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| STEP 5- |
| Lk 15:17-20- The story of the prodigal son shows us that through confession we can go further to reunited fellowship with God. So often, it is neccessary to reach rock bottom as it pertains to our life experiences to shock us into the realization that we have made the wrong decisions and have harmed others Just as the father in this story welcomed his errant son, God welcomes us with open arms to invite us home to His everlasting family. Acts 19:18- There is a tremendous cleansing that happens when we "come confessing and telling our deeds." Even though it may be easier to continue with lying or to deny or excuse our behavior, in the long run the relief and cleansing are worth the momentary pain. 2 Cor 10:3-5- Our ultimate goal is to experience a profound spiritual awakening and renewal. Even though our sins deal with the fleshly, physical level, we find that our battle is in the spiritual level. As we begin to see ourselves as spiritual children of God, we see ourselves as just passing through temporary and transitory human experiences and trials. Heb 4:12-16- By doing this step we must lower our psychological defenses and become emotionally vulnerable. This is such a private, personal step to take. All of the "stuff" of our past lives have to be admitted to. This is not easy to do this in front of God when we have come to truly believe in Him. We fear condemnation from ourselves, the other person, and from God. Our fears are forgotten when we realize that God provided His Son who can empathize and understand our sins with an infinite capacity for grace. James 5:16- Accountability, the very idea of accountability, is repugnant. We really don't want anyone to know about anything that has been in error in our lives. This is why so many turn away from God. They just don't want to be held responsible for thier actions. Even though we may fall back into old behaviors, we know that a loving God is there for us, waiting to welcome us back. True confession is good for the soul. Through it we gain new strength to get up and follow Jesus through the path of life. 1 Jn 1:8,9- God's unconditional love for us allows us to confess and open our hearts to receive the love that God is already extending to us. We are faithfully cleansed and forgiven and we can completely let go of our old defenses that were destroying us and allow Gd to lead us to the path of strength and peace in Him. Prov 28:13,14- By covering our sins, we bury them deep inside of us and there they act as corrosive agents and they can contaminate us and everything and everyone we come in contact with. We gain mercy from confession when we forsake those old sins. |
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| STEP 6- PLACES OF REFUGE |
| Rom 6:11,12- The expression of the Holy Spirit can only be alive in us to the extent that we have died to our old ways. This is not a "half way" step. Obey the Holy Spirit in your life and not the call of this fleshly world. Eph 4; 17-23- A break must be made with the past. Paul encourages us to get rid of our former behaviors and to take on the new life which is in Jesus. This only happens when we are completely ready to let God work radically in our lives. Col 3:5-8- Lacking a true sense of God's ability to fill our needs, we establish wrongful ways that are false gods. These false gods are money, greed, sex, lust,fornication, etc. These false gods must be put to death in order for God to remove defects and we can then more fully embrace Him. 1 Peter1:13-16- Being holy is not a state of piety. It is a separated life style in which we follow God's will for our lives and enjoy all of the benefits of being a whole person in the life He has given us. 1 Jn 4:18- By trusting in God, all of our fears pass away. His perfect love erases all fear. In our lives we have been asked to trust many people who have let us down. Trusting can be a hard thing to do. Through the first 5 steps, we have learned to trust in our Holy Father for all we need. Rev 3:19,20- With growth in this step, God can show us new discoveries in our lives. The angry person can become mellow and meek, the anxious person can become laid back and easy going, the possessive person can take on a more balanced approach in all human relationships and the depressed can become fun loving and open to all that God has to bring. These transformations and others await us if we only just answer the door to Jesus. Ps 119:28-40- The willingness of this writer to place his life in the hands of God shifts the focus away from the seemingly unfathomable problem and onto the life changing potential of God's intervention. Once we can focus on God's work in our lives, we can then find total readiness to release our lives to Him. |
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| STEP 7- PLACES OF REFUGE |
| Mt 18:4- Coming to Jesus as children and trusting Him as children do their parents, is a very hard step for some. We were asked to trust all sorts of people in our past lives and we found out that we couldn't do that completely. We were let down by them and hurt physically and emotionally. We have learned through the first six steps that God is one we can trust. Acts 3:19- We surrender to God's care and discipline all of our harmful behaviors and ask HIm, without restraint, to be the God of our lives. If we approach this act of repentance with a sincere heart, we emerge with a refreshed spirit that comes "from the presence of the Lord." Heb 12:5-11- The discipline that sometimes happens because of our past behaviors is needed in order that we fully understand the wrongness of those behaviors. After the punishment is over, we find that we are refreshed and look forward to the priceless reward of "the peaceful fruit of righteousness." 1 Peter 5:6,7- Being humble should not be confused with being humiliated. Being humiliated brought us to the emotional bottom that we found ourselves to be in after the consequences of our actions took full affect. The humility needed to approach God is one of complete surrender to our Father God. 1 Jn 5:14,15-Jesus delights in answering this kind of prayer because it is in the complete will of God for our lives. A new round of blessings is coming our way as the Lord begins to do His wonderful work in our lives. Ps 32:6-8- When God sees us humble and trusting before Him, He will bring about changes in our lives, repair the damage of our past, and restore us to a wholeness that we have never known before. We can trustingly follow His guidance, through the work of the Holy Spirit, for our lives. We can come before Him and allow Him to transform our lives into beautiful examples of His serenity and His love. Ps 37:23,24- Each day we choose which steps we will take. We either follow our Father God or follow after the false gods that ruled our past lives. As we seek God's order in a spirit of humility, we encounter not only the elimination of our most dangerous shortcomings, but we also encounter His sustaining hand, outstretched to uphold us for eternity. |
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| To Whom It May Concern- HOW TO BE SAVED Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Eph. 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph. 2:9 – Not of works, lest any man should boast. Titus 3:5- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; John 3:16 – For God So Loved The world, That He Gave His Only Begotten Son, That Whosoever Believeth In Him Should Not Perish, But Have Everlasting Life. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 2 Cor. 5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spriit: Matthew 11 – 28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 – Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 – For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. John 1 – 12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 – Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 2 Cor. 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Rev. 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. |
| 1 Samuel 16:7-In this scripture, we find that Saul was tall and handsome and a very impressive looking man. The people wanted him to be king because he looked the part. God warns the people about judging people on looks alone. Appearance doesn't reveal what people are really like or what their true value is. When we find ourselves in a bad place because of our past behaviors we ,and others, may see us as worthless. Fortunately, God judges by faith and character. He sees inside of us clear down into the secret places of our being and He knows what our hearts look like. We must take steps to improve our hearts outlook and make sure that outlook is continually on God and His will for us. |
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| PLACES OF REFUGE |