken out loud breaking, and a lifestyle follow-up that embodies all dimensions of the broken soul tie. Prayer for breaking soul ties: With the power and authority of Jesus Christ, I break my bonding and connection with ____________________ and renounce any and all soul ties I have. I break off and cancel the effect this soul tie has had on my mind, my will, and my emotions. In the name of Jesus, I take back the ground the enemy has gained in my soul by commanding the enemy to flee and by recommitting the ground of my soul to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, I ask that You would purify and heal my broken heart; I ask that You would cleanse and renew my mind. With Your power, realign my will to Your will; empower me to make healthy, godly choices. Please refresh and restore my emotions.
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Healing from Hurts and Traumas and Breaking Inner Vows The human experience virtually always includes past trauma events or patterns of circumstances that result in deep wounds and hurts that we carry into adulthood. Like other areas we have learned about, these hurts affect the way we think and feel in false and negative ways. They include traumatic experiences, spoken word curses, and rejection. Traumatic Experiences Traumatic events, by their nature, are usually sudden surprises that can’t be planned for. The memories of these kinds of life events can instantly and deeply bring back the original pain or fear. It is natural to wonder “where was God?” when the event was happening. In these events, we are usually alone or feel alone. The event is “in control” and we aren’t. We can even wonder if God is in control. Our experience is one of fear and deep anxiety, perhaps even panic. Traumatic experiences can include: • Accidents and injuries • Rejection •
•
Near death experiences or death of a loved one
•
Abandonment or neglect
•
Serious illnesses
Abuse – physical, sexual, emotional
These out-of-control experiences often cause us to make inner vows or to be more controlling, which is living according to a lie. We falsely believe that if we can control our circumstances, we can avoid the negative and painful emotions from past hurts and traumas. Sometimes the memory of a traumatic event is a repressed memory that comes back to us when being questioned with things such as: •
•
•
Have you ever had a near death experience? Have you ever been rejected by someone that resulted in a deep hurt? Do you remember ever being taken advantage of sexually?
•
Have you ever been abused?
•
Were you ever left alone and felt very vulnerable and afraid?
•
Were you ever in a serious accident?
•
Did you ever witness someone being seriously injured?
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Spoken Word Curses Though we have dealt with mother/father wounds, there are sometimes instances when we have heard what is called a word curse – a definitive statement concerning us that is negative. It doesn’t matter whether it is intended to harm us – what matters is how we perceive it and receive it. Spoken word curses include: •
You’ll never amount to anything
•
You can’t do anything right
•
You’re just like your father
•
•
If only you could be like your brother
When God was passing out brains, where were you?
•
You’re a failure
•
I wish you’d never been born
Or, the accumulation of: •
Taunting or even teasing about physical features
•
Berating and excessive criticism
•
Comparisons to others
Word curses usually come from someone significant in our lives. We can even speak word curses over ourselves. Rejection Rejection is the sense of being cast aside, thrown away, or discarded as defective or of no use. The wounding of rejection can happen in a singular event, such as breaking up with a boyfriend, being ditched by a friend, or by being betrayed by someone close to us. Rejection can also occur as an accumulation of events, such as frequently being passedover in selections for a sports team. Rejection, traumatic events, and word curses can stunt us emotionally in areas where we have experienced the hurt. An immature response to the hurt is to make an inner vow. Inner vows play out in patterns of immaturity, especially as it relates to people.
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The most common negative emotions associated with past hurts and traumas, rejection, and word curses are: •
Fear
•
Anger
•
Rejection
•
Shame
•
Regret
Ministering Healing in the Areas of Rejection, Trauma, and Word Curses These events and their damage are from our past. Life has no reverse, meaning we can’t go backward and undo the events. We can, however, face the damage and the lies we have believed, receive our healing in Christ, and move forward. In facing the events that caused the damage, we are also recognizing how the pain has been expressed in and through our emotions. A conversation with God about these events is the best place to start. Ask God questions like: •
What event in my life do You want to talk to me about today?
•
How and when did this take root in my life?
•
Where were You, God, when this happened?
•
What lie did I believe at that time?
•
When I believed that lie, what did I do in my heart? Did I make an inner vow?
•
What do I need to do about that?
•
Lord, what is the truth about the lie I believed?
•
Lord, what do You want me to leave behind in that place and time (fear, shame, lies, etc.)?
•
What do I need to take back or receive in exchange (love, power, peace, affirmation, security, etc.)?
•
Lord, what do You want to do for me? Page 33 of 42
•
Is there anything else I need to do before I leave this memory 
 forever?
Prayer for healing from hurts and traumas: Lord, thank You for showing me these past traumatic and hurtful events in my life. They are: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Holy Spirit, please remove me from this place of hurt and take me to my safe meeting place with You. Lord, I ask You to cleanse me of filth, free me from fear, deliver me from bondage, and raise me above rejection. I break any associated inner vows with these events. Heal me and restore me to Your original design, free of this damage. Now, as a new creation in Christ, I declare myself to be free and above the experiences of my past and the resulting damage. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are new! In Jesus’ name. Amen
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Part 5: Understanding Our Adversary
Knowing Our Adversary We will never know our adversary in an intimate way as we do God, but there is value in knowing enough about him to effectively take our authority over him. In fact, scripture tells us to be vigilant and watchful for our adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Satan – His Mission and Purpose Satan is a rival of God. In love with his own beauty, he was cast down from heaven with a third of the angels. Since then, he has been the ruler of this world. He has four primary desires: 1.
To be worshipped
2.
To steal, kill, and destroy John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
3.
To abort the seed – to kill the Son and His heirs and anything that pertains to the life God imparts to us
4.
To keep the Church (and believers) deceived and in bondage
Satan and His Attributes Compared to the Attributes of God •
God is omnipotent – all powerful - Satan is limited in power. Satan was cast down from Heaven; he was able to bruise the heel of the Messiah, but his head has been crushed; he unsuccessfully tempted Christ; he moves within a realm that has boundaries set by God. Page 35 of 42
•
God is omnipresent – in all places at all times - Satan is in one place at a time. He rules the world through a hierarchy of fallen angels.
•
God is omniscient – all knowing - Satan is cunning. He is intelligent. He is purposeful. He is strategic. He is not all knowing. Satan cannot know your thoughts like God knows your thoughts. Satan is a spiritual being and operates in a spiritual dimension within limits set by God.
•
God is holy and loving and perfect in truth and justice and mercy. Satan is unholy, has no love, is no respecter of innocence, has no mercy and is the father of lies.
•
God has a plan and purpose for our life. Satan has a plan and purpose for our life – the opposite of God’s.
•
Some names of God include, Prince of Peace, Almighty God, Counselor, Redeemer, Savior, Abba (Father). Some of Satan’s names are accuser, adversary, (masquerades as) angel of light, deceiver, destroyer, murderer, tempter, wolf, and wicked one.
Demonic Spirits There is no word associated with demons in the Bible that suggests possession, but rather oppression or influence. A common and good question is, “When do I know I am being influenced by a demon, rather than my flesh?” We always want an objective, clear, simple answer to questions like this. In dealing with the spiritual realm, we are unaccustomed and unfamiliar with how the spiritual realm operates. Here are some suggested indicators: •
Prolonged and repeated exposure (practice of willful sin, ongoing unforgiveness, ongoing patterns of wrong thinking, etc.)
•
Intensity of struggle (very strong temptation, intense emotional involvement, etc.)
•
Strong heaviness or darkness
Demons are spirit beings that are looking for a place to dwell, which is why they must be cast out or told to leave. That is also why we take the time in Freedom Ministry to deal with access points – we close the doors and windows. Darkness is their domain just as the Light is the domain of God. Light always overcomes darkness! Demons have lost their authority over believers, though they still have power and they will encroach on believers when permitted to do so. How does that happen? Page 36 of 42
•
When we make ourselves independent from God. Though we belong to God and nothing can separate us from His love, we can think and act in ways that are independent, such as through the practice of willful sin.
•
When we open ourselves to deception by following ________________________
•
When we seek after false sources for peace, joy, contentment, truth, etc. (money, sex, relationships, the occult, etc.)
Three Primary Weapons Formed Against Us Temptation: Being tempted is not a sin. A way of escape is always provided. But, pondering temptation, meditating on temptation, fantasizing about temptation, etc – will lead to sin and personal failure.
1.
1 John 2:17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Jesus defeated temptation by speaking the Word 2.
Accusation: One of his names is Diablo, which means “slanderer.” Revelation 12:10 says that Satan accuses us before God day and night. He lies to us about ourselves to rob us of our true identity, to exalt us, to debase us, to rob us of hope, etc. When we receive his false accusation, it results in condemnation, guilt, shame, pride, fear, rejection, etc.
Rejection progression from false accusation • God rejects you You reject people
• 3.
•
You reject yourself
Deception: The Hebrew word for serpent is “nachash,” which means to hiss, whisper a magic spell, to suggest - such as in the garden when he said to Eve, “Did God really say . . .” Genesis 3:1 Deception produces error and strongholds. Satan’s strategy is to introduce Page 37 of 42
deception incrementally over time. He is patient for his own ends. There is a deception progression: • “It may be wrong, but I don’t want • “I don’t see anything wrong with to let go” it” •
“It won’t hurt me much”
•
“God told me to do it”
Summary The access areas that we have learned about and have dealt with in this group setting are: • Mental and emotional strongholds • Generational curses and iniquities (wrong patterns of thinking) Soul ties • Un-forgiveness and mother/father • • Unhealed hurts and traumas wounds •
Shame and guilt
•
Judgments and inner vows
Once these areas have been dealt with, demonic spirits are exposed and lose all permitted access to our mind (the way we think), our will (ability to make right decisions) and our emotions (how we feel). The final part of our Freedom Ministry process is to identify demonic spirits, take authority over them, and demand that they leave. Freedom (Deliverance) Taking Authority Over Demonic Spirits Luke 10:17-20 “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” As we read New Testament accounts of deliverance from demonic spirits, we see that there are varieties and diversities of spirits. Addressing them by name or type is helpful but not necessary. They are identified more by activity and influence than name. Conversing with them is not helpful. Do not negotiate. Through the process of ministry thus far, we (you) have Page 38 of 42
broken any agreement and closed any access with demonic influence. We will speak to each demonic spirit, renounce former agreement with darkness and declare agreement with the Lord (light) and shut the door to them. They MUST yield to the authority we have in Christ. We come by that authority, and none else. Example Prayer “I speak to a spirit of fear. You have been exposed in my life and agreement with you has been broken. I renounce you and command you to leave and stop all influence in my life. You have no access or claim to me. Be gone in Jesus name!� Demons by Type as Identified by Scripture: Demonic spirit
Opposite
Spirit of infirmity
Luke 13:11
1 Corinthians 1:9, Romans 8:2
Spirit of fear
2 Timothy 1:7
2 Timothy 1:7
Spirit of divination
Acts 16:16-18
1 Corinthians 12:9-12
Spirit of whoredom
Hosea 4:13
Ephesians 3:16
Spirit of bondage
Romans 8:15
Romans 8:15
Spirit of haughtiness
Proverbs 16:19,
Proverbs 16:19, Romans 1:4
Spirit of perverseness
Isaiah 19:14
Zechariah 12:10, Hebrews 10:29
Spirit of anti-Christ
1 John 4:3
1 John 4:6
Spirit of deaf & dumb
Mark 9:25-27
1 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 8:11
Spirit of heaviness
Isaiah 61:3
John 15:26, Isaiah 61:3
Spirit of lying
2 Chronicles 18:22
John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13
Spirit of jealousy
Numbers 5:14
1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 5:2
Spirit of stupor
Romans 11:8
1 John 5:6
Spirit of error
1 John 4:6
1 John 5:6, Psalm 51:10
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Aftercare – Walking in Freedom We are who the Word says we are. We act like the person we believe we are. So, we must believe what the Word says we are. “A productive Christian behavior system is the byproduct of a solid Christian belief system, not the other way around.” - Neil Anderson We started with identity and we come back full circle to where we started. Our identity in Christ is our most important place of beginning. We must know who we are in Him. It is who we are that sets us apart in sanctification and consecration. It is our consecrated identity that separates us from the world and the ruler of this world. It is the truth that we are armed with that not only explains us but is our offensive weapon against our enemy. 2 Peter 1:3-4 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 1.
Refresh yourself in the truth of your identity – often
2.
Hold fast your confession
3.
Fill your mind and heart with truth
4.
Guard your heart and mind
Refreshing and Confession Scriptures I am a son of God; God is my Father (Romans 8:14-15) I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing in His inheritance (Romans 8:17) I am a temple of the Spirit of God – His life dwells in me (1 Corinthians 3:16) I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) Page 40 of 42
I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:10) I am a prisoner of Christ (Ephesians 3:1) I am chosen of God (Colossians 3:12) I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) I am one of God’s living stones (1 Peter 2:5) I am the Bride of Christ as a part of the Church (Ephesians 5:27) I am the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9,10)
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Becoming a Minister Freedom “Free People Free People” Our Commission in Christ Jesus became the mediator and advocate to break the headship and authority of Satan. His completed work empowers our prayers and ministry. Our prayer and ministry releases His work. God sent Jesus. Jesus sends the church. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He gave him new life, but He said to those around Lazarus, “you unbid him and let him go.” The ministry of the church is to set those free who have new life but have past wound and hurts and other issues that keep them bound up on some level. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” We are Finishing the Business “Jesus intervenes in the affairs of the world through the Church. We are sent (commissioned) by Jesus in the same way He was sent by the Father. In all ministry, we are His ‘ambassadors’ representing Him on the earth. All true New Testament ministry is but an extension of the ministry of Jesus through the Church. This is the absolute and only key to all her authority.” Dutch Sheets Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
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