How We Get Into Bondage and Why We Don't Get Out

Freedom in Christ Ministry books by Neil Anderson and Mike & Julia Quarles

 How We Get Into Bondage and Why We Don't Get Out

1.  Our greatest needs are to be accepted (loved) and have worth (value).  This is what drives us to do what we do.  It is the motivation behind all behavior.  God made us that way and His design is that He will meet all our needs when we look to Him.

2.  As we grow up, have problems and go through life we get messages about who we are.   At first they are only feelings about ourselves, but they quickly turn into what we believe about ourselves.  It is the way we see ourselves and who we believe we are.

3.  As a result we all develop a false identity about who we are.  This false identity comes from the world (family, environment, hurts, trauma), our flesh (ways we try to live life in our own resources) and the devil, who constantly accuses us and tells us lies about ourself, God and what we need in life.  It shapes all of our life and everything we do.

4.  We begin to try to meet our needs for acceptance and worth the best way that we can -- in our own resources (flesh).  As a result we develop ways of living as we attempt to cope, escape, defend ourselves, succeed (or avoid failure). These are flesh patterns or ways that we learn to live life independent of God.  We develop these patterns based on how we perceive ourselves, what we believe about God and how we think life works.

5.  A flesh pattern is simply a way that we have learned to meet our needs independent of God.  All of us have them because none of us were born Christians and none of us look to God to meet all our needs all the time.  We wrongly think it is just the way we are. One of Satan's biggest lies is that what we do determines who we are.

6.  Some of these ways (flesh patterns) are unacceptable such as irresponsibility.   Some of them are very bad such as drug and alcohol addiction.  But some of them are acceptable such as perfectionism and driven to succeed. We need to know that anything that we do to meet our needs apart from God is flesh.  It could be good, right, noble and even spiritual, but if we are trying to meet our needs instead of looking God, it is flesh.

7.  Some of these ways develop into strongholds such as drug addiction which causes a lot of problems in our lives.  As we seek help, more than likely the counsel is to focus on the wrong behavior and try to change it.  This is the reason we don't get free.   The root problem is not the behavior.   The root problem is the misbelief behind the behavior.  As long as a person believes lies about himself he will never get free, no matter what he does.

8.  Alcoholism, addiction, eating disorders, etc., are not the problem.  The problem is the lies we believe about who we are that causes us to try to meet our needs in our own resources. The reason we don't easily give them up is that the way we meet our needs for acceptance and worth is the way we find life and identity.  It is deeply ingrained in us.

9.  When a person learns that they are not a failure, an addict, unloved, insecure, inferior and guilty -- BUT are forgiven, accepted, competent, complete, righteous and secure in Christ, they will begin to change and experience freedom. A person who understands who they are in Christ will not engage in self-destructive, addictive behavior as a life style.

10.  The reason few are finding freedom is that they are trying to change their behavior. They may be trying to change it through spiritual disciplines, but that is nothing but Christian behavior modification (legalism). A person will always act in accordance with how they perceive themselves. 

www.freedomfromaddiction.org/Truths

 

"The Bondage Breaker" by Neil T. Anderson review

    “We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:15, 13). God has given us everything we need to grow to maturity in Christ (2 Peter 1:3). But Satan is opposed to our maturity and will do anything he can to keep us from realizing who we are and what we have in Christ. Since we wrestle against principalities and powers instead of flesh and blood (Eph 6:12), we must experience victory over the dark side before we can fully. Page 11-12 Bondage Breaker

   The Bondage Breaker starts with Free at Last! and ends with Helping Others Find Freedom in Christ.

   The chapter titles in between include: You Don’t Have to Live in the Shadows, You Have Every Right to Be Free, Jesus Has You Covered, The Lure of Knowledge and Power, Don’t Believe Everything You Hear, and Appearances Can Be Deceiving.

   Before reading and understanding this material, I felt like a pawn in a giant chess game.

   “You are not the helpless victim of a tug-of-war between two nearly equal heavenly superpowers. Compared to Satan’s limited power, God is completely off the charts in His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience-and you are in Him! Sometimes the reality of sin and the presence of evil may seem more real than the reality and presence of God, but that’s part of Satan’s deception. He is a defeated foe, and we are in Christ the eternal Victor. That’s why we worship God: to keep His divine attributes constantly before us in order to counter Satan’s lies. A true knowledge of God and our identity in Christ is the greatest determinant of our mental health. A false concept of God and the misplaced deification of Satan are the greatest contributors to mental illness…

   Deception is the most subtle of all satanic strongholds…Lying is an evil defense promoted by the father of lies, Satan (John 8:44)…Satan’s lies are at the heart of addictive behavior…

   Faith is the biblical response to the truth, and believing the truth is a choice…Faith is something you decide to do, not something you feel like doing. Believing the truth doesn’t make it true; it’s true, so we believe it…

   Your faith is only as great as your knowledge of the object of your faith.”

   When writing about forgiveness, Dr. Anderson writes, “You don’t forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake so you can be free. Your need to forgive isn’t an issue between you and the offender; it’s between you and God.

   Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin. Forgiveness is costly; we pay the price of the evil we forgive. Yet you’re going to live with those consequences whether you want to or not; your only choice is whether you will do so in the bitterness of unforgiveness or the freedom of forgiveness. That’s how Jesus forgave you-He took the consequences of your sin upon Himself…

   Forgiveness deals with your pain, not another’s behavior.”

Have you met the Bondage Breaker?

Jesus Christ will set you free!

Overcoming Habitual Sin

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,12 training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, 13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior[a] Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. https://www.biblegateway.com RSV

   Sin does not play favorites. It works its way into everyone's life without regard to age, race, or economic status. Regardless of the form it takes, sin always tempts us to choose our own way over God's way. Rebellion is harmful and addictive, and repetitions of sinful behavior lead to more of the same, until the action is so ingrained in our lives that we cannot stop We become enslaved to it.

  The descent into a pattern of disobedience begins in our minds. Once our thinking is involved, the influence extends to our behavior, eventually progressing until we are more entrenched than we ever imagined. Deception permeates the whole process. We tell ourselves there is no harm in what we're doing - after all, other people behave the same way.

   Sin's demands keep increasing, and yet its benefits are only short-term. Eventually, we experience emptiness instead of satisfaction, pain in place of comfort, and loss rather than gain. Habitual sin splits our mind and emotions. Then we spend less time meeting our responsibilities and more time satisfying cravings. Our care and concern for others diminish, too. Over time, feeling of guilt and entrapment can take their toll and lead toward self-destruction.

   Faith in Jesus Christ sets us free from the domination of sin in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to say no to the habits that control us. The road to freedom starts with confession, followed by an admission that we cannot stop on our own. Committing to follow God's direction is next. The struggle may be fierce, but in Jesus, victory is assured (1 Cor. 15:57).

Stanley, Charles F. In Touch: Daily Readings for Devoted Living. February 2016. Atlanta. page 33.

Emotional Baggage

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:29

Today, everyone you know is "poor" - or lacking - in spirit in some way. They may be brokenhearted over a trial or ruined relationship, captive to negative memories of the past, or disappointed by unfulfilled dreams. This emotional weight is not only a burden in their everyday lives, it's indicative that the enemy has a stronghold.

   Whether your heartaches, afflictions, and trials stem from external or internal causes, the pains are real. And unless you deal with them, they will keep on harming you. Those feelings, thought patterns, and past experiences will continue to traumatize you each time you recall them and will ultimately keep you from experiencing the freedom that Christ Jesus offers.

   Friend, do not be ashamed. All of us struggle. But you must turn your burdens over to Christ and allow Him to liberate you. He will teach you a different way to live. So do not be afraid or discouraged. Rather, trust Him and find rest for your soul.

Jesus, I am broken and poor in many ways.

Through Your Spirit, liberate me from my

emotional baggage so I may be truly free, amen.

In His presence . . . be free from your burdens.

Stanley, Charles F. "Emotional Baggage." Every Day in His Presence: 365 Devotions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. p 313.

Forgiveness, part 3

   Forgiveness is complete when we have experienced the forgiveness of God; we can forgive others who have wronged us; we are able to forgive ourselves.

   “Forgiveness is based on the atoning work of the Cross, and not on anything we do. God’s forgiveness does not depend on our confession, no does his fellowship. Confession is a means for releasing us from the tension and bondage of a guilty conscience. When we pray, God, You are right. I've sinned against You. I am guilty of this act. I am guilty of that thought, we achieve release.”

   Dr. Stanley writes about the consequences of not forgiving ourselves. He writes several paragraphs explaining each of the following consequences of a self-directed unforgiving spirit:

•   We punish ourselves on an ongoing basis.
•   We live under a cloud of uncertainty.
•   We develop a sense of unworthiness.
•   We attempt to overcome our guilt by compulsive behavior and excesses in our lives.
•   We develop a false sense of humility when we feel permanently judged guilty and sentenced by God.
•   We deprive ourselves of things God wants us to enjoy.

   How do we forgive ourselves? Regardless of how long we have been in bondage, we can be free if we follow four biblical steps. Again, Dr. Stanley writes paragraphs explaining how to forgive ourselves, starting on page 150 we read:

•   We must recognize and acknowledge that we have not forgiven ourselves.
•   We must repent of that sin for which we cannot forgive ourselves. And we must thank Him for His forgiveness as we confess our sin to Him.
•   We must reaffirm our trust in the testimony of Scripture. Psalm 103:12
•   We must confess our freedom and choose to receive it freely.

   If we are willing to follow these simple steps, not only will we be set free, but also the healing process will be initiated.

   When we choose by an act of the will to accept what God has said as true, we accept God’s acceptance of us.

The chapter titles include:

• Forgiveness and Freedom
• The Only Solution
• Our Forgiving Father
• Handling Our Hurts
• Bitterness
• When a Brother Stumbles

   In conclusion, Dr. Stanley writes, “ Forgiveness is liberating, but it is also sometimes painful. It is liberating because we are freed from the heavy load of guilt, bitterness, and anger we have harbored within. It is painful because it is difficult to have to face ourselves, God, and others with our failures. It seems easier to blame others and go on defending our position of being right, even though we continue to hurt. But the poison of an unforgiving spirit that permeates our entire lives, separating us from God and friends, can never be adequately defeated. It is devastating to our spiritual and emotional well-being and to our physical health…

   Before you close the cover of this book, forgive the one who has hurt you even as your heavenly Father had forgiven you and be really free!”

   “Whatever your situation, whatever has happened in your past, remember that you are the loser if you do not deal with an unforgiving spirit. And the people around you suffer, too. You have within you the power to forgive, to be healed, and to be set free to live your life to the fullest.” This is on the back jacket to Dr. Stanley’s book, Put the past behind you and give…

The Gift of Forgiveness. [part 3]

Demolishing Strongholds

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Demolishing Strongholds by Marie Malcom Hearn

The forward to Marie’s book was written by Dr. Albert Scardino, [past] Director of Counseling, First Baptist Church of Atlanta.

   Al writes, “Spiritual warfare is real. Satan has a well-organized army and no Christian is exempt from his attacks…(Ephesians 6:10-18)

   On the other hand we know that Satan was defeated at the cross through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ…

   We have found that many people who come to us for counseling are bound up in spiritual strongholds. These strongholds must first be broken before substantial progress can be made in counseling. It is only after a person is released from bondage that they can move forward to freedom in Christ…”

   Marie writes in the preface, “This book is written for Christians who are struggling, puzzled as to why Christianity is not working for them.”

   In Chapter 23, Testing the Spirits, Marie writes, “There are only two supernatural forces in the universe, God and Satan. God does not just ‘have’ power. He is power. Satan is a created being and only has the power that God has allowed him. Spiritual power and spiritual phenomenon have always been a temptation to man. Man has always been fascinated with the supernatural. The natural man likes some ‘feeling’ and ‘manifestations’ to go along with his faith and often falls into the trap of deceiving spirits…”

   (See 1 John 4) “By this you know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…”

   “John is speaking of the spirit. It is the spirit that is to confess the Lord Jesus, not the person themselves to confess.

   Jesus came in the flesh to defeat Satan. Jesus was completely God, yet He was completely man. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, God is Spirit, and as Spirit He could not die and shed His blood for the redemption of mankind. It was in Jesus’ humanity that He defeated Satan. Jesus never sinned, even one time; therefore He could be the perfect Lamb of God to shed His blood for the redemption of man.

   Jesus never used His authority as God to meet His needs as man. He defeated Satan as man; therefore, spirits will not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh…

   Jesus Christ came in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil and He expects His children to join Him in the battle. Satan has not been completely annihilated, but he has lost his power. He has spiritual lockjaw! His head is crushed. His neck is broken. Satan is not a fierce lion; he is only trying to frighten people with his loud roar. Jesus Christ is the ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah.’

   …Any teacher that is not in harmony with the Word of God is false. The Holy Spirit never denies His Work. If a teacher distorts the Scripture, or adds the thoughts of man to it, it is obviously a lying spirit speaking through the false teacher.

   John gives us another way to discern truth from error. God is a God of love. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. A sincere teacher will love God and love others. A false teacher will not manifest God’s love.

   When our spirit is troubled and disturbed about something that is being taught, we should search the Word, wait before God in prayer, and be careful to avoid a judgmental, critical spirit. Satan can gain ground there also. However, we must be aware that not everything supernatural is from the Holy Spirit.”

   Mrs. Hearn’s book has more material, more pertinent material than can be covered in one page. I would like to end with this quote from Chapter 27, “Although we must never forget that we have an adversary, and always alert to his attacks, our focus must never be on the enemy. Our minds must be stayed on the Lord Jesus Christ. However, we must understand our adversary’s schemes and methods of attack in order to maintain our freedom over him.”