Freedom in Christ - Part 6
Not a Power Battle -
a Truth Battle

Proverbs 18:8
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down into the person's innermost being

If we are unsure about something running through our minds - chances are it's Satan.

1 Timothy 1:4
nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God's redemptive plan that operates by faith.

Satan doesn't want us to read the bible, because of the truth in it. So we will be subjected to distractions or feel tired.

The Truth sets us Free

We should pray truth into things, ask God to open peoples minds.

We must learn the truth and ask God to reveal the truth in what we read.

Dealing with Emotions

If we fail to deal with our emotions, Satan will come straight in.

Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity.

1 Peter 5:7-8
by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

Our emotions are a product of our thought life.

Lamentations 3:1-6
I am the man who has experienced affliction
from the disciplining rod of his wrath.
He has driven me into captivity,
and made me walk in deep darkness.
He repeatedly attacked me
over and over, continually.
He has caused my mortal skin to waste away;
he has broken my bones.
He has besieged and surrounded me
with bitter hardship.
He has made me reside in intense darkness
like those who died long ago.

Lamentations 3:7-11
He has walled me in so that I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with heavy prison chains.
Even though I cry out desperately for help,
he shuts his ears to my prayer.
He has blocked every road I take with a wall of fitted stones;
he has made every path on which I flee impossible to traverse.
He is like a bear lying in wait for me,
like a hidden lion stalking its prey.
He dragged me from the path and tore me to pieces,
and mangled me beyond rescue.

Lamentations 3:18
So I said, "My endurance has perished,
I have lost all hope of deliverance from the Lord."

Lamentations 3:19-24
Just thinking about my impoverished and homeless condition
is bitter poison.
When I continually think about this,
I become emotionally depressed.
But this I call to mind,
therefore I have hope:
The Lord's many kindnesses never cease,
for his great compassion never comes to an end.
They are renewed every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
I said to myself, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance;
therefore, I will put my hope in him."

1. Suppression

We become like a pressure cooker and the valve could go off any moment and we don't turn to God.

Don't suppress - give it to God straight away - or our feelings will dominate our lives.

We never bury dead feelings, we bury them alive - they will resurface.

2. Indiscriminate expression

It may be good to get things off our chest - but it's not good for others.

It's ok to be angry - but we mustn't attack the person. TELL GOD WE'RE ANGRY.

If we're angry with God - TELL HIM. God will minister to us in our anger.

In doing this we will become real with God.

3. Acknowledgements

God wants us to be honest with Him. We must be real to be right with God.

God sees through our problems and looks at out heart. He loves us problems and all.

A problem shared is a problem halved.

When someone's hurt we need to acknowledge the pain coming out of their hearts and not concentrate too much on their words.

Respond to people's emotional pain with empathy.

Be honest with each other.

Scripture quoted by permission. NET Bible® copyright © 1996-005 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org . All rights reserved.