Freedom Confernce - Abuse

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION

Proud of those attending - You encourage my faith

Self Introduction

Topic Introduction: Abuse

Prayer

SCRIPTURE:

James 1:14-15 (NIV)

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death

EVIL DESIRES:

The reality is everyone has Evil Desires

Spirit and Flesh

Sad Reality is that some are led by their Evil Desires - Flesh

VICTIMS:

Unfortunatly many fall victim to the actions of these people

This is where ABUSE comes into play - Mistreatment of virutally anything

Physical

Emotional/Verbal

Spiritual

Negligence

WHAT ABUSE ISN’T:

Abuse isn’t some experience that doesn’t really impact or affect you...

No Abuse affects you…

Not only is the experience in and of it’s self tramatizing, but it leaves a deeply rooted scar that follows you as time moves forward

Sad Truth: The longer I do ministry the more I realize that NOT ALL VICTIMS OF PEOPLES ACTIONS ARE THE SAME

I realize, their are people in this room who have experienced and endured abuse to extremes that I don’t even want to imagine.

ENCOURAGEMENT:

No matter how DARK, DEEP, BROKEN your situation may seem or you may feel

You are not too far gone from the RESTORATIVE heart/power of our Lord & Savior

Romans 8:28 **not on screens**

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose,”

EXAMPLE:

Watching football film - Identified our enemy//There Strategy

NOT blaming all abuse on the Devil

Devil does leverage it though

CONNECTION: ANGER, FEAR, SHAME, GUILIT, ABUSE -

DEVIL’S STRATEGY:

GOAL: SEPERATE US FROM GOD

2 Corinthians 11:3 (LEB)

“But I am afraid lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from the sincerity and the purity of devotion to Christ.”

Spiritual Warfare is in our minds “Your minds may be led astray”

Tree of Knowledge of good and evil vs. Tree of Life

“led astray” from what? Christ.

he wants to seperate us from God

ROOT OF ABUSE:

Abuse is rooted in sin

It always results in damage and destruction.

Sin keeps us seated - When we are seated we are kept from moving toward our father.

EFFECTS OF ABUSE:

Emotionally Damaged - You may not know how to process, handle or even give appropriate emotions

Struggle Relationally and Sociallly

Identity Issues - Abuser was emotionally led (Volatile) - You over anylyze and create unrealistically high expectations...

Build Walls - Hard time trusting, Resentment towards people with similar personality/charcter traits

Insecurity - Become cowardly and socially isolate or easily taken advantage of

Hopelessness

Unhealthy attachments - Your norm is the abuse

Ultimate AUTHORITY, INFLUENCE, ARCHITECT is the abuser and not God...

** Not on screens

Ephesians 6:12 “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

PASTOR TONY:

Hurt people hurt people

Abuser finds temporary freedom in abusing - Project their pain on you

NOT JUSTIFYING THE ABUSER OR ABUSE

VICTIMIM MINDSET:

The Devil wants us to remain as VICTIMS

Abuser victim to emotions/evil desires

Abused victim to the effects

Remaining a Victim keeps us from being the Victor God has called us too

GOOD NEWS:

Galatians 5:1

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Let me remind you that no matter how dark, deep, ugly, devastating the affliction may be

God can turn it for our Good

“Greater is He that is in you then He that is in the world”

SO HOW DO WE “STAND FIRM” and walk in “FREEDOM”? :

Psalm 107:19–20

“Then they called to Yahweh for help in their trouble. He saved them from their distresses. He sent his word and healed them, and he delivered them from their pits.”

Your healing & freedom is found in one person Jesus

His word is FORGIVNESS

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT:

Saying that what the person did is okay. It’s not okay and it never will be.

Abuser

Right your wrong

Confess

Make every effort (do the hard work)

Forgiveness is not a feeling. It’s a choice.

Not always reconciliation

EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS:

Most unforgiveness is legitimet - BUT it gives authority to the abuser and not God

Bitterness blinds us from God’s hand

Seperates us from God

WHAT FORGIVNESS IS/DOES:

FORGIVENESS SETS US FREE

Forgiveness is releasing

God commands it

FORGIVENESS FLIPS THE SCRIPT (Shifts perspectives)

How Joseph (who was abused) could see God’s hand every step of the way - He says to is offender what you did to me God used to save people...

How Paul can write the encouraging joyful letter of Philippians after being beaten and thrown in prison

How Jesus was able to endure the cross

Where you anchor your beleif - God is the architect - Not the abuser

FORGIVENSS MOVES US FORWARD

Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV)

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Its continual, A LIFESTYLE

PRAY