Grace Fellowship Church www.GraceDoctrine.org Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Thursday, August 21, 2008

Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Memory Verse Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16

John 13:18 3) God's Omniscience does not hinder or violate human volition.

Doctrine of Betrayal

8. The Pattern of Recovery from Broken Trust

1. The outer layer - the most recent experience where we react and forget about other episodes that caused this current situation.

2. If peeled back we remember previous incidents of broken trust that lead to the current situation.

3. Peel another layer - earlier betrayal(s), even in childhood that left scar tissue of the soul that makes current betrayal(s) even more traumatic.

4. Peel another layer - inherited betrayal - the Old Sin Nature, Rom 5:12-13, the void of spiritual death leading to feeling unsafe.

Principle: Sinful man is always trying to cover up his sin and emptiness with the wrong things.

5. Peeling back more, we come to the inner core of all betrayal experiences, self-betrayal.

This is the damage we did to ourselves because of some emotional ordeal(s). We may not remember how or when, but we know that at some point we betrayed ourselves.

a) This is having norms and standards established within the heart of your soul, and at some point you crossed the line.

b) At first it was very small, insignificant or subtle, but the line was crossed.

c) Now it is much easier to keep crossing that line in bigger ways, until eventually your norms and standards are readjusted and a new line is formed far from that old line.

d) But deep in your soul, there is a faint remembrance of the old line that gnaws at your subconscious.

6. If unchecked, self betrayal becomes the norm and instead of being self confident via the old line, we become addicted to outside approval, drawing new lines every day and with every relationship.

7. This means no spiritual self-esteem, and instead we look to others (whether individuals or organizations), for our well being, our acceptance, and our love.

This disconnect in the soul sets up further betrayals from the "outside" by others.

8. We have to ask ourselves, “Is it possible that betrayal of relationship to self is the actual ‘ultimate betrayal’”?

You may even think that God has abandoned you, but in reality, many times unknowingly, we have created the disconnection because of self-betrayal…

... which is our own personal betrayal of God.

Just as Judas had a disconnect in his soul, he first betrayed self which culminated in his betrayal of the Lord.

2 Sam 12:13,“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’.

2 Sam 12:13,“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’. And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.’”

Principle: Guilt can lead to further self-betrayal.

1 Cor 8:12, “And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”

9. True healing of betrayal will take into account all these layers, leading to repentance.

A focused recovery of your daily relationship with God, through the intake and application of His Word, will lead you to build true norms and standards once again, ...

... followed by the realization of forgiveness of self and others, which then leads to self trust (being true to God and oneself).

Upper Room Discourse, Pt 200 Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, August 21, 2008 Tape # 08-058 Betrayal, Pt 6 Upper Room Discourse, Pt 200 John 13:18; 2 Sam 12:13; 1 Cor 8:12 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008