“The Holy Spirit Helps Us Change” by Pastor Luke Faw
PARTNER WITH THE PATHWAY
1 Corinthians 3:16-19 (NLT) – But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US CHANGE ON THE INSIDE
Indebted to Chester and Betsy Kylstra and their insights concerning this stronghold of the enemy
Sandra Wilson: “being uniquely and hopelessly flawed” – a false belief about our identity
How does Shame “give place” to Fear and Control?
Genesis 3:10 (NKJV) – So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
SHAME FEAR CONTROL
Gen. 3:10, “I was naked” '“I was afraid” “so I hid myself”
I am a mistake. What if they find out? I’ll control everything.
I am flawed. They will not like me! So that they won’t find out.
I am bad. They will reject me. What I’m really like.
I am defective. I’ll be laughed at! And so I won’t get hurt.
I am shameful/shame. I’ll never change. Or suffer more pain.
Shame says, “I am bad. I am different from everyone else.”
Fear says, “I am afraid that if anybody finds out how bad I am they will not accept/approve/love me.”
Control says, “I have to control my environment and everyone in it so that no one discovered my defect.” If Control is threatened in any way,
Rebellion instructs us to, “Resist, get angry, hate, scheme and strategize to regain control.” As added protection, Rejection says, “Withdraw, so that my shame is not exposed and I am not controlled.”
2 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) – “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Isaiah 61:6-7 (NKJV) – “But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.”
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US VCHANGE ON THE OUTSIDE.
1. By taking responsibility
2. By confession/apologizing
Shameful to admit a shaming thing… thus we draw back from “confessing our sin.” The very thing we are trying to prevent is the KEY to getting free!
James 5:16 (ESV) – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
1 John 4:18a (NIV) – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear
1 John 4:18 (MSG) – God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
3. By inviting help/prayer/accountability
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a (NIV) – “Two are better than one because they have good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up …”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP) – “Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.”
Hebrews 2:11 (NLT) – “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.”
Steps to freedom FRFRBB
FORGIVE all parties responsible for shame. See Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) – “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) – “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
REPENT of any sin involved on your part (including giving place to this stronghold in your life).
Acts 3:19 (NKJV) – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
FORGIVE yourself: “because you have forgiven me, I chose to forgive myself”
RENOUNCE shame and the rest of this stronghold and command it to go.
2 Corinthians 4:2a (NIV) – “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception …”
BREAK — Decree that its power is BROKEN!
2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) – “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
John 8:36 (NIV) – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Galatians 5:1 (NIV) – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
BLESS into a life of security as sons and daughters of Father God… who are walking in their true identity, as He created them to be, unmasked by the distortions of the enemy! Bless into His rest!
Hebrews 4:1 (NIV) – “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”
STEPS TO FREEDOM -- FRFRBB
- FORGIVE all parties responsible for shame. (Matthew 6:12,14-15)
- REPENT of any sin involved on your part (including giving place to this stronghold in your life). (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
- FORGIVE yourself: “because you have forgiven me, I chose to forgive myself.”
- RENOUNCE shame and the rest of this stronghold and command it to go. (2 Corinthians 4:2)
- BREAK — Decree that its power is BROKEN! (2 Corinthians 10:4)
- BLESS (yourself and others) into a life of security as sons and daughters of Father God… who are walking in their true identity, as He created them to be, unmasked by the distortions of the enemy! Claim the blessing of walking into His rest! (Hebrews 4:1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection:
1. Were you able to identify this stronghold operating in your life?
2. Share a situation where you see shame leading to fear and control.
3. Why is it so scary to obey Scripture and confess our sins?
4. Do you have “safe people” in your life that you know you can share anything with and still be loved?
5. Who is one friend you can invite into accountability to help you walk out freedom in this area?
