I’ve brought with me today something that has significantly impacted my life over the last year. (holding up the workbook ‘Keys to Freedom’ )
The ‘Keys to Freedom’ course workbook can be used by the individual or a group. One of the recognised purposes of the course is to free Christians so that His Church is empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The 8-week course is a way of taking the principals of freedom, wholeness and the choices that bring change into the hands of every person. Using the Biblical tools of transformation made available by our Heavenly Father.
Each week the hour session covers the Key theme which includes the following 5 days and each day is covered in the workbook.
The nature of each of the Keys is to gain access into those areas of the participants life where freedom is needed: the tree diagram help us to identify the root cause of behavioural problems in the branches the trunk – what we believe from the Bible and about ourselves.
Bible passages. The key principal in the word is applied and as a result will release the cause and the effect, transforming behavioural patterns.
Example Story: Sylvia (not her real name) gave permission to share her story. She came to faith in Jesus after this incident below took place.
One of Sylvia’s root problems
“When I was about 8 years old an incident occurred that I hadn’t dealt with: I used to ride my bike along with five other children of a similar age on the one single dirt track road around a terrace row of 18 homes. At one end there lived a man and his son, his son had learning difficulties he was about 35 years old. We knew as children that riding our bikes past this end house annoyed the father and his son. On this particular day we rode round past his house, when the son dashed out and grabbed me by the throat wrenching me off my bike, he let go of me, and in his uncontrollable anger he shouted at us all. We as children didn’t expect him to respond in that way and we were frightened by his behaviour. I told my father and he sent for the Police and the son was warned against his actions.
What we believe about ourselves in the context of a root cause.
Sylvia said that she had blamed herself for annoying the man and his son. Over the years she occasionally noticed that she was still affected by it. She couldn’t bear anyone touching her neck area and by thinking sceptically about herself, she put herself down, and made excuses for peoples’ behaviour towards her, she would say, ‘O it doesn’t matter.’ Behaviour patterns – fear, unworthiness and passivity
Realising the root cause and what we have believed about ourselves ties in with our behaviour patterns, takes us to the next step.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8: 1
There is no condemnation for those in Christ, Jesus had already dealt with Sylvia’s sin when she came to faith in Christ some years before. But as John wrote in his first letter, “My little children, I am writing to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous.”1 John 2: 1.
Sylvia brought it before the Lord and repented for causing the annoyance to the son, but also recognising that his retaliation was wrong and it was in her power to forgive the sons actions against her.
Have faith in God Our roots need to be fed by God’s word, His presence and His power. The roots of abandonment, rejection, fear, anger, shame, guilt, bitterness and unworthiness will never be able to produce healthy fruit. We may be able to keep the branches trimmed back by our will power and resources, but a tree without branches produces no fruit at all. Its bare, lifeless and not fulfilling its potential and purpose. It’s like the fig tree that bore no fruit withered up from its’ roots. Jesus revealed that it was the outward sign of a corrupted law system that was no longer fit for purpose. Jesus cleansed the temple by forcibly removing the things that made it a worldly place. In our lives Jesus will free us from all unrighteousness through faith in him. Mark 11: 12-20.
Jesus tells us to have faith in God and the hurts and pains will be removed from our body, soul and spirit.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[a] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11: 24, 25.
The course Bible passages key principal is applied; Jeremiah 17: 7, 8. “Blessed is the man/woman who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream and who does not fear when heat comes for its’ leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
“”The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5: 22, 23.
Through the ‘Keys to Freedom’ course the Holy Spirit’s ministry to Sylvia, she is now set free from the effects of the root problem and the condemnation in believing she was totally at fault for the incident. Forgiveness for her part and for the son’s sin in the incident has released her into total freedom.
I shared how the Lord has used this ‘Keys to Freedom course to release me, as the Holy Spirit has brought things to my attention during this course and afterwards.
I’ve been healed of several personal things in my childhood and adult life. Being free has resulted in receiving another anointing 21st July 2019.
Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope for the future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me; You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart.”.
I whole-heartedly recommend this course for every Christian.
Mercy UK ‘Keys to Freedom’ Course. www.mercyuk.org