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OVERCOMING FEELINGS OF GUILT PART 1

JULY 13, 1997

 

Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to

thee; but his heart is not with thee. (KJV)

 

 

THE WAY YOU THINK AND FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF CAN GREATLY HINDER YOUR RELATION-

SHIP WITH THE LORD AND WHAT HE WANT YOU TO ACCOMPLISH BY WAY OF YOUR DESTINY AND

CALLING IN CHRIST. MANY TIMES GOD OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WITNESS,

LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, TO FUNCTION IN THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, TO ACCEPT AN OF

FICE OR FUNCTION IN MINISTRY AND WE REJECT IT BECAUSE OF LOW-SELF ESTEEM. WE

SAY THINGS TO OURSELVES LIKE: "WHO AM I THAT I SHOULD BE DOING THIS OR SAYING

THAT." A CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND OR THE RECOGNITION OF OUR IN-

ABILITIES CAN GREATLY HINDER THE WORK OF THE LORD. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO

FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US AND CREATED US TO BE AS A CHRISTIAN, A

CHILD OF GOD AND AS PRIEST UNTO THE LORD. WE CAN SEE THIS MORE CLEARLY IN SOME

OF THE O.T. TYPES AND SHADOWS:

 

 

SHORTLY AFTER THE EXODOUS OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPT THE LORD BEGINS TO SPEAK TO

MOSES ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF THE PRIESTHOOD. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE INITIAL

REASON FOR THEM LEAVING EGYPT WAS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A SACRIFICE AND WORSHIP THE

LORD IN THE WILDRENESS. WHILE MOSES WAS UP ON THE MOUNTIAN RECEIVING INSTRUCT-

ION FROM THE LORD REGARDING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HE ALSO GAVE SOME INSTRUCTION

FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE PRIESTHOOD. ARRON AND HIS SONS WERE TO BE SET APART FOR

THE MINISTRY OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND THEY WERE TO WEAR SPECIAL GARMENTS WHEN THEY

WENT INTO THE TEMPLE TO MINISTER UNTO THE LORD. WE READ ABOUT THESE GARMENTS IN

 

 

Exodus 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him,

from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in

the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and

Ithamar, Aaron's sons. (KJV)

Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory

and for beauty. (KJV)

 

 

HOLY: Strong's # 6944 qodesh (ko'-desh);

from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:

KJV-- consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing),

holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint,

sanctuary. THE IDEA OF HOLY IS SEPARATED OR DISTINCT, AND THEN

SET APART OR DEDICATED TO GOD, AND THEN TO CONSECRATE: TO DEVOTE

A THING WHOLLY TO GOD. IT IS INTRESTING THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED A

SPECIAL COVERING FOR THE O.T. PRIESTS SO THAT THEY COULD BE SET

APART FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LORD AND BECOME HOLY. NOT ONLY

WERE THE GARMENTS HOLY BUT WHEN THE PRIESTS WORE THEM THEY

BECAME HOLY, SEPARATE, DEDICATED, AND WHOLLY DEVOTED TO THE

LORD.

 

GLORY: Strong's # 3519 kabowd (kaw-bode');

DIGNITY rarely kabod (kaw-bode'); from 3513; properly, weight, but only

figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: -glorious

(-ly), glory, honour (-able). A PRIMITIVE ROOT TO BE HEAVY: IN A

GOOD SENSE TO BE RICH, TO BE HONORABLE, IN THE SENSE OF NOBILITY

 

HONOR: Strong's # 8597 tiph'arah (tif-aw-raw');

or tiph'ereth (tif-eh'-reth); from 6286; ornament (abstractly or

concretely, literally or figuratively):

KJV-- beauty (-iful), bravery, comely, fair, glory (-ious),

hono; ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or

figuratively):

KJV-- beauty (-iful), bravery, comely, fair, glory (-ious),

honour, majesty. (DIC)

 

Exodus 28:2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity

And honor. (NIV)

 

Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have

filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's

garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the

priest's office. (KJV)

Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and

an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle:

and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his

sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. (KJV)

 

 

THE GARMENTS OF THE O.T. PRIESTHOOD ARE A REPRESENTATION OF THE COVERING

THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR EVERY N.T PRIESTS THAT AFFORDS HIM THE SELF-DIGINITY

AND HONOR TO COME BEFORE THE LORD AND MINISTER IN THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST. THESE

GAREMNTS ALSO SPEAK TO US ABOUT OUR CHARACTER, OUR ATTITUDES AND OUR DISPOSIT-

ION. GOD IS NOT INRESTED IN OUR OUTWARD GARMENTS BUT THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART

AND SOUL. ISAIAH SPEAKS TO US ABOUT GARMENTS OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF GARMENTS OF

HEAVINESS. PETER SPEAKS TO US ABOUT GARMENTS OF HUMILITY FOR GOD RESISTS THE

PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE. EZEKIEL SPEAKS ABOUT GARMENTS OF ZEAL SO

THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE ENDURING QUALITY OF A FAITHFUL PRIEST.

 

 

THESE GARMENTS REPRESENT A TWO-FOLD APPLICATION:

 

 

1. THEY ARE REPRESENTED IN THE ATONEMENT: WHICH

LITERALLY MEANS TO COVER, AND IS VARIOUSLY

TRAMSLATED, TO PURGE, RECONCILE, PACIFY, PAR-

DON AND TO AQUIT. GOD HAS PROVIDED EVERY

BELIEVER WITH A COVERING THAT WILL NEUTRALIZE

HIS SIN SO THAT IT WILL NOT PROVOKE GOD'S WARTH.

 

 

2. THE GARMENTS SPEAK TO US ABOUT OUR CHARACTER AND

CONDUCT AS A BELIEVER: THE NIV. TELLS US THAT

THESE GARMENTS ARE FOR DIGINITY AND HONOR:

 

 

DIGNITY: THE QUALITY OF BEING WORTHY OF ESTEEM OR

HONOR, HAVING A SENSE OF WORTHINESS, A

HIGH POSITION, RANK OR TITLE, LOFTINESS

OF APPEARANCE OR MANNER, STATELINESS AND

THEN SELF-RESPECT.

 

HONOR: HIGH REGARD OR GREAT RESPECT GIVEN, RECEIVED

OR ENJOYED; 2. A KEEN SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG

ADHERENCE TO ACTION OR PRINCIPLES CONSIDERED

RIGHT OR WRONG; INTEGRITY, TO CONDUCT ONESELF

WITH HONOR--TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION AND AGAIN

A HIGH RANK OR POSITION OR A TITLE OF RESPECT

GIVEN TO CERTIAN OFFICIALS.

 

 

IT IS IMPORTANT TO US AS BELIEVERS TO RECOGNIZE THE DIGINITY AND HONOR THAT

GOD HAS GIVEN TO US AT THE TIME WE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR. THE

FIRST THING THAT HAPPEND WAS THAT WE BECAME A CHILD OF GOD--WE HAVE BECOME A

PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. WITHIN EVERY CITY, TOWN AND COMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY

THERE ARE CERTIAN FAMILIES THAT ARE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS

OR THEIR ACTS OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY. IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY WE HAVE

BEEN GIVEN A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND HONOR BY OUR SIMPLY BEING RECEIVED INTO THE

FAMILY OF GOD:

 

 

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to

himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (KJV)

 

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (KJV)

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now

worketh in the children of disobedience: (KJV)

Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts

of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and

were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (KJV)

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;) (KJV)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly

places in Christ Jesus: YES, GOD HAS RAISED US UP TO A POSTITION OF

HONOR AS A SON THAT RULES AND REIGNS WITH CHRIST! !

 

NOT A SERVANT BUT A SON:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made

of a woman, made under the law, (KJV)

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the

adoption of sons. (KJV)

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into

your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (KJV)

Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an

heir of God through Christ. (KJV)

 

NOT A SPIRIT OF BONDAGE TO FEAR:

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye

have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the

children of God: (KJV)

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with

Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also

glorified together. (KJV)

 

SIMPLE FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION FOR

A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND HONOR:

 

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

 

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (KJV)

 

 

BY SIMPLE FAITH IN CHRIST WE HAVE BECOME A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. WE

SHOULD BEGIN TO FEEL A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT. WE MUST BEGIN TO VIEW

OURSELVES AS A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST WITH A NEW IDENTITY. IF YOU IDENTIFY

YOURSELF WITH A POOR SELF-IMAGE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO VIEW YOURSELF POORLY. WE

MUST UTILIZE EVERY PART OF OUR NEW CREATION BEING: OUR RENEWED SPIRIT, MIND,

IMAGINATION AND WILL TO RECOGNIZE THE CHANGES GOD IS MAKING IN OUR LIVES TO GIVE

US A NEW IDENTITY--AN IDENTITY FREE FROM SELF-DEPRECIATION, FREE OF A FALSE

SENSE OF SECURITY, FREE FROM THE MEMORY AND FEAR OF FAILURE AND FREE OF GUILT

AND CONDEMNATION. BY PUTTING OUR FAITH IN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE LORD

JESUS CHRIST WE CAN BECOME CREATIVE, VICTORIOUS PEOPLE WITH NEW IDENTITIES. AS

WE SUBMIT TO THE FATHER'S CHASTENING, CORRECTING AND INSTRUCTING WE CAN LEARN

HOW TO THINK, ACT AND FEEL LIKE A CHILD OF GOD WITH AN INNER SENSE OF DIGNITY,

HONOR AND SELF-RESPECT.

 

 

NOW ITS INTRESTING TO NOTICE THAT THE SONS OF ARRON WERE GOING TO CONTINUE

IN THE PRIESTHOOD BY VIRTUE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO AARON AS HIS SONS. THERE

WERE SPECIAL GARMENTS MADE FOR HIS SONS TO BE WORN THROUGH THEIR GENERATIONS.

THIS WAS KNOWN AS THE AARONIC ORDER OF PRIESTS.

 

 

Exodus 29:29 And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be

anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them. (KJV)

Exodus 29:30 And that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven

days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to

minister in the holy place. (KJV)

 

 

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAD DIRECT ACCESS INTO THE

PRESENCE OF GOD WERE THE HIGH PRIESTS. THE ONLY

WAY YOU COULD BECOME A HIGH PRIEST WAS THROUGH BIRTH.

YOU HAD TO BE THE FIRST BORN SON OF THE PRECEDING

HIGH PRIEST IN ORDER TO BECOME A HIGH PRIEST AND GAIN

THE RIGHT OF ACCESS INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

 

 

PRAISE THE LORD! THIS HAS CHANGED IN THE N.C.

EVERY PERSON WHO IS BORN AGAIN BECOMES A HIGH PRIEST

AFTER THE HIGH PRIESTLY ORDER OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE

IS STILL A BRITH INVOLVED, BUT ITS NOT A NATURAL BIRTH

IT IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH THAT PROVIDES FOR US ACCESS INTO

THE PRIESTHOOD AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

 

 

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical

priesthood, (for under it the people received the

law,) what further need was there that another

priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec,

and not be called after the order of Aaron? (KJV)

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of

necessity a change also of the law. (KJV)

Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth

to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance

at the altar. (KJV)

Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;

of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning

priesthood. (KJV)

Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the

similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another

priest, (KJV)

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal

commandment, but after the power of an endless

life. (KJV)

Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after

the order of Melchisedec. (KJV)

Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the

commandment going before for the weakness and

unprofitableness thereof. (KJV)

Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing

in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh

unto God. (KJV)

 

 

BY VIRTUE OF THE NEW BIRTH WE HAVE OBTAINED ETERNAL

LIFE--THE SAME LIFE THAT CONSTITUTES THE ORDER OF THE MEL-

CHISEDK PRIESTHOOD.

 

 

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince

of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJV)

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his

Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and

ever. Amen. (KJV)

 

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to

take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for

thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy

blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,

and nation; (KJV)

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth. (KJV)

 

EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A ROYAL PRIEST

 

1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal

priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises of him who

hath called you out of darkness into his

marvellous light: (KJV)

 

 

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE PRIEST WERE INSTRUCTED CONCERN-

ING THEIR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AS PRIESTS. THE INSTRUCTION

HAD TO DO BOTH WITH THEIR SPECIFIC JOB DESCRIPTION AS WELL

AS THEIR DRESS.

 

 

Deut 21:5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near;

for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister

unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD;

and by their word shall every controversy and

every stroke be tried: (KJV)

 

 

MOSES INSTRUCTED THE PRIESTS TO MAKE HOLY GARMENTS

WHICH THEY WERE TO WEAR WHILE FUNCTIONING IN THEIR SPECIFIC

OFFICE. THE HIGH PRIEST WORE NINE GARMENTS WHILE THE REST

OF THE PRIESTS WORE FIVE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING. WE NEED TO

RECOGNIZE THAT GOD HAS NOT ONLY SAVED US AND PUT US INTO

THE POSITION OF A SON BUT HE HAS ALSO GIVEN US THE DIGNITY

AND HONOR OF BEING A PRIEST UNTO THE LORD FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

 

 

THE LORD WANTS US TO BEGIN TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES IN VIRTUE OF OUR

BEING A NEW CREATION WORK OF GOD, A CHILD OF GOD AND A PRIEST UNTO THE LORD. SO

OFTEN WE SEE OURSELVES THROUGH THE EYES OF A GUILT RIDDEN CONSCIENCE THAT

MAKES US FEEL DEPRECIATED AND WORTHLESS. ONE OF THE GREATEST HINDERANCES TO THE

REALIZATION THAT YOU ARE SAVED AND ACCEPTED BY GOD IS GUILT. UNRESOLVED GUILT

CAN CAUSE HAUNTING SELF-DOUBT, CAUTIOUS INHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTED LIFESTYLES

THAT CAN GREATLY HINDER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD AS WELL AS OUR FUNCTION A

PRIESTS AND KINGS. MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN NEVER GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND DO

SOMETHING IN GOD BY WAY OF ACEDEMIC, VOCATIONAL, MARITAL OR SPIRITUAL SUCCESS

ARE VICTIMS OF GUILT AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM. IN FACT, MANY CHRISTIANS LIVE WOUNDED, DISTRESSED OPPRESSED, MISERABLE LIVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND REJECT GUILT.

 

 

GUILT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH BY DELIVERANCE BECAUSE GUILT

IS NOT CAUSED BY DEMONS. IT IS THE PRODUCT OF THE NATURAL, UNREGENERATE CONS-

CIENCE. THE ONLY WAY TO CONQUER GUILT IS BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, THE WORD OF

GOD AND THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

 

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer

sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead

works to serve the living God? (KJV)

 

GUILT: Strong's # 5267 hupodikos (hoop-od'-ee-kos);

from 5259 and 1349; under sentence, i.e. (by implication)

condemned: Guilt is a painful feeling of self-reproach resulting

from a belief that one has done something wrong or immoral.

Guilt produces the painful distress of the fear of punishment

for misconduct as well as a sense of final judgement or

condemnation with no hope of forgiveness; low self-esteem and a

feeling of rejection.

 

LET'S BRIEFLY TRACE THE BIBLICAL ORIGIN OF GUILT THIS MORNING BEFORE WE CLOSE.

 

 

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,

and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (KJV)

1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the

water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (KJV)

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for

this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (KJV)

1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he

that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth

not the record that God gave of his Son. (KJV)

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and

this life is in his Son. (KJV)

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God

hath not life. (KJV)

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the

Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye

may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any

thing according to his will, he heareth us: (CONFIDENCE NOT DOUBT,

FEAR AND UNBELIEF)

1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we

have the petitions that we desired of him. (KJV)

 

 

THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE A SENSE OF DIGNITY,HONOR, SELF-RESPECT AND CONFI- DENCE IN OUR LIVES AS WE PRAY, AND AS WE CONDCUT OURSELVES AS HIS WITNESSES AND

AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN THE WORLD. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ACCOMP-

LISH ANYTHING FOR GOD UNTIL WE GET RID OF GUILT, CONDEMNATION AND LOW SELF-

ESTEEM. WE NEED TO BEGIN TO SEE WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, RECOGNIZE HIS WORKING IN

OUR LIVES IN CHANGING US INTO HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND BEGIN TO ACT LIKE A

CHILD OF GOD AND A PRIEST AND KING. WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS AS WE LEARN

ABOUT THE COVERING GOD HAS PROIVIDED FOR US IN THE ATONEMENT AND AS WE REJECT

THE INNER PROMTINGS OF A GUILT RIDDEN UNREGENERATE CONSCIENCE AND RECEIVE THE

WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WON'T YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO GOD AS A

PRIEST, A KING AND A SON WITH A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND HONOR THAT BELONGS EX-

CLUSIVELY TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED BY HIS NAME AND CHOSEN FOR THE PRIESTHOOD?

GOD HAS PLACED A HIGH VALUE ON YOUR LIFE, SO MUCH SO THAT HE WAS WILLING TO SEND

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD TO DIE IN YOUR PLACE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE

YOU UNTO HIMSELF AS AN ADOPTED AND REGENERATED SON OR DAUGHTER OF GOD. WHATEVER

YOU WERE BEFORE YOU CAME TO CHRIST HAS ALL BEGUN TO CHANGE BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE

ACCEPTED CHRIST OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW. THE

OLD IMAGE YOU HAVE OF YOURSELF WILL BE CHANGED AS YOU ALLOW THE LORD TO CHANGE

YOU INTO HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED FROM REJECTION, FEAR OF

PUNISHMENT, LOW-SELFESTEEM OR A SENSE OF WORTHLESSNESS THEN THERE IS HOPE FOR

YOU IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. HE WILL GIVE YOU VICTORY OVER THESE GUILT

FEELINGS BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD OF

GOD. BECAUSE THESE GUILT FEELING ARE NOT PROMPTED BY DEMONS THEY CANNOT BE

SIMPLY CAST OUT. THESE GUILT FEELING ARE THE NATURAL RESULT OF THE WAY YOU

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF. SO TO GAIN VICTORY OVER GUILT YOU MUST CHANGE THE WAY YOU

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF BY ACCEPTING THE WAY GOD THINKS ABOUT YOU BY COMING INTO

AGREEMENT WITH HIS WORD, THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE INNER WITNESS OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE WHOLE AND COMPLETE IN CHRIST AND PRODUCTIVE IN THE

PRIESTHOOD AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL BE STUDYING

ABOUT OVERCOMING GUILT IN ORDER TO BECOME A HAPPY, WELL-ADJUSTED, PRODUCTIVE,

AND FUNCTIONING MEMBER IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE BUT PRIMARILY AS A MEMBER OF THE

BODY OF CHRIST. REMEMBER, THE EYE CAN'T SAY TO THE HAND I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU;

NEITHER CAN THE FOOT SAY TO THE MOUTH I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU AND NEITHER CAN YOU

SAY ABOUT YOURSELF THAT GOD HAS NO NEED FOR YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE EACH VALUABLE TO

GOD AND HE HAS AN IMPORTENT PLACE FOR YOU IN HIS BODY AND IN HIS KINGDOM.