1. Transformational Ministry Part 1. Spiritual Healing All Bible quotations are NKJV unless otherwise noted.

2. Goals of Teaching Series To learn to participate with the Holy Spirit in our sanctification To experience victory over stubborn sin areas To learn how to help each other through the transformation process To learn practical skills for reconciliation

3. Harmony between God and Man Gen. 1:26-27 26. Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …. 27. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Gen. 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

4. Man is a Communal Being Gen. 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him. Key points: –God is communal –Man was first created to have communion with God –Something is not good in Gods creation Man communed with God, but it was not enough Man is incomplete by himself Man was created with a communal nature

5. Fragmented World Gen. 3:7, 8, 12 7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 12. Then the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.

6. What is Spiritual Healing? Finding Biblical solutions to lifes problems in such a way as to bring transformation of the life (acts, attitudes, and affections) into service dedicated to the Kingdom of God.

7. Key Verses on Healing Matt. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Rom. 12:1-2 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Gal. 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

8. The Normal Christian Life 2 Cor. 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

9. Transformation is a Work that is Never Done Phil. 3:13-14 13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We should not be content with years with no new ascents

10. Where Not to Find Healing There is no little green pill for instant maturity Best-selling how-to books in Christian stores –Transformation is not done in seven easy steps –Theres no substitute for the power of God –Discipline in our lives is good, but its not healing –Filled with individualism Its a cultural bias Self-worth, self-esteem movement in Christianity Cannot achieve healing by focusing on self!

11. Where Not to Find Healing (contd) Books following pop psychology –They use words like codependency, dysfunctional family, enabling Where are these words in the Bible? –We fall into the trap of Jer. 2:13 For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisternsbroken cisterns that can hold no water. –Applying Scripture is hard Often the Bible says what to do but not how

12. Where Not to Find Healing (contd) Professional help –Humanistic solutions just dont work –My uncle was a professional psychiatrist: it wrecked his marriage and children –Psychologists have the highest rates of divorce and suicide –Psychologists supposedly study the soul, but few believe in it –Satanic rituals like channeling are a recent fad in psychology –They wouldnt know a healed soul if they saw one A healed soul looks like Jesus!

13. Where To Find Healing Only Christ can bring healing –Need the Word and His Spirit –Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) –Christian psychologists/pastors packaging secular psychology cannot bring healing Then broken people come to church, dont get healed, leave crippled, and think Christianity doesnt work Their reality is that Gods people dont have an answer for them –But God does have an answer (More details next week)

14. Applications Have you made it to the first stage of glory? Have you become content with where you are spiritually? What stubborn sin area is keeping you from pressing forward?