Keys To Real Life (teacher)

THE KEYS TO REAL LIFE (An Overview) Introduction Jesus’ purpose for us is clear. He wants us to experience “real life” in and through Him (see John 10:10). This life is already ours at a time of our new birth when we repented of our sins and trusted in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. He gave it to us by His grace and through faith when we believed in Him (see Eph. 1:3-14; 2:8-9). But experiencing the reality of this “life” each day is not automatic. Sometimes there are issues or mindsets in our lives that hinder us from fully experiencing the life that Jesus has promised. Starting today we’re going to look at certain “keys” that will help you experience the real life that Jesus wants you to experience. This seminar is divided into three parts. Each part will deal with one particular “key” that will unlock the door to experiencing real life. You will not study all the keys in one sitting. Instead you will go through each key one at a time and at a pace that is conducive for your maximum learning. Your HG Counselor and/or Mentor will assist you throughout this process. More importantly, it is through the Holy Spirit that you will experience real transformation. Trust Him and He will guide you until you experience breakthroughs in your life. Why the “Keys?” Matthew 16:19 19

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Two important truths about this passage: 1.Jesus GAVE us the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 2.We need to USE them to “bind” or to “loose” things here on earth. The Three “Keys” to Real Life REDEEM your past 1.Recall your past (so far) 2.Evaluate your emotional freeze points 3.Deal with demonic strongholds

2 4.Embrace your past mistakes 5.End untied transitions 6.Modify past misbeliefs TEST your present 1. Thank God for every spiritual blessing 2. Evaluate your present lifestyle 3. Stop any destructive behavior or attitude 4. Train yourself to be godly PLAN your future 1. Prepare a life purpose statement 2. List future goals 3. Act wisely and faithfully for the future 4. Name your memorial markers Discussion questions: 1.

How do you feel about going through these “keys” starting today?

2.

Is there anything that is hindering you from pursuing this transformational process?

3.

What would you like to see happen in your life as a result of going through this seminar?

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JOINING A H.E.A.L.T.H. GROUP Introduction A very important aspect of this seminar is your involvement in a H.E.A.L.T.H. group. The word “H.E.A.L.T.H.” is actually an acronym which means “Helping each one attain liberty in and through the Holy Spirit.” It’s a group of five to eight people who are all journeying together toward experiencing a life of freedom and grace in and through the help of the Holy Spirit. Each H.E.A.L.T.H. group is facilitated by a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group Counselor or HG Counselor. He or she is someone who has gone through the same process that you are about to go through and has received help from God’s grace working through others. Also, this person may be your Mentor. He or she will work with you more closely to ensure that you are learning and growing as a result of this seminar. Why you need a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group There are biblical as well as practical reasons why you must be in a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group as you go through this process of change. Biblical reasons: 1.We are commanded to CARRY each other’s burdens (Gal 6:1-5). 2.We can stand STRONG together with others (Eccl 4:9-12). 3.We are part of a body and therefore AFFECT the whole body (1 Cor 12:26). 4.We are sometimes unaware of our own BLIND SPOTS (Heb 12:15). 5.We need COURAGE from each other (Heb 10:25). Practical reasons: 1.We receive HOPE from one another. 2.We are COMFORTED by the realization that we are not the only ones who have the same problem. 3.We receive important INFORMATION from one another concerning our problems. 4.We experience a sense of being HELPFUL to others. 5.We experience a sense of LOVE and ACCEPTANCE that may have been absent in our family situation. 6.We learn how to RELATE with others. 7.We gain WISDOM as we observe and imitate others.

4 8.We feel SAFE to express our emotions without being judged or condemned because of them. 9.We are AFFIRMED in our own uniqueness. 10.We begin to deal with our own DEFENSES and other internal CONFLICTS. Principles to remember 1. Not everyone can really benefit from a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group. Others may need professional help. 2. There must be compatibility among the members of the group for it to succeed. 3. Counselors are mere facilitators. They are not your saviors or healers. Only Christ working in and through each by the power of the Holy Spirit can bring about true healing in our lives. 4. H.E.A.L.T.H. Groups must have some structure in its meetings but that by itself will not guarantee success. Individual choice is still the number one determining factor for the group’s success. 5. Mere sharing does not help members of a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group unless there is true empathy and understanding among its members. 6. HG Counselors as well as members must understand group processes in order to participate in the work of the Holy Spirit in and through them. 7. You don’t have to be dysfunctional to benefit from a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group. Everyone can participate and be a help for each other. 8. The H.E.A.L.T.H. Group is not the place to get emotionally high or intimate with others. It is a place to be healed by the Holy Spirit. However, close relationships are usually developed in and through these temporary groups. 9. The H.E.A.L.T.H. Group is not there to cater to your whims and desires. You are there to reach out to others in constructive ways. Avoid being too selfcentered in your sharing. 10. Ultimately a H.E.A.L.T.H. Group is only as good as the commitment of its members to risk self-disclosure and problem solving. Help one another, and that would result in true transformation. For the HG Session: Distribute the participants to their respective HGs. Let them introduce themselves to each other. While having their coffee break, let them share about their expectations for this seminar. Are they excited? Are they afraid? Let them talk about their feelings. Ask them to end in prayer for each other.

5 For the Mentor: You will be talking with your mentee after the seminar. Ask him or her about his or her initial HG experience. Encourage him or her to trust the Lord throughout this process. The HG is an important aspect of this training. Also, see to it that they are journaling their experience in the HG so that both of you can reflect on it later on. This will be extremely valuable in their overall development.

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RECALL YOUR PAST (SO FAR) Why you need to recall your past 1.To APPRECIATE God.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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God has been at work in your life from the very beginning (Gal 1:1517).

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We can often recognize God’s work only after the events transpired and not before or during (Gen 45:4-8). Why is this so?

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To redeem our past, we need to recognize and appreciate God’s role in preserving us in and delivering us from the evil of our past (Eph 2:110).

To AFFIRM your identity. •

Our past is part of who we are (Rom 11:1). Although it does not determine what we will become!

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We have strengths and weaknesses because of our past (Acts 22:2b5). We need to understand them.

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We can’t know ourselves fully unless we look into our past (Deut 6:2025).

To ACKNOWLEDGE the people who played a significant part in your life. •

We must not forget the people who played an important role in helping us become who we are today (example Rom 16).

•

We must not forget what they have taught us (Prov 1:8-9).

To ADMIT wrongs – either those you’ve done or those done to you. •

To admit that we have done specific wrongs in the past is part of our sincere repentance (Mark 1:4-5, notice the plural sins; cf. Matt 5:2324).

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To admit that wrongs have been done to us is also part of our complete healing (Matt 18:15; Mark 11:25).

To ACQUIRE wisdom. •

There is always something valuable to learn in looking closely at our lives (Psa 90:12).

•

We can teach others based on the lessons we learned from the past (Eccl 12:9-14).

Which of these reasons is more valuable or applicable to you right now?

7 How do you recall your past 1. PRAY and ask God for protection. 2. Draw a TIMELINE. 3. Divide the timeline into significant LIFE STAGES. 4. Indicate POSITIVE experiences only. 5. Indicate when you got SAVED. 6. Share your timeline with your H.E.A.L.T.H. GROUP. Important reminders: 1. Do not focus on the negatives right now. There will be ample time for that later on. 2. Be specific about your past as much as possible. Try to recall the details. Example: Instead of just saying “I was good in school,” tell us how good you were. Did you receive the highest honors, etc.? 3. Find themes or patterns in your past that you can use to share Christ in the present. Example: God has helped you to go through school even though you were poor. Remember, your past can be a powerful tool to testify about the goodness of God in your life. 4. Begin to trust others by sharing yourself. Don’t be afraid to open up. For the HG Session: Make a timeline depicting your life so far. Divide the timeline according to fiveyear periods (or shorter if you are young). Indicate the time you got saved. This is the most important time for a Christian. Also, identify key events in your life that you would consider to be positive. Avoid talking about the negatives right now. You will do that later on. Share your timeline with your HG group. For the Mentor: Discuss more in-depth your mentee’s timeline. Ask him or her more probing questions if necessary. Your objective is to get a better perspective of what God has been doing in their lives. You want to understand them. Also, you want them to share their life story with you so that you can build a bond with each other. Finally, this exercise sets the stage for future conversations regarding various issues in their lives that they need to confess or surrender to God so that they can experience real freedom in Christ. Remember, stay positive first. You’ll talk about the negatives later on.

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EVALUATE YOUR EMOTIONAL FREEZE POINTS What are emotional freeze points? 1. They are negative emotional experiences in our past that continue to AFFECT us in the present. 2. They are experiences that are UNRESOLVED. Thus, they are called “freeze points” (i.e. you are “frozen” at that point emotionally or spiritually). 3. We may have stopped growing emotionally because of these experiences. In other words, they prevent us from fully experiencing and enjoying the present because we are emotionally INCAPACITATED. 4. They CLOUD our way of looking at present relationships or circumstances. We become susceptible to all sorts of relational conflicts and misunderstandings because of fear that such experiences might happen again. Generally, we are afraid that “history will repeat itself.” 5. We are prevented from GIVING or sharing ourselves to others because of these experiences. We tend to focus more on ourselves and our feelings rather than on other people and their feelings. Indications that you may have emotional freeze points 1. Unhealthy EATING HABITS (bulimia, bingeing and purging, anorexia, compulsive eating) 2. Addictions or unhealthy use of PRESCRIPTION DRUGS 3. Unhealthy SLEEPING PATTERNS or experiences (e.g. frequent nightmares) 4. Chronic ILLNESSES 5. Unstable THOUGHT LIFE (obsessive thoughts, blasphemous thoughts, condemning thoughts, distractions, poor concentration, fantasizing) 6. Unstable EMOTIONAL LIFE (unexplained and frequent anger, anxiety, depression, fears) 7. Frequent relational CONFLICTS or short-lived relationships (e.g. inability to get along with others, always starting new relationships) 8. Over-sensitivity to words or always perceiving HURT 9. Clinging behavior or CODEPENDENCY

9 Why emotional freeze points happen 1. We live in a BROKEN WORLD (Gen 3:15-19; Rom 8:22). 2. We were PRISONERS of sin before we met Christ (Eph 2:1-3; Rom 1:28-32; 3:10-18). 3. There are principalities and POWERS influencing the world today (Eph 6:12). 4. We were ignorant of God’s PROMISES (Eph 2:11-12). 5. Satan’s intent was to DESTROY us (John 10:10). 6. We were under a CURSE before (Rom 2:8-9; Gal 3:10). 7. We were broken and HELPLESS apart from Christ (Matt 9:36). Why we must evaluate our emotional freeze points 1. So that we won’t have to RUN from it anymore. 2. So that we can SHARE it with others (James 5:13-16). 3. So that we can begin to take RESPONSIBILITY for our lives (Gal 6:1-5). 4. So that we can experience God’s GRACE (2 Cor 12:9-10). 5. So that we can be truly FREE (John 8:31-32). How to evaluate your emotional freeze points 1. Pray for God’s protection and deliverance. This is very important. 2. Verbally declare your authority in Christ (Luke 10:19). 3. Review your timeline again. This time indicate your emotional freeze points (e.g. trauma, abuse, etc.) 4. Meet with your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group and share your emotional freeze points with them. Don’t be afraid to talk about your past. 5. Talk about how you felt when it happened and after it happened. Be honest and be specific. Example: “I felt used and abused when…” Note: The purpose of this exercise is not to solve this problem but to bring it out into the open. You just want to talk about it in order to release your repressed emotions. Don’t be afraid to relive the past. Christ is present in your group and He will protect you. For the HG Session: Discuss your emotional freeze points with your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group. Be as open and as honest as you can. Listen well when somebody is sharing his or her own timeline. Try to avoid any interruptions. This is very unloving and may cause

10 people to close down or shut up. Feel free to clarify or confirm any information that you hear from each other. Avoid “fixing” or “judging” each other. Instead listen with compassion and understanding. Let each person take his or her time in sharing. This may be very difficult but it is through mutual confession that we can receive healing from the Lord (James 5:16). For the Mentor: Let the mentee talk about his or her emotional freeze points freely. Ask probing questions to know more of what really happened. The important things is to surface the repressed emotions that have remained hidden or “unacknowledged” throughout the years. Encourage the mentee to be as honest as possible, not excusing or justifying the freeze point in any way. This would short-circuit the process. Let them talk about the hurts that they felt without explaining it away as if it was not that important. Pray silently as you listen, asking God to be present as the mentee shares his or her life story to you.

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DEAL WITH DEMONIC STRONGHOLDS Introduction In order to defeat our enemy rather than be defeated by him, it is critical that we understand who he is, where he came from, where he gets his power, the means he uses to attack us, and the deceitfulness of his methods. Read Ephesians 6:10-12. Satan is a counterfeiter 1.He offers a counterfeit FAMILY (Matthew 13:37-43) 2.He proclaims a counterfeit GOSPEL (Galatians 1:6-9) 3.He raises up counterfeit MINISTERS (2 Corinthians 10:13-15) 4.He teaches a counterfeit form of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 10:3) 5.He creates a counterfeit form of WORSHIP (Matthew 4:8-10) Signs of Satanic revival in our world today 1.A rise in sexual immorality, pornography and obsession with sensuality. 2.Preoccupation with so much violence and death. 3.Growing involvement of people in false religions, cults and the occult. Satan’s strategy 1.He CONDEMNS us of our past. (Zechariah 3:1-4) 2.He ENTANGLES us in our present. (Ephesians 2:1-3) 3.He SCARES us of our future. (Hebrews 2:14-15) What are demonic strongholds? (2 Cor 10:1-6) 1.They are AREAS of our lives where the enemy has gained more than a foothold (Eph 4:27). a.

In our MINDS (2 Cor 4:4)

b.

In our HEARTS (Acts 5:3-6)

c.

In our WILLS (1 Tim 5:15)

d.

In our BODIES (Luke 13:16)

12 2.Satan uses them to HOLD US BACK and to limit our freedom by accusing us of guilt and shame (Zech 3:1-4). 3.It hinders us from PARTICIPATING in God’s work (Matt 16:23) 4.Sometimes Satan may use them to DECEIVE us into doing his will (Luke 22:16). 5.Satan takes a FIRM HOLD on these areas and would not let go easily (Mark 3:23-27). Indications of demonic strongholds (Mark 5:1-13) 1.Difficulty in maintaining normal relationships (v.3) 2.Unexplained rebelliousness or violence toward others (v.4) 3.Self-destruction (v.5) 4.Reacts or becomes uneasy in God’s presence (vv.6-8) 5.Adopts different personalities (vv.9-10) 6.Lack of personal hygiene or animal-like behavior (vv.11-13) Note: Sometimes demonized people may act very normal until they are exposed by the Holy Spirit’s presence (e.g. Acts 8:9-25). Examples of demonic strongholds 1. Unforgiveness, bitterness or ANGER (Eph 4:26-27) 2. Practicing OCCULTISM (Acts 19:17-20) 3. Constant lying or unwillingness to TELL THE TRUTH (Acts 5:3) 4. Obsession with power or CONTROL (Acts 8:18-19) 5. Rejection of the TRUTH (Acts 13:6-12) 6. Teaching or enjoying FALSEHOOD (2 Cor 11:13-15; 1 Tim 1:18-20; 4:1-2) 7. Getting involved in PAGAN WORSHIP (1 Cor 10:20-22) 8. GOSSIPING (1 Tim 5:13-15) 9. Excessive fear of death or HYPOCHONDRIA (Heb 2:14-15) 10. RESENTMENT toward God (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5; 3:1)

13 For the HG Session: 1.Examine your timeline again. See if you suspect some demonic strongholds “hiding” in your negative experiences. See the list of possible demonic strongholds in the attached Appendix to guide you. 2.Share your feelings and suspicions with your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group. Allow them to interact with you and ask you questions so that you can better understand if you have demonic strongholds or not. Sometimes you may not be aware of these strongholds. 3.Let someone pray for you if necessary so that you may be delivered from any possible demonic strongholds in your life (Acts 8:24). 4.Confess any sin if you feel that there is any area in your life that you need to tell others about (James 5:16). Now is the time to be open about your past. Don’t let the past haunt you because of hidden sins. 5.Surrender or destroy any object that Satan might use to hold you captive to his will (Acts 19:17-20). You may still have these in your house or wallet. 6.Re-submit your life to God through prayer or fasting if necessary, specifying those areas that Satan might have used to enslave you (James 4:7-10). 7.Ask your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group to hold you accountable as you go through the process of obeying God’s Word in each of those areas on a daily basis. 8.Put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6:10-18). Don’t let Satan enslave you again. Claim your freedom in Christ! For the Mentor: Ask the mentee regarding possible demonic strongholds in their lives. See to it that they have identified most of them if not all of them. Use the Appendix as a guide to uncover hidden strongholds. Confess and surrender these strongholds to the Lord together through prayer. Guide the mentee so that he or she can claim God’s complete freedom in and through Christ. Pray for the mentee so that he or she will no longer be enslaved by Satan.

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EMBRACE YOUR PAST MISTAKES The Need to Embrace Past Mistakes 1.

EVERYONE has had past mistakes (Eph 2:1-3). a.

We followed the WAYS of this world and of Satan.

b.

We gratified the CRAVINGS of our sinful nature.

2.

Past mistakes are BEHIND US already and we cannot go back to undo them (Phil 3:12-14).

3.

God chooses NOT TO REMEMBER our past mistakes anymore (Isa 43:25).

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God can still USE US in spite of our past mistakes (Luke 5:1-11).

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It can be an occasion of PRAISE (Gal 1:22-24).

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Our past mistakes makes us realize God’s mercy and GRACE upon our lives (1 Tim 1:15-17).

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Our realization of past mistakes and how they are forgiven by God enables us to LOVE GOD all the more (Luke 7:41-47).

Why it’s hard to embrace past mistakes 1.SATAN accuses us all the time (Zechariah 3:1-2). 2.OTHER PEOPLE would often accuse us of wrongdoing (1 Peter 2:11-12). 3.We tend to be very HARD on ourselves after we’ve committed a mistake (Matt 26:69-75; cf. 27:1-5). The Vicious Cycle of Self-condemnation

POOR SELF IMAGE

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SHAME DUE TO ACCUSATION

SINS & MISTAKES COMMITTED

FEELINGS OF GUILT

15 How to embrace our past mistakes (using Psalm 51 as a guide) 1.

ADMIT a. Admit your past mistakes before God (vv.3-4) b. Admit your inherent sinfulness before God (v.5) c. Admit your need for integrity (v.6)

2.

ASK a. Ask God for mercy (v.1, 9) b. Ask God for cleansing (v.2, 7) c. Ask God for renewal (v.8, 10) d. Ask God for empowerment (v.11, 12)

3.

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To make restitutions

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To move on in our lives

ACT a. Act by teaching others (v.13) b. Act by praising God (vv. 14-15) c. Act by offering yourself to God again (vv. 16-17) d. Act by praying for your future protection (vv.18-19)

For the HG Session: While in your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group, begin confessing your sins to one another (James 5:16). If this is too much for some of you, at least confess to your H.E.A.L.T.H. Counselor or Mentor in private. Set an appointment with him or her. It is important to confess our sins because this shows that we are truly sorry. At the same time, healing can only come to us through the prayers of trusted friends. Remember it is important to admit our sins first before we ask for forgiveness. Sometimes we may need to ask forgiveness directly from those we have offended. At other times, this may be impossible. So we simply ask God to forgive us. There are also times when we need to make some kind of restitution. Be sure to ask God in prayer how you can do this. Then ask your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group for help or advice. For the Mentor: See to it that the mentee’s past mistakes are uncovered and confessed to God. Help him or her to admit, ask and act according to the instructions in Psalm 51. Make sure that the mentee is free of past guilt so that they can move on with

16 freedom and forgiveness in their hearts through faith. Trust God to heal them completely regarding this area. Pray for their healing.

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END UNTIED TRANSITIONS Introduction Transitions are those external changes in our lives that require internal changes in our hearts and minds. Transitions will always be part of our lives

1.NORMAL Transitions (1 Cor 13:11) •

From infant to childhood

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From childhood to teenage years

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From teenage years to adulthood

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From adulthood to old age

2.RELATIONAL Transitions •

From dependence to independence

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From independence to interdependence

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From independence to co-dependence

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From closeness to isolation

3.VOCATIONAL Transitions •

From student to worker

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From worker to employer

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From one kind of worker to another kind of worker

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From one kind of employer to another kind of employer

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From worker to student again

4.FINANCIAL Transitions

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From poor to rich

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From rich to poor

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From self-supporting to support raising

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From support raising to supporting

5.GEOGRAPHICAL Transitions •

From near to far and vice-versa

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From inside to outside and vice-versa

6.SPIRITUAL Transitions •

From unbeliever to believer (2 Cor 5:17)

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From baby Christian to spiritually mature (1 Cor 3:1-2)

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From attendee to ministry (Eph 4:11-13)

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From spiritual addition to spiritual multiplication (2 Tim 2:2)

How transitions in the past can affect our present 1.We REFUSE to accept the change 2.We CHOOSE to live in the past 3.We USE the past to justify our fear of the present 4.We MISUSE the present by comparing it with the past 5.We CONFUSE the past with the present The Five Phases of Transitions that we need to go through Phase 1: EXPECTATION of impending change Phase 2: EFFORTS to stop change Phase 3: EXPERIENCE of actual change Phase 4: EMOTIONS after the change Phase 5: EMBRACING the change

19 How we can end untied transitions 1.

2.

LET GO of the past. •

Accept the fact that the past is over. Time cannot be pushed back or held in suspension.

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Be honest about what you’ve really lost, including other losses obscured by the obvious loss. Define clearly what's over and what is not.

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Let go of your old identity clutches. You are not what you think you have lost.

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Allow yourself time to grieve. This is a process but it has an end.

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“Mark” or celebrate the ending, if at all possible. Honor the past rather than denigrate it because you know God works everything for the good of His people (Rom 8:28).

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Be open to new understandings and values connected with the new beginning you are transitioning to.

ACCEPT new beginnings. •

Recognize that the journey from one phase to another may be hard and it may take time. But put your hope in God.

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Expect ambiguity and confusion because of the new beginnings but trust God as He walks you into what is new.

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Ask questions, seek new solutions, and new identities based on God’s Word.

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Be creative and explore new and unusual ways of getting something done. Use both sides of the brain; shift or take fresh perspectives.

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Embrace setbacks and losses as entry points for new solutions.

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Recognize that new beginnings follow the timing of the mind and heart whereas a new start follows the timing of a schedule.

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Celebrate the successful beginning at the end of a transition.

3.Do not be AFRAID of the future. •

Avoid making false vows (Lev 5:4). They only close the door for you to experience God’s grace for the future. Example: “I will never…”

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Be excited about what God can do for your future.

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Your past does not limit your future. It only sets the stage of what God can do in and through your life.

20 •

Remember, God is more than able to redeem your past. He is also able to create your future (Jer 29:11).

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Step forward expecting God to be with you as you transition into the present and the future.

For the HG Session: While in your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group, explore your timeline again. Look for key transitions in your past. Have you let go of the past and have moved on to your present? Have you learned to accept that the past is over? Are you now living your life with a sense of denial or with excitement? Make confessions to your group if you feel that you have not yet adjusted to some new realities in your life right now. Make a commitment to tie up any untied transitions. You need to move on by faith.

21 For the Mentor: Help the mentee to tie up any transitions that have not been fully resolved. Review the five phases of transitions and see to it that they have gone through each step faithfully in any area where they have had transitions or changes. The important thing is not to live in the past but to move on in the present and toward the future. If they have made false vows, help them to identify it and renounce it. Pray together so that God may release the mentee from anything in their past that may still be holding them back.

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MODIFY PAST MISBELIEFS The Power of Beliefs

Actions motivated by emotions

Situations

Emotional reactions

Interpretations coming from beliefs

The Source of Misbeliefs 1.

PARENTS

2.

FRIENDS

3.

SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE (teachers, mentors, pastors, etc.)

4.

WORLD (through the media especially)

5.

SATAN

Wrong message we receive OUR SELF-WORTH = OUR PERFORMANCE + OPINION OF OTHERS

23 Four Major Misbeliefs and their Negative Consequences 1.“I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself.” Negative consequence: FEAR OF FAILURE Manifestations: a.

Perfectionism

b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Avoiding risks in order to avoid failure Anger and resentment in times of failure Anxiety over the possibility of failure Pride for meeting certain standards, often man-made Depression for always failing to meet standard Low motivation due to repeated failures Chemical dependence as an escape

2.“I must be approved or accepted by certain others to feel good about myself.” Negative consequence: FEAR OF REJECTION Manifestations: a.

Resentment for not being approved

b.

People-pleasing in order to be approved

c.

Codependence in order to be needed always

d.

Avoidance of relationships in order to avoid rejection

e.

Dominating personality in order to protect oneself from possible rejection

f.

Depression due to perceived rejection

3.“Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished.” Negative consequence: FEAR OF PUNISHMENT Manifestations: a.

Paranoia

b. c.

Rejection of others because of feelings of unworthiness Anger toward self

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d. e. f.

Difficulty in accepting affirmation Blaming others instead of accepting blame Irritability and unexplained anger

3.“I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.” Negative consequence: FEELINGS OF SHAME Manifestations:

a. b.

Inferiority or superiority complex

c.

Self-pity

d.

Passivity

e. f. g. h.

Isolation and withdrawal

Destructive behavior because of failures

Loss of creativity Dependence on others Despising one’s appearance

How to overcome Misbeliefs

1. Be HONEST about yourself (Psalm 139:23-24; Romans 12:3-5) 2. Look for affirming RELATIONSHIPS (Eccl 4:9-12) 3. Practice RIGHT THINKING (Phil 4:8) 4. Grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of God (2 Pet 3:18) 5. Live by FAITH always (Eph 2:8-10) God’s answer to each of our misbeliefs: 1. “I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself.” God’s answer: We are already RIGHTEOUS by the grace of God (Eph 2:8-10; Phil 3:7-11).

2. “I must be approved or accepted by certain others to feel good about myself.” God’s answer: God already ACCEPTS us as we are because of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Col 1:21-22; Romans 14:1-4)

25 3. “Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished.” God’s answer: Christ BECAME SIN for us so that we may no longer suffer the wrath of God (2 Cor 5:21: Romans 5:1-2). 4. “I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.” God’s answer: If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15)

26 For the HG Session: Meet with your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group and examine whether you have misbeliefs in your life. Do you have the tendency to look at yourself negatively? Are you prone to bouts of self-pity or self-doubt? Are you having difficulty in maintaining relationships? What kind of misbeliefs have you been entertaining lately? Are you thinking you will be never be accepted or appoved by others? Do you look down at yourself? Be honest. Tell your group how you feel about yourself right now. Learn to encourage one another at this point. Your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group will play an important role in giving you the right perspective about yourself based on God’s word. Confess the truth, not the lie, about yourself as a child of God. Use the sheet on “Who am I in Christ” as a guide to remind yourself that you have been redeemed by Christ. For the Mentor: At this point, you need to help your mentee to have the right perspective about himself or herself based on God’s Word. Review the “Who am I in Christ” sheet and help the mentee to have the right beliefs. Deal with any “unhealthy” perceptions that would only hinder or limit them from fully experiencing the life that God has in store for them. Speak words of Scripture to teach them about their riches in Christ Jesus which they can claim by faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of their heart so that they can “see” these truths for themselves.

27

THANK GOD FOR EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING . Why be thankful 1. God has BLESSED us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3) 2. We are COMMANDED to be thankful (Psalm 50:14) 3. JESUS set us an example (Matthew 11:25) 4. Other BELIEVERS set us an example (e.g. David, 1 Chron 29:13) 5. The heavenly HOST set us an example (Rev 4:9) 6. The wicked shows us a NEGATIVE example (Rom 1:21) 7. We BENEFIT from being thankful (Phil 4:6-7) When to be thankful 1. In PRIVATE worship (Daniel 6:10) 2. In PUBLIC worship (Psalm 35:18) 3. Upon the completion of great UNDERTAKINGS (Neh 12:31,40) 4. Before receiving any BLESSING (John 6:11) 5. When INTERCEDING for others (1 Tim 2:1) 6. Whenever you enter God’s PRESENCE (Psalm 100:4) 7. AT ALL TIMES (1 Thess 1:2) What to be thankful for 1. For the goodness and MERCY of God (Psalm 106:1) 2. For the gift of CHRIST (2 Cor 9:15) 3. For deliverance from SIN (Rom 7:23-25) 4. For victory over death and GRAVE (1 Cor 15:57) 5. For our appointment to MINISTRY (1 Tim 1:12) 6. For the nearness of God’s PRESENCE (Psalm 75:1) 7. For ALL THINGS (2 Cor 9:11)

28 For the HG Session: Read Ephesians 1:3-14 and discuss the following: 1.What are the spiritual blessings that God has given us in Christ? 2.How does it feel to receive all these blessings? 3.Why is being thankful so important in experiencing real life? 4.Have you been thankful to God lately? In what ways have you been less thankful? End the session by actually thanking God for every spiritual blessing in Christ. Be specific. Ask God to develop the attitude of gratitude in your hearts. For the Mentor: Help the mentee to have a thankful heart. Teach him or her how to thank the Lord for every good and perfect gift. Also, teach him or her how to be thankful even in trying circumstances. A grateful heart is a thankful heart. They can experience God’s kind of life when they learn to thank Him at all times.

29

EVALUATE YOUR PRESENT LIFESTYLE The components of lifestyle •

Your use of TIME (Eph 5:15-17)

•

Your use of TALENTS (1 Peter 4:10)

•

Your use of TREASURE (1 Tim 6:6-10)

The need to integrate your faith with your lifestyle (Phil 2:12-13) 1. Obedience to God must be CONSISTENT. 2. Obedience to God must be CONTINUOUS. 3. Obedience to God must be CONFIDENT. 4. Obedience to God must be CONSCIOUS. How to integrate your faith with your lifestyle 1. Renew your MIND (Rom 12:2). 2. Develop CONVICTIONS (2 Cor 4:13) 3. Learn to think BIBLICALLY (Phil 4:8) 4. Be accountable for your actions and DECISIONS (Eph 4:20-24) 5. Practice what you BELIEVE (Phil 4:9) For the HG Session: Examine your present lifestyle. Confess to your H.E.A.L.T.H. Group if you have not been faithfully obeying Christ in your life. Be specific. Share how you really feel about these failures and let your HG minister to you. Learn to speak the truth in love with each other. Sometimes we may not be aware that we are not being wise in the way we use our time, talents and treasure. For the Mentor: At this point, it is very important to be brutally honest with your mentee. By now you will have some idea regarding their lifestyle. Learn to confront them concerning issues or concerns that you have observed. Remind them of the need to integrate their faith with their lifestyle. Do not tolerate excuses. But be compassionate as you teach them how to live more wisely.

30

STOP DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS OR ATTITUDES There are seven destructive behaviors and attitudes that you should stop… 1.LYING (Eph 4:25) •

This involves not just telling outright lies but saying things that are outright inconsistent with the Gospel and God’s Word (example: I am no good [but see Eph 2:10]).

•

This involves saying “yes” when we mean “no” or vice-versa (see James 5:12).

•

This involves every kind of pretension or false impression that is not in line with the truth of who you really are (example: pa-impress).

•

This involves not disclosing your true self (i.e. your true thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc.) in your LIFE group or community.

2.UNCONTROLLABLE ANGER (Eph 4:26-27) •

This involves allowing your anger to just explode each time, with or without justification.

•

This involves being irritable all the time.

•

This involves passively building up anger inside even though on the outside you look calm and composed.

•

This involves harboring feelings of hurt or revenge upon another person even though the he or she is already asking for forgiveness.

•

This involves refusing to settle quickly with people you are in conflict with.

3.STEALING (Eph 4:28) •

This involves unnecessarily depending on other people for your needs when you can support yourself easily. (Note: This does not include support-raising as a legitimate way of supporting oneself, see 1 Cor 8:7-12)

•

This involves borrowing things and then not returning them as promised.

•

This involves being lazy and unproductive (Note: A person can be lazy and unproductive even though he has a job!).

•

This involves using company time to do personal things or bringing home office supplies without permission, etc.

•

This involves bribery, unlawful commissions and other forms of illegitimate income.

31 4.USELESS SPEECH (Eph 4:29-30) •

This involves statements that are not helpful to those who listen (example: teasing, etc.).

•

This involves saying hurtful words to or about brothers and sisters in Christ (example: slander, gossip, etc.)

•

This involves saying things that are inconsistent with the desires of the Spirit (contrary to Galatians 5:22-23).

•

This involves words that destroy the unity of the body of Christ.

5.SELF-CENTEREDNESS (Eph 4:31-5:2) •

This involves attitudes that create more conflict rather then resolve them.

•

This involves responses to conflict that are focused only on one’s feelings or concerns.

•

This involves judging one another harshly or without due consideration to real motives.

•

This involves behaviors that are inconsistent with who Jesus Christ is and what He would do if He were in that situation.

6.UNGODLINESS (Eph 5:3-7) •

This involves every form of immorality, impurity and greed.

•

This involves attitudes as well as words and actions that convey a lack of desire for holiness.

•

This involves focusing more on the externals (example, the human body) and the temporary (example, sex) in order to satisfy the desires of the flesh.

•

This involves joining others who are ungodly and enjoying their activities, even though you know they displease God.

7.WASTEFULNESS (Eph 5:15-20) •

This involves living life with no sense of purpose or direction.

•

This involves engaging in activities that destroy mind or body, making them unfruitful (example: addictions, alcoholism, gambling, etc.)

•

This involves living negatively, refusing to take risks, and day dreaming about what could be.

•

This involves mindless living each day, with no desire to know God’s will for one’s life.

32 For the HG Session: 1.Which of the seven destructive behaviors or attitudes seem to be present in your life right now? Why do you say so? 2.Are you convinced that they should be stopped right away? Why? 3.Do you think it would be easy? Why or why not? 4.What particular obstacles do you foresee that you will encounter once you begin to deal with these behaviors and attitudes? 5.How do you plan to deal with them? Make a covenant with each other to hold each other accountable before the Lord in stopping these destructive behaviors and attitudes beginning today. For the Mentor: You can use the same questions as above. You can also add your own questions. The important thing is to uncover any destructive habits or sins of the flesh that needs to be confessed and dealt with as soon as possible. Without holiness no one can see the Lord. Be sensitive to what you believe they may be going through. For example, if they are young people, they may be going through sexual temptations, etc.

33

TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY What it means Godly training is the process whereby a believer in Christ takes responsibility for his or her own spiritual development by pursuing and practicing the six godly habits of highly fruitful disciples. This session introduces the concept of godly HABITS. This will be dealt with in detail during the course “Practicing the HABITS.” Please take that course as soon as possible. Why pursue godly training 1.It is COMMANDED in Scripture (1 Tim 4:7-8). 2.It results in personal BENEFITS (2 Peter 1:5-11) 3.It is our role in the process of SANCTIFICATION (Phil 2:12-13) 4.It gives us victory over SIN, SATAN and the WORLD (1 Tim 6:11-16) 5.It protects us from WOLVES in sheep’s clothing (Acts 20:25-31). 6.It maximizes our ministry EFFECTIVENESS (Rom 12:11). 7.It helps us finish the RACE (1 Cor 9:24-27). 8.It assures us of our SALVATION (2 Cor 13:5-9). 9.It crucifies our SINFUL NATURE (Gal 5:16-18, 22-25). 10.It results in a harvest of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Gal 6:7-9; Phil 1:9-11). Six Godly habits to develop 1.

Honor God with your time, talents and treasure.

2.

Attend to your daily communion with God.

3.

Build your knowledge of God.

4.

Involve yourself in the family of God.

5.

Take care of your family as God does.

6.

Share your faith in God with others.

For the HG Session: Discuss the following questions in your HG. 1. How would you describe your Christian life right now? Would you say that you are training yourself to be godly? Why or why not?

34 2. Which of the six habits are you having difficulty with? Which one would you like to work on starting this week? 3. How can your group hold you accountable? For the Mentor: It is important to train the mentee in the six godly habits of highly effective disciples. The courses in EQUIP will help the mentee understand each of these habits. But your mentoring will help them practice these habits in their daily lives. You need to guide them until they develop the core competencies of a healthy disciple. Watch and observe. Make the necessary suggestions. Teach them how. Show them. Fulfill your role as a mentor by guiding them through the process of becoming a godly person.

35

PREPARE VISION STATEMENTS FOR YOUR LIFE What is vision? Why prepare vision statements 1.God DESIRES to fulfill His purpose for our lives (Romans 8:28-30). 2.God is first interested in who we are BECOMING before He can use us for His purpose (2 Timothy 2:20-21). 3.God’s purpose for our lives is revealed in STAGES (Genesis 37:5-11; 45:4-7). 4.God’s purpose for our lives is where we will experience the greatest JOY AND FULFILLMENT (John 4:34). 5.God’s purpose for our lives is only PART of His larger purpose for the kingdom of God (Eph 1:9-10). To discover our visions, we need to listen to our “destiny clues” 1.

PERSISTENT BURDENS

2.

UNSOLICITED AFFIRMATIONS

3.

MINISTRY FRUIT

4.

CONVERSATION TOPICS

5.

SPECIFIC GUIDANCE from the Lord

Sample of a life purpose statement My purpose in life is to become a faithful disciple who helps others become faithful disciples so that they can fulfill God’s purpose for their lives, because I believe in the Great Commission wholeheartedly. HG Session: Make your own life purpose statement 1.What do you believe God wants you to become? My purpose in life is to become a __________________________ (adjective and/or noun) Ex. My purpose in life is to become a faithful disciple

36

2.What do you believe God wants you to do? who _____________ ______________________ _____________ (verb or verbs) (adjectives and/or nouns)

(modifiers)

Ex. who helps others become faithful disciples 3.What do you believe are the results or the fruits of your life that God wants you to accomplish? So that ___________________________________________ (results or fruits) Ex. so that they can fulfill God’s purpose for their lives 4.Optional: What are your underlying reasons, values or beliefs upon which the above are based? because ____________________________________________ (reasons, values or beliefs) Ex. because I believe in the Great Commission wholeheartedly A ROUGH DRAFT OF YOUR LIFE PURPOSE STATEMENT _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

37

LIST DOWN FUTURE GOALS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR VISION STATEMENTS Introduction A future goal is simply a statement of what you want to accomplish by God’s grace at a certain definite time in the future which is in accordance with your life purpose statement. Why list future goals 1. To reach our maximum POTENTIAL in Christ (Phil 3:12-14). 2. To focus our God-given RESOURCES (i.e. our time, talents and treasure, Matthew 25:14-30). 3. To promote unity and harmony in our RELATIONSHIPS (Romans 15:23-24). 4. To accomplish the WILL OF GOD (Romans 12:1-2). 5. To live PRODUCTIVE lives (1 Thess 4:11-12). 6. To follow biblical EXAMPLES (Phil 3:17-4:1). 7. To give glory to GOD (Colossians 3:17). The three laws of the harvest 1. You will ALWAYS reap what you sow. 2. You will always reap LATER than you sow. 3. You will always reap MORE than you sow. How to list your future goals 1.

2.

COMMIT yourself to a proactive life. Ask God to reveal to you His plan for your life. Then by faith proceed to the next step. CREATE SMART goals that inspire you. Use any of the following approaches: •

SATISFACTION approach – Think of various areas in your life (see box) and ask the question, “Am I satisfied with what is happening in this area of my life?” For those areas where you are not satisfied, come up with goals

AREAS OF LIFE  Spiritual  Financial  Marriage/Family  Physical  Educational  Personal/Social  Professional

38 •

SMORGASBORD approach – Come up with a list of all possible goals in each area of your life (see box). Then choose those goals that inspire you.

•

WISH LIST approach – Think of each area of your life (see box) and come up with a wish list, i.e. what you wish to happen in that area of your life.

3.

CATEGORIZE your goals. Write your goals in pieces of paper and then categorize them… •

In terms of PRIORITY

•

In terms of TIME

•

In terms of AREAS

•

In terms of DOMAIN 1)

TO BE (for example: to be a doctor)

2)

TO DO (for example: finish doctorate)

3)

TO HAVE (for example: have own house)

4.

CARRY OUT your goals by faith

5.

CELEBRATE the fulfillment of your goals

Individual Session: Come up with at least two or three future goals. Be sure that you are excited with these goals. Ask God to guide you. Come up with SMART goals. HG Session: Share your goals in your HG. Explain why you have such goals. Sharing your goals is also tantamount to sharing yourself. Learn to trust others. Learn to listen to others also when they are sharing their goals. Conclude with prayer for one another.

39

ACT STRATEGICALLY TO FULFILL YOUR GOALS Introduction God wants us to live our lives by faith (Heb 11:1). Listing future goals alone will not bring about an experience of real life. We need to act faithfully and wisely for the future. How do we do that? Test your future goals 1.The test of CONSIDERATION (Mark 10:35-40) 2.The test of CONFIRMATION (Acts 16:6-10) 3.The test of COOPERATION (Eccl 4:9-12) Believe God for your future 1. Believe that God has a PLAN for your life (Jer 29:11) 2. Believe that God works out everything for the GOOD of His people (Rom 8:28) 3. Believe that God is in CONTROL over every aspect of your life (Eph 1:11) 4. Believe that God’s will is greater than all your PLANS (James 4:13-17) 5. Believe that God will HONOR your faith (2 Thess 1:11-12) Start accomplishing your future goals by faith 1.Break it down to MANAGEABLE units of work. Example: If your goal is to become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, you can break it down into the following •

Have a daily quiet time at least three times a week

•

Share my faith with at least 2 people each month

2.Slim it down into DOABLE steps. Example: If the unit of work is “have a daily quiet time at least three times a week,” you can come up with the following steps: •

Buy a good quiet time tool

•

Buy a journal

•

Start having quiet times with the Lord

3.Take it down to a WORKABLE schedule Example: If you want to do the above steps, you can schedule it as follows:

40 •

Sunday afternoon, after SWC – Buy a good quiet time tool and journal

•

Monday morning, Wednesday morning, and Friday morning, at exactly 6 am – Start doing your quiet time

Be wise in your significant decisions 1.Wait upon the Lord (Psalm 130:5-6) 2.Inquire from the Word (Psalm 1:1-3) 3.Seek godly counsel (Proverbs 2:1-8) 4.Evaluate your motives (James 4:1-3) HG Session: Go back to your future goals and start testing them. Are they worthwhile goals? Will the Lord be glorified in your life if you fulfill them? After you have verified your future goals, start making plans to fulfill them. Break them down into manageable units of work. Then convert them into doable steps. Then take them down to a workable schedule. Share what you’ve done with your HG. Ask them what they think. Help each other fine tune your plans. End by praying for each other’s success.

41

NAME YOUR MARKERS ALONG THE WAY

Definition of a memorial marker MEMORIAL. That by which the memory of any person or thing is preserved. Thus the feast of the Passover was a memorial of Jehovah's sparing the firstborn of Israel in Egypt (Ex 12:14); the heap of stones left in the bed of the Jordan was a memorial of the Israelites' crossing it (Josh 4:7); the two engraved stones upon the shoulder pieces of the high priest's ephod were "for a memorial" (Ex 28:12), as were also the names engraved upon the jewels of his breastplate (v. 29). The sacrifice in the case of jealousy was called a memorial because it brought iniquity to remembrance (Num 5:15). A memorial was also a record (Ex 17:14; "book of remembrance," Mal 3:16). The act of Mary in anointing the feet of Jesus was to be spoken of in "memory of her" (Matt 26:13; KJV and NIV, "memorial"; Mark 14:9; cf. Acts 10:4). (From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.) Characteristics of a memorial A memorial is something that is… 1.

Meaningful It connotes a deeper meaning than what can easily be understood. In other words, people need to ask further in order to know its true meaning.

2.

Event-oriented It is focused upon a particular event that transpired which has deep meaning for those involved. It is not just a random act. People see intentionality in the events that happened.

3.

Memorable The event is significant enough that it can be remembered even after a certain time has passed. It can easily be recalled with vividness and feeling if necessary.

4.

Others-centered The purpose of the memorial is for others to recall or remember. It is not really for those in the present. Memorials always pertain to the past, but they can be anticipated even in the future (for example, Isa 56:4-5; Zech 6:9-15, i.e. people in the future will remember the past because of the memorial that is anticipated.)

42 5.

Responsive A memorial seeks a response from those who can understand it. It is not just a fond memory but a challenge for faith in the present. The memorial will challenge the people who will see and understand the memorial in the future to trust God for their present.

6.

Yearning for renewal There will always be a yearning to see God’s renewed action in the present once a past memorial is recalled (e.g. Psalm 77:10-15). Those who understand the memorial are motivated to ask God for a similar display of grace or compassion in the present time.

Examples from Hebrews 11 •

Cain and Abel (verse 4) - his SACRIFICE of the lamb demonstrated his belief that God would one day send a way to save them from sin.

•

Enoch (verses 5-6) – he WALKED with God

•

Noah (verse 7) - believed that God would send RAIN even though he had never seen it before.

•

Abraham (verses 8-19) - willingly left for an unknown land and trusted that God would keep his promise to make him FATHER of a great nation even though his wife had no children.

•

Isaac (verse 20) - by blessing his sons he continued the TRADITION of faith

•

Joseph (verse 22) – had faith that his people would RETURN to the promised land

•

Moses (verses 23-29) - LED the people even against difficult odds.

•

Rahab (verses 30-31) - BELIEVED that the Israelites were God's people and wished to join them.

•

Gideon (verse 32) – believed that God would use him to defeat his enemies even though he felt INSIGNIFICANT.

•

Samson (verse 32) – believed that God could still use him despite his MISTAKES.

•

David (verse 32) – believed that God can use even young and SMALL people!

•

Samuel (verse 32) - listened to God's instructions and OBEYED them.

43 HG Session: Fill-up the blanks individually. Then share what you have written in your HG. Affirm each other’s memorial. Pray for each other that God would use each of you to accomplish great and mighty things for His glory. • I would like to be remembered by my family for the following: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ • I would like to be remembered by my friends for the following: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ • I would like to be remembered by the Christian church for the following: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ • I would like to be remembered by the world for the following: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

44 APPENDIX A LIST OF POSSIBLE STRONGHOLDS Strongholds in the spiritual realm: Have you had any involvement in the past with occult practices? (example, spirit of the glass, going to faith healers, tarot card, etc.) Have you been a member of cultic groups or false religions? Do you keep in your possession any idol or anting-anting or any object that is said to give you luck or blessing? Do you believe in omens or bad luck? Do you experience nightmares involving demons? How often? Do you hear voices even though you’re all alone? How often? Do you see appearances of spirit beings? How often? Do you read new age books or dwell on new age thoughts or practices (pranic healings, crytals, feng shui, good luck charms, fertility gems, etc) Do you have special powers like the ability to know the future, move objects, etc? Do you experience uneasiness, mental blocks or confusion when you are listening to a sermon or Bible teaching? Are you sometimes overcome with terror for no apparent reason? Do you sometimes feel an urge to kill or hurt yourself or others for no apparent reason? Strongholds in you mind: Do you get easily hurt when people criticize you? Do you always want to be the center of attraction? Are you always interested in having a good image? Do you tend to focus more on yourself whenever you’re talking? Do you find it hard to listen to other people? Do you always find yourself lying or pretending for no reason? Do you find it difficult to be honest? Have you been indoctrinated by false religious teachings in the past? Do you find it difficult to accept or understand the basic teachings of the Bible while you’re listening?

45 Do you have religious beliefs right now that you know are contrary to biblical teachings? Do you resent certain types of people? Are you afraid that your children might turn out to be like those you don’t like? Do you tend to let things happen and not care at all? Are you unaffected by things around you even though they are important? Do you accept what others are saying even though it disagrees with what you believe, just because you’re afraid of conflict? Do you find yourself judging others too hastily based on your standards? Are you easily irritated by the failures of other people? Are you afraid of something for no reason? Does your mind always dwell on unprofitable things all the time? (ex. Chismis, politics, slander, revenge, etc.) Strongholds in the area of our emotions Do you feel hatred for certain people in your past? Do you feel uneasy whenever those people are around you or near you? Do you sometimes find yourself planning revenge against those people? Do you find it hard to mention the names of those people? Do you find it difficult to forgive these people? Do you say to yourself and others that you have already forgiven these people and yet feel uneasy when they are around? Do you blame certain people for the wrong things that have happened in your life? Are you constantly feeling sorry for yourself? Do you feel depressed most of the time? Do you feel like giving up or walking away from your present situation? Are your emotions like a roller coaster, up and down? Do you tend to be overly anxious about a lot of things? Do you have a secret desire to be better than somebody you know? Do you secretly desire to have what somebody else has? Do you sometimes find it hard to concentrate because you’re always thinking that other people have more than you? Are you often irritable with other people or yourself?

46 Do you find yourself raising your voice or clenching your fist every time you get disappointed? Do you feel self-condemned because of your past sins? Do you feel that you need to pay for you past sins? Do you sometimes feel that you do not deserve a better life right now because of your past sins? Do you believe you have been so bad God himself cannot forgive you? Do you find it difficult to admit certain sins with other people? Do you feel ashamed when people discover your past sins? Would you rather be anonymous rather than known by others? Are you afraid of personal questions? Do you find it awkward when people ask others personal questions? Would you rather forget about your past than deal with them? Strongholds in the area of our wills: Do you often feel compelled to do something even though you know it’s wrong? Do you find it difficult to say “no” to people? Do you often feel “forced” or “manipulated” by other people? Are you always doing something that you know is not right simply because you enjoy it? Do you find it difficult to stop something in your life even though you know it’s destroying your life? Do you have secret sins that you can’t get rid of? Are you doing something right now that you would be afraid to tell someone especially someone in the church? Are there bad habits in your life that you have not surrendered to the Lord? Do you find it difficult to do your quite time or to pray? Are you sometimes afraid that people will find out the real you? Do you do things in secret and then feel ashamed, but then do it again? Do you find it difficult to make time to read your Bible? Do you often rationalize your lack of self-control when people confront you about your bad habits? Do you always spend beyond your income? Are you always getting into debts?

47 Do you try to borrow more money to pay off existing debts? Are you always out of budget? Are you living beyond your present ability or income? Do you have trouble choosing the right thing in your life? Do you find it difficult to obey God even in simple matters? Do you feel that your life is spinning out of control? Strongholds in our bodies Are you always struggling with lustful thoughts? Do you always find yourself daydreaming about sexual escapades? Are you distracted by lustful thoughts toward people to talk with? Are you enslaved by the desire to masturbate? Do you find yourself always thinking about gaining power, having lots of money, or having sex? Do you often fantasize about having so much money that you can buy anything you want? Are you always taking about money? Do you often find yourself just lying around, not wanting to do anything productive? Do you hate working, or maybe you just work because you have to? Have you had or do you still have homosexual relationships? Do you daydream having sex with the same sex? Are you attracted easily to the same sex? Do you engage in pornography of any kind? Have you had sexual relations with the same sex before? Have you had several sexual partners before? Do you engage in internet pornography? Do you eat so much to the point that you are about to vomit? Do you sometimes force yourself to vomit just so you can eat more? Do you rationalize eating too much by making all sorts of excuses? Are you too figure-conscious and avoid eating less than you should? Do you find pleasure and strong longing to certain kind of food that you think gives you some kind of relief? Have you or are you taking drugs or any addictive substance?

48 Are you prone to hitting people physically? Are you afraid of being hit physically? Do you enjoy seeing people hit each other physically? Do you always love to go out and enjoy yourself, forgetting other important matters like your spiritual life? Are you prone to pamper yourself but fail to take care of your own body in the right way? Do you fail to exercise often? Do you torture your body? Are you a workaholic who never rests? Do you have many sleepless nights? Do you fail to balance your time often? Do you have a perennial sickness that never gets healed? Have you tried going to doctors for your sickness but it seems to get worse each time? Do you suspect your sickness to be spiritual in origin? Do you have sicknesses from your generation that you think may have been passed on to you (generational curses)? Do you feel lazy about spiritual matters like ministry, quiet time, etc.?

49 Appendix B

Memorial for William R. "Bill" Bright, Founder of World's Largest Christian Ministry - Campus Crusade for Christ ORLANDO, Fla., July 19, 2003—William R. “Bill” Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the world’s largest Christian ministry, died today from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81. Fueled by his passion to present the love and claims of Jesus Christ to "every living person on earth," Dr. Bright spent more than five decades building and leading the Orlando, Florida-based Campus Crusade for Christ. As the world’s largest Christian ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ serves people in 191 countries through a staff of 26,000 full-time employees and more than 225,000 trained volunteers working in some 60 niche ministries and projects ranging from military ministry to inner city ministry. Bright was so motivated by what is known as the Great Commission, Christ’s command to carry the gospel throughout the world, that in 1956 he wrote a booklet titled The Four Spiritual Laws, which has been printed in some 200 languages and distributed to more than 2.5 billion people, making it the most widely disseminated religious booklet in history. In 1979, Bright commissioned the JESUS film, a feature-length documentary on the life of Christ, which has since been viewed by more than 5.1 billion people in 234 countries and has become the most widely viewed, as well as most widely translated, film in history (786 languages). In 1996 Bright was presented with the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, worth more than $1 million. The Templeton Prize is the world's largest financial annual award. Bright donated all of his prize money to causes promoting the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer. “He has carried a burden on his heart as few men that I’ve ever known. A burden for the evangelization of the world,” said Rev. Billy Graham, a long-time friend of the Brights. “He is a man whose sincerity and integrity and devotion to our Lord have been an inspiration and a blessing to me ever since the early days of my ministry.” Bright’s work through Campus Crusade for Christ will continue under the leadership of Steve Douglass, a long-time associate whom Dr. Bright tapped in 2001 as his successor. “Not only have I lost a dear and lifelong friend in Bill Bright, but the world has lost one of its greatest visionaries and faithful servants of Jesus Christ,” said Douglass.