Simply Uncaged

Dysfunction is this abnormal impairment that doesn't function according to its original function.

& God created us a certain way to function according to the original kingdom design in His image.

Dysfunction tries to hinder or stop us from God's original design on our life.

Dysfunction is confusion.
Dysfunction opens doors to demons.
Dysfunction blurs discernment.

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. (Matthew 17:14-21)

This boy was labeled an epileptic.

Epilepsy was your modern day cancer.

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” (Mark 9:14-17)

This same story with the boy is labeled a mute spirit.

Why does the enemy attack during childhood?

Because it's easier for the enemy to plant a seed in childhood and water it into adulthood.

21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Mark 9:21-22)

When Jesus casted that demon out, He called it a deaf and dumb spirit.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:25-27)

What is that confusion?
That untreated pain or trauma that triggers or activates fear.

How does dysfunction start?
Early pressure in early childhood
Emotional shock
Sinful acts or habits
Words said over your life

Dysfunction opens doors to demons.
Doubt is a demon.

The enemy always wants us to doubt God's promises.

Dysfunction blurs discernment

Not trusting the right people because we believed the wrong people.

Questions you must ask yourself to heal...

Who do I need to forgive?
What do I need to let go of?
What do I need to continue to label myself?
How do you see yourself?

How to truly heal from dysfunction?

#1 Decide to heal.

Healing gives you choices.

When I'm hurt, I can't love, that's why I must decide to heal.

#2 Deep love for God.

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37)

When I have a deep love for God I can love myself.

When I have a deep love for God I can love others.

Love so much from God that I can receive instruction, correction & rebuke from Him.

#3 Discipleship from the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship is instruction from God.

Our obedience to God is how we get discipled by Him

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Whatever you build without God, you must maintain without God.

Make sure you build WITH God!

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

As we read the first couple chapters in the book of Nehemiah with 'rebuilding the wall'. You will notice a strategy & the attacks that come his way.

When Nehemiah heard about the wall of Jerusalem was broken... he prayed & fasted.

3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 6:3)

Nehemiah couldn't rebuild the wall alone.

He had help... and people were positioned!

(Nehemiah 4:16-18)

Notice how they had a tool in one hand, & a weapon in the other hand.

They were BUILDING & BATTLING.

The way to rebuild in the seasons ahead... you build but when it's time to war, you battle!

Nehemiah has a spirit of conspiracy (Sanballat & Tobiah) & a spirit of fear come against him (secret informer)... (Nehemiah 6)

While you're in your REBUILDING season, these tactics from the enemy try to COME.

While the enemy spoke "DEATH", Nehemiah spoke "LIFE" & even prayed for God to "strengthen his hands". 

9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:9)

The enemy wants to distract you with threats and speaking words over your labor...but you MUST continue to focus on God.

While they try to 
discourage you, 
discredit you, 
conspire against you,
lie about you,
bring fear to you,
KEEP FOCUSING ON JESUS!

Nehemiah was too busy rebuilding the Jerusalem wall, he had not time to go on a coffee date with the very people who are called to harm him. (They sent him several letters to meet him).

If the enemy can't get to you, they will hire people who can get to you.

This is why this secret informer was hired by them to come against Nehemiah.

(Nehemiah 6:10-13)

How to discern this secret informer?

Who's payroll on they on?

If they are not SOLD OUT for Jesus they are still ON SALE for the devil.  

And once Nehemiah said 'no', he got revelation that God did not send this person!

Rebuild your relationship with God.
Rebuild your business.
Rebuild your marriage.
Rebuild your mindset.
Rebuild your boundaries.

It's a REBUILDING SEASON!

May God be GLORIFIED as you finish the assignment the Lord placed in you and on you.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16)

Here are five keys to rebuilding.
#1 Word Bank Account
#2 Atmospheres & environments
#3 Access points & boundaries
#4 Emotional hygiene
#5 God's presence

You want to produce more for God?

It begins with hearing, understanding, and acting upon God’s word.

This is a revelation coming from the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

Your heart is the soil. The seed is the word of God.

Not every seed lands on good soil.

Producing more for God is a heart check. Your heart is God’s main concern.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

God wants all of you.

God wants your heart and He’s seeking for those who are after His heart.

Producing one hundredfold begins with hearing.

How are you hearing? Or what lens are you hearing the word of God from?

If you’re hearing it from the lens of the prosperity gospel you’ll be thinking about your bank account and selfish ambitions every time you hear the word of God.

If you have a narcissistic mindset every time you hear God’s word you’ll think it’s about you.

God’s word, Kingdom plan, and purposes aren’t about you. They’re about Jesus. 

The Bible is about Jesus and His glory. Not your own.

Can you get a personal revelation from the word of God? Of course. It should convict us, instruct us, lead us, guide us, and teach us as we get revelation from the Holy Spirit. But every book of the Bible is about Jesus and His plan to be glorified in the earth. God’s plan to redeem His people back unto a right relationship with Him.

2 Keys to produce 100fold for God:

1. How you hear
2. The condition of your heart

9 Wrong lenses to hear from:

1. Worry - God commands us not to worry about our lives. He is our provider.
2. Fear - God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
3. Anxiety - God tells us to be anxious for nothing, but pray over everything.
4. Lack of faith - Faith is a key to receive God’s promises and operate in kingdom purpose.
5. Religious mindset - God wants more than your righteous robe and your religious act, He wants your heart and a real relationship with Him
6. Accusation - The devil is known as the accuser of the brethren who accuses believers day and night.
7. Condemnation - God doesn’t condemn. God convicts. Condemnation leads us away from God. Conviction inspires us to become more like Jesus.
8. Selfish ambition - The Bible is about God’s plan to prosper His kingdom, not yours.
9. Legalism - We are no longer under the Old Testament law. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives us life. And when we follow the ways of the Spirit, He will lead us into life.

7 Right ways to hear:

1. Humility - God gives more grace to the humble. But He resists the proud ears.
2. Purity - The pure in heart will be able to see and hear God’s word.
3. Fear of the Lord - The fear of God removes every ungodly fear of this world. It helps us operate in boldness and purpose for Him.
4. Submissiveness - God is looking for those who will submit their lives to Him. You can’t hear a revelation God knows you won’t submit to.
5. Faith - You must believe God! He is not a man that He should lie.
6. Relationship - A real relationship produces holiness, humility, and a hunger for God.
7. God’s character - It’s essential to have a proper understanding of God’s character when hearing His word, instructions and teaching. God is a God of love who loves us, but He is also a righteous judge that will pour out wrath in righteous judgement. 

Jesus warns the disciples of these 2 hearing issues:

1. Hearing the perfect Teacher wrongly 

When you’re hearing from the wrong lens it will lead you the wrong way. The disciples failed to recognize that Jesus was the Bread of Life and the Provider in the wilderness. Their hardened hearts produced a hearing problem and an inability to receive what He was teaching them.

2. Hearing

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Where is the most powerful place to pray?

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:5-8)

Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

He also mentions "when" we pray. 

Meaning we are expected to pray.

Jesus is not saying that we can't pray publicly, it's prayers that come from the heart.

It's not praying to perform, but praying with a pure heart.

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God looks at the heart!

So what does it mean when Jesus tells us to go into our room when we pray?

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6)

That word "room", another translation says "closet", is Tameion in Greek.

Tameion - storage chamber, store room, inner chamber, secret room.

When you go into your room shut the door.

Did you know the heart has 4 chambers?

What is the Lord is telling us we need to go into the inner chambers of our heart when we pray?

God wants our heart!

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

What your heart is tied to becomes your identity.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Purity attracts God.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

When we pray, its a heart check.

It's not about a long prayer, it's about a prayer that is passionate, operative & desires for the Lord to truly move.

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

Fervent - to be operative, to be at work, put forth power, display one's activity.

Here are 10 truths around prayer;

#1 When you're prayerful, you're powerful.

#2 Prayer changes things, without prayer, things change you.

#3 If bae don't pray, bae ain't bae.

#4 Some people pray, some people pray.

#5 Prayer can move faster than your flesh.

#6 If it's big enough to worry about, it's big enought o pray about.

#7 Pray with me, don't play with me.

#8 What you're praying for requires both discipline & consistency.

#9 Get on your knees & pray, then get on your feet and work.

#10 Thank God for living prayers you've prayed for.

There's a story of a man of God that was once asked "What do you get when you pray".

& the man of God answered: "Nothing, but let me tell you what I lose..."

"I lose anxiety, fear, depression, doubt, unbelief, suicidal thoughts..."

Sometimes it's not always about what we GAIN, but what we LOSE.

25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25)

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What if the problem is not the person but the patterns they are thinking?

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. (Romans 12:2)

The same patterns in a different person is the same thing just packaged differently.

13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:13-14)

The enemy has patterns in how he speaks.

The Lord has patterns in how He speaks.

We MUST hold FAST the patterns of SOUND WORDS!

As the Israelites are transitioning out of Egypt into wilderness on their way to promise land... they adapted a language that they carried as they left.

Never allow a past language hinder your current moment into God's promises.

It was a pattern of speaking that hindered them to get into promise quicker.

What patterns do you continue to mimick from a season of bondage or a moment of trauma?

These patterns of thinking, keep us bound.

But the Lord wants to set us free!

17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)

12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12)

4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:4-6)

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

(Joshua 5:10-12)

How to transform these patterns?

How to change your mind?

Change your appetite.
Change your attitude.
Change your actions.

Appetite is what you consume.

Attitude is how you see it.

Actions is what you plant & how you water it.

#1 Steward seeds.

Know that your thoughts are seeds. Not every thought is true. Know how to steward thoughts & seeds.

#2 Renovations require a down payment.

The new you will cost the old you.

Whenever a renovation needs to take place, you must tear down the hold to be able to renovate and put new things in a home.

They talk to the old you because they are the old them.

#3 Don't allow the enemy to lease space in your mind.

No covenants with counterfeits.

Some people allow the enemy to live in their mind rent free.

We need to learn to rebuke the lies and thoughts of the devil.

To cast down every stronghold in Jesus name.

Fill your mind up with God's word the enemy doesn't fill you up with his lies.

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7 KEYS ON FRIENDSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT:
 
#1 BE BORN AGAIN 
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

#2 ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS A PERSON 
The Holy Spirit is not a force or a feeling, He is a person. He has a mind (Romans 8:27), will (1 Corinthians 12:11), can feel emotions (Ephesians 4:30), and can be lied to (Acts 5:3). We must acknowledge that He is a person and treat Him as such.

 #3 ACKNOWLEDGE HE IS WITH YOU

The Holy Spirit is not a reward for being a good Christian………He is the only way you can become one. He will faithfully abide with you at all times. By acknowledging this, you will be accepting the truth that God is with you in every situation. It is difficult to develop friendship with a person whose existence you don’t acknowledge.

#4 BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD OVER FEELINGS
While it is true that God can manifest His presence in a tangible way (2 Chronicles 5:13-14), we must let our faith rule over our feelings. There may be seasons in life where you don’t feel His presence, or it may feel like He is a million miles away, but we have to believe the Word of God even if we don’t “feel” anything. The Word says that he is always with you, so you must believe it over your current situation.

#5 DON’T BE LEGALISTIC
Sometimes we get a little legalistic in the way we approach God. There is no way for you to muster up a relationship with God based upon your own righteousness, but we can have connection with God because of the blood of Jesus. There is no special prayer, special posture, special song, or special religious practice in you building your relationship with the Holy Spirit. It is simple faith, obedience, and acknowledgement.

#6 DON’T GRIEVE HIM
We can grieve the Holy Spirit by our actions (Ephesians 4:30). Knowing that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) we have to live our lives in reverence of Him. Our actions directly affect Him. When you decide to act in rebellion against God, think about what you are doing with the Holy Spirit’s hands, eyes, mouth, and so forth. You are dragging the Holy Spirit along in your sin and it can hinder you building trust with God. Whatever you do, don’t grieve Him.

#7 OBEY HIM
There was one common factor in those who were referred to as God’s friends in the Bible: Obedience. You cannot go any further from fellowship with God unless you obey HIm. Jesus’ disciples, whom he called friends, faithfully listened to Him and obeyed Him. If you want to be God’s friend, the most important step is obedience.