the search for significance - the search

1. the search for significance -the search Anchor of Hope Healing Rooms

2. the false beliefs - performance • I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself. • I must have the approval of certain others to feel good about myself. • Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished. • I am what I am. I cannot change. I’m hopeless.

3. the search Who are you? What do you think when you think about yourself? Your answers to these questions reveal two things about you: • How well do you live with yourself and others? • How well are you fairing in the spiritual war that you find yourself in?

4. the search Another way of thinking about this is: • What value does your life have? • What meaning does your life have? • How do you determine your meaning, purpose, and worth?  Our understanding of our identity determines whether we are useful in this battle or whether we live our lives as casualties.

5. the search  God has allowed war to continue on earth between Himself and Satan with those who accept Christ expected to exercise dominion over Satan and his demons. Most do not know they are at war. • It began when Lucifer rebelled against God. God sent those loyal to Him to clear heaven of Lucifer and the third of the angels that followed him. • After Adam rebelled and followed Satan, Satan became the god of this world. • Christ defeated Satan at the cross.

6. the search This is why it requires a supernatural intervention in our lives for us to accept our new identity.  I am addressing those who already have accepted Christ. • God says – You are who I have declared you to be! • At creation, I spoke and the worlds came into existence. • When you accepted Christ as your Savior, I declared you to be a new creation. You now have a new identity.

7. satan’s equation Identity = Performance + Other’s Opinions • Satan says: You are what you do plus what others think of you. Other’s Opinions + Performance = False Identity

8. the search “Identity = Performance + Other’s Opinions” creates the following foundational heart beliefs: • I must meet certain standards to have value and be able to accept myself. • I must have the approval of others in order to accept myself. • Those who fail should be punished. • I am what I am. I cannot change.

9. the formula BELIEF SITUATION THOUGHTS EMOTIONS BEHAVIOR let’s unpack it

10. the search How universal is this phenomena? • It is total. No matter what culture you examine you find it in it’s various forms. • Satan’s plan is to trap every person in this formula so that even if they were to accept Christ, they would never live in their true identity. • The Christian who knows their true identity is the only threat to Satan’s activities. • Unfortunately, there are only a few who understand who they are.

11. God’s Antidote First, He declares what is true of His children. Then, He has a clear process of how to defeat these satanically inspired false beliefs and replace them with His truth.

12. our goals • First, an ongoing defense • As situations occur and beliefs are triggered, we need to recognize when our emotions are alerting us that something is wrong and that we are basing our thinking on the Satanic formula. • Immediately we want to reject the thoughts as true and the beliefs as acceptable.

13. The Scriptural basis for what we are doing, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4,5 • Second, we want to seek out and destroy the false beliefs so we no longer need to struggle with them.

14. Jesus said, “Let whoever is without sin, cast the first stone.” – John 8:7

15. the formula BELIEF SITUATION THOUGHTS EMOTIONS BEHAVIOR let’s unpack it

16. our identity in Christ

17. Because of Christ’s redemption, I am a new creation of infinite worth. I am deeply loved, I am completely forgiven, I am fully pleasing, I am totally accepted by God, I am absolutely complete in Christ.

18. When my performance reflects my true identity in Christ, That reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another person like me in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made me an original, one of a kind, really somebody.

19. for next week Pray before you begin for God’s revelation Read Chapter Three (pp 25-40 ) in the book Complete Step Three (pp 187-196) in back of book Bring one performance situation to share

20. fyi • Each week’s homework will be uploaded to the website, www.anchorhealingtc.com, accessible by password: Search2 www.anchorhealingtc.com

21. Prayer & Counseling • If you feel in need of prayer, Anchor of Hope Healing Room teams will be available after class for 15-30 minutes • The Healing Room is open Saturdays, 10:30-12:30 • Group counseling may be available after class if a minimum of 8 people sign up (12 max). Cost is $5 per person • Sissy Landry provides private counseling by appointment. Donation is $25/hour. Contact Sissy at 409-945-3208.

22. Anchor of Hope Healing Rooms • Sissy Landry, Director • ANCHOR OF HOPE HEALING ROOMS • 2205 26th St N, Texas City, 77590 • 409-945-3208 • anchorofhopetc@gmail.com • www.anchorhealingtc.com • Open Saturdays, 10:30 – 12:30, by appointment