Simply Uncaged

If you don’t transform from it, you will transfer it.

It's time to recover our heart & minds...

Recover - return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

We must go through this process to fully be healed of the past.

You go through:
Surgery
Healing process
Healed

Recognize you need to heal.
Release that to God.
Renew your mind.
Recover season.

Surgery - When you go through a surgery, no one but 'specialists' are allowed in the operation room.

Whenever anybody enters the operation room that is not a specialist... it may contaminate what the doctor is doing during the surgery.

Be mindful who is around when you're vulnerable & God is doing a spiritual surgery on your heart.

Healing process - While we are healing we may have to wear a cast or a wheelchair during recovery season...

And we have to be able to make sure we take it 'easier'. If we're on a wheelchair we shouldn't be running but slowly getting back to walking.

This is how you should move spiritually.

Healed - Being healed doesn't mean your never going to get hurt again, it just means you won't react the same again when you do get hurt. That hurt will no longer have control over you.

To know you've truly been healed means that you don't have a desire to cut those that cut you.

Jesus is our Healer.

We must recognize He is the one that can heal us... but the question is do you have any unbelief.

We're going to read the same story from different accounts in the gospel to see the perspectives of this story.

Read the following verses (Mark 9:17-29)
Read the following verses (Luke 9:37-42)

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. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:14-21)

12 Keys on what to do after deliverance:

1. Yield to the Lordship of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in all areas of your life.
2. Stay humble.
3. Put God first.
4. Meditate on the word day and night. Look up scriptures that pertain to what you have been delivered from. It is important to have a word to be able to resist the devil. Example: if you were delivered from the spirit of fear. Look up all the scriptures on fear and memorize them. And when the enemy tries to bring any situation or thoughts of fear. You have the word to say, as it is written in 1 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.”
5. Know who you are in Christ.
6. Pray without ceasing.
7. Turn away from all occult and any idolatry.
8. Get rid of things in your house that can cause an open door. Any decorations, artifacts, clothes, photos or any items that does not honor Jesus.
9. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a church that is biblically based, spirit filled and led by the Holy Spirit.
10. Attend Bible studies regularly.
11. Continue to live a life of Holiness, Righteousness, and Reverence to God.
12. Study the power and authority that you have as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What are the best characteristics of a faithful friend? 

Reading from the book of Daniel Chapter 3, these are 4 characteristics we have found and notes we have written about Daniel friends' Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:

🕊 1.) They had faith & fear for God.
- They decided to obey the True God and not the false god whom everyone was being taught to worship.
- They believed in their God who will deliver them through the fire and the accusations from people. 
- A person with a true heart for God will not fear when heat comes. 

🕊 2.) They were willing to endure difficult situations. 
- They pressed forward through a season when their faith was being tested. 
- They had a loyal heart and a willing mind for God.

🕊 3.) Unity even through hardships.
Daniel 3:18
- They did not give up on God and their relationship with each other.
- Trials not just made their faith stronger but made their friendship together stronger. 

🕊 4.) Their obedience to God leads to fruitfulness. 
Daniel 3:30 
- Humility before God leads to promotion. 
- Their boldness in faith leads people to trust and follow their God. 

How To Have A Heart For God:

🔑 Keys on How to Have A Heart for God:
1.) Focus.
2.) We must guard the eyes and the ear gates.
3.) God’s Word. His Word heals us from trauma or abuse.

🔑 1 - Focus.
Having a heart and eyes focus on the Lord.

Depending on every season you are called for, there are different ways you may focus on the Lord.

Some ways we can focus on the Lord, is by closing or cutting out distractions, social media, or notifications from your phone (if possible) to replace them by spending time with God.

“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

As you focus on God, trust God through the process and continue to meditate on His Word.

Here are scriptures to help you focus on the Lord:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
- Philippians 4:8

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 6:21

Remember, the Word of God has the answers. The Word of God is Spirit, and you can turn to Him no matter how difficult the struggles and the trials you may be facing.

🔑 2 - Guard your eyes and ear gates.
We must guard our eyes and ears in the Spirit.

To guard your eyes and ears in the Spirit, there must be healthy discipline and boundaries to be made.

One way is by examining what you are consuming through social media, environments you are in, and people you surround yourself with.

What you consume, is what you create. Whatever comes into your mind, comes to your heart.

Examine and check your heart, is there any unforgiveness, hurt, bitterness, or things you must let go of?

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for what He wants to reveal to you that you must to let go of. Repent and turn away from what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

🔑 3 - God’s Word.
God’s Word cleanses us and delivers us.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is a seed. And seeds needs to be watered. When you water the Word of God in your life, the seeds starts to grow deeper in your life.

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.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Matthew 22:37-39

Remember, speak and proclaim God’s Word and truth over your life. Proclamation is one of the weapons to go against the enemy. In Jesus Name!

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Abiding in God’s presence prevents us from falling into feelings of burnout. 

3 benefits of abiding in Christ: 

Bearing fruit that glorifies the Lord (John 15:4-8, 11)
True rest in His presence (Matthew 11:28-30)
Protection and peace that surpasses all understanding (Psalm 91, Philippians 4:6-8)

There’s a balance between spending time to hear from the Lord and taking action in faith to carry out the assignment at hand.

James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

In Luke 10:38-42, we see the difference between striving in our own strength and abiding in the presence of Jesus. 

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Given the historical context at the time, the expectation and norm was women would serve, prepare dinners, take care of the household tasks, etc. Martha’s questioning of why Mary wasn’t helping her was reasonable for that time but what condition of heart was she asking these questions from? 

Martha invited Jesus into her house but proceeded to be consumed with the action of everything she was doing instead of being present with Jesus. She allowed herself to be distracted with serving and preparing. Meanwhile, Mary chose to be present with Jesus at His feet and listen to what He was sharing. Feelings of burnout is a warning sign that you need to get into the presence of God.

The one thing that can not be taken away from us is the secret time we spend in His presence and the relationship that we have with the Lord. 

A great question we get to ask ourselves is: Am I striving out of my own strength to serve? OR am I abiding in Christ so He is my strength in all that I do to serve? Who are you trying to get approval from? God or man?

To strive means to go to great extents/efforts to obtain something or a result. Pushing flesh leads to burnout. When that’s done out our own strength, it results in feelings of exhaustion, burnout, comparison, complaining, etc. 

To abide means to remain, to continue to be present, and endure. As we remain and continue in the presence of the Lord, He provides us with the strength to serve Him with joy in all that we do. 

You’re a child of God before any position or title. 

Serving in ministry is a great thing but we need to prioritize spending time in the presence of God with our secret time. 

By prioritizing time with Him, He provides us with the strength, wisdom and strategy on how we need to move and serve in ministry. 

When we abide in Christ, He give us the true joy to continue to do it all things for His glory. 

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Abiding signifies a permanent position — to remain, continue, endure

Christians receive Jesus, disciples remain in Jesus.

To abide in Christ is choosing to prioritize our relationship with Him over anything else in our lives.

Surrender and willingness to change is how we can remain and continue in our relationship with the Lord and let His word renew our minds.

As we continue in our relationship with God, there will be seasons of pruning that helps us mature spiritually and bear more fruit.

By taking that next step in continuing and remaining in our relationship with God helps us cultivate the gifts and talents He’s given us.

Each of us has a different assignment and calling on our life. God has given each one grace

Keys to abiding in Christ:

Fasting & prayer 
Fasting is an intentional & willful desire to abstain from the pleasures of this world for a spiritual purpose. It helps us cut out the noise of the world to focus on the Lord and hear from Him.

Prayer is simply talking with God, communing with Him and seeking His guidance and counsel.

James 4:8; Isaiah 58; Ezra 8:21; Matthew 17:21; Eph 6:10-18; Galatians 2:20, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Meditate on His word day & night
Prepare a scripture emergency kit to overcome thoughts/feelings/emotions contrary to God’s word [anxiety, depression, discouragement, anger, etc]

Psalm 1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Philippians 4:8

Speak life over yourself - proclaim the truth & God’s promises
Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Hebrews 4:12

Fellowship with equally yoked believers
Healthy community in Christ is important to our spiritual growth.
The enemy wants us to isolate but God has created us to have fellowship and community.

Ecc 4:9-10; Psalm 1 (godly vs ungodly counsel); 2 Corinthians 6:14; Proverbs 27:17

Suicidal thoughts can come to anyone. Even a man or woman of God.

Here are a few people in the Bible who struggled with suicidal thoughts:

Elijah
Jonah
Judas
Saul

Don’t think you’re alone.

We must understand that this is a spiritual attack.

It’s a dark spirit that wants to impregnate the mind with thoughts of depression, anxiety, fear, and weariness. 

Suicide can come from unworthiness, overwhelm, and exhaustion just to name a few.

We have to remember God’s promises when battling the spirit of suicide:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:28)

God is using the circumstance for His greater purpose. Every thing the enemy meant for evil God will use it for good.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

Weariness is only for a season. Keep on doing good. Keep on pursing God. God will turn things around in due season. Commit your mind, heart, and soul to worshipping Him.

“He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” 
(Isaiah 40:29-31)

5 keys to battling the spirit of suicide:

1. Don’t do it alone. Open up to someone. Share your struggles with godly counsel so they can pray for you

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

2. Know how much God loves you. Know Christ died for you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

3. Know that God has a purpose, a plan, and a calling for you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

4. Understand you’re in a spiritual battle. Pray against any spirit of suicide or depression.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

5. Continue to praise the Lord

“(God) consoles those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)

In Jesus name.

Suicidal thoughts can happen to anyone

Even Elijah, a powerful warrior prophet struggled with this and prayed that God would end his life. 

What happened?

Here's why one reason why Elijah struggled with suicide...

Mental Exhaustion.

Elijah just had the greatest victory of his life. 400 prophets of Baal get slain. God shows up in the form of fire and Elijah has so much excitement that he runs to his next location 25 miles away, faster than Ahab's horse. The hand of the Lord was upon Him.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. (1 Kings 19:2-3)

Before he knows it, he's running again. This time out of fear

It went from excitement and running in the spirit to fear running in the flesh for his life.

Where was the break?

Where was the private prayer time?

Where was the devotion in the secret place to get refueled?

He didn't get a chance.

Sometimes life happens fast.

We get another task or another opportunity, and we're running for God maybe because His hand is upon us or maybe because we're scared we won't be able to pay rent

Either way, we need to rest in His presence

Without His presence we will get exhausted, feel burnt out, or pray that it would all just end

Pray after victory. Pray after what the enemy wants you to believe is defeat. Pray to God. Seek His face. Rest in His presence. 

The enemy doesn't want you to bear the fruit of the Spirit

Jesus is the true vine

He says in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Without Jesus we can do nothing.

Don't do it alone. Do it with Jesus. Find community. Talk through these thoughts with others

Let's look at how God responds to Elijah after he prays prayers of death

Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. (1 Kings 19:5)

God sent an Angel to bake him a cake and he took a nap.

It's ok to rest.

Who's ministry is it really? Who's bank account is it? Who's business it? Who's job is it? Who is the provider?

Is it you or God?

Let Him sustain you. Watch out for the works of the flesh and selfish ambition

Nurture your mind with His word and His presence. 

Eat a cake and take a nap in His presence and just be mindful if you're every slipping down the slope of exhaustion.

It should be a daily devotion. A daily surrender.

3 Keys to Overcome Exhaustion:

#1 Trust God and His promises

The enemy comes to oppress and destroy. In these times we need to trust the Angel and the Word God sends to us.

#2 Be able to openly receive God's blessings

The cake was a blessing. The nap was a blessing. God sends help. Be open to receive it

#3 Press into His promise

Elijah got up and pressed back into God's calling because he knew the journey ahead was great. Get rest and keep on going. You have a purpose. God will guide you.

God bless you and thanks for watching.

It’s either the Holy Spirit or not.

There are different spirits during these end times to try to infiltrate the church of Jesus Christ.

Exposing these spirits is not to scare us but prepare us.

What is the spirit of this age?

 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (Ephesians 2:2)

4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:4)

When they preach a different gospel or a different Jesus.. it comes from a different spirit.

These wicked spirits are here with strategies & tactics to come against God’s children.

Ephesians 6 talks about the armor of God how we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against dark principalities & powers.

7 wicked spirits we’ll be covering today that are warring against the church of Jesus Christ.

Spirit of the AntiChrist
Spirit of Leviathan (Pride)
Spirit of Jezebel (Witchcraft - manipulation, intimidation,  domination)
Spirit of Lust
Spirit of Deception
Spirit of Python (Divination through soothsaying & fortune-telling)
Spirit of Religion

Spirit of the antichrist

3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:3)

Spirit of leviathan

34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.” (Job 41:34)

16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:16-17)

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Spirit of Jezebel

20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:20)

Spirit of lust

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)

Spirit of deception

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

Spirit of python

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. (Acts 16:16)

Spirit of religion

John 8 the woman caught up in adultery got confronted by religious folks which was used to test Jesus.

The Pharisee's got indoctrinated to something that became man made... they saw Jesus in the flesh but did not know He was God.

A successful business reveals a wise owner.

An obedient child reveals a sharp parent.

A strong church flock reveals a quality pastor.

When you see a fruitful harvest, acknowledge the sower!

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

In order to ‘know them by their fruit’ we must:

#1 Be filled with the Holy Spirit to discern

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:18-19)

Do not be ‘drunk’ with the worldly ways and perspective but be filled with the Spirit to effectively discern between good fruit and fake fruit.

One of the prerequisites to being filled with the Holy Spirit is thanksgiving.

You’ll know when something is birthed from the secret place in somebody because of the seeds that were sown into them privately and allow God to reward you and be exalted publicly.

In order for us to bear fruit that glorifies God publicly, we need to spend time with God privately. 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:7-8)

#2 Focus on people’s character, their function in serving the body of Christ, and how they will be used for the glory of God

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

#3 Understand the process of how seeds are planted and harvested

Everybody’s path to fruitfulness in the Lord varies.

Experiences and trials to a fruitful season differ.

Seed, Soil, Season

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9)

When you are surrounded by other believers producing fruit, the Holy Spirit inspires you to get deeper with the Lord so you can produce fruit according to your gifts and anointing.

To be fruitful it’s staying faithful to what God has called and anointed you for.

There's a powerful seed within you.

What's the seed?

it's the word of God

It's the word that God planted in your heart.

It's your calling, your purpose, and who God says you are.

It's that word God used to heal and deliver you.

The enemy knows the power of the seed that comes from above.

This is why he'll do anything to uproot that seed out of your heart

The enemy will send an assignment against that seed.

To destroy it, to confuse it, to choke it so it becomes unfruitful

What are the 3 main assignments the devil uses to destroy the seed within you?

They're found in Mark chapter 4

18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18)

Three assignments against the seed:

#1 Cares of this world

What are "cares"? The word means to divide the mind in the greek. A care of this world is ANYTHING that divides your mind away from God, His Word, His calling, and His purpose for you. 

It could be everyday anxieties or worries and stress about things God has already promised He would provide for in His word.

What is dividing your attention away from heavenly things?

We have to audit our mind. We have to monitor our thoughts. We are called to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 

Be mindful of the cares of this world that try to divide you away from what truly matters. God has a greater purpose for you. Focus on that

#2 Deceitfulness of riches

The desire for more money can pull us away from our kingdom calling.

Matthew 6:33 says seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you

1 Timothy 6:6 says Godliness with contentment is great gain.

When will enough be enough? There's a difference between laboring for God and laboring for the riches of this world. One type of riches are passing away and the other are eternal riches that will be stored up in heaven for you on the final day.

Audit your pursuits and be mindful of why you do what you do. Stay focused on the Kingdom of God.

#3 Desires for other things

Another example of something that can pull us away from the Kingdom of God.

The Bible warns us of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

We must have our priorities straight. God first. Then everything else is second. 

Watch out for the lusts of the flesh because it's cravings never end. 

Enjoy your portion, dwell in your lot, be satisfied, and build for the Kingdom of God.

In Jesus name.

God bless you and thanks for listening