Soul Care Principles*
*Taken from Soul Care by Rob Reimer
1. Securing Identity: Dealing with Lies
Are you aware of any lies that you believe about yourself, others, and even God? Lies form in all of our hearts – they come from Satan, culture, our families, and ourselves. No one escapes their influence. Whatever you agree with, you give power to in your life. If you agree with the truth, the truth will set you free. If you agree with lies, lies will enslave you. We have to identify the lies, expose them to the light, and replace them with truth, so that their power is broken. In this session, we will learn how to identify lies and replace them with truth.
2. Repentance: Bringing our Shame to Jesus
Have you ever confessed a sin and not felt forgiven? Do you find yourself confessing the same sin over and over, yet you never seem to break free? Sin is not a popular word. Repentance is not a popular concept. Popular or not, it is essential to the healing of the soul. Repentance is a critical theme in Scripture. There is no entrance into the Kingdom without repentance. There is no advancement in the kingdom without repentance. We won’t get well until we are more concerned with being good than we are with looking good. Pride is the enemy of true confession and ultimate freedom. In this session, we will examine what repentance is and learn principles that will lead us to true repentance.
3. Family Sin Patterns
Have you ever made a determination to never be like your mom or dad only to find that you struggle with the same patterns that they do? It may look a little different than it did in your parents’ lives, can you see that the pattern is still there; it’s in you. Family sin patterns are often the most stubborn sin patterns to break. Our family sin patterns always affect us. We can gain victory over them, but they have an unusual pull on our souls. We have to recognize our vulnerability in these areas of our life
4. Forgiveness
What does forgiveness mean? What do we do with our feelings of anger, sorrow, and fear when we are trying to forgive? Does forgiveness always mean restoration of relationships? The Bible teaches that we need to forgive those who have sinned against us. We will never find freedom unless we are able to forgive those who have hurt us. Bitterness is like a poison to our soul. Corrie Ten Boom, who survived a World War II concentration camp, says “Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment, and the handcuffs of bitterness.” We will never find freedom without forgiving those who sin against us.
5. Healing Wounds
Whether you are aware of it or not, we all have wounds. The broken world that we live in has left its mark on us, and our wounds affect us adversely. Jesus died on the cross, not only to take up our sins, but to heal our soul wounds. He wants to make us whole. Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
6. Overcoming Fears
Most people are surprised to hear that the single most common command of Scripture is: “Fear not, for I am with you.” God’s love for us is so deep, and His desire is that we would trust Him. Fear is a tool of the enemy to keep us from freedom and fullness in Christ. Our fears keep us from the peace and joy that God has promised to give us. In our fear we frequently sin since we fail to follow God.
7. The Ministry of Deliverance
Many of us grew up with a modern worldview believing that the spirit world did not interact with the natural world. But the current worldview is rapidly changing. People are not only open to the spirit world interacting with the natural world, but many are engaging in practices that open them up to darkness. Spirits have always been a part of the Biblical worldview. Deliverance is a Biblical concept. Jesus did it and taught his disciples to do it and we ought to be doing it too. Deliverance is a major part of Kingdom Ministry. We ought to do all the things that Jesus did. He healed the sick and cast out demons. We ought to follow Him in this ministry and see people set free. Jesus did deliverance and also authorized his disciples to do it. You can talk to a Pastor or Christian Counselor if you feel this is something you need.
