Encarnação Alliance What beliefs motivate your ministry?

Searching for significance in our ministry for God

A new creature in Christ? God has assured us that He loves us and has called us into His kingdom as His sons, friends and servants. Our worth/value is based on what His word says about our new relationship with Him, not on our performance. We are members of His family and valued, chosen and esteemed by Him.

Why do you seek the approval of men? Separated from God and His Word, people only have their abilities and opinions of others on which to base their worth People who don’t know God compare themselves with others to decide on their worth/value in our society

Self-worth = Performance + the opinions of others When we hold this view of our worth we are driven by performance to gain acceptance. This is Satan’s trap! God’s plan is for each of His children to bear His image and they are accepted in His family by the mark of His image, Christ indwelling in us!

The contrast of the two value systems! Satan’s value system = slavery to the performance for acceptance trap. This concept creates the “I have” to mentality for acceptance/value and worth. God’s value system = Christ has set us free. Even if no one else accepts you, He loves and accepts you. Christ is the source of our security. Even when we fail He accepts us. Christ in us is the basis of our worth. Being is more important than doing.

The Old Testament stories teach us about these two value systems….. Relationship with God Abel Jacob Joseph Joshua and Caleb King David Performance/status Cain Esau Joseph’s brothers The 10 other spies King Saul

What about our motives and values? Are we too mechanical in our relationship with God and others? Are we too mystical? Are too superficial? Are we ignorant – lacking in knowledge? Are we too demanding, dominating? Are we driven by fear; Fear of failure? Fear of rejection? Fear of punishment? Fear of shame? Where did we go wrong? How can we remedy these fears and experience freedom?

The fear of failure test? Use the questionnaire provided. Answer the 10 questions rating your answer from is always. 4 is sometimes. 7 is never. Add up the 10 scores. If you scored 56 to 47 fear of failure controls your responses occasionally. It is a weakness you can remedy with more assurance of God’s love for you and His acceptance of you. If you scored 46 or below you will be susceptible to criticism and relate to past experiences of failure and this will affect your decision making. If you scored 36 or below fear of failure will be a stronghold in your life that you will need to seek help for.

God’s specific solution for your fears? Fear of failure. Because of justification you are completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. You no longer have to fear failure. The result of God’s solution! Increasing freedom, a desire to pursue right things, and a greater love for Christ.

Fear of rejection test? Use the questionnaire provided. Answer the 10 questions rating you answer from is always. 4 is sometimes. 7 is never. Add up the 10 scores. If you scored 56 to 47 fear of rejection controls your responses occasionally. It is a weakness you can remedy with more assurance of God’s love for you and His acceptance of you. If you scored 46 or below you will be susceptible to rejection and relate to past experiences of rejection and this will affect your relationships making them unhealthy. If you scored 36 or below fear of rejection will be a stronghold in your life that you will need to seek help for. Your relationships will mostly based on fear and dependency.

God’s specific solution for your fears? Fear of rejection. Because of reconciliation you are totally accepted by God. You no longer have to fear of rejection. The result of God’s solution! Increasing freedom, a willingness to be open and vulnerable, able to relax around others and a willingness to take criticism. A desire to please God no matter what others think.

The fear of punishment test? Use the questionnaire provided. Answer the 10 questions rating you answer from is always. 4 is sometimes. 7 is never. Add up the 10 scores. If you scored 56 to 47 fear of punishment controls your responses occasionally. It is a weakness you can remedy with more assurance of God’s love for you and His acceptance of you. If you scored 46 or below you will be susceptible to the fear of punishment and will seek to punish others because of your past experiences of punishment and this will affect your relationships making them unhealthy and affected by guilt. If you scored 36 or below fear of punishment will be a stronghold in your life that you will need to seek help for. This unhealthy fear will rob you of your joy and peace and you will probably suffer from guilt about those you have punished unjustly.

God’s specific solution for your fears? Fear of punishment. Because of propitiation you are deeply by God. You no longer have to punishment or punish others. The result of God’s solution! Increasing freedom, patience and kindness towards others; being quick to offer and apply forgiveness. A deep love for Christ.

The shame Test? Use the questionnaire provided. Answer the 10 questions rating you answer from is always. 4 is sometimes. 7 is never. Add up the 10 scores. If you scored 56 to 47 fear of shame controls your responses occasionally. It is a weakness you can remedy with more assurance of God’s love for you and His acceptance of you. If you scored 46 or below you will be susceptible to shame and you will struggle with feelings of worthlessness and this will affect your relationship especially with God and can lead to a feeling of rejection as well. You will be reluctant to make decisions because you fell that you will probably make a wrong decision. Often people in this situation let others decide for them. If you scored 36 or below shame will be a stronghold in your life that you will need to seek help for. This unhealthy fear will rob you of your joy and peace. God can heal this wrong concept you have of yourself.

God’s specific solution for your fears? Fear of shame. Because of regeneration you are a brand new person complete in Christ. You no longer experience the pain of shame. The result of God’s solution! Christ-centred self-confidence; joy, courage, peace, and a desire to know Christ more deeply.

How did we get into these wrong motives? Bondage in these areas is possible when we; A) Entertain false beliefs B) Allow those beliefs to create destructive thoughts C) They will then develop destructive emotions D) And that will result in destructive behavior. So what is the remedy? It is a two phase process.

The two phase remedy! Obedience is first. We identify the false beliefs, acknowledge destructive thoughts and behaviour and repent of them and follow repentance with obedience Freedom is second. As we replace false beliefs with God’s truth we think healthy thoughts, resulting in healthy emotions and healthy behaviour. Another step towards holistic living is taken.

Let’s pray! Heavenly Father we have looked at ourselves and we see areas in our motives that need your help. We confess our need of your forgiveness and power if we are going to change. Thank you Lord for your unconditional acceptance of us as your children. Please speak into our hearts and minds now as we wait in your presence! ……………………………………..Let’s take time to hear the voice of the Spirit of God speaking to us. May we cooperate with Him in obedience. Change my heart O God! Thank you Lord!

Acknowledgements; The producer of this presentation is indebted to the following persons and their publishers; Neil Anderson, Zeulke and Zeulke. Christ Centred Therapy. Baker. USA. Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. Encouragement the Key to Caring. Zondervan. USA. Robert S Mc Gee. The Search for Significance. Word. USA. Kathi Mills, Broken Members, Mended Body: Building a Ministry with Love and Restoration. Regal. USA.