Author: Joyce Holzman Hanscom

I am a certified Mental Health Coach through Light University. An author. A Bible teacher for Good News Clubs and incarcerated women in the county jail. I teach about how to discover a new reality through memory transformation. Discovering a new reality is achieved when you heal emotions from painful memories and transform negative heart issues. When false beliefs are transformed by truth, then you can love from a pure heart and make wise decisions. There is hope for complete healing.

Freedom in Our Spirit – Part 3

How can we experience peace and joy when our world is falling apart? How does our spirit help us love someone who mistreats us? It is so easy to focus on our problems and how people are mistreating us. So, how does our spirit show the evidence that we are free from worry and resentment? In Part 2, we learned how our thoughts from painful memories prevent us from purely loving others. In Part 1, we discovered how Jesus Christ came in the flesh to set us free from the two kinds of bondages revealed in the introduction post.

How Does Our Spirit, Soul, and Body Interact?

We are spirit beings constrained by our physical bodies and controlled by our souls. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “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.” This verse verifies we have three parts that God sanctifies (set apart as holy). No one is sure what the soul is exactly, but the consensus is that it is a combination of the mind, emotions, and will. Some say it is our conscience. Our sinful desires are generated from our souls when our minds and will are set on worldly desires. And worldly desires keep us in bondage to the evils of the world. To learn more read: Four Realities of the Spirit World.

Difference between the Flesh and Spirit?

Take a moment and analyze the focus of your mind, will, and emotions (our soul). Romans 8:5-8 describes the differences and consequences of where we set our minds. Romans 8:5 states, “For those who live according to the flesh [self-centered, carnal, sensual] set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Our bodies are made of flesh, and we naturally seek to please our flesh and sexual desires. We set our minds on the Spirit by seeking to please God (Col. 3:1-3). Romans 8:6-8 asserts, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death [spiritual, relational], but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Have you noticed that people who seek to please their flesh are self-centered and do not love God or others? God wants us to love Him and love others, which we learned is all the law (Rom. 13:8,10; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8).

Role of Our Spirit

So, what is the role of our spirits? Since God is an almighty Spirit, and we are made in the image of God, therefore, He put His spirit in us (John 4:24; Rom. 8:11; Gen. 1:26). Genesis 6:3 states, Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” And Proverbs 20:27 states, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.” When our bodies die, our spirits will either go to heaven or hell, depending on whether we turned our spirits for or against God (Job 15:13).

We experience freedom when our spirit is one with God. 1 Corinthians 6:17 states, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” And “where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17). We become one spirit with God when we believe and confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives. That He died to take our punishment for our sins, was buried and on the third day was raised up (Rom. 10:9-10; Col. 2:14). Romans 8:9 states, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Conclusion

Freedom not doing whatever your heart desires to please your flesh. We have freedom when we have peace and joy amid hardship and difficult people. Freedom is expressed through our spirits when we set our minds on the love of God. What do you set your mind on? Do you think about the troubles going on in the world or in your life? Do you think about all the injustices in your life? Do you think about watching the next ball game? What do you set your mind on? We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world (John 17:16). 1 John 2:15 states, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

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Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds, which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

FREEDOM OF THOUGHTS—Post 2

Do you control what you think, or do your thoughts control your mind and emotions? I wrote in my book Breaking Mental Strongholds about the science behind memories and our thoughts. Neuroscientists discovered that every event in your life from the time of your birth is stored in your brain. They also discovered that these memories control our thinking and emotions. You can get my book and read all about it. Painful memories generate wrong thinking that prevents us from loving well. Love is the measuring standard God will use when we stand before Him (2 Cor. 5:10).

What Should Freedom Look Like?

Freedom from unhealthy beliefs and thoughts is being able to love ourselves and people from a pure heart. Some people may be appalled that we are to love ourselves, if you don’t then you cannot love others, because the Bible says in Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” And James 2:8 states, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” The goal of my website is to help you love from a pure heart. To love from a pure heart, you need Jesus Christ to uncover your unhealthy beliefs and wrong thinking and then transform them with God’s truth. I wrote a series of posts addressing how to purify your heart: Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul and Why Heal Your Heart And Purify Your Soul?

Take All Wrong Beliefs Captive.

Our prayers and words have power, and we can take every thought captive in the name of Jesus and command wrong thoughts to be gone. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh (live in the world, NIV), we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (this world), but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (strongholds). We are destroying speculations (arguments) and every lofty thing (pretensions) raised up against the knowledge of God (truth), and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (Words in parenthesis are from the NIV.) Taking our thoughts captive is critical to have lasting victory over our destructive emotions that keep us captive to hurtful, sinful behavior.

Obeying God Increases Freedom.

Purifying our hearts begins with obeying the Word of God, that is, to do what it says. 1 Peter 1:22 states, “Having purified your souls (heart, mind, and conscience) by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” We can love with a pure heart as our soul wounds heal, as outlined in my booklet found here. One truth we must obey to heal soul wounds and be victorious over offenses that control our thoughts is to forgive those who offended us. Then pray and put off the lies the offense generated that you believed about yourself, others, and God. (See Matthew 6:12; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). Unforgiveness perpetuates the inner pain we feel and keeps us in bondage to it. You will never have lasting peace, love, or freedom if you do not forgive. If you find it hard to forgive, read: WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE

Conclusion

Freedom begins in our minds as we forgive and allow God to heal our hurting hearts. You will be released from the bondage of resentment when you forgive. It is my prayer that everyone who finds my website will be free from the painful memories that control their minds, emotions, and unloving actions. As you forgive, love well, and apply God’s truth to your life, you will be a blessing to many people who also need to receive God’s grace. Freedom is expressed in our spirits when we identify with Jesus Christ. More about that in the next post.

RELATED POSTS

What Controls Your Thoughts?

ALL THOUGHTS ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL

How to Recognize and Eliminate Emotional Cancer

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How to Be Free – Post 1

When you think about freedom, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Are we ever truly free? If you have no job requirements and no obligations to anyone, you are still confined by time. You look forward to being retired, but now you have physical limitations and doctor appointments that keep you restricted. So physical freedom is not realistic. Can we find true freedom and what does that look like?

I explained in the last post (click the link to read) about two kinds of bondages that oppress everyone who allows it. In this post, I will explain how to be free from those two kinds of oppression. In subsequent posts, I will address common bondages and the truth that will set you free. Despite your circumstances, the following true story is a good example of spiritual freedom and how it helps you overcome physical constraints.

A True Story of The Power of Hope

In 1942, Frankl and his parents, wife, and brother were arrested and sent to the Thereisienstadt concentration camp; Frankl’s father died there within six months. Over the course of three years, Frankl was moved between four concentration camps, including Auschwitz where his brother died and his mother was killed. Frankl’s wife died at Bergen-Belsen. When Frankl’s camp was liberated in 1945, he learned of the death of all his immediate family members, except for his sister who had emigrated to Australia. In the camps, Frankl and fellow prisoners made an effort to address the despondency they observed in other inmates. In an effort to prevent suicide attempts, Frankl and others tried to help other inmates facing severe depression by encouraging them to reflect on positive memories, scenes, and thoughts. Frankl thought that during extreme physical circumstances, a person could escape through his or her spiritual self as a means to survive seemingly unbearable conditions. He believed the spiritual self could not be affected by external forces. (https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/viktor-frankl.html)

How Our Spirits Become Free from The Captivity of Sin and Resentment

It is in our spirits that we can attain true freedom. In 2 Corinthians 3:17, it says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Have you invited the Spirit of the Lord into your life to rule your mind and reactions? Isaiah 61:1 states, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted [those who are deeply afflicted and distressed], to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus read this verse in the synagogue and said in Luke 4:21, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Let us study the meaning of this verse.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” The Holy Spirit came down from heaven in the appearance of a dove and rested on Jesus when He was baptized by John the Baptist. The Spirit of the Lord gives divine inspiration and power.

“Because he has anointed me.” Jesus is saying that he is set apart to do God’s work. Act 10:38 states, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

“To proclaim good news to the poor.” Some versions use meek instead of poor. Jesus came to preach the good news of freedom from sin to the humble and needy. In Jesus’s first sermon, He said in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“He [God] has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives.” The Messiah came in human form to set free those in bondage to sin. Hebrews 2:17-18 states, “Therefore he [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation [pay the penalty] for the sins of the people. For because he [Jesus] himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” He also releases us from the captivity of resentment through forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 tells us, “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Jesus came to break off all the chains of slavery to fleshly desires. Romans 6:22 states, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”

“Recovering of sight to the blind.” Jesus heals the spiritually blind, though He did physically heal the physically blind. Act 26:18 states, “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

“To set at liberty those who are oppressed [bruised; bound].” It means those who are “pressed down” by great calamity, or whose hearts are “pressed” or “bruised” by painful events or the consciousness of sin. Romans 8:21 states, “That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Sin oppresses us through guilt and shame. Jesus came to set us free from oppression if we believe in His name and receive Him into our lives. Have you done that?

Conclusion

Jesus Christ is the only one who sets us free spiritually when you receive Him into your life to be your Lord! The next path to freedom is aligning your thoughts with God’s thoughts. Your thoughts are directed by fleshly desires that keep you in bondage to sin and resentment. In the next post, we will explore how to keep our minds on Christ Jesus and be free in our minds. Before we can be mentally free, we need to first be spiritually free. Have you received Jesus into your life to be your Lord, so you can be sanctified from your sinful nature, and have the hope of eternal life?

May God bless you richly as you become free in Christ Jesus.

All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

HOW TO BE FREE – Introduction

Because this topic is massive, I will break it up into several posts. Today I am introducing the two types of bondages and what freedom looks like. Do you know your hidden bondages? Are you aware of controlling behaviors? Many of us, including me, are not conscious of our unhealthy beliefs and vows that control our actions and reactions. The good news is that God knows all our bondages and wants to set us free. So, what does freedom look like?

The Hidden Internal Bondage in our Lives.

So, what are the hidden bondages that keep us imprisoned? You can find them in your sinful desires and unhealthy beliefs that control your thoughts and emotions. I wrote a short book that I made available on this website that lists possible bondages and unhealthy beliefs about yourself, others, and God. Because we have unique experiences, our hidden bondages will be different, which is why I encourage you to seek the Lord to show them to you. Some bondages are obvious, but you may need a good counselor to identify the less obvious ones. Two common bondages between everyone are self-centered pride and resentment from unforgiven offenses. I am still uncovering resentments from past painful experiences that developed self-centered pride that now control my sinful reactions. I wrote the following example in my last post, but it is a good example, so I want to share it again. God has shown me new unhealthy beliefs He wanted to set me free from.

Example of Becoming Free from Emotional Bondage

This story is an example of how I became free from emotional bondage that controlled my sinful reaction. I became offended by an inconsiderate comment my husband had made, and I said nasty words in return. To cope with the emotional distress, I began cleaning and sweeping the deck, etc. I asked God why his comment triggered my harmful response. God showed me resentment from past hurt when my mother disregarded me. I wanted her praise that she never gave, which caused resentment I did not know existed until it was triggered. I wanted my husband’s praise, so when he criticized me, I got angry. I forgave my mother and my husband, then asked God to take my desire for praise and approval from me. I had the unhealthy belief that if I worked hard, I could win people’s approval. The Bible says that everything we do should be from love and for God’s glory. Love expects nothing in return. I also asked Him to take my self-centered pride. I then repented and asked God for forgiveness for my sinful reaction, and then I asked for my husband’s forgiveness. He did not apologize for his hurtful words, but I forgave him because I wanted to be free from the control of resentment. I asked God to remove the unhealthy belief that I need people’s approval and the prideful desire for praise.

External bondages

Many external bondages develop to cover up internal emotional bondage in our lives. Some of us turn to food, sugar, chocolate, shopping, gaming, TV/movies, music, social media, exercise, etc. when we are emotionally triggered. Sugar is addictive and will cause many problems in your health. Some people turn to alcohol and drugs. I was a workaholic to cope with my mental and emotional bondage. As God heals my emotional bondages, I am becoming free to feel and express love, compassion, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and so on.

What Does Freedom Look Like?

Freedom is loving ourselves and people from a pure heart. To love yourself may sound prideful, but the fact is, we can’t love others if we can’t love ourselves. We are our worst critics. We beat ourselves up over mistakes we make or things we said that we thought were dumb, etc. The Bible says in Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” And James 2:8 states, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” If you are critical of yourself, then you will be critical of others. The goal of my website is to help you love from a pure heart. Purifying your heart requires asking Jesus Christ to uncover your unhealthy beliefs and vows and then transform them using His Word.

About 400 years before the Messiah was born, Isaiah prophesied the following about Jesus Christ. Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted [those who are deeply afflicted and distressed], to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” Jesus read those words in the Jewish synagogue and said in Luke 4:21, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” I will delve into this verse and others in the next post.

Conclusion

Because I strive to keep my posts short and quick to read, I will delve deeper into different emotional bondages and how to be free in subsequent posts. If you haven’t read my testimony in “Hope for Complete Healing” click on the title link. Reading my book will help you understand what unhealthy beliefs are, emotional bondages, and the truth that sets you free.

Next, read the rest of the posts on getting free.

Hope for Lasting Peace, Love, and Victory

HOW PRIDE DESTROYS

Prison Ministry Report 10

Thank you for your prayers, they are needed. The only hope for these precious women is in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome their addictions. We have new girls almost every Friday night. Some of the girls leave to go to the work-release block, rehab, or the state penitentiary. Many inmates want to hear the good news about Jesus. In the past several weeks, we had two salvations and two girls who made a commitment to make Jesus the Lord of their lives. We have ministered to 42 women as of today’s report. We have had two women consistently attend for all of 2023, Teresa and Shianna. Women who are long-term are waiting for their trial, which is very stressful for them.

Please pray for Miranda, a young mother who is an alcoholic but wants to be free. She has had dreams of drinking but reports that the dreams are subsiding since we taught her how to pray in Jesus’ Name to end the devil’s oppression in her mind. She also has a hard time forgiving those who abused her, though she knows she needs to forgive to free her mind from the control of those memories. She has been working through my “Hope for Complete Healing” booklet and has found it very helpful. She is being sent to a rehab center, but she knows that Jesus is the only one who can help her be free from alcohol addiction. Thank you for praying for Miranda. She is an incredible witness on the block and brings many women to the Bible Study.

Sandy, my co-teacher, has been teaching on the armor of God. She has been focusing on the Helmet of Salvation for several weeks now. All our thoughts need to be processed through the salvation of Jesus Christ who set us free from sin and the devil’s oppressive control over our thoughts. This is a struggle for many. Last Friday, Sandy, taught the Romans road Bible verses to the new women in attendance. Alisha just listened but seemed to be oppressed. Kristen believed and received Christ as her savior. At the next Bible study, about halfway into Sandy’s lesson on faith in Christ, Alisha wanted to pray and be saved. It was so precious to see the joy after their prayer. Please pray for these two dear women. Alisha is new to the Christian teaching as she was a Jehovah’s Witness and is just learning about what Jesus did on the cross for us. She did not understand sin and the role of the Holy Spirit. Please pray for her to grow in her new faith. She is troubled by the abuse she suffered and seems to have brain damage from the drugs she was using.

What do you turn to when you are distressed?

Some of us turn to food, sugar, chocolate, shopping, gaming, TV/movies, social media, etc. when we are emotionally stressed. Sugar is addictive and will cause many problems in your health. Mirada said she drank to numb her mind so she would not think about the abuse. I was a workaholic to cope with my mental and emotional distress. Just the other week, I became angry with my husband and became very ugly. To cope with the emotional distress, I began cleaning and sweeping the deck, etc. I asked God why his disregard triggered me. God showed me resentment from past hurt when my mother disregarded me. I did things to earn her praise, which she never gave me, and this caused resentment, which I did not know was there until it was triggered. I wanted my husband’s praise, so when he criticized me, I got angry. I forgave my mother and my husband, then asked God to take my desire for praise from me. The Bible says that everything we do is to be out of love and for God’s glory. I also asked Him to take my self-centered pride. I then repented and asked God for forgiveness for my reaction, and then I asked for my husband’s forgiveness. Though what he said was hurtful, I sinned by my reaction.

I explain in my website book, Hope for Complete Healing, how to overcome the many resentments and distresses of our lives, so you can be set free to love from a pure heart.

Thank you for praying for this prison ministry and for the women who attend. If you would like to read my other reports, go to Prison Ministry Reports.

Conclusion of Jesus’s First Sermon – The Wise Obey.

Below, I summarize Jesus’s instructions in His first sermon with links to the related post to learn more.

Matthew 5:13-20 – Be the salt and light for the world by showing our faith by our good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:21-24 – Do not murder by being angry and insulting a fellow Christian; instead, seek peace.

Matthew 5:25-26 – Appeal to your accuser and make it right with the person you wronged.

Matthew 5:27-32 – How to control defiling thoughts of lust.

Matthew 5:33-37 – Do not take oaths. Let your “yes” be yes, and your “no” be no.

Matthew 5:38-39 – Do not retaliate.

Matthew 5:40-41 – Give extra to those who ask.

Matthew 5:42 – Give to beggars and borrowers.

Matthew 5:43-48 – Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 6:1-4 – Do not practice your righteousness to be noticed by others.

Matthew 6:5-15 – Pray to your Father in heaven and forgive anyone who has sinned against you, just as your Father in heaven has forgiven you.

Matthew 6:16-18 – Do not fast or give to be noticed by others. Our reward is from God.

The Wise Person Helps the Poor

Matthew 6:19-24 – Serve God, not money.

Matthew 6:25-34 – Do not be anxious (concerned) about anything but seek first God’s kingdom.

Matthew 7:1-6 – Be careful how you judge.

Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, seek, and knock through prayer and expect answers.

Matthew 7:12 – Treat others as you would have them treat you.

Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter by the narrow gate and not by the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Matthew 7:15-20 – Recognize false teachers by their fruit and avoid them.

Matthew 7:21-23 – Do your heavenly Father’s will to enter His kingdom.

What is your impression of Jesus’s first sermon? Would you attend His church if He was the pastor, and you heard this sermon? No doubt, His teachings are hard to understand and follow in our earthly minds. Understanding Jesus’s lessons requires the Holy Spirit’s help. For those who received Jesus by grace through faith are raised up and seated in the heavenly place with Him (Eph. 2:4-9). So we need to set our minds on the things above, and then Jesus’s teachings will make sense (Col. 3:1-2). Jesus’s first sermon is about being heavenly-minded, not earthly-minded. He begins by telling us how we will be blessed when we focus our fleshly minds on what is important to God and His Kingdom. The rest of His sermon is about how a citizen of heaven lives as an ambassador on earth (Phil. 3:20 and 2 Cor. 5:20). Jesus said we are to be the light and salt on the earth by doing what He wants us to do.

Building On a Rock Verses Sand.

Jesus ends His sermon with this analogy. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ̶ Matthew 7:24-27.

What rock should we build our house on?

If Jesus Christ is our rock, then by faith in Him we will stand firm. Romans 9:33 states, “As it is written, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’” And 1 Peter 2:6-8 tells us, “For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ ^7-8So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” When we stand firm in our faith in Jesus and obey his instructions, we will not be destroyed by the storms that will certainly come. So, when people fall away from the Lord, it is because they have a shallow faith and do not obey His instructions.

Jesus taught us what He expects of us if we were to be wise and follow Him. Building on a rock gives your house a solid foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11 states, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Obey Jesus’s instructions and build your spiritual lives on His truths, then you will not fall. If you ignore His instructions and build your life on the sands of self-centered living, human opinions, unhealthy beliefs, and worldly wisdom your life will fall apart. You will know who is Christ-centered and built their spiritual life on the rock because they won’t be destroyed when trials and difficulties come. Likewise, those who fall away and leave the church because of being offended, their spiritual life was built on the sands of self-centered living.

Conclusion

Too many Christians have a casual interest in Jesus’s teachings and do not want to follow and obey Him. Jesus is not hell insurance. He wants a love relationship with us. Do you love Jesus Christ and desire to obey His instructions? Only those who love Jesus will obey Him and do His will. Jesus tells us in John 14:21, 23, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Verse 23, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Also, John 13:35 tells us, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” So, if you were to be arrested and taken into a courtroom, what is the evidence to show that you love Jesus and love others?

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All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family; hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website. Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds, which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Why Some Believers May Not Go to Heaven

Why doesn’t every believer go to Heaven? This is a tough question because the Bible is clear that everyone who believes will spend eternity with God in heaven (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:16, and 1 John 5:13). So why does Jesus say in His first sermon, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:21-23” Woe! If you consider the verses before these verses to beware of false prophets, then verses 21-23 make sense because they refer to false prophets who often preach on TV and in our churches. If you haven’t read the previous post, read it now, How the Wise Recognize False Teachers and Teachings.

False teachers have a belief in Jesus, but they distort God’s truth and do not submit their minds to the Holy Spirit’s renewal to be righteous and holy (Eph. 4:24). We are renewed in our minds by reading God’s Word every day, and meditate on the truth, and apply it to memory. Each one of us could be guilty of having false beliefs and being a false prophet. As a Christian blogger, I am very concerned that I may misrepresent God’s truth, which is why I rely on Scripture to do the teaching. You may call me out if you feel I am not representing the truth of God’s Word. I noted in my last post that not all Bibles are equal, and many versions misrepresent the truth, especially the paraphrased versions.

What is a prophet? It says in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding [not tearing down] and encouragement and consolation [comfort, support].” If you don’t know the truth of God’s Word, you can be a false prophet. For example, your friend is unhappy with their marriage. If you comfort and encourage them by saying, “God wants us to be happy, so it is okay to divorce your spouse.” That is a false teaching. Instead, speak the truth explained in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, which is “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ^16-18Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” And Philippians 4:8, “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.” Changing our thinking and doing the will of God is difficult, but when we obey, we will be rewarded with joy and peace even in difficult circumstances. If you have misrepresented the truth of God, repent, and ask His forgiveness, and He will forgive and restore you. Next, read your Bible every day and meditate on the truth. Then you will do well (Ps. 1:2-3).

What do you want God to say to you when you stand before Him? What if God says, ‘I never knew you; depart from me.’ (Matt. 7:23)? The subject of this post is heavy, but necessary to ponder because we all will stand before Him someday, maybe today. Will He say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:21,23)?

What is The Will of God?

Jesus said in His first sermon in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The condition is doing the will of God, though our assurance is by grace. So, what is the will of God? The Bible says that the will of God is to obey His instructions and do what we know He has called us to do, which I will write about in the next post. I wrote extensively about what the will of God is in Unanswered Prayer. Asking For God’s Will or Your Will?

Disclaimer: Our salvation and eternal destiny with God are not because of what we do or by our works, but by the grace of God. Ephesians 2:8-10 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Once we have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit seals us, and then we must work out our salvation by renewing our minds and doing His will. See the blog posts called Forgiven and Saved? Now Renew Your Mind (Part One) and Three Steps to Renew Your Mind (Part Two).

How can I be assured God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

The Apostle Peter’s instructions in the next passage give us hope. Peter tells us to be diligent, which means to apply ourselves to accomplish something. Meditate on the words o f2Peter 1:3-11:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,

by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises,

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (lusts).

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, virtue (moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness of character), knowledge, self-control, steadfastness (perseverance), godliness, brotherly affection (kindness), and love. (My paraphrase in parentheses.)

⁸For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

¹⁰Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.

¹¹For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A promise is an assurance we depend on. Verse 10 promises we will never fall if we seek and practice faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, kindness, and love. Then, verse 11 promises we will enter the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ. And verse 8 promises if we have these qualities, we will not be ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ Jesus. How fantastic is this!

Conclusion:

Our life on earth is but a blink or breath compared to eternity (Ps. 144:4). So, be mindful of the day of judgment and what God will say to you. In this post, you learned that you are eternally secure when you do the will of God, fear Him, and diligently seek to add to your faith: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. In the end times, there will be a great falling away because of deception and suffering. Resolve in your heart today that you will not fall away and begin today to do the will of God found in the Word of God. Hebrews 3:12 states, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

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My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

How the Wise Recognize False Teachers

Have you met a false prophet or teacher? Would you know a false prophet if you saw one? Jesus explains how to identify a false teacher in his first sermon. As I read through Jesus’s first sermon, I am tempted to think his sermon is a series of unrelated ideas. So how does Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves,” relate to verses 13 and 14. Jesus taught about the path of life, and how few find it compared to the path of destruction where many enter. To learn more about the path of life, read How to Find and Stay on the Path of Life.

Jesus’s next point in verse 15 warns us about false prophets who lead people away from the path of life and onto the path of destruction through wrong teaching. Jesus said in Matthew 24:11, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” A false teacher or prophet is not born-again, thus Jesus compares them to a ravenous wolf who appears to be a Christian in sheep’s clothing. Isaiah 8:20 (KJV) tells us why, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Christians have the light of Christ in them, but those who do not practice the truth are in the dark. John 3:20-21 explains, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Jesus Explains How to Recognize False Teachers.

In Matthew 7:16-18, Jesus explains, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” Jesus uses the fruit analogy to explain how to recognize false teachers. So, the good tree produces good fruit, therefore, a person who has the truth will produce the truth found in God’s word. But if a person is full of false beliefs, they will teach heresy, which is a teaching contrary to God’s Word. Many false teachers begin with a scripture verse to appear as if they abide in the truth, but then twist the scriptures into a false doctrine. I can list many false doctrines, but I won’t.

Here are a few of my experiences with false teaching. I went to a Bible Study at a local church that I did not attend. One member said they believed Jesus sinned because they read Jesus was perfected by suffering. The pastor agreed with the false belief. I had to speak up and graciously share the truth. At another church we visited, the pastor requested that the church members invite their dead relatives to the communion table. My husband and I were mortified and did not take part. The pastor knew us and kept inviting us to the communion table; we did not budge. In another church, a new pastor was hired who did not have the fruit of the Spirit. He also did not allow small groups to study the Bible together but had to use books he approved, which shows a problem. I learned later that they were part of the Hill Song movement, which teaches false doctrine. I remember sitting in one of the small group leader teaching sessions with the Hill Song leadership and thought they were not teaching the truth and distorted the truth of God’s Word.

Ask the Lord to give you discernment to know when the teacher or preacher is speaking a false doctrine or distorting the truth. Read the entire Bible at least every two years. Memorize the truth so you recognize heresy. For example, a woman in my Sunday School had the wrong belief that Christians did not have to face the judgment of God. I gently disagreed and could show her the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:10, which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Had I not known that truth, other believers in the Sunday School would adopt that false teaching. With that said, we all can be false teachers if we don’t know God’s Word. Likewise, choose an accurately translated Bible such as the New King James, The New American Standard, or the English Standard, which are all accurately translated. To learn more about translations, read this article.

Another way to recognize a false teacher is to use the 1 John 4:6 test, “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Don’t be afraid to confront your pastor or teacher about specific truths you believe they are misrepresenting. The Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

False Teachers are Destined for Hell.

The end of 2 Peter 2:1 tells us that false teachers bring swift destruction upon themselves. Jesus continues his sermon by saying in Matthew 7:19-20, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Fruits in our lives are the work of the Holy Spirit as we submit to God and let Him sanctify us in his truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

A teacher or preacher whom you are learning from should show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness/humility, faithfulness, and self-control. Therefore, if you want to be a teacher, make sure you abide by the Word of God, submit to God’s authority by obeying Him, and set your mind on the things of the Spirit and not your flesh (Rom. 8:4-10). James 3:1 states, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Be aware of the “Christian” literature you read online or in books, that they do not twist the truth or add their truth to God’s truth. Revelations 22:18-19 states, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

The Apostate Church.

What is an apostate church? An apostate church is led by a teacher who is living in obvious sin, such as homosexuality, pedophilia, adultery, drunkenness, and so on. Such leaders rebel against the commandments and truth of God and teach a false truth that leads those who listen down the path of destruction. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” And 1 John 4:1 instructs us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Conclusion

A good Biblical teacher will fit the description in Titus 2:7-8, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Another description is in Titus 1:7-9; “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. ⁹He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” If your pastor or teacher resembles these two passages, you have a sound teacher.

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

How to Find and Stay on the Path of Life

What is the path of life? How do we get on the path of life? Jesus said in His first sermon, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14). Why is the gate narrow and the way hard that leads to life? Why would anyone want to walk the path of life if it is hard? Everyone is invited to enter the narrow gate and walk the hard path of life with Christ, but few want to because it requires living a holy life according to the Golden rule (Matt. 7:12). Hebrews 12:14 explains, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Living righteously and treating others as you want to be treated is hard in a world ruled by wickedness and self-centered pride. The evil one lures us to walk his wide and easy path of destruction, which is self-centered living that leads to eternal death and separation from God. A person who unwisely is offended will take the path of destruction until they forgive the offense.

What is the Path of Life and How Do We Find the Narrow Gate?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the control of sin and save us from the wrath of God because of our sin. Sinners are those who disobey God’s command to love Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love their neighbor as themselves (Luke 10:27). Read my previous post on the Golden Rule.

God is holy and perfect, and He hates sin and must punish disobedience. But He loves us and sent His only son, Jesus, to take our punishment and to cleanse our sinful nature. He promises to forgive you of all your sins and remove all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). Unrighteousness is not doing what is right in God’s eyes. To follow Jesus requires perseverance and dedication to live a life worthy of Him (Col . 1:10).

Believing in Jesus leads to the path of life and ultimately eternal life (John 3:16). Believing is finding the narrow gate, walking the path of life is where people fail. Some mistakenly think that if they just believe, it is enough to keep them out of the lake of fire. The devil believes in Jesus and that He is the son of God, yet he is destined for the lake of fire. Some mistakenly believe that grace covers all our sins, and we don’t need to repent or put off our sinful behavior and put on a new life that resembles Jesus’s holy life.

Who is on the Path of Life?

When we find the narrow gate and believe Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of the world, we need to go through the narrow gate and walk in love as Jesus did. Jesus says that we need to strive to enter the narrow gate (Luke 13:24). Hebrews 12:14 says we are to “Strive to live in peace with everyone,” which is an example of holy living. Striving takes an effort on our part. The effort is putting off our old life of sin (self-centered pride) and putting on the new life, “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Also, 1Thessalonians 4:7-8 states, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

So, what are we to discard? Colossians 3:5-10 tells us to, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

Many people in the church have not put on a new life of righteousness and holiness. Dare I say, going to church is not entering the narrow gate. Choosing to heed God’s calling and be a disciple of Jesus is the narrow gate. The path of life is hard because it is the path of love. Loving those who sin against you and forgiving them is hard to do. Being kind to your enemy is hard. Praying for those who persecute you is hard. Trusting Jesus to meet your needs is hard. Giving to the poor and ungrateful is hard. Giving up your old sinful ways and friends is hard. But those who obey God are wise (Matt. 7:24). Wise people will strive to stay on the path of life that leads to eternal life.

What happens when the gate is closed?

Luke records the following exchange with Jesus in Luke 13:23-28, “And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, ²⁴“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

²⁵When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

²⁶Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

²⁸In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

This passage is sobering. Why does God close the door? The first thought that comes to my mind as I pray for God’s answer is the door is closed when Jesus returns to rule. The opportunity to enter the narrow gate is ended. Many Christian people who believed in Jesus but did not submit their lives to Him and continued living a sinful life will be left behind. They will realize they are not on the path of life. You may have been a Sunday school teacher or a deacon in your church. If you have not entered the narrow door/gate yet, don’t wait, because the next moment may be too late.

Conclusion

The golden rule explains why the path of life is hard and few find it. We must strive to enter the narrow gate and live in peace with all men (Rom. 12:18). Those who do not put off their sinful desires and put on the holy life are still on the path of destruction. Follow Jesus to the gate and stay yoked to Him as you walk the hard path of love (Matt. 11:29-30).

How Does a Wise Person Treat Other People?

Have you heard about the Golden Rule? Where did you learn about the Golden Rule? Did you know that Jesus Christ is the original author? He said, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12). First is the principle of doing to others what you would want them to do to you. The second principle is the Law and the Prophets.

The golden rule seems so simple, and I wasn’t going to write a blog because it is common sense, but after writing a blog about the following two verses, I understood why Jesus gave this command. To understand the next two verses, you need to understand the golden rule.

Why is this command golden? Take a moment to quiet your mind, then imagine a world where everyone treats everyone around them as they would want to be treated.

We will treat other people as having worth.
Everyone will be respectful, kind, patient, and gentle.
People will show grace and forgive others for offenses.
We all live in peace with everyone else.
No one is arrogant.
People won’t keep a record of wrongs.

How many marriages, families, and communities would be transformed if they would follow this rule? The problem is that we have a sinful nature that is prideful and self-centered. I explain the damaging effects of pride on relationships in HOW PRIDE DESTROYS.

What is The Law and the Prophets?

What is the law and the prophets? This exact phrase can be found in four other verses: Matthew 22:40, Luke 16:16, Acts 13:15, and Romans 3:21. The law was given to Moses by God when the Israelites were in the desert. God’s law governed their behavior, much like our laws govern our behavior. The laws God gave were to lead the people to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as themselves. The Pharisees added burdensome legalistic laws of dos and don’ts that had nothing to do with love.

Prophets are God’s messengers to warn people to repent when they forget God’s laws and disobey Him. The following is another example of the law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:35-40.

³⁵And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

³⁷And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

⁴⁰On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

The following verses explain how love fulfills the law.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. – Romans 13:8

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. – Romans13:10

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Galatians 5:14

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. – James 2:8

Conclusion

The golden rule is the same as loving your neighbor as yourself. Read my post about this called Diminish the “Self-centered” Belief to Expand Goodness (Other-centered). How amazing it is to obey God’s command to love others as ourselves. Do you love other people as yourself or do you have any hate for someone who hurt you?

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