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C. Personal
History
2 of 4 Pages
BACK TO MINISTRY
GUIDE
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This section of the Ministry Guide relates
to the Spiritual History Information Form
Part C. Because of its length, this section is broken up into four web pages. If you are reading this online, you will be able to click "Next Page" at the end of each page.
Section Outline: Questions 3 & 4 of the Spiritual History Information Form deal with the events in a person’s life that may have shaped his outlook toward himself, God, or life in general. The intent is to help the person to bring his spiritual wounds to Jesus so that He can heal his broken spirit with the truth of His Word, of His Presence, and of His love. Part I below gives some introductory thoughts and general principles.
He came to lift from us the weights of the pain and agony of life. He said, "Come to Me, all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 9:35). Jesus encourages us to cast our cares upon Him, and to receive comfort, strength, life, and righteousness from Him. He wants to impart to us the truth of His love, the reality of His continual presence with us, and the comfort of His plan and purposes for us. People need to know the truth about Jesus. Many have been wounded in their spirit through being rejected or being made to feel guilty. Many have been made to feel ashamed of their very being because of their race, sex, physical size or other uncontrollable characteristics. Many have been put down and mocked because of learning disabilities, speech defects, financial status, family situations, etc. Jesus can heal these hurts as He removes the old and brings in the truth of His love, acceptance, and purposes. Many are fearful of things in life. They are afraid of being abandoned, of being rejected, of not having enough to meet their needs, or of not being able to satisfy the expectations of others. Some are afraid of having to face a new day. Still others are paralyzed in some areas of their lives because of having undergone tragic or deeply emotional experiences. Experiences such as sexual abuse, broken relation-ships through divorce or untimely death, loss of jobs or status, or ridicule and put-downs by parents or close friends can hinder our performance in some areas of life. We have prayed with several alcoholics who were drinking to escape the trauma of their involvement in the Vietnam War. They didn’t know how to cope with their experiences with death, or the unresolved guilt they carried for killing others, or the shame some in our country put upon them for being involved in a so-called "unjust war." They saw alcohol as a means of relief from the pain and trauma. Living in fear, being driven by fears, can be debilitating--but Jesus, through the presence of His Spirit, can bring healing and freedom to fearful people. He can make the reality of His presence with us so real and practical that we can confidently know that we know that through Him we can handle the affairs of life. He can minister His wisdom and love to us in such a way that we begin to see life from His perspective, and to live by the truth of His being identified with us in each situation. The healing presence of the Comforter - The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sends to us--can heal the wounds we have suffered deep in our spirit. The life of the Holy Spirit can lift the hurt, pain, and trauma from our spirit and resurrect our wounded, or slumbering, or fearful spirit. Jesus came to bring life to our spirit. Through prayer and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, these inner wounds can be revealed, exposed, brought to Christ, and healed by His Word and/or His Presence. As we pray for one another, using the admonition of James 5:16, 1 Peter 5:7, and Matthew 11:29, we bring our cares, hurts, and anxieties to Christ and let His Spirit minister His love, comfort, and peace to our inner being. These strongholds of fear, anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, etc. can be broken down as the reality of God’s Word and Presence are manifested by the Holy Spirit. Specific prayer for healing is not the only way the inner wounds can be healed. Often healing can and does occur through the preaching of God’s Word, through times of meditation on God’s Word, or even in times of worship or focus on the majesty of God. God’s Presence can result in His healing our wounds. As we focus on Him, He often brings comfort and healing to the wounded areas of our spirit. As we pray for others, seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit to guide us through the Word, we will often receive visions and mental pictures that the Lord will use to bring healing to people. Sometimes people will see Jesus extending His hand to them, or they might receive an impression in their mind of Jesus reminding them, "I was there." These images can be helpful in portraying visually a message the Spirit wants to impart to the one we are praying for. However, we don’t need to have received a mental picture in order for the person to be healed, nor should we attempt to create a picture with our own imagination. The mental picture does not bring healing. Healing comes through the Holy Spirit, Who might bring revelation through a picture, an impression, a Bible passage, a simple word or phrase, or in a myriad of other creative ways. Seeing Jesus carrying out or reminding us of one of the truths of Scripture, such as His loving the children, taking our sins upon Himself, comforting the outcasts, healing the sick, etc., can be an effective way for the Holy Spirit to encourage us to "think on these things" (Philippians 4:10). Our imaginations are just another tool the Holy Spirit can use, as He uses our hands, our minds, or our tongues to bless and to minister healing to others. Some of the verses and principles that can be helpful in ministering life and healing to people include the following:
People who are depressed because of worry can be relieved through a good word received from the Holy Spirit. They can let the reality of God’s love and healing Presence penetrate the places of their heart where anxiety has been given a foothold. The Holy Spirit will often bring these events of anxiety to our conscious minds so that we can now bring the worry to Jesus, meditate on the reality of God’s Presence with us during these stressful events, and let His comfort and peace replace the anxiety. Some carry anxiety because they have tried to fix things that were beyond their ability to repair. For example, children will try to keep their parents from fighting, often feeling responsible for maintaining peace in the home. They continually "walk on eggshells" in an attempt to keep things peaceful. Some will try to come between parents who are physically abusive to each other; others run and hide in fear when stressful situations arise. In adulthood, these same children might feel depressed when difficulties arise in the family. Their deeply entrenched anxieties will surface in stressful situations and they will resort to trying to hold it in; often depression results. The Holy Spirit will reveal the truth, that God is able to help us and direct us in stressful situations. We can trust in the revelation and comfort of the Spirit of God, enabling us to be at peace even amidst the pressures of life. We can bring the buried anxieties and stresses to Christ when they are revealed, and we can receive the new "Spirit-inspired" responses. We can then live in and show forth the peace of God. *********
Some who have been disappointed through broken dreams or broken promises, can be rejuvenated through a word of hope the Holy Spirit speaks to them. Those places of disappointment can now be seen through the reality of God’s light. As we meditate on God’s Word, His promises, and His plans and purposes for us, we can keep the events of life in proper perspective. Broken promises or unfulfilled dreams no longer seem so tragic when we view them through the perspective of our life with God. His relationship with us is eternal. Broken promises can increase our reliance upon Jesus as our Source of trust. His peace can remind us that God is able to work all things for our good, as He conforms us to the likeness of Christ. His Presence will remind us that God is faithful and He will fulfill all His promises to us through Christ. Often people who have feared the lack of food, finances, mental abilities, etc., hope for some miraculous outcome to enable them to get over their lack. They put their hope in some drastic change in their circumstances. Sometimes God does provide dramatic and sudden changes in us or in our circumstances. More often, He provides the ability to change circumstances over a period of time, teaching us to trust in Him and in His ability to bring us through the seemingly impossible situations. Our hope then becomes centered in God and in His abilities and promises, rather than in our new circumstances. When God works over time, we find ourselves learning to focus on Him, rather than on our circumstances. Our hope comes alive when He becomes its Center. *********
Some might have physical problems in their bones because of envy or covetousness. People who are unaware of the spiritual dimension of life will often feel insecure with their level of material possessions, or with their natural abilities and talents. They will then be jealous of the provisions and abilities of others. They have not known the riches of spiritual blessings and abilities we can receive through Christ. They miss receiving the wisdom, comfort, peace, joy and complete satisfaction we can have through the blessings of God imparted to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can reveal this and bring to us the grace to forgive, repent, and put our trust in Jesus. The Holy Spirit will remind us of God’s bountiful provision and plan for us. He will keep us focused on the fullness of Christ’s character and of His peace and joy. He will impart to us the life and the nature of Christ so that we live above the lusts of our flesh and of the ways of this world. Jesus’ victory over these things will become a reality to us, freeing us from the lusts of the world. People who feel they have been rejected or unwanted are often envious. They seek the acceptance, provision or situations of others, because they feel such a void within. The truth is that God has not rejected us. While we were still angry and enemies of God, He chose to love us. The reality of His Word and His Presence needs to replace the feelings of rejection or low self-worth we have taken in in response to the actions of others--or to our perceptions of their actions. As we meditate on His Word, on His acceptance, and on His Presence with us, the Holy Spirit will manifest to our inner being the truth of our acceptance in Christ. We can then focus on what God has for us and come out of the envious ways of our old nature. We can learn to live focused on the spiritual blessings of our heavenly kingdom, and the world’s ways of covetousness and envy can be destroyed. *********
The sin of drunkenness can have devastating effects on a person and his or her family. But the Holy Spirit can bring conviction, repentance, forgiveness, healing, and complete freedom to the person and the family members. Jesus can free. Jesus can heal. He can give freedom and rest to the alcoholic and to the partner, and healing to their families. *********
Many have been raised in homes in which the father was non-functional or absent. The Holy Spirit will bring God’s comfort, help, and power to them, as they learn to trust God and to forgive. *********
Some who have felt abandoned or alone can experience the love of God as the Holy Spirit reminds them that God will speak to them. As they learn to keep focused on Him, they can become stable and find joy in the Lord. *********
Those who have been broken through the loss of a loved one or by other devastations of life can receive life as the Holy Spirit imparts the reality of God’s love and everlasting Presence to them. *********
People can have deep fears and be living in trauma because of near-death experiences. Times of extreme horror or loss can have devastating effects on our inner being. Some have even been institutionalized because of these events. BUT GOD through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and through His Word can bring peace, life, and restoration to these people as they learn to hear His voice, to trust in Him, and to let the Holy Spirit minister to them. **********
People can have deep pain within because of un-confessed sin, or other guilt that has come upon them. The Holy Spirit can reveal these pockets of pain, un-confessed sin, etc. and impart His healing and restoration. *********
God’s Word, spoken through His Spirit, can bring healing and deliverance to those needing to be freed from fears, addictions, etc. *********
Some have been victimized by ill-spoken words of parents, authority figures, peers, or spouses. The Holy Spirit can bring God’s Word of comfort and truth to replace the words of perversion. Healing, forgiveness, and life are the results of God’s Word. He is able to overcome the words of men or of Satan. *********
Some are unable to handle the affairs or problems of life because of the sorrows they have experienced. The Holy Spirit can heal their hurts and bring them into restoration and functioning as a child of God. *********
Some feel estranged from God, or are unable to hear from Him, because of bitterness or resentment they still carry toward their parents. The Holy Spirit will reveal these things, enable them to forgive, and bring healing to the person. When applicable, He will enable them to bring restoration to the relationship as well. The above examples show some of the areas and potential results of the healing power of the Holy Spirit. God desires and promises to heal the brokenhearted and to restore us to His plan and purposes. Healing the wounds in our spirit is but one of the ways He accomplishes this, but a very effective and powerful one.
Some Steps for Receiving and Ministering Healing of Our Spirit
1. Meditate on the Bible passages cited in the previous section. 2. Seek the revelation of the Holy Spirit for a particular area of ministry - fear, rejection, bitterness, etc. 3. Let the Holy Spirit help you to recall a specific event in your life when this particular feeling or characteristic was present. 4. Let the Holy Spirit bring you the truth of this situation. Your memory might recall only the negative part of this event. The Holy Spirit will also remind you of the Presence and comfort of God available to you at that time. 5. Release to Jesus any pain, bitterness, or other negative things you took into your spirit, remembering His call to "cast all your cares on Him." 6. Receive His life, His Word, or His thought or image He might convey to you. (We are not changing what happened, but we are letting the reality of Christ’s Presence affect our reaction to what happened.) 7. Reflect on what Jesus is bringing you. Receive His Word for you into all of your being. 8. Thank God that He knows your need and that He is able to bring you the truth of His love in your time of need. 9. Look for ways in which you can share with others in similar circumstances the comfort and revelation God has given you. As you do this you will realize that God is able to heal you of the wounds Satan has attempted to use for your destruction, and that He will bless others through your experience. BACK TO TOP |
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