Unit 3 Key 1 – Desire

JOURNEY TO FREEDOM

UNIT III Key 1            DESIRE

 

SCRIPTURE PRINCIPLE: In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:1-2

Our desire to overcome ssa/ma/tx is still our first step to victory. Unit II focused on letting God into our hearts and minds and letting Him change our personalities and identities. In the Review Key of Unit II, you had the opportunity to assess your progress. Since you have come this far, you have no doubt seen at least some progress and are convinced that this change is possible. You may be excited about what you see happening, and you want to see more of what God has to give you. Are you ready to go deeper?

While the first step of overcoming is to desire it, the next step is having faith that overcoming is possible. You stepped out in faith when you began the Keys, not knowing how the Holy Spirit would use the program to change you. By now you are likely seeing some answers to your questions, liking the changes that God is working into your life, and realizing that overcoming ssa/ma/tx is more than just changing the direction of your attractions. God wants to re-wire our hearts and minds. He desires to renew the total person.

When we see how far we have come, we desire to go further. This process will go on until the day we die; the Holy Spirit is always in the believer, fixing and changing things as much as we allow Him. He convicts us of sin through the Word and assures us through the Word of God’s forgiveness. As we receive God’s forgiveness as a free gift, He changes us. In Unit III you are invited to confront more of what is holding you back and blocking your progress from being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), trusting yourself to His mercy.

The Bible tells us that the devil is the author of lies (John 8:44) and the accuser of believers (Revelation 12:10). Every member of the human race has been influenced by his lies. Even the best parents cannot protect the souls of their children from lies. Even the best parents are still sinners in need of God’s mercy. We live in a fallen world and are therefore surrounded by lies.

When we are little and vulnerable, lies can be injected into our minds. Parents are instructed to protect the souls of their children (Ephesians 6:4). The words we speak are potential lies unless we consciously give our power of speech over to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29 & 31). Jesus showed a special concern for the spiritual life of children, and gave both warnings and encouragements (Luke 17:1-2, Matthew 19:13-15).

Unfortunately, many ssa/ma/tx people grew up in environments where wrong things were done and the children were deeply affected. When we are most vulnerable, lies can be injected into our minds. In situations where a child feels fear, trauma, shame, humiliation, helplessness, pain, and attacks on his/her self-esteem, the child easily draws the wrong conclusions, because children have limited experience or knowledge to help them cope. Messages are absorbed about what kind of a person he/she is, what kind of people the same sex are, what kind of people the opposite sex are, what to expect from life and relationships, what to expect from oneself, and the list goes on.

Behind every temptation to sin are lies, which are often reinforced by painful memories. When the Holy Spirit show us the lies that drive our temptations, exposes them, and speaks God’s truth against them, temptations become less powerful and memories often less painful.

Are you ready to go deeper? Are you ready to take the Shepherd into your pain? He promises to deal gently with wounded sinners (Matthew 9:36 &12:20). He promises to break our bondage to generational sin and show mercy to thousands (Exodus 20:5-6). He promises that a child who grows up to serve Him, in spite of having been raised in an ungodly environment, can overcome the sins of the previous generations and live a godly life of dignity and self-respect (Ezekiel 18:14-23). He is ready to help us to purge our minds of the lies of the enemy of our souls and to replace the lies with the truth from His Word.

Do you desire to be free of the lies? If you are in the Word, you are already arming yourself to battle the lies (Ephesians 6:14-17). We are no longer helpless; the truth from God’s Word is a mighty power that cuts through the lies that chain us to our sins. The Son wants to make us free and bring us to true freedom (John 8:32 & 36).

SCRIPTURE: Write what each of these verses or passages means to you and your situation.

 

I Timothy 1:12-17

 

Romans 14:22 (Please put this in the context of verses 13-23.)

Luke 3:8

Luke 14:25-33

Proverbs 9:8-11

STUDY GUIDE

 

  1. Overcoming any addictive sin involves facing pain. Confronting the pain may lessen our enthusiasm for overcoming. Why is facing the pain worthwhile (Romans 5:3-5)?
  1. Why do we need to confess our sins to God when He already knows what we have done?
  1. On a scale of 1-10, how easy or hard is it for you to confess to God when you recognize a sin in your life (1 is hardest, 10 is easiest)? Please explain your answer.
  1. What fruits of repentance do you see in your own life (Matthew 3:8 & Galatians 5:22-23)?
  1. What does James 5:16 tell us to do? Do you find that easy or hard?
  1. Do you have someone in your life to whom you can confess your sins? If so, what do you find most helpful about that relationship?
  1. From what you have learned in the Keys so far, what lies have you discovered that you once believed, but that you believe no longer? Feel free to write on the back side if necessary.
  1. What are some of the beliefs that you have gained since you started the Keys, which you did not used to believe or did not recognize as true? Feel free to write on the back side if necessary.
  1. How did the discoveries that you mentioned in #7 and #8 change your behavior, speech, and attitudes toward yourself and others? In what way did you become more obedient to the will of Christ? Feel free to write on the back side if necessary.
  1. Did you notice any blessings of obedience as a result of the changes you mentioned in #9? If so, please share.
  1. On a scale of 1-10, how victorious have you been lately? Please explain your answer.
  1. Did you use any memorized Scripture to battle temptation lately? What was the result?
  1. How is your spiritual life in general, how are your private devotions, and how are things at your church/fellowship group?

Plan of Action: