Thinking and Beliefs – Hope for Complete Healing

Freedom from All Forms of Poverty—Post 6

Have you ever considered the access we have to God’s riches and blessings? Poverty is not only being poor materially, but it also means being deficient spiritually, emotionally, or physically. How would you describe your emotional or spiritual condition? A Bible verse that encourages me is Psalms 50:10, which states, “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” This verse reminds me that God owns everything. He is very rich. All I need to do is ask because He is my loving Father and He promises in James 1:17; “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Do you have a testimony of how you trusted God to meet your needs, and that He was faithful to you?

God promises to provide for our material needs.

When I was a single mother with no money, I would claim the promise in Philippians 4:19; “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” When God says, “I will”, that is a promise we can trust. Then He said, “supply every need of yours” Every means just that, material, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. “According to his riches in glory” our Father in Heaven owns everything, and “in glory” references Heaven (Col. 3:4 and 1Tim 3:16). Heaven is made of gold, its foundation is made of gems, and each gate is made of one pearl (Rev. 21:18-21). We can’t access God’s riches in heaven except “in Christ Jesus.” Do you have Christ Jesus in your heart?

It never occurred to me to get financial assistance from the government. I automatically went to God first, and He provided for all my needs and kept me and my children safe from all harm. Instead of despairing about my situation, I trusted God. So often we forget that our heavenly Father is very rich. He said in Malachi 3:10; “to tithe…put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” As a single mother, I tithed every source of income, and yes, God blessed me immensely. I share this story in the post called Trust God to Keep His Promises.

God’s provision is not the prosperity gospel. God does not spoil us with our self-centered, vain wants. So, don’t put a picture of a beautiful car or house on your mirror and claim it, then expect God to provide it. No, God provides for our needs. But our priorities need to be in alignment with God’s priorities. Matthew 6:31-33 states, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God knows what you need. The condition is to look up and seek God’s blessings of righteousness, joy, and peace. Romans 14:17 states, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” How are you seeking God’s righteousness, peace, and joy?

God provides for our future needs. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt after being slaves for 400 years, God caused the Egyptians to favor the Israelites so they would not leave empty-handed. God told them to ask for silver and gold jewelry and clothing from the Egyptian women, and they were given all that they asked for (Exodus 3:21-22).

Personally, God provided for a future need I did not know I would need. God said I was to go to graduate school. I was not thrilled because I was working full time, so when would I have time to study? I did not know what subject I should study, and it had been 30 years since I graduated from college. I obeyed and learned later that God wanted me to learn how to write. I received a post-baccalaureate certificate in Distance Education, and it was writing intensive. When I finished, I was laid off from my job. Then God called me to write a book during my layoff. I began with one long book that I broke into the two books, which are described at the end of this post. It was five years from the time I started writing to publishing the first book. God provided for every need. Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Let God lead you as He prepares you for the good work He has planned for you. It may not make sense and you may not want to obey, but trust God and obey.

God promises to provide for our spiritual needs.

Spiritual needs cover many areas, so I will provide an overview here. Ephesians 1:3 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” We are already blessed because of Christ in us; and through Him, we have access to every spiritual blessing of heaven. It is hard to wrap my mind around this truth. What spiritual blessings have you received?

So many of us live in spiritual poverty because we don’t seek what is already ours. Would you rather have temporary worldly pleasure that leaves you hurt and unhappy, or do you want heavenly blessings that give you joy and peace? Proverbs 10:22 states, “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” “Every spiritual blessing” is countless, here are a few: strength (Phil. 4:13), peace, joy, hope (Rom. 15:13), grace (Eph. 2:7), salvation, forgiveness, power, love, and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7), and so on. To receive spiritual blessings, you need to seek God and draw near to Him. If you are not receiving spiritual blessings, please read Freedom in Our Spirit – Part 3.

God promises to meet our physical and emotional needs.

The very first thought that comes to my mind is how sin causes physical and emotional poverty. Psalm 38:3 states, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your [God’s] indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.” Proverbs 3:7-8 states, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. ⁸It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Before God can meet our physical and emotional needs, we must first repent of our sins, especially of pride. For example, I was a very anxious person. The sin of anxiety affected my digestion and made me emotionally depressed. I explain how I became free in Why, What, and How to Submit to God and be FREE. Also, read How to be Free from Sin’s Control – Post 4.

I also discovered how our emotional health affects our physical health. If you have poor emotional health through painful experiences and resentments, it will cause poor physical health. I explain why and how our emotions affect our physical bodies in 4–Transforming Heart Issues Heals You Physically.

Conclusion

Our Heavenly Father is very rich, and He wants to supply all our needs. What would happen if you went to another person instead of your parents and asked them for the things you need? They may help you, but would they provide for your every need? No. Someone, who is not your family, doesn’t have a love relationship with you. Your heavenly Father loves you and He wants you to love Him and ask Him for His help. I am not against getting assistance from our government, but they can’t provide your every need like God can. You have limited yourself to what the government thinks you should get. God will meet your needs according to His riches. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Faith unlocks God’s riches, but the condition is to draw near to Him and believe He exists, seek Him, then He will reward you.

I pray that God will bless you richly in the coming year.

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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.

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 from Negative Influence—Post 5

Do you realize how much negative influence is in your life? Negative influence has a different connotation for each of us. From a Christian perspective, a negative influence can be a spoken word or picture that entices you to do evil and sin in thought, word, or deed. You may work or live with someone or be friends with someone who is a negative influence. What are your options?

While watching TV or a Movie, are you aware of the negative influence of what you are watching? Words and images have power over your mind, and the greater the emotion, the deeper they imprint your memories, which continue to influence you negatively. For example, I watched a movie about girls being abducted and sold as sex slaves. Those negative images were imprinted as memories that were so clear that they caused me to be fearful. Likewise, immoral and traumatic scenes will affect you for years. How are you freed from these negative images and their influence on your mind and spirit?

The ultimate negative influence on your mind and spirit.

Satan does not want us to be free in our thoughts or spirit. He wants to keep us in bondage to our sinful flesh. Rate how aware from 1 (least) to 10 (most) you are of Satan’s negative influence in your life. Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, we have the authority over the devil. Jesus said in Luke 10:18-19, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions [demons], and over all the power of the enemy [Satan], and nothing shall hurt you.” The only time the enemy hurts us is when we allow him to. From this time forward, stop all sources of negative influence in your life so you can live free in your thoughts and spirit. King David made this vow in Psalms 101:3a; “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”

Becoming free from the negative influence of trauma memories.

How to become free from the negative images in your memories controlling your thoughts and spirit. Our negative memories will make us a negative influence on the people around us. Jesus gave us the authority to take every negative, evil thought and evil spirit captive in Jesus’ name and command them to be gone. I did this with the crippling fear of being abducted from the images of that movie. I commanded the wrong thoughts and negative influences of that movie and all demonic spirit attachments to those images to be gone in Jesus’ name. Then, I transformed the unhealthy belief with the truth that God holds my hand, is with me as a shield, and will protect me from all evil. To learn more, please read my transformation story on my website, hopeforcompletehealing.com.

Beware of False Teachers Who Want to Steal Your Freedom

The devil wants to keep us in bondage to sin and resentment, so beware of people who do not follow the path of love and holiness. Galatians 2:4 states, “Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus so that they might bring us into slavery.” Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is truly born again and renewed. Many Christians are a negative influence through gossip, being judgmental, legalism, and complaining. John 13:35 explains what an authentic Christian is, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” An authentic Christian will show love (kindness, patience, humility, goodness, and so on) and will not enslave you in sinful behavior.

Fake “Christian” leaders continue to allow demonic spirits to control their lives. In 2 Peter 2:19, it says, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” Corruption is having a moral perversion or decadence. Pornography is a moral decadence that leads to sexual bondage. For example, do you remember how Jimmy Swagart would preach against sexual sin and cry like a baby? I knew he struggled with sexual sin. Then he was caught with a prostitute twice, that I know of. This corruption in his life destroyed his ministry. Too many pastors and priests have sexually molested children. This is a corruption that leads people into a bondage of resentment and pain.

The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy what to do with people in your family or church who are a negative influence. In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 he states, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” This is a hard passage to comprehend because no one wants to think they are being held captive by the devil to do his will. Another phrase I don’t like is “patiently enduring evil,” no one wants to endure evil. Evil is a sinful, harmful action that causes pain.

For example, I was held captive by the devil to do his will because of the resentment in my heart toward those who did evil to me. Resentment is the feeling of displeasure or indignation at some act, remark, person, etc., regarded as causing injury or insult. (Dictionary.com, 2023). As I forgave those who hurt me, which is ongoing because we are exposed to hurtful people, I became free from the devil’s control. In the meantime, I acted out in anger at anyone who triggered those unforgiven resentments, and I became hurtful. My husband and children had to endure the evil I was subjecting them to. Our teenagers subject us to evil words and actions that we need to patiently endure and lovingly discipline. As a servant of the Lord, we need to be kind and gently speak the truth to hurtful people or messy Christians. It is easy to quarrel when we feel hurt or offended. Romans 14:1 explains, “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” 2Timothy 2:14 states, “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.”

Conclusion

Negative influences can come from many sources, from what you watch on TV or the internet or social media to what you read, and the people around you. Negative influence can come from the church as well. Are you a negative influence in people’s lives because of your negative experiences? We can easily control the negative influence that we watch or read, but we can’t always control the negative influence from the people we live and work with. Many times, you have no control over the negative people in your life. To be free from the influence of negative people is to kindly and gently set boundaries and speak truth into their lives. If setting boundaries does not work then you may have to patiently endure it, hold your boundaries, and pray for them. Remember, you are the light of Jesus to the world around you. Philippians 2:14-15 tells us, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Let the love of Jesus show to the difficult, negative people in your life.

If you have any other ideas, please leave a comment, I would love to know them.

FREEDOM POSTS

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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.

How to be Free from Sin’s Control – Post 4

Do you think you know the permanent solution to the most common problem we all have? When I ask inmates about sin and forgiveness, most do not know what sin or forgiveness is. I explain sin as anything we think, say, or do that breaks God’s heart (Good News Club definition). Some think God is disappointed with them when they sin. He is not disappointed. His heart is broken because He created us to be one with Him, but our sin separates us from Him. We sin when we disobey God’s royal law to love Him and others. Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” And Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If no one is good and we all sin, then how can we be liberated (Luke 4:18)?

Even though I was a Christian for many years, went to church, and read my Bible, I continued to be controlled by the sin of anger, worry, and a need to control. I read many self-help books, sought counseling, memorized scripture, rebuked demons, and went to the altar all the time. If you read my book on my website, you learn how God healed my painful memories, so my past no longer controlled my soul, which is my will, emotions, and thoughts that influence sinful actions. I briefly summarized how to free in your thoughts in Post 2. In the last post, I explained how to free your spirit and the role of your spirit to the Spirit of God. I realized lasting liberation from habitual sin is submitting my spirit to God’s control and keeping my mind on His truths.

How do we submit our spirits to God?

Remind yourself every day about the truth in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our lives are hidden with Christ in heaven, so our minds should be focused on what Jesus thinks. For example, when I become irritated with my husband, I have made it a habit of being thankful and thinking of things that are praiseworthy (Phil. 4:6-8). If I did not set my mind on this truth, then my negative thoughts would control my emotions, which would lead to unkind words and an avoidable fight. Another truth I set my mind on is serving others as Jesus did, not expecting to be served (Matt. 20:28). And, Galatians 5:13 states, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.“

I also remind myself of 2 Corinthians 5:10; “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.” The Apostle Paul said that we should “make it our aim to please him [God] (2Cor 5:9b).” If we are pleasing God by doing His will, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving others, then sin will not control our soul (mind, will, and emotions). When we do sin, since none is good, we must confess our sins daily. In 1 John 1:9 it explains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Verse 24 of Romans 3 gives us hope, “And [we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus died on the cross to take our punishment for our sins, which would be like you taking your children’s punishment for their wrongdoing. When we are justified, it means our sin is removed and God redeemed (restored, saved) us and made us new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Who helps us and gives us hope?

Because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we are forgiven and reconciled back to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Remember, sin separates us from God. Colossians 1:21-22 states, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him [God].” We need to see ourselves as holy and blameless, free from our sinful nature, and one with Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:6-7 states, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin.” As I work with inmates, they struggle with this verse, and they don’t see themselves as free so they remain in bondage to old patterns of behavior. I understand that painful memories control our thoughts and emotions, which is why I wrote the book on this website. Trauma needs to be healed but when they are healed you must look in the mirror and say, I am no longer controlled by (whatever), I live my life through Christ and His strength (Phil. 4:13).

And Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Every day, tell yourself that Christ lives in and through you and Christ is perfect. Tell your mind, will, and emotions that you are controlled by Christ’s love (2Cor. 5:14).

It is hard to crucify (put to death) our fleshly desires, but giving in to our flesh will lead to death. Setting our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace (Rom. 8:6). So, do you want death or life, misery or peace? When you submit to God and obey Him, you will experience liberation from the control of sin in your life.

What is the source of our sinful nature?

So much can be said about the source of our sinful nature. One source is recorded in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Temptation is not a sin. When you are tempted, take the thought captive and command it to be gone, and then replace it with God’s truth (2Cor. 10:3-5).

When I am tempted to sin and say something unkind and snide, it comes out of my self-centered pride because I had unmet expectations or desires (Ps. 59:12). Another source is being directly tempted by the devil just as he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, then Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:26; “And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” The only way to become free from the devil’s captivity is to submit to God. James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Conclusion

Sin breaks God’s heart because He loves us and wants us to obey Him because we love Him. Just as a parent loves their children and wants their children to obey them because they love the parent. So, out of love, Christ reconciled us to God through His blood on the cross so that we can be friends with Him and have our sins forgiven and made holy and blameless.

When we submit our lives to Jesus Christ and desire to please God through obedience, we will be free from the penalty of death brought by sin. Submitting our lives to God is setting our minds on the things that please God. So, read your Bible every day and do what it says. If you are not excited about these truths, please ask God to examine your heart to show you why. So many people don’t see their sin because they don’t read their Bibles, or they justify their actions because of their pride.

Which sin camp are you in?

Are you excited to be free from sin’s control?
Don’t know what sin is? Read Galatians 5:16-25.
Justify your actions as righteous and don’t acknowledge your sin? Read Jeremiah 17:9-10.

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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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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.

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.

Hope for Lasting Peace, Love, and Victory

HOW PRIDE DESTROYS

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 of 2Peter 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 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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Posts About Godliness

Example of Suffering Well and God’s Response: Part 2 of Suffering Well

Why the Wise People Are Not Anxious

In Jesus’s first sermon, He goes into great detail explaining why we should not be anxious. So why are we naturally anxious and worried? Jesus says it is because we don’t have enough faith. Remember, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). George Muller, the German missionary to England during the black plague, showed great faith in God’s provision. He started orphanages to take care of all the children whose parents died during the plague. Then he prayed and believed that God would provide food and necessities for the orphanages, and He did. This is an encouraging testimony; I recommend everyone read his story. All the missionary stories involve faith in God and how God came through for them.

The Wise Knows God Cares.

I must admit that I have a stock of food and necessities in the event of a disaster, or another quarantine like during Covid. So, having at least three months of food and water to get through an unforeseen disaster is wise. But we should not be consumed with worry about a disaster that may never happen. Dictionary.com (2023) says that being anxious is being full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune, or greatly worried. Jesus explains in Matthew 6:25-26, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Jesus does not want us to be anxious but trust that He is our provider. To build your faith, read in the book of Deuteronomy about how God provided everything for one million people for forty years, plus their clothing and sandals did not wear out.

This concept is hard because it defies our fleshly nature to not trust God. We work so we can buy food and clothing and keep a roof over our heads. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Is not life more than food?” Maybe we should be more concerned about living our lives for our heavenly Father and not be mentally consumed with our daily or future necessities. ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Jesus is saying, our heavenly Father will provide what we need because He cares for us. Does this mean we don’t have to work? No, the Bible says, if we don’t work then we should not eat (2Thes. 3:10). I am pondering what Jesus possibly means, and I don’t really know. Maybe we are to trust our heavenly Father for everything, even what we need in the future, knowing He cares for us even more than the birds. This principle goes beyond food and clothing. One time, I needed a cheap place to live with my two toddlers, because I had no actual job and just started an alterations business. I trusted God to provide, and He did a miracle. Read my story in the post called Trust God to Keep His Promises.

The Wise Have Faith

Jesus further explains in Matthew 6:27-32 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Anxiety and worry cause stress in our bodies, which weakens it. Read this article to learn how. We need to keep in mind that in Jesus’s time, they did not have shopping centers and grocery stores everywhere or clothing factories, so this was a legitimate concern. We may not worry about not having clothing, but we may worry about other things, like our family, finances, jobs, and so on.

²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

God is all-knowing and all-powerful, so why don’t we trust Him to provide what we need, now and in the future? The answer is that we are sinful and would rather trust in worldly institutions, even ourselves and others, to meet our needs. The remedy is to stay in constant prayer and expectation of how our heavenly Father will meet our needs. Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

The Wise Are Kingdom Minded

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Seek means to look for. The kingdom of God is an actual place and a place where our faith dwells. Romans 14:17 states, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We must first look for God’s presence and purpose in our lives. I wrote a post about this. Read, How do you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul told the Philippian church in Philippians 4:6-7,“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” So never be anxious, stay in constant prayer and expectation and you will live in peace.

Other posts on the Sermon on the mount.

Posts about God’s promises.

The Wise Person Helps the Poor

The goal of my blog is to help you recognize unhealthy beliefs or non-biblical thinking that keeps you from receiving God’s blessing in your life. The last two posts challenged me to evaluate how I think about the poor in my community. One struggling single mother in my church always seemed down on her luck. A woman in my church didn’t feel she deserved her help and didn’t feel compassion for her. I pondered that comment and told her that God would want us to help her.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Mercy is giving something to someone who may not deserve it, or we don’t think deserve it. We do not deserve the kingdom of heaven, yet Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” People interpret this verse in many ways, but God wants everyone to humbly see their need for Him and seek His help and salvation. It is not for us to judge why someone is poor and how they could make better decisions.

I was one of those poor when I was a child because of poor decisions my father made, and when I became a single mother because of my husband’s decision to divorce. It was very humbling to receive help from others, yet I was thankful. I had to wear hand-me-down clothes that were not the latest style, yet I was clothed, and it was okay. My children wore hand-me-down clothes and what I could find at yard sales. The church helped me with grocery gift cards, so thankful. As a single mother, I claimed Philippians 4:19 and trusted God to provide all that I was in need of, and He provided all the finances I needed each month. He did a miracle and provided a mortgage for me to buy a fixer-upper home for me and my children when the only job I had was a small seamstress business. When my kids started elementary school, I became a substitute teacher to help make ends meet. God is good.

In the last post, we learned in Isaiah 58:6-7 that true fasting was having a heart of compassion for the oppressed. Verse 6 says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Fasting is seeking freedom from the control of sinful actions and thoughts in our lives.) ^7”Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” Many of us have no problem giving food to the hungry or clothing to those in need, but many of us resist the command to “bring the homeless poor into your house.”

Some people say well, the culture was different in 800 BC when Isaiah wrote those words. It may have been safe to bring the homeless into their home, besides, they became servants. You may think, the homeless can receive a housing allowance to help with renting a place to stay. It is true that the homeless poor in 800 BC most likely was NOT violent, addicted to drugs, alcohol, or mentally ill. God knew there would be a homeless problem because some people lack the spiritual, mental, and financial means to care for themselves. The Bible also says we are to be wise and obey God, so pray and ask Him to help you know His will and wisely do His will concerning the homeless. It may not be wise to bring a homeless person into your home. We all have heard horror stories. One man I know is in jail because he had compassion and brought a homeless man into his home, who then molested his daughters and one of them got pregnant. So sad, but a reality.

I find it hard to help those I think could help themselves, who seek others to care for them. God does not differentiate who deserves His help and who does not. We are all poor compared to God, and we all need His help and blessing. As His image bearers, we are to do the same to other poor souls regardless of why they are poor or even if they choose to be poor for whatever reason. We know the government does not lift anyone out of poverty but keeps them in bondage. Only God can lift us out of poverty and provide all we need according to His riches (Phil 4:19).

How should we treat the poor immigrants flooding our country? They are looking for a better life, so how can we help them? And they are ripe to hear and receive the Gospel of Jesus. This is not the time to shun the incoming immigrants. Ask yourself, “What if I was an immigrant or poor, how would I want people to help me?”

James 2:13 states, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” God wants us to show compassion and mercy. This post is my reflection on God’s view of the poor and how we should think. Take your time as you read each passage to understand the heart of God towards the poor.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ –Deuteronomy 15:11

Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. –Deuteronomy 15:9

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” –Leviticus 23:22

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. –Proverbs 14:21

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. —Proverbs 14:31

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. –Proverbs 19:17

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. -–-Proverbs 21:13

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. –Proverbs 22:9

Conclusion

We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The poor are our neighbors. James 2:8-9 exhorts us, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Also, James 4:17 states, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

You may say, “But the Word of God also says in” 2Thesalonians 3:10-12, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” These verses are in the middle of a discourse about people who are idle (2Thes. 3:6-15). Paul set an example for believers concerning the importance of work. Yet, we can still show mercy and encourage such a person to work and even help them find work. Pray and ask God to give you His wisdom and compassion for the poor, only Jesus can lift them up, share Jesus as you show them compassion.

I would love to hear how you help the poor in your area.

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SERMON ON THE MOUNT page

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.

How Wise People Fast

What is fasting and how do wise people fast? How often should we fast? People fast differently and for different reasons. It is popular now to do intermittent fasting to lose weight and improve your health. Some churches do the Daniel fast. Some people do juice fasts. There are many kinds of fasts. The people in the Old Testament fasted when they wanted a message from God (Judges 20:26-27; 2Chronicles 20:3). They also fasted in repentance when they sinned against God (1 Samuel 7:6 and Jonah 3:4-8). Most of the fasting accounts in the Old Testament were out of sorrow and to hear from God. Biblical fasting is humbling yourself before God. This is the fasting Jesus is referring to. Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:16-18 not to be noticed by others when we fast.

¹⁶“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Why do you think Jesus wants us to fast in secret? Do you think it was because the religious people fasted to show a piousness that was not authentic? If biblical fasting is humbly coming before God, then fasting to be noticed is motivated by pride. Since humility is an attribute of a wise person, then a wise person does not display they are fasting.

Jesus is the Word in the flesh, and He knew what Isaiah wrote, and so did the Pharisees. Isaiah defines what true fasting is NOT in Isaiah 58:3-4, he says, “‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. ⁴Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.”

Isaiah 58:6-10 defines true fasting:

⁶“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Fasting is seeking freedom from the control of sinful actions in our lives.)

^7”Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (True fasting is humbly laying your fleshly, selfish desires aside and being compassionate with the poor and meeting their needs.)

^8”Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.” (When we humble ourselves before God and repent of our sins and put away our fleshly, selfish desires, then God will reward us.)

^9”Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Does your fasting reflect this kind of fasting? Do you really want to hear from God and have His joy?)

Conclusion

When we fast in repentance and show compassion for the oppressed, then Isaiah 58:11 tells us, “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Do you want God’s continual guidance, healing, and prosperity in your life? Then biblical fasting needs to be done in secret and as described above. This type of fasting is beneficial when you read the short transformation book posted on my website, to seek God to show you areas He wants to transform in your life. 1–Healing Begins by Transforming Painful Memories.

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Read the other posts in this series on the SERMON ON THE MOUNT