A PRESCRIPTION FOR DELIVERANCE
6. Disown sinful influences. Ex. 20:4, 5 2Co. 6: 14-18
Remove from our environment-friends/acquaintances that foster sinful influences.
We can be predisposed to emotional problems, genetics, direct sinful stimulation, wrong role models and direct satanic activity. Some have this as part of there family heritage.
Verbally claim the blood of Jesus over the evil one. 1 Co. 6:20; 1John1:7.
Crucified, buried and raised with Christ. 2 Co. 4:14
I belong to Jesus Gal. 5:24
Break Negative Emotional Habits
The longer the habit has been performed- the deeper the root.
Is 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Fasting is not commanded in the New Testament- however it is a tool to provide answers to prayer when correctly implemented.
Matt. 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Fasting builds self discipline, self-esteem, and invites God into the problem.
Developing Moral Character
“What’s in the well comes up in the bucket”
Our inner beliefs/convictions influence our expectations or visions. These in turn influence our attitudes and values, which influence our actions, which influence our habits, which shape our characters.
A correlation exist among what we believe (our content of faith), the process by which we believe (the foundation of faith), how we live (our actions and habits) and who we are(our character)
2Pet. 1:1-10
God has given us powerful, yet precious promises in Scripture that will break our old habits and change us into people of character. Give diligence to add to your knowledge of Scripture, faith by which you live, and then add the virtue of expectation. Next add the attitude of self discipline as a consistent godly habit. If you have these qualities of
actions, you will not be ineffective and unproductive
Changed thinking leads to changed beliefs.
Belief is not just a decision, nor is it a desire-It is a commitment.
Prov. 16:3, Phil. 2:5-8, Heb. 5:8, Heb 11:6, James 2:26
Rom. 10:17 “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Must take hold of the promises of God. Flesh cannot hold to the promises of God.
Duet. 7:1-9, 2 Cor. 7:1-3
Changed beliefs lead to changed expectations.
Prov. 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he
Vision- define from the most common Hebrew word used for it hazons which means both “to see” and “coming into being”.
Vision is the ability to see the end from the beginning.
Vision looks not at what is presently happening, but what could or should be happening. It shows you something that has not yet taken place and registers it in your heart and mind.
It presents a picture of the unseen and convinces you that it will come to pass. It always originates from a known purpose.
Your expectations or vision must come from God’s word.
Co. 3:1-15, Heb. 12:1, 2Tim 3:12-17, 2 Pet. 1:16 -21
Responses people have to vision-
Some never see what God wants them to see. They have mechanical problems
Some see but don’t understand. Mental problems
Some see but don’t pursue it. They have will problems.
Some see it, but never feel it. Emotional problems
Some who see it and through obedience achieve it.
Some who see and share it, demonstrate a capacity for leadership.
Vision Blockers; 1 Cor. 10:1-13
1. Lust- satisfying self at the expense of God and others. Preoccupation with what self wants. Gratification of the flesh. Love gives-lust gets. Lover of pleasure more than lover of God. Num. 11:4-10
2. Idolatry- a value system that we create, and in which we esteem something to be more worthy of our devotion than devotion to God. Power, prestige, education, money, business, religion, popularity, ego, pornography-can all become idols.
Ex. 32:1-10
3. Fornication-includes every kind of sex sin. Num 25:1-10
4. Tempting Christ-demanding that God does contrary to His will, or inconsistent with His character. Saints wanting to enjoy the benefits of salvation and the pleasures of sin at the same time. Lying and cheating in business and demanding that God bless and prosper it.
Num 21:5-6, Ps 78:18
5. Murmuring- nothing more or less than a “negative confession.” Complaining, criticizing, faultfinding, rumoring- all are classified as murmuring. Num 14:31-38
1 John 3:1-3, Phil 3:20-21, Rom 8:24-25
Biblical expectation will motivate you to overcome bad thought patterns and habits- and help you develop new bible based behaviors.
God’s vision for your life can be grasped by:
1. Look within yourself to determine how God has enabled you.
2. Look back to see how God has used past events to shape you.
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3. Look ahead to determine what kind of life you want to live for God in the future.
Changed Expectations leads to Changed Attitudes
Ps. 37: 1-9, Phil. 4:6-8
Your attitude is the predisposition of your life’s focus. Attitudes are initial factors that set your patterns of life. Victims of bad habits develop downward cycles that result in “hardening of attitudes.” Creating positive emotional habits puts you on a upward cycle.
A good attitude comes from changed expectations.
As you consistently apply attitudes, you develop habits that form your character. When you get tired of always being late, you may decide to start being on time. As the attitude becomes more prominent in your thinking and is more consistently applied, you will begin to develop the habit of punctuality. This new habit shapes your character.
1. Identify the problem you wish to address.
2. Set a course of right thinking for changing negative emotional habits.
3. Relate to positive people. You become like those with whom you associate.
4. Develop a plan that will encourage your positive attitude.
Changed Attitudes lead to Changed Actions
Actions: anything done or performed. Actions may be wrong, ignorant, positive, planned, or unplanned. Your actions earn your reputation and communicate to others the kind of person you are. Prov. 20:11, Luke 6:44
Our actions are the fruit by which others determine the kind of people we are.
Changed Actions lead to Changed Habits.
Actions are things you do. When you do them repeatedly they become habits. An action or an accomplishment is the complete satisfactory outcome of an action. The word accomplishment is often used in a positive sense; however it actually means “the final outcome regardless of its value, whether good or bad.” The bible uses the word in a sense of completing something. 2Tim 3:17 “Thoroughly equipped or [accomplished]
Changed Habits leads to Character Formation.
One isolated event in your life does not indicate the content of your character. Character is a result of the pattern of your activities. Simply good habits-good character, bad habits-bad character.
Life is a process by which we develop character. We think about it- Know it- Dream it- Focus on it-develop proper action that accomplishes it-ultimately we become it.