After consuming the forbidden fruit and falling into sin, Adam & Eve hid because they realized they were naked. They experienced what every one of us feels after we succumb to temptation - shame. Shame is relentless. It replays our failure in our thoughts every day. It causes us to run from the One who loves us. It causes us to hang our heads in humiliation. Even though Adam and Eve hid, God came looking for them. God is in love with sinful man and sent His Son, Jesus to rescue people. God didn’t cause the separation between Himself and Adam, but He took the initiative to be reconciled. When we see all that He has done for us and we see His heart for us, we should run to him instead of hiding from Him when we sin. Prior to Genesis 3, Adam and Eve walked with God and enjoyed His presence. The Word tells us God made these two humans in His image and gave Adam dominion over everything He had created. God gave Adam authority through the relationship that He established with him. Without their relationship, Adam would not have had authority. When Adam and Eve sinned, they forfeited this authority. Through deception and rebellion, the serpent took the authority and dominion that God had given to man. The Bible tells us that satan’s desire was to exalt his throne above the stars of God. (Isaiah 14:13) Until the fall of man, he lacked power and influence to set up rulership. Jesus called satan “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31)
Week 2 - Freedom from Shame
(Innocence)
September 26, 2021
Week 8 - Freedom from Strongholds
November 7, 2021
Have you ever had a season in life that made you ask yourself, “How did I get here? Why do I do the things I do? What makes me continue to act that way? Why am I in this situation? The truth isn’t too complicated: each of us are in our current situation or current struggle because of one or a combination of three things:
Week 6 - Freedom from Rejection
October 24, 2021
Proverbs 18:21 says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Obviously, words are potent and significant. With words, God spoke the entire universe into being. Words and language were His idea. He gave them to man and created man in His image so that our words carry power as well. Every time we open our mouth, we either build up or tear down. Our words can encourage someone or take the wind out of their sails. Our tongue can either advance the kingdom of life or advance the kingdom of death. God desires for us to speak words of life that build up, bring healing, and offer encouragement.
Week 5 - Freedom from Bitterness
October 17, 2021
Let’s start this week by facing facts. We live in a fallen, messed-up world. Things often won’t go as planned. People do stupid things. Hurting people hurt people. And in spite of what the age-old quote says about sticks and stones, words can hurt. To sum up this dreary opening paragraph, we will all face hurts and offense frequently in life. As with many other things in life, what happens to us is not nearly as important as our response to it. Offense can be difficult. Too often we end up harboring unforgiveness and getting bitter. Unfortunately, this does much greater harm to us than to the person we refuse to forgive. Offense is the bait that the enemy uses to lure us into bondage, and it causes us to build up walls around hearts. Walls may keep out the bad stuff, but they also keep out the good. It may protect us from the pain of hurt and rejection, but it also prevents us from experiencing love and life-giving relationships.