walking in wholeness

Walking in Wholeness
Ephesians 5:8-11 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

When we finish dealing with all the fractures uncovered during the inner healing session, the client is now free to live a life of wholeness.  Now it is time to make some new lifestyle choices that will keep them holy and whole.

Walking in a brand new way is what sanctification is all about; it is something we learn as we go and the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. A brand new baby has to learn how to relate to his surroundings and how to respond to people and to circumstances. He has to learn how to sit up and roll over. He has to learn how to crawl and to walk. He has to learn how to talk. So it is with us.

We have received the ministry necessary to unbind us from those things that had hindered our walking in the fullness of life we were given in Jesus Christ. We have a new beginning – an opportunity to start over – and as Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)  God is in the business of doing total makeovers.
 
TWELVE STEPS TOWARD A TOTAL MAKEOVER – GOD’S WAY FOR WALKING IN WHOLENESS
 
1. Daily submit your will, your rights and all control to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We cannot begin a single day without making that declaration (and we may have to repeat it throughout the day until it becomes our first response), because the enemy is watching for an opportunity to take back the territory he just lost.

Genesis 4:7 – If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

The word translated as “master” is the Hebrew word mashal (maw-shal') and it means “to rule, have dominion, reign over”. (Strong’s 4910)  We have not only been given that level of authority over all the forces of darkness, but we have also been given the power to operate in that authority.
 
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline (abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control).

From the beginning of creation, our purpose was to rule and reign over the sinful influences that are presented to us every day through our minds, our will, and our emotions. By making the declaration of who is in charge every day, we are not only bolstering our faith in the Lord, but we are also disarming our enemy.
 
2. Declare your true identity and express thankfulness for what God has done for you - both of which are contained in the Spiritual Warfare prayer.
It is important to pray these things out loud every day before we get out of bed. This prayer is a declaration of our identity in Christ, what He has already done for us, and how that disarmed the enemy and drained him of his power. If someone has not been living a life from this Biblical mindset in the past, it is going to take some practice for them to fully implement their new identity, but this should be their new “normal”.

3. Establish the habit of reading the Bible every day.
Not just a verse here and there. Not just a devotional. But read it – INTENTIONALLY – with a definite plan and goal in mind, meditate on it, and take it into your inmost part. Own it for yourself. Let it bring the nourishment to your soul God intended it to be for you. Think of it as God’s Love Letter written just to you.
James 1:22 – Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says.

As you read the Word, where the Word uncovers some old man thinking - allow the Word to rule, and get rid of the old man thinking. Practice the Word. Let it guide your decisions and your activities. God is in charge of everything. His plans for you are good, His plans all succeed, and He is looking for a willing partner in His work.

4. Pray - every day, all through the day, in the Spirit, with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Don’t settle for praying while you are driving in the car on your way to work; the distractions will keep you from satisfying the longing of your inner man for the soul food God has for you. Instead, get alone with God for a deeper level of communion and intimacy, and for a greater awareness of His Presence. Understand that prayer time is a private conversation between you and the Creator of the Universe. How many of us would be honored to have an audience with a King or a President? We have an opportunity that is even better than either of those: we’ve been invited to sit with the Lord of Glory, the One who made us and desires to be in relationship with us! He wants you to know that, and to experience His presence as though you two were the only beings in the universe.

5. Put on the full armor of God – first thing, every day.
Those words found in Ephesians 6:10-18, are not a suggestion; they are a COMMAND. The word says:
BE STRONG in the Lord and in His mighty power.
PUT ON the full armor of God.
STAND FIRM with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
TAKE UP the shield of faith.
TAKE the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
PRAY in the Spirit.
BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING for all the saints.
 
6. You have the mind of Christ; use it!
Take every negative thought captive and make it conform to the person of Jesus Christ. Don’t listen to the devil; resist him!

Colossians 3:1-3 – Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

God wants us to know that we will encounter difficult people and troubling circumstances all through the day. He designed things that way because if everything was easy, our character would not develop properly. Jesus said it this way:

John 16:33 - In this world, you will have trouble, But fear not, I have overcome the world!
That means that Jesus has already met you in the difficult place even before you get there and He already has a solution for you. Therefore, every circumstance you will encounter is an opportunity to prove His specific promises to you; and for you to rule and reign over the enemy.

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

If you are experiencing difficulty, it is the opportunity for you to ask God, “What is this, and what do you want me to do with it?” That is how you operate out of the mind of Christ.  And then, rejoice in the midst of the difficulty, because God has considered you worthy of the test.

7. Practice the power tools of binding and loosing, forgiveness and repentance, and the spiritual gifts you have been given.
Using them all through the day will enable you to overcome every challenge that comes to you, whether it is from difficult people, unexpected circumstances or an outright attack of the devil. If you have received your prayer language, pray in the Spirit every day, all through the day. That is your private hotline over which you can communicate with the Lord. The devil cannot eavesdrop on the conversation, and it frustrates him mightily when he doesn’t know what you are saying. The spiritual gifts are weapons and they are able to defeat spiritual enemies.

8. Practice the Fruit of the Spirit in every situation.
Doctors practice medicine. Lawyers practice law. We should practice the Fruit of the Spirit. When a difficult situation arises, ask the Lord, “What Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Galations 5:22-23) do you have for me to allocate to this situation?” When a rude, obnoxious individual slanders your confidence, ask the Lord “What Fruit of the Spirit do you have for me to allocate to this person?” Then forgive both the offense and the offender, repent for how you allowed that situation to affect you, and speak blessings over the offender.

Proverbs 25:21-22 – If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

9. Understand and fully embrace your new identity in Christ.
Your true identity is found only in a personal relationship with Jesus. To be free in Christ we must know who we are in Him, as opposed to what the world or the demons have told us about ourselves. The inner healing ministry session exposed those lies. Now God wants you to know the truth. Jesus promised that you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

God’s word contains many descriptions of your true identity. It is important for you to know how God sees you, because that is who you really are. These are but a few samples of what you will find in God’s Word concerning your identity:
You are God’s child (John 1:12)
You have been bought with a price. You belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
You are a saint (Ephesians 1:1)
You have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Colossians 1:14)
If your trust has been violated through abuse or neglect, you can know for certain that:
You are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)
You cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35)
You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
You are born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

If you suffer from shame and guilt or insecurity, you can know for certain that: 
You have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
You are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
You are seated with Christ in heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)

These statements summarize your scriptural identity and your position in Christ and they form the foundation for your freedom in Christ. Read these statements aloud often, and especially when you are in the middle of a spiritual conflict. Why do you need to do this?

You need to do this because you have spent a lifetime speaking negatively about yourself or speaking lies over yourself. It will take time and practice to reinforce the truth of who you are in Christ until it becomes the default way you speak about yourself and about others.

Furthermore, if you find yourself constantly defaulting to the old behaviors you once walked in, it is because you are working on trying to be good; you are trying to “tough it out”; you are working out of the faulty flesh. You cannot change your behavior!  Rather, you understand and own your true identity, you speak it into being, and you operate out of that position of authority and victory. Then your behavior will line up.

10. Know for certain that you were created for a specific purpose.
We must understand how God sees us and what He created us for. These things lead us into a better understanding of our purpose on earth. God’s word says:

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 90:17 – (Lord, you) establish the work of our hands for us.

Psalm 37:23 (KJV) – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

Spend time thanking God for His plans for you every day and declare your agreement with His plans, because His plans are the only ones that will always succeed. Visualize God’s designing your day for you, writing on your calendar the appointments He has set up for you. Be prepared for adjustments to your thinking as things don’t go the way you expected during the day, because you are being given an upgrade opportunity to practice your new identity as you produce the Fruit of the Spirit. Everything – the good, the bad and the ugly – will be used for your good and for God’s glory.

If you want to be successful in your endeavors – whatever they may be – ask Him to direct your steps each day, to show you not only what He wants you to do, but also how to do it – ask for Divine strategies and also the proper timing for it because God’s timing is always perfect! Don’t let yourself run away with enthusiasm about doing great things for God which comes from the flesh; rather, allow Him to give you His passion so that you may do great things with Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Also ask Him to show you what He has for you in five years, ten years, and beyond. Learn to think strategically and purposefully in line with the Father; and be open to follow through with all the preparation He has for your destiny. The road He has you on may not lead to the place you are thinking of; but the joy of the journey is where the real reward is found – and that joy comes from growing through shared experiences with Him, learning to trust Him for everything and knowing Him, not just about Him,  in a very real and intimate way.

11. Become a willing and committed participant in a small group Bible study.                    
We were created for intimacy and community. Every one of us has a God-given need to belong to someone and to be a part of something. That is what draws people who have no other group affiliation into gangs and cults. God has provided a much better way for us to belong – first to Him and then to each other.
First, God gave us Himself. The only way we get to know Him is by reading His Word. Proverbs 9:10 – Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Secondly, God gave us His Word in a real and personal way because He was speaking to us about relationship. John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory.

Thirdly, He created us for relationship because He knows that we grow better together. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up…Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm…Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Fourth, God created us for relationship because there is safety in numbers. We have an enemy who looks for those who have withdrawn from fellowship with other Christians, and for those who are abdicating their responsibility to grow in the wisdom and the knowledge of God; and when he sees them, he knows they are vulnerable and unprotected from his attack. Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

God is speaking to us loud and clear: the most important pursuit we can be making is to pursue the knowledge of God through the intentional study of His Word. When we share that activity with others also going through the process of sanctification, we become stronger and are more prepared to resist the devil’s schemes because God is on our side.

12. Align yourself with a Spirit-filled, Bible teaching church. Attend regularly, use your Spiritual gifts to serve in that church, and support the ministry through tithes and offerings.

• Going to church and participating in the life of a church body grants significant personal privileges that are associated with our new life in Christ:

(1) we have personal access to God through Christ and can draw near to him without an elaborate system;
(2) we may grow in faith, overcome doubts and questions, and deepen our relationship with God;
(3) we may enjoy encouragement from one another; and
(4) we may worship together.
To neglect Christian meetings is to live in opposition to our identity and our purpose. To neglect Christian meetings is to live in opposition to the Word of God. To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. Present day difficulties should never be used as an excuse for not participating in church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in attendance. (NIV Study Bible Commentary, Hebrews 10:19-25)

• Going to church and participating in the life of a church body provides relational benefits with others.

Hebrews 10:19-25 – Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

• Going to church and participating in the life of a church body honors God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.

Exodus 20:8-9 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping It holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work.
Mark 2:27 – The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
“The Sabbath was intended to help people, not burden them. In contrast with the grueling daily work as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to take a full day of rest each week under the Mosaic Law. Jesus is called the Lord of the Sabbath in that the Sabbath pointed to the rest Jesus provides. Jesus became our rest when He did all the work necessary for our salvation (Hebrews 4). He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). We rest, spiritually, in Him; He has secured our eternal blessing. As believers, set free in Christ, we are not judged by whether or not we keep the Sabbath day (Colossians 2:16). Instead, we follow the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus Christ. We find our rest in Him, and seven days a week are filled with worship of Him.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Sabbath-made-for-man.html)
 
CONCLUSION
We were created to be in relationship with God and with each other. It is difficult to say for sure whether we become broken because we allow ourselves to become isolated through our choices or if our choice to become isolated results in our being broken. Whatever the order, God desires that we be made holy and whole and that we appropriate the healing He accomplished. That is why Jesus became our one sufficient sacrifice for sin; and that is what inner healing ministry is all about.

This is my prayer for you:
I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2, NKJV)
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together – spirit, soul, and body – and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:23, MSG)
 
And this is your response to what God has done:
God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. (Psalm 18:20-24, MSG)
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Be healed in Jesus Name!
Linda
© 2019 Linda Sue Harper