FREEDOM TRAINING

1. FREEDOM TRAINING Wholeness: Mind, Emotions, and Body

2. Overview • Wholeness is the standard • spirit • soul • body • Wholeness in suffering and trials • Soul brokenness – fear /anxiety

3. Activation - peace • Ask God, “what percentage of peace do you currently have?” (0% to 100%) • Ask God, “was my peace stolen or did I give it away?” • Ask God, “can I have that peace back?” • Forgive anyone you need to • Release to God any situation or burden • Now what is your peace percentage?

4. Peace and wholeness • Shalom - peace(7965 Strong's Concordance from OT) means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. • In the NT, the idea of a God of peace making us whole is also given: • ”Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thes 5:23 • “PeaceI leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 • “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Col 3:15

5. Wholeness • “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) • Our spirit, soul, and body are intertwined. Wholeness is the standard that God created us for in all parts of our being. • Over-reactive – anxious mood, over active immune system (autoimmune disorders, lupus, allergies,…) • Under-reactive – depressed mood, stoicism, depressed immune system (cancer, viruses,…)

6. Brokenness or imbalance • Dysfunction is not created by God • Body, emotions, and mind may all be effected together: • Body: illness, disease, schizophrenia, cancer, autoimmune, diabetes, heart disease,… • Emotions: depression, anxiety, insecurity, fear, stoicism,… (not short-term grief) • Mind: mental illness, schizophrenia,…

7. Overview: a standard of wholeness • Wholeness is the Biblical standard: body, soul, and spirit • New living spirit in us • Renewed mind (soul) • Healing for the body • Wholeness may still include warfare (we will not cover what causes brokenness in this unit)

8. Holy Spirit and the word • The Holy Spirit does the work… • “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” Titus 3:4-7 • “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:25-27

9. Wholeness: spirit • Our spirits have not been merely transformed by Christ. Rather, our old self died and we now have new life and a new spirit. • “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:9-11

10. Soul wholeness: mind • “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned… But we have the mind of Christ.” I Cor 2:14-16 • “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, thinkabout these things. What you have learnedand received and heard and seen in me—practicethese things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4:8-9 • “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night” Ps 63:5-6

11. Soul wholeness: heart • Hope peace, trust brings health to the soul: • “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Ps 43:5 • “PeaceI leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 • “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” Col 3:15 • “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” Ps 33:21

12. Body wholeness • “The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.” Ps 41:3 • ”Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:13-16

13. Body wholeness • Sometimes illness is a result of our own actions and repentance is required • “As for me, I said, ‘O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!’” Ps 41:4 • “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried upas by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Ps 32:1-5

14. God knows us • God knows us better than we know ourselves; we need to ask Him about where we are dysfunctional… (this is not introspection) • “the Lord search the heart and test the mind,to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jer 17:10 • “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Ps 139:23-24

15. Internal war • There is always an internal war, sanctification is a process… • “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Gal 5:17

16. Wholeness: what it is not • Wholeness does not mean free from battles or suffering… • “Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

17. Wholeness: what it is not • “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” I Peter 4:12-16 • Suffering is likened to prison, death, flogging, or insults of a murderer, thief, or criminal (sickness or inner dysfunction is not implied here)

18. Jesus in wholeness • Jesus did not sin (no open doors) and still Satan came • After a 40 day fast in weakness the temptation came • “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:13 • Satan left for a time • Whole people still have warfare • Even if you pray over every doorway, evil still can come and tempt as God allows (Job 1). Evil presence is not always due to sin or an opening. Follow Jesus example and quote Scripture; resist the temptation.

20. Emotional brokenness • Anxiety, fear, worry, stress, depression… • “In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.” Is 54:14 • “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me” Ps 23:4 • “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” II Tim 1:7

21. Emotional brokenness • Anxiety, fear, worry, stress, depression… • “Do not beanxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7 • “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Pr 12:25

22. Repentance: fear • Repent – change your mind and actions to be in line with God’s • Group prayer: “God we agree with you that we are to be a people of peace. We ask for forgiveness for all the times we have let fear, worry, and anxiety rule our hearts and minds. We specifically repent of all the times we look at our burdens and try to carry them. I repent of ever agreeing with the enemy of fear.” • Black and white: fear, anxiety, worry • Gray areas (talk it out with God) • What is the difference between fear and wisdom in a dangerous situation?

24. Discussion Questions • What would your life look/feel like if you were whole? • How does warfare/trials/problems look different when doing it from a place of wholeness? (fear, overcoming,…) • Are there any broken areas in your life you currently accept? • This might be a family belief or behavior • complaining, stress, fear of the dark, anxiety when flying, bad diet, high blood pressure, fatigue, poor sleep,… • Ask God if there is an underlying lie you are believing about the area of brokenness? (powerless, not important,…)

25. Whole mind • What are some good memories? recount some of the things God has done in your life… • What are some of your dreams with God for the future? • What do you currently have to be thankful for? • What does the Kingdom of God look like? • What are your favorite verses and why do they encourage you? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Phil 4:8

27. Homework questions • Are you always stressed out? If so, why? • Do you feel depressed? When did it start? Did your parents or grandparents or siblings struggle with depression? Have you been in or are currently experiencing very difficult (depressing) circumstances which may cause you to feel hopeless or depressed? • Do you struggle with fears? If so, what is it that you fear? (Fear of heights, dying, being hopeless, failure, never marrying, etc.) • Do you worry about things? What things do you worry about? Why? • Do you have any irrational feelings? If so, what are they? • Are you very confused and forgetful? (beyond the normal) • Are you emotionally shut down or stoic? • Self Hate • Do you feel good about yourself? If not, why? • Shame: Do you feel like something is wrong with you? • Guilt: Do you feel excessively guilty over anything you have done? Is this a continual problem? • Do you have any insecurities? Have you ever been deeply embarrassed over something? • Do you feel any self-pity or feel sorry for yourself? Have you ever felt this? If so, why?

28. Homework questions • Have you ever been exposed to extreme abuse, neglect, or a traumatic experience? Did it have a drastic effect on your emotional or mental system? If so, what happen? How did it affect you? • Do you have a memory gap where you cannot remember a certain time of your life? • Do you have false memories of things that really did not take place?