Healed and Set Free

Chapter 9

This Week's Focus We will go over the four tools we've learned and discover the summation of our journey, which is to "Be Healed and Set Free."

Be Healed and Set Free: Christ will heal me from past hurts, showing me the truth, so I can become a cleansed vessel who is healed and set free. Definitions: To heal means to make whole and healthy; to cure; to remedy or repair. To free means to make free, set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment or restraint.
Bible Verse: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Prayer: Ask God to strengthen you through His Spirit so that Christ may dwell in your heart, through faith, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Each of us is capable, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to lay down our own will, but not all are willing. It’s our free choice to either embrace or reject the truth from the scriptures we learn. But one day we will stand accountable for what we know. When we reject the will of God, we seem okay on the outside, but on the inside our hearts are filled with:
• Bitterness
• Resentment
• Pride
• Unforgiveness
• Hopelessness
• Unhappiness
• Self-centered desires
• Defensiveness
• Jealousy
• Anger

When we embrace the will of God, we will be able to deal with and acknowledge our true feelings, get real with God, get rid of the strongholds, and follow the truth. We can have victory over the flesh day by day and choice by choice! Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31).

Tools to Become Set Free

In this chapter, we will continue to use Tool #1 - SEE, Tool #2 - GIVE, Tool #3 - FORGIVE and Tool # 4 - FORGET.

These tools will help you to become set free. It is crucial to memorize these powerful tools and review them regularly in order to apply them to your daily life.

#1 - SEE: I must see the truth about what is in my heart so I am not defiled.

#2 - GIVE: I must give my sin to God through repentance, knowing that Christ is waiting to take it. I must be sorry enough to change, and choose to go God’s way over my own.

#3 - FORGIVE: I must forgive as I am forgiven by Christ: Forgiving those who hurt, bruised, wronged, rejected, betrayed or harmed me, whether unintentionally or deliberately. I must ask God to forgive me for holding on to unforgiveness and know that He will.

#4 - FORGET: I must forget by no longer dwelling on the hurt or the painful reminders such as: phrases, smells, places, songs and comments. Instead, I am putting my mind on the higher calling that Christ has for me.

Be Healed and Set Free: Christ will heal me from my past, showing me the truth, so I can become a cleansed vessel, healed and set free.

Preparing You Today for Something Greater Tomorrow

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). There are daily preparations we make, whether it’s our hair or meals for our family; life takes preparation. “Preparing” is defined as making something ready for use or consideration. It’s important to know you are being prepared for a purpose and can trust God for the outcome, as Greg Laurie1 explains:

A visitor to a logging area in the Pacific Northwest, was interested in seeing how the logs used to make furniture are chosen. As the logs came down the stream, a logger would suddenly reach out and hook one, pull it up, then set it down. He would sometimes wait a few minutes before grabbing another. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to his choices.

After a while, the visitor said, “I don’t understand what you’re doing.” The logger replied, “These logs may look alike to you, but some are quite different. The ones that I let pass came from trees that grew in a valley. They were always protected from the storms. The grain is rather coarse. The logs I pulled aside are from high up on the mountain, where they were beaten by strong winds from the time they were small; that toughens the trees and gives them a fine grain. We save these for choice work. They’re too good to be used for ordinary lumber.”

It was through trying and testing that the logs were prepared for choice work. The same could be said of us as Christians. If you were to ask Moses how he became who he was, he would remind you of his trials with Pharaoh and his times of testing in the wilderness. If you asked Joseph, he would refer back to his years as a slave and his imprisonment on a false accusation. Talk to Peter and he would probably point back to his denial of Christ, and how he learned many difficult yet important lessons.

Maybe you find yourself facing something similar in your life. Maybe God is preparing you for a choice work. All Christians have eternal life, but very few Christians experience abundant life. God wants us to have life here and now that glorifies Him, even in the midst of our trials, disappointments and failures.

1. Read Hebrews 12:12: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” Define the word “strengthen”.

2. What has strengthened, renewed and invigorated your life during this time of healing? Quiet your heart before the true Healer, pouring out thanks to Him for what He has healed.

Walking in the Light

The world we live in thrives on vengeance while mocking forgiveness. This is Satan’s trap, creating bondage which has the potential to destroy our lives and relationships! But when you walk in the light, you live to please only one person: God. Walking in the light makes life so much easier and happier. Examine your heart daily and get real with God. Continue to be on your guard and don’t harbor bitterness. Be set free to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

3. Jesus wants to bridge the gap between the broken, unforgiving heart and His freedom. Have you let Him guide you to wholeness through His Word?

4. Ask yourself, “Who am I really seeking to please? Am I seeking to please God, or am I more concerned with being a friend to the world, pleasing other people or satisfying my own desires?” Explain your thoughts.

5. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you’re unsure, take a moment to read the following:

• “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6-10).

• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us on the cross. He said our sins would be washed away and His light would shine through us! All we have to do is believe in Him, and He will take up residence in our hearts. The things of this world pale in comparison to the brilliant light of God’s glory.

There’s nothing we can do to earn God’s mercy, but also nothing we could do that would tear us away from His love. He gives mercy and love freely to all who believe. “For God… has shone His light in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

If you’ve never asked Jesus to come into your life, why don’t you do it right now? It will be the best decision you ever make. Pray this prayer to ask Him into your life, and He will forgive you:

“Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I need the love, peace and hope You offer, so I turn from my own ways now. Come into my heart and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow You all the days of my life. Thank You that I am now going to Heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Write down what you are feeling right now.

When we sin or go our own way, we are drawn away from the truth. It’s important to recognize our sinful thoughts and emotions when they begin to get stirred up.

“Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so” (Proverbs 3:21-27).

This Week's Memory Verse
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
(John 8:32).

Keep Pressing Forward

1. Read Philippians 3:14: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.” After all the tears have been shed, and the brokenness of a contrite heart felt, what great hope is there to look forward to?

2. Read Romans 15:4: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” What are you reaching for today?

3. In the future, where can you find hope and encouragement when you are reminded of painful experiences?

4. Why is it important to ask God to expose the root cause of our thoughts and emotions?

5. Read Job 12:22: “He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light.”

Fill in the blanks below to begin memorizing Job 12:22. “He out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death ” (Job 12:22).

6. Read Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” According to Paul’s prayer in Romans, what does God want to fill you with?

Reaching Others with the Hope We Have

In A Woman After God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George writes, “Everyone needs edification and encouragement, and we are free to offer that when we have hearts filled by God,”4 and I would add, hearts that are healed and set free from lingering hurts. Here are some hints for encouraging God’s people from Elizabeth:

• A Heart that Encourages: With every encounter, make it your aim to leave people better off for having been in your presence; try to give something to the other person. What a great and simple way to positively influence the lives of other people!

• Take Time to Be Filled: If you take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and be filled with God’s Spirit as you study the written Word, if you focus on overcoming internal obstacles to doing God’s work, you will never lack for ministry. God’s fullness in you will naturally overflow into the lives of others.

• Memorize Scriptures of Encouragement: If you “let your speech always be filled with grace and seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6), your life and lips will offer refreshing encouragement to all who cross your path. Like our Messiah, you will be able to “speak a word in season to him who is weary” (Isaiah 50:4). But we can’t give away what we do not possess. So it’s good to memorize some pertinent words of encouragement from the Bible to share with people in need.

• Make Phone Calls to Encourage: An easy way to encourage and to make a heart glad is to reach out and touch someone by phone. I’m not talking about making lengthy calls. A simple, quick call can do much to brighten the heart of the recipient!

• Write Notes of Encouragement: Writing notes, by mail or email, to those who need encouragement is another way to share a good word that makes the heart glad (Proverbs 12:25). It’s as simple as three sentences: Sentence one conveys “I miss you,” “I appreciate you,” or “I’m thinking of you.” Sentence two lets readers know they are special to me and why. Sentence three says I’m praying for them and includes the verse I’m praying for them.

• Ministry Opportunities: Ministry happens in greater ways when we take time to develop our skills and overcome our weaknesses. After all, how much can a teacher teach, a counselor counsel, or an administrator administrate? Only as much as he or she has grown! As each of us grows, each of us finds power and knowledge for overcoming personal weaknesses and for more effective ministry in Jesus Christ. Evangelist Corrie Ten Boom had a problem with shyness. Corrie enrolled in a Dale Carnegie course so she could learn to talk to people. If she could talk to people, then she could witness to them about Jesus Christ! Developing herself led to greater ministry.

Working on Our Weaknesses

In my early 20s, when my husband, Rick, was on staff as the youth pastor at Calvary Chapel San Jose, the senior pastor’s wife, Jean McClure, asked me to administrate and emcee a sexual purity seminar. I was so nervous, but also excited about the chance to serve God and take a step in overcoming my shyness. Standing before 500 teen girls and women at the seminar, God’s grace poured over me, enabling me to serve Him in my weakness.

7. What would you consider to be a major weakness in your life, one that hinders you in the area of ministry to others? (For example, I suffered from shyness.) What causes you to suffer and/or fail to minister to others? Name it, and list steps you can take this week to strengthen this weakness, and move toward overcoming it altogether. Create a plan of action.

8. In what areas of your life have you found new hope springing forth from your past experience?

Again and again Jesus tells us to give. Give to everyone (Luke 6:30), hoping for nothing in return (v.35). Give in the generous way that God, who is kind to the unthankful and evil, gives (v.35). Care for others by giving (v.38). You and I can learn to give in this way, to overflow with care for all others. Do you SEE why you and I must be healed and set free from lingering hurts and selfish tendencies? That way we can give to others!

Learning to Love Through God’s Word

Let’s take a moment to look at the life of Hannah. As you read the story about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:2-10,1:19-21 on page 305, you see a woman who had tears and heartache. Hannah’s name means “grace and favor,” but before she could embody God’s grace and favor, she had to be prepared. Her character had to be refined, her will broken, and her devotion tested to the roots of her being. She had to come to the place of surrendering all to the Lord.

Following God doesn’t always mean life is easy. Life was certainly not easy for Hannah. Knowing God in a new way, she realized that He really did order her life. With unshakable faith, she knew God would take care of Samuel, her son, sensing that he had an important destiny in Israel. With her heart freed of harassment, Hannah rejoiced over the Lord’s goodness toward her. Overflowing with grateful praise, she described how God took her on a journey from disgrace to honor.

Even when nothing outwardly seems to change, keep pressing on to know God, love Him, trust Him, see His purpose and believe His promises. Let us remember, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). As Hannah wrestled in prayer for her miracle, she found that perseverance, spiritual strength and faith began to grow in her spirit.

1. Do you suffer from some sort of debilitating struggle?

2. How does Hannah’s story encourage you?

3. How can God use your trial for ultimate good?

From Mourning to Dancing

Once you have accepted God’s forgiveness in your life, joy replaces shame and guilt; forgiveness replaces resentment and bitterness.

4. Let’s read about King David in Psalms 16:11 and 30:11-12:

• “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

• “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Psalm 30:11-12).

David accepted God’s forgiveness. How did he respond in the Psalms above?

5. What burdens from the past have turned your mourning into dancing?

6. Fill in the blanks for this week’s memory verse. “And you shall the truth, and the truth make you free” (John 8:32).

7. Read Romans 1:21-22: “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Knowing that you are set free, what are you thankful for?

8. Satan doesn’t want us to see the blessings in our life. When you are thankful for the trials and hard times of the past, then you have truly been set free. Can you see five things you are thankful for? Write them down.

Offer a prayer of thankfulness to God for allowing painful circumstances to lead you to His love, mercy and forgiveness. God has made the way straight so the heart can be healed and set free.

9. Read Matthew 24:12: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

Jesus is coming back soon. Is your heart cold, lukewarm or hot for Jesus?

Wounding Words

One of Satan’s greatest methods of attack is tempting God’s people to hurt or wrong one another. Whether intentional or not, the hurt is done and bridges are burned. People are cut out of each others’ lives, but the difficulty surrounding the relationship continues, especially if one decides to hold a grudge.

Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy, especially Christian relationships. Christians who gossip, criticize and find fault will always maintain the chain reaction Satan loves: having tongues that work overtime tearing down causes division.

Probably more havoc has been wreaked on the church through division than anything else, and when you get down to it, many divisions in a church are actually over minor things. You can always find something wrong; no church is perfect. But as St. Augustine wrote: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things charity.” Because one of the devil’s most effective ploys is causing division among believers.

Praying Blessings Over Those Who Curse You

We shouldn’t be surprised by divisive attacks. Even Jesus, the only perfect One, was misunderstood, rejected, disliked, hated and abandoned—we will be also. Our response should be to walk in unity as the Body of Christ, including leadership, and others you are serving with: “Being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” and being “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (Philippians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 1:10).

Just recently, I had to use the four tools to set me free from a new hurt. I had to SEE, GIVE, FORGIVE, FORGET and BE SET FREE because a fellow Christian was gossiping and criticizing me behind my back. Of course I was hurt and disappointed to hear about it, but I immediately applied the four tools and was set free from the situation. Then God led me to Matthew 5:44: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Every day for two weeks when I thought about it, I would replace the hurtful words they said with what God’s Word says about me. I prayed for God to shower blessings on their life, home and hands. At first this was just the opposite of what I wanted to do, but before I knew it, I was so filled with God’s love for this person that the hurt was gone! It’s wonderful to BE SET FREE and have a sincere heart of love for the one who hurt me, which is only possible through God’s grace and mercy.

Don’t Be a Victim: Be a Woman with a Mission

Try this for two weeks: Pray that God would shower blessings on the lives of those who have hurt you, and in return your heart will be blessed. You can’t think about yourself and others at the same time, and as you settle your personal needs with God in private prayer, you will then rise up and focus all your attention outward— on to others. You can’t hate the person you are praying for. Jesus instructed us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and as we do, God changes our hearts, putting an end to our selfishness and dissolving our negativity, which heals and sets us free.

10. Read 1 Peter 1:4-9 Why were the believers filled with inexpressible joy, even during trials?

11. List four ways that you are rejoicing with inexpressible joy, through faith in Jesus, concerning your trials from the past?

12. Read Luke 11:39-40: “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?’”

In your own words, what does it mean to make the outside clean, but leave the inside dirty?

13. Read 2 Timothy 2:21: “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

As you look toward the higher calling Christ has for you, what will you become?

A Lifestyle of Forgiveness

“Lifestyle” is defined as a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group. Everyone has a lifestyle. There are many phrases regarding lifestyles, for example, “a millionaire’s lifestyle” or “a healthy lifestyle.” True beauty is to humbly walk in a lifestyle of forgiveness.

From Tears to Joy

As a person moves from tears to joy, their eyes are off their past. They seek the face of the Lord, His direction and His plan for their life through prayer and the Word. God wants us to turn our hurts into healing, believing He will make all things work together for good, including pain and heartache from the past.

1. Read Acts 26:16: “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

What did the Lord tell Paul He had planned for his life?

2. How was Paul using his past to work out the plans God had for him?

3. Read Ephesians 1:18: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Compare your future with Paul’s. How have your eyes been opened to your past? What darkness in your heart has been replaced with light?

4. How can you use your past to glorify the Lord as Paul did, and not give Satan power over you?

5. How can you help others move past their hurts? Remember, don’t waste the pain, tell them to use it to drive them into a deeper walk with God.

Tammy's Reflections

Today I’m Set Free to Be...

If you’re anything like me, you will always have a filing cabinet in your mind of life’s moments that involve different people and different circumstances. Some of these have stayed with me, and tried to keep me from believing that I am who God says I am. Now, the more we learn about Jesus and His thoughts toward us, memories that once defeated and defined us are replaced with the truth of God.

Let’s be women who rise up to be all God has created us to be! Together let’s say, “Jesus does indeed bring beauty for ashes! I am who God says I am. I can be who He says I can be, and I can do what He asks me to do!”

A Lesson From Peter

Stop with me for a moment to envision Jesus asking Peter to walk on water. I envision Peter’s mouth dropping open as he says, “I can’t!” But because he trusted Jesus, he went for it, and Jesus accomplished the impossible through his life. God wants to do the same through you. Jesus said one simple word to Peter, ”Come.” God has healed and set you free to do impossible things by faith.

God is asking you from this point forward, as a daughter of the King, to be set free to live the life He has called you to, “Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Start This Week

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Believe that this verse is true! In John 8:32 Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

6. What will you be healed and set free to be? Pray and start living it out! Ask for more of God’s attributes in your life such as: love, kindness, hope, courage, joy, peace, justice, forgiveness, wholeness, compassion, encouragement, a heart of service and an uncompromising faith. Write down your thoughts.

Obedience or Disobedience?

Before I was healed and set free, I thought my past altered the plans God had for my future. I thought I would always be a critical, angry and rebellious woman. I thought that was who I was; if Rick, my kids and others didn’t like it, well too bad!

Letting go of the past is crucial to thriving in our healing, but equally important is making the choice to rejoice everyday. This list of ways to “seize the day” in God Is in the Small Stuff8 gives some great insight!

• Live life on purpose, not by accident.
• There is a time and a place for love: anytime, anyplace.
• What you think determines what you do.
• Discover your spiritual gifts, and get involved in ministry so God can use you.
• Always go the extra mile, whether for a spouse, child or friend.
• Always keep your promises, no matter how long it takes.
• Display what you believe by how you behave.
• Be positive whenever you look back on your life.
• If you seek God’s wisdom over opportunity, opportunity will usually follow.
• Change is a process, not an event.
• Follow the prompting of your heart rather than the desires of your flesh.
• Enjoy each day as if it were your last.
• Spend time with God, His Word and other people: you are investing in eternity.

Freedom

Grace grants us freedom from sin and the flesh. You have been called to live in freedom—not to satisfy your sinful nature, but to serve one another. Read Galatians 5:13: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Having the freedom to love God with our entire mind is to truly experience His love for us. We can’t change the way we think on our own, but when we draw near to God and spend time getting to know Him in His Word, He uses the truth to transform how we think. When we feel weak or overwhelmed by life, scriptures give us the strength to go on.

We can also love God with our entire mind by the choices we make. We can choose to dwell on the negative, on our weaknesses and pain, or we can let those things turn us to God. Regardless of how life looks or feels, we can make the deliberate decision to yield to God’s wisdom and His ways. We can choose to:

• Believe the truths of the Bible rather than trust our emotions.
• Work on what is real rather than worry about what is unreal.
• Reach forward rather than remain a prisoner of the past.
• Act on the truth of scripture rather than on what appears to be true in the world.

By making these choices, we are choosing to love God with our entire mind. The result is what I call the right perspective—the peace and well-being the Spirit gives us when we think and act on the truth of the Bible.

Christ will heal us from our past hurts and show us the truth so we become cleansed vessels that are HEALED AND SET FREE.

Each of us is capable, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to lay down our own will; but not all are willing. It’s our choice to either embrace or reject the truth from the scriptures we learn. Embracing the will of God means acknowledging our true feelings, getting real with God, getting rid of the strongholds, and following the truth to have victory over the flesh, day by day and choice by choice!

Lord, Help Me Finish Well

“...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

I am not perfect by any means, and I am still confronted by challenges. But God has given me hope for the future. His desire for me is to fight the good fight and finish well!

Remember

Don’t put this study on the shelf and forget about it. Constantly be renewing your thinking in order to: SEE, GIVE, FORGIVE, FORGET and BE SET FREE! And pass on the lessons you’ve learned: Comfort others the way you have been comforted in His Word!