Emotional Deliverance, Part 3

Pro 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.


Dysfunctional Emotions are Moral Events

Emotions are moral events and can be sinful. They either support or oppose Christ and His work for us. Emotions are under our control and it is our responsibility to rid our lives of emotions, or anything else, that chronically hinders a spiritually wholesome life. It is God's intent that His people be led by His Word and His Spirit. If He is in control of our lives, then we will overcome the desires of a fleshly nature, and live a healthy and spiritually significant life. He promises peace to those who overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Why Emotions Potentially Sinful?

Emotional dysfunction will not allow us to possess the promises of God; we cannot possess the nature of God, we cannot walk in obedience, and we cannot live by faith. The bottom line of emotional dysfunction is that it is a spiritual giant, who will not allow Christ or His Word to control our life. All of Scripture teaches we are to manage our lives (and our emotions) so that we can believe and possess the promises of God; dysfunctional emotions allow only an intellectual relationship with the Lord, but they themselves will not submit to His Lordship.

There is no victory in intellectually knowing the promises of God while emotionally not being able to relate to Him or what He says! To love Him is to enjoy Him!

It is the will of God that we possess what He has promised, and dysfunctional emotions will not allow that to happen. This is why they lead us into sin and this is why we must gain control over them.

 Emotions are not neutral in their message. They either support or resist the life the Lord has given us to live because ultimately they support or resist the Word of God.  Dysfunctional emotions are enemies and are to be identified, confronted, and then defeated, using the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

The Word is our Greatest Weapon

The Word of the Lord is our most powerful weapon for by His Word we enforce the victory of Christ over our fleshly nature. Armed with Truth, we are able to resist the lies and emotional manipulations of Darkness.

How to Defeat Dysfunctional Emotions

The process of defeating negative emotions consists of:

  • identifying the emotion
  • identifying the message of the emotion, (see part 2)
  • speaking the Word to the emotion

Identify the Emotion

If we are going to get control over our emotions we first have to verbally identify them. Verbally, because in order to accurately describe an emotion, we have to orgaize our though. Destructive emotions love to live in the shadows of our mind, and by assigning a name according to their message, we force them into the open. People with emotional issues are usually undisciplined in managing their thoughts, and accurately describing what we are feeling allows us to see what we are fighting.

Identify the Message

Give them a name according to their message. I feel hopeless, I feel useless, I feel like nobody love me, I feel like a failure, etc.. The messages are thoughts and we can confront them. The Word say you have hope, you have a purpose, you are loved, and your life is being dircted by the Lord, therefore, you are not a failure. If, by the Word, we change our thoughts, then we can change our emotions. See Warfare Prayer This is an important step, because dysfunctional emotions resist confrontation. You must be clear in your own thinking as to exactly what this emotion is saying and why you are going to war with it. This process begins with a gut-level honesty about the name and character of the offending emotion. Does this emotion oppose or encourage the life Jesus has called you to live? Get a pencil and paper and write the name, and the message of the emotion.

Our Enemy

Our enemy is our fleshly nature, the world, and the Devil. Their power base is an organized system of lies. If these lies are believed, they will dwell within our personality and seek a controlling position within our emotions. Lies seek power and therefore desire residence within our heart. If unrecognized and unopposed, they will lead us into emotional dysfunction and spiritual confusion. Because of the subtle nature of inward lies, only the Word of God has the power to identify and then destroy theses inward lies. Listen to the Scripture:

JER 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Speak the Word of God to Your Emotions

This is a war between truth and lies, light and darkness, heaven and hell. We often attempt to defeat spiritual darkness with human weapons such as diet, exercise, activities, will power, or support groups; these all have a place in healthy living but our struggle is a spiritual struggle; it is a struggle with inward darkness! Fleshly emotions are defeated only by the Word and Spirit of God.

By speaking the Word of God to our emotions, we are actually replacing the thoughts on which they depend with the Word of God. With healthy thinking comes healthy emotions. Emotions have power over us because we believe their message. When, by the Word of God, their message is shown to be false, they then lose their power to control our lives.

As we speak the Word of God over our lives, we bring the resources of the Heaven against the dark messages of inward lies. The Word is more than words we say. The Word is words that God has said, and His Words have authority over all the power of our enemy. We enforce the victories of Christ by saying what God says. As we prevail in speaking the Word over our lives, then the Word will bring the power of God against dark emotions that war against our lives. Remember, the Word of God is a weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, and comes with all the necessary power to defeat every lie of darkness; our job is to allow the Word to rule within our mouth and within our heart.

Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Isa 55:10-11 (10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.


Cut Off the Head of Inward Lies

If we are going to be emotionally and spiritually whole then we must develop the skill to see ourselves inwardly; our heart must be willing to discern the many voices of our enemy. When an enemy speaks, we immediately use the Sword of the Spirit to cut out his demonic tongue. I use this language because we need to develop an aggressive attitude toward our inner world, we agressively manage our mind for the glory of God. David, when facing Goliath, desired not only to kill him, but to cut off his head, and bring a definitive victory to Israel. We need to have the same no-nonsense attitude toward spiritual darkness.

As Christians, we cannot accommodate or play with inward darkness; the Devil and our flesh are master negotiators, and can be defeated only by the Word of God.

There can be no peaceful co-existence with lies, even if they seem harmless. Remember, the purpose of our enemy is to steal, kill and destroy and they enter our lives riding on a lie. There is only one way to deal with him; we immediately and definitively gain complete victory over every lie that desires to find residence within our heart and mind. A lie is any motivation, thought, emotion, desire, ambition, imagination, or concept that is incompatible with the Word of God. Life is not about me or my personal ambitions; life is about Jesus Christ, His ambitions, and His accomplishments on my behalf. The purpose of my life is use His Word to walk out His victories over the world, the flesh and the Devil.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

The Temptation of Jesus

Jesus taught us how to gain victory over spiritual enemies by using the Word of God; we can learn a great deal from His temptation in the wilderness. Although Jesus did not have a sinful nature, Satan tempted Him as though He did. Satan made his appeal to the physical and emotional appetites of Jesus, and this is exactly the approach he uses with us. He (Satan) emphasizes our emotional hungers, and attempts to lure us into following our fleshly ways.

Satan’s goal is to empower our fleshly nature and weaken our dependence on the Word of God; this is the only way for him to have a controlling interest in our heart and emotions.

Jesus taught us to use the Scriptures to defeat the Devil. Satan attempts to partner with our fleshly nature and make his appeal through our intellect or our emotions. Our defense is the same in each case, i.e.,  like Jesus, we speak the Word to defeat his deceptive message. 

JAS 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

By examining the deception of Eve and the temptation of Jesus we clearly see Satan’s methodology. In each case, Satan attempts to gain control by using our physical, human desires, i.e., things that are natural for humans to want. From this we see that if our desires are not protected by the Word, then a door is opened to Satan and his attempts to re-direct our life. Fleshly desires partner with spiritual evil which then leads to emotional and spiritual bondage. Godly desires and healthy emotions are the result of the inward rule of God's Word.

The Word of God forms a defensive shield around our heart and mind. When we allow the Word of God to rule within, we are allowing God Himself to rule, and all the resources of the Kingdom of God to protect us. The Word proceeds from God and contains all necessary power to defeat every lie of darkness. In fact, He tells us that He sent His Word to accomplish His purposes and to heal us. Listen to the Scripture.

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

PS 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.


Tell Yourself The Truth!

We aggressively speak truth to ourselves and to our feelings with the goal of a definitive victory. We want our mind back! Every time we feel despair and hopelessness, or a temptation to sin we say: you are a liar, you are attempting to destroy me and my relationship with the Lord. I do not give in to you. I do not give you my thoughts, my mind, my feelings, or my time. I belong to Jesus Christ, my thoughts, feelings, and my future belongs to Him. I give my intellect, will and emotions to the Word of God. Jesus alone has the right and the authority to rule over me and in me. I will listen to Him alone and allow only His Word to rule in me. You are lies and born of darkness, and you are defeated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. You have no future and no power over me. I am purchased by blood and adopted into the family of God. God is my defender and He gives me power over you. Your power is brought to nothing. I resist you and tell you to get out of my mind, get out of my thoughts, and get out of my emotions, and get out of my life, for I belong to Jesus Christ.

Learn To Win

This prayer may not fit your particular need, but the principle is the same. Find scriptures that fit your particular need and begin to use them against dark thoughts and wrong emotions. Learn to pray powerfully and fervently. Learn to win daily; learn to win minute-by-minute if need be. Stay on your knees until the battle is won and return to your knees before your enemy returns. If you learn to allow the Scriptures to rule your mind, they will keep you from emotional dysfunction and spiritual bondage.

Every Victory is Learning to Allow the Word to Rule Inwardly

Emotions are extremely powerful and they resist change. I like to get alone, where I can make some noise. I have learned to pray until I have the victory, which means I pray until I feel better! I have learned that dark feelings cannot withstand the Word of God. If truth rules within my heart then darkness has to flee.

Winning is a process, but every victory is learning to allow God’s Word to rule inwardly. When His Word rules then He rules, and darkness has no place of refuge.

The more we confront and resist the messages that empower dark feelings the better we become at overcoming them. If we stay on our spiritual toes then we begin to recognize darkness from a distance and overcome its lies before they get close enough to hinder us. Prayer and study of the Word gives us the spiritual insight to recognize darkness and defeat its dark message. Winning this spiritual battle daily brings renewal to our heart and mind, and gives us the emotional and spiritual freedom God wills for each of His children. If we keep ourselves tuned up (in a spiritual sense), then we can live healthy, wholesome, fruitful lives.

2Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The Word comes with inherent power; we do not give the Word its power, God does, and His Word renews and heals us. It is His Word; He sent it to accomplish His purpose for our lives. Our challenge is to believe and act on what He says. Our greatest weapon against dysfunctional emotions is the Word of God. It resets the foundations of our thinking and our perceptions; we begin to see ourselves and our life with God’s eyes and then we’re able to effectively confront the inward lies of darkness. If we are going to be spiritually and emotionally whole, then we must see life as God says that it is.

ROM 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

PROV 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:14-16 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:17-20 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Psa 119:24-26 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. 25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:27-30 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Psa 119:32-37 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Psa 119:40-41 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. 41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

Psa 119:45-49 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Psa 119:59-60 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Psa 119:67-68 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:71-73 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psa 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

Psa 119:89-91 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

Psa 119:92-93 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Psa 119:97-100 O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Psa 119:103-105 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Psa 119:128-29 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Isa 55:1-2 (1) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Psa 1:1-4 (1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (4) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Deu 8:2-3 (2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. (3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

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