Put On The Full Armor of God

Healed by Truth

Isiah 55:11
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. ;

A True Story

This is a story of a young woman who, by the grace of God, escaped the emotional/spiritual bondage from many years of sexual abuse. This is the story of her freedom.

Damaged Goods

She believed the lie. The lie was that she was damaged beyond repair. So much had happened to her, her trauma was so great that she saw herself as defiled and worthless; she had no value whatsoever. Because of these feelings, and because of the injustice of her abuse she was consumed with anger. She lived in a silent rage, and with a never ending shame. She felt guilty because somehow she had a part in it all. She believed her life was beyond recovery. She hated with a vengeance for, in her opinion, her life was completely and forever ruined.

Her Abuse Defined Her Faith

Her abuse defined her, and her abuse defined her faith. She related to life through her trauma, her emotions defined by her abuse and her hatred. Her trauma had become her god. Every relationship, every emotion, and every thought was controlled by the memory of her past. Emotionally, her abuse never stopped and had even grown. Her mind could not break out and let the past die. But when she began to relate to God and others through the Word of God, she saw that her response to the abuse was causing her greater problems than the actual abuse. She began responding to God and stopped responding to her abuse and her abusers. She allowed God to define her and as a result, she began to see herself as God said she was, a person of value and truly loved by God.

What Does God Say

We do not find in Scripture God saying that our lives are hopeless or ruined because of abuse or injustice. If we are caught in the injustice trap, thinking that the injustice we suffered justifies our hatred and bitterness, then our bondage only deepens. As Christians, we do not have the right to ruin our health and our lives with bitterness, anger, or hatred. Hatred destroys the heart, and according to scripture, is the spirit of murder, 1John 3:15. The Lord never says thatit's OK to be consumed with hatred.

Jesus Heals The Broken Life

God is a Healer, He is a Deliverer, and He heals the broken life. He brings forth beauty out of a broken life. A crushed flower is notable for it's sweet fragrance. The truth was that her life was not over but just beginning! This is true for everybody who determines to get over their past. God owns the future and He promises to heal; this truth cannot be overstated.

The devil, through lies attempted to destroy this person, destroy her marriage and destroy her children. But God took her hopelessness, and her brokenness, and gave her a beautiful and fulfilled life. This is the power of truth, it delivers from the lies and bondage of Darkness.

God's Definition Is The Truth

She allowed God to define her. She realized she was a new creation. Old things were passed away all things had become new, 2Cor. 5:17. She saw her new identity as residing in Christ Jesus for the scripture said that she was God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:10

The Old is Dead, The New Is Alive

She realized that the old person was dead, it went to the cross with Christ and the life she was now living she was living as a new creation, by the power of God. Rom 6:6-11

Emotional Dependence on Christ

Let's call her Joan. Joan is now walking in her new identity, loving God and loving others, being truly thankful for the grace and mercy of God. She is thankful for the Gospel. The Gospel freed her from emotional dependence on her past abuse. The Gospel gave her a new identity, and a new foundation for life. Armed with truth, Joan was able to rebuild her fragile emotions by resisting the lies that almost destroyed her. Joan is now emotionally dependent on Jesus Christ and what He says! She relates to life through Him, and life's circumstances through her relationship with Christ! And Jesus, according to His Word, strengthens and sustains her; the Scripture tells us this is the way life is to be lived. Look at Psalms 23

Psalms 23:1-6
1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever

Questions for The Christian

  • Are you emotionally dependent upon Jesus Christ? If not, then on whom or on what are you dependent for emotional fulfillment? What does it take to make you happy? What do you really want from life?

  • Are you chronically unhappy, depressed, unfulfilled, apathetic, angry, unsatisfied with life in general?

  • Are you chronically unhappy with your church, your husband\wife, your income, your parents, your lifestyle?

  • How long has it been since you have been truly at peace?

  • Are you an insecure\fearful person?

  • Are you really satisfied with God's counsel for your present circumstance?

  • Have you ever been happy with who you are?

  • Are you living in sins that you are unable to stop?

These are examples of questions that every Christian must answer truthfully; the answer reveals the quality of our spiritual condition. In order to be emotionally healthy we have to walk in real peace. Real peace, real fulfillment, real happiness, real joy in our present circumstances; these are the indicators of a heart that has been changed by truth and is emotionally dependent upon Jesus Christ.

Psa. 37:37
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psa. 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

What is true about you?

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Scripture

Psa. 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psa. 119:114
Thou art my hiding place and my shield, I hope in thy word.

Psa. 119:125
I am thy servant, give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

Psa 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous all together. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping them of them, there is great reward.

Psa. 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psa. 91:4
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust, His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psa.100:5
For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations.

Psa.108:4
For Thy mercy is great above the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Eph.5:9
The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

Matt 4:4
But He answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.

Matt 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

John 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, art thou a king then? Jesus answered, thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.