Elephants – Week 5 (8-25-24)
Elephants
I Have Problems
August 25, 2024
I have problems!
Patterns create ruts
Unhealthy Patterns create unwanted ruts
Why can’t I stop?
Try to hide It…
Genesis 3:7-10
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
Fig leaves allow us to control what others see.
We fear the consequences of confession far more than we fear the consequences of concealment.
Genesis 3:21
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
When we hide from God we are hiding from our healer.
Try to heal it…
Meditation
Motivation
- Matthew 23:25-26
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Medication
Surrender it…
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Charis: Unmerited goodwill and favor of God
The same grace that saves you is the same grace that sustains you.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…
- Relinquish Control
- Find Forgiveness
- Change the Pattern
Until we fear the consequences of concealment far more than we fear the consequences of confession, we will never find healing.
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.