JE REVIENS: I WILL RETURN

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"And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives to the death." (Rev. 12)

"I will disannul the covenant you made with death. And your vision with Hades will not stand. When the overflowing scourge sweeps past." (Isaiah 8:18)

• [a] Breaking the power of a "controlling spirit" in your life or that of another is the act of commanding the spirit to go through the "blood of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ."

  1) God's will and purpose is that every man, woman and child bond to Him in everlasting covenant forever. Adam said:

  "This is now bone of my bones
  And flesh of my flesh;
  She shall be called Woman,
  Because she was taken out of Man."
  

  24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

  2) The book of Genesis reveals God's intent for the marriage relationship, at Creation. That one man and one woman would bond for life, setting this godly example for their children to follow, that the blessings of God might be poured out upon the family. Things do not always happen this way, because of sin. Where sin and brokenness occur, the grace of God works and makes "all things new."

  God is a miracle working God. He will work to bring about a bond such as would have existed, had sin never occurred. This was how the original relationship was between Adam and Eve, prior to the fall. (Genesis 2-3) In God's messages to the 7 Churches of Asia, the Church of Ephesus, whose name means "Garden of Delights," is an allusion to life in the paradise of God. (Rev. 2) Your life doesn't have to be a "living hell." God wants to give you "days of heaven on earth."

  "That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord swore unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 11:21)

  In some cases, a divorce may occur. But God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:16) In the Old Testament it was allowed because of the "hardness of men's hearts." In the New Testament broken lives can be restored because in Mashiach/Christ, God takes away the stony heart out of ones flesh and gives them a heart of flesh. (Ezekial 11:19) And God will speak with stammering lips and another tongue to this people saying: "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest. Yet says the prophet Isaiah...for all that there will be those who will not hear. (Is. 28:11)

  PERCEIVING BITTERNESS AS THE CAUSE OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

  Have you ever marveled at the prophetic word which "pierces even to the dividing assunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart?" (Heb. 4:12) Perhaps you have hungered to know the Lord in a deeper way, and to be used of Him to a greater extent. That's how His disciples felt. They were zealous for good works, saying: "Let unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy glory!" (Mark 10:37) Yeshua/Jesus let them know in no uncertain terms what it would cost. "Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They answered him, "We can." And he said unto them: Ye shall indeeddrink of the cup that I drink of: and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall ye be baptized." (10:39)

  The Prophet Amos, (Burden-Bearer) was an ancestor os Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ. He is described as a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah. In 7:10-17 we read that Amos was "not a prophet nor the son of a prophet." He was what some would call a "layman" called by God for a specic purpose. His life spans the period from 793-753 b.c., during the reigns of King Uzziah and Jereboam II. The last two decades of Jereboam II rivaled the golden age of David and Solomon. During his reign, the king expanded and beautified the religious centers built by Jereboam I, when the northern and southern kingdoms were divided. Yet for the material prosperity of the kingdom, there was an evident spiritual poverty. The prophet prophesied by the word of the Lord things which seemed incongruent to the natural mind: "You oppress the righteous and take bribes, and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts." (Amos 5:11-12) Israel had become indifferent to human need, ready to "sell the righteous for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals." (2:6-7) God raised up the Prophet Amos to deal with the relationship between justice and religion. He rigorously assaulted the practices of those delighting in ritualistic religion. (4:2-5; 5:21-27) When commanded by Amaziah the Priest of Bethel (House of God) to leave the country, Amos boldly pronounced judgment upon the priest himself: "Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up and you yourself will die in a pagan country." (Amos 7:17) The Prophet speaks concerning the Day of the Lord, which God's people blind to their own sins looked to expectantly, as that which would benefit them. Amos said: "It will be a day of darkness..." (5:18) Yet for all of that, we read in Amos 9:11-12, that Amos ends his prophetic declarations with a message of hope, saying by the word of the Lord:

  "In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That the remnant of Edom, and all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this."

  The raising of the fallen tabernacle of David is preceeded or accompanied by judgment beginning at the house of God.

  "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down." (Acts 15:16)

  "Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying: "Give me this power that on whomever I lay my hands he also may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said:

  "Your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God can be purchased with money. For you have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of your wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven you. I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
  (Acts 8:20-23)

  The Apostle Peter "perceived" the bitterness within Simon's heart. His perception of the character of this man was not random judgmentalism. The apostles were taught by the Lord Himself, not to judge after the outward, but to judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24) Righteous judgment can only come as one lays aside the tendency to judge based on the outward appearance, which is to judge rashly and falsely and seek the face of God as the only possible source with which to identify the problem through the power of the Holy Spirit. God is Spirit. He imparts to us His Holy Spirit through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that we might "spiritually discern" the things given to us of God. Perceiving is different than reasoning with the mind. We must not reason away with our minds what is perceived in our spirits.

  On the Day of Pentecost, God imparted spiritual perception, which is available to believers today. Acts 2:16: But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

  "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."

  "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the (Heavenly) Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]." (John 16:13)

  Across the globe, God has sent millions of Spirit filled believers into every walk of life, and equipt and empowered them by His holy Spirit, through dreams, visions, revelation, prophecy and various other spiritual gifts spoken of in the bible in I Corinthians 12. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

  TO "TAKE OUT" A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME

  "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the entiles, to take out a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, thus saith the Lord who doeth all these things." (Acts 15:14-17

  Teenagers today losely use the phrase "Somebody ought to take that person out" much like a generation ago, you'd hear a person say: I'd kill him if he did that. It's come to be a common term, that is however a street gang term for murder. Satan hates the human race that Yeshua/Jesus died to save. The fact of the matter it--The truth is that it's sin that "takes people out," and creates a condition which scripture calls "spiritual death." The Son of God came to bring life, through the the power of His blood which was shed on calvary for the forgiveness of sins. He came to give beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning. The garment of praise for the spirit of the Lord, that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. (Is. 61:3) The grace and forgiveness of sins bestowed by God through the blood of Yeshua/Jesus is a marvellous thing. It's not however, a cloak to hide the conduct of those wanting to continue on in a life of sin. The devil is a deceiver that counterfeits the things of God and the work of the Spirit.

  "A Christian counsellor stated that in November 2004, a portion of scripture kept ringing in her spirit. It was this: "To take out a people for his name." This phrase, quoted at the Jerusalem Council, speaks of the raising of the fallen tabernacle of David, that people might seek after the Lord. (Acts 15:14-17) She was in a store, when suddenly she heard the terrified screams of a 2 year old in a jogging stroller. The little child was shrieking and screaming "Don't take me out!" God impressed the thing on the woman in such an extremely serious and unusual way, that she knew that she was perceiving a thing from the Lord, in her spirit. She was hearing a word from the Lord. A cashier viewing the child's screams said: "Oh, poor tired baby." The Spirit of the Lord said within the intercessor. "That's not it!" He opened the heavenlies and showed the intercessor a child had been removed from the mother by the authorities and had been returned to the home. Then God said: "I am going to take you into a hospital room. The Lord showed her a child which had endured more than one beating. There in the vision the child in the hospital had serious injuries. The woman counsellor went to her car and spent a long time in prayer because she knew God wanted to save the life of a child. She later said: I have seen many shoppers with tired, crying children, and has seen their mother's "take them out" to quiet them, or correct them if need be.

  God wanted to avert a tragedy in a child's life. She perceived a word from the Lord in the cry of a child. She heard a cry for help!" In the next day or two, in a news report, a woman in a nearby city was taken into custody, when her three children were discovered by police. Two dead when the police arrived. The third child was still alive, but in critical condition. The charges were that the children had been starved to death. Food was in the apartment cupboards. God seemed to use the situation in the store to call the intercessor to prayer specifically regarding child abuse. She spoke to the woman in the store with the child, who cursed her and went her way. In the curse, she did not deny what the intercessor said to her. She said: Mind your own business. The intercessor could only go by what God showed to her according to Acts 2:18, that states visions are a manifestation of the end time kingdom of God. We walk by faith and not by sight the bible says. This situation with this mother and child was perceived by the Spirit of God.

  Only as we dwell in God and God in us, can we know what is happening in the spiritual realm, and see the promise of Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ fulfilled: "When He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will show you things to come." (John 16:13) The Holy Ghost is received with the evidence of speaking supernaturally in other tongues, as we see in Acts 2:38, Acts 10:46-48) With this spiritual impartation, also comes whatever of the 9 spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12) God wants us to personally have, as He wills this for His calling on our lives.

  God showed Peter the inroads bitterness had made into the life of Simon because the ministry He'd given him was manifest the life and power of His Son in Peter, that God might save, heal and deliver from evil. So that he could serve the Lord by helping to restore Simon's attitude of heart to one of doctrinal soundness, and spiritual perfection. By rooting out the bitterness and planting the man into Mashiach/Christ. (Jer. 1:10) Mashiach/Christ "In whom we find" not only redemption, but something the scripture calls the "bond of perfection." Some people think of perfection in a negative way, if they have had individuals in their lives that they felt unable to please, no matter how hard they tried. But the bud of a flower is perfect, in that it receives the sun and rain, and is rooted to the vine. Yeshua/Jesus said: "I am the True Vine and My Father is the husbandman. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you except you abide in Me. I am the Vine. You are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:1-5)

  There was also an outward manifestation of this bitterness that the Apostle Peter recognized. Bitterness causes people to fail to appropriate the grace of God. In failing to appropriate the grace which flows from the atoning work of Mashiach/Christ at calvary, Simon's heart was not upon Messiah as the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus but his focus in spite of all the miracles he observed, was still upon the material things. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16,Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5) Simon wanted to purchase the "gift" of God, for his own profit.

  The Holy Spirit teaches us in the book of Hebrews: "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." (Heb. 12:15) The root of bitterness propagates more roots, not only in the bitter person but also in others. Bitterness must not be accomodated. It has a defiling influence upon the heart. It's fruits are bitterness are anger, wrath, slander, hate, and malice (or desire to see another suffer).

  THE FRAMEWORK OF BITTERNESS

  The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands. (Proverbs 14:1)

  The wise woman of Proverbs 14:1 symbolizes the church building up God's people as a spiritual Temple not made with hands. The foolish individual is that one or those who destroy rather than nurturing, edifying and building up according to the will, plan and purposes of God. As wisdom in God has a framework, which is Mashiach/Christ, so foolishness is rooted in the demonic realm. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. The framework of bitterness is this:

  • 1) Overly sensitivity to a remark, to what's perceived as an inappropriate action, or an irresponsibility in not taking action when it's needed.
  • 2) Hurt feelings. Wounds are fertile soil in which the root of bitterness may spring up and defile the heart. "A wounded spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14).
  • 3) A growing sense of repulsion toward the person at the thought or very sight of him or her.
  • 4) Nursing and rehearsing ones wounds.
  • 5) Alienating the individual. The Prophet Isaiah describes what God showed him this way: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6).
  • 6) Slandering the person.
  • 7) Lack of obedience (Matt. 5:44,45).
  • 8) Becoming like the one you despise.

  THE BONDS OF INIQUITY

  Bitterness may be ignorantly thrown about one as a cloak of maliciousness, to protect ones heart. But who is not ignorant is the devil. Believers are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices, and bitterness is a warfare maneuver or strategy of the powers of darkness. The sufferer may feel that forgiveness is too good for the one that hurt them. Or that if they forgive, the perpetrator will "just get by with it." It frequently forms the framework in the separation of relationships. Throughout history, and to this present time, where bitterness exists, the individual who allows bitterness to find a lodging place will not lack excuses to betray, to way-lay, to be unkind, to slander, to avenge, or to separate. Grace to forgive, and to reconcile, in such a case is not the underlying motive of the bitter individual. They will frequently assemble a contingency to side with them, using any available means. The bitterness must be dealt with by confessing it as sin, and taking it to the cross, where one may find grace to help in time of need.

  Peter in dealing with the manifestation of evil in the man called Simon, said:

  "Your heart is not right in the right of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness." (Acts 8:21-23)

  In Simon's case, he responded in a positive way to the rebuke and correction brought by this religious leader. We read: "But then Simon was terrified, and said: "I entreat you, pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of those things which ye have spoken come upon me." (Acts 8:24)

  In the bible, God invites people to become followers of the Lord Yeshua/Jesus who have lived lives of sin. In Washington state recently, a man was convicted by a judge Monday on charges he deliberately exposed 17 women to HIV. Five of the women tested positive for the virus. He faces a minimum sentence of 137 years in prison on the 17 counts of first-degree assault charges. As many as 170 people may have been exposed to the virus because of Whitfield's actions, counting subsequent partners of women he slept with. Two women testified that Whitfield once said, seemingly in jest, that if he had HIV, he would give it to as many people as he could. Defense lawyer Charles Lane said Whitfield was addicted to methamphetamine and used women for shelter, money and sex but never meant to inflict "great bodily harm" as required for him to be convicted of first-degree assault.

  Forgiveness releases the individual to God's control, trusting that God is all wise and all knowing. There are cases in which forgiveness does not mean you are now free to bring the individual into your home. It means that you reverence God's word which commands: Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." (Ephesians 4:31) We must not "avenge ourselves," but trust ourlives to Him who judges righteously. How do you keep going to receive the end result of your faith? There's living water for the thirsty--(John 7:37-39) a hidden manna for the hungry. (Rev. 2:17) Messiah is the Living Bread which came down from heaven. Which still rains righteousness as the "Teacher of Righteousness," and fills our mouthes with good things. Seek the Lord and allow Him to show you "sacred secrets." Obey His will and watch Him work a miracle in your life.

  You may still find yourself facing a painful divorce, or having to pursue some course of legal action, but God will not forsake you. (Heb. 13:5) This can be carried out knowing that this too is part of the administration of God's love and the justice system which He himself has placed in operation for the punishment of "evil-doers." God chastens those He loves. (Hebrews 12) And for God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

  WISDOM BEYOND ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK

  In Matt 19:3:

  "The Pharisees also came to Yeshua/Jesus, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce (Matt 19:8) your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." What does "From the beginning mean?" Yeshua is speaking of paradise, where God made formed the man and woman with a purpose in God to be "one flesh," and to walk in daily fellowship with Him. God has a plan for the "one flesh" relationship which is a higher way. For this reason, the Lord said:

  "The woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man." (Rom 7:2-3)

  Messiah taught things concerning divorce which eclipsed the concepts of those of in the first century. He said: "Whoso looketh on a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) When a woman was caught in the very act of adultery, and set her in the midst. They sid: Maser: This woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou? This they said tempting him that they might accuse him. But Yeshua/Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he had not heard them. So when they continued asking him, Messiah lifted himself up and said: "Let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone." (John 8:3)

  DOES GOD ALLOW DIVORCE?

  In scripture does God ever allow divorce? Yes! In the Old Testament the Lord stated this was because of the hardness of men's hearts. The book of Leviticus addresses God's Old Testament principles concerning abusive treatment. Abuse is addressed in the New Testament also, in conjunction with teaching on Mashiach/Christ centered marriage. When men's hearts were hardened because of sin, the husband would say: My wife doesn't please me. She wore the brown veil when went to visit my parents, instead of the tan one. She fed me leftovers. I want a bill of divorcement. Today the man may think in his heart: I've spent my wife's money that she inherited from her parents. I need some cash. Or, I really want the divorce so that can marry the younger woman I saw the other day. Or the woman with a larger dowry, than my present wife had. The woman may say: He doesn't like to have any fun. Or I want a more handsome husband.

  Doesn't every man want his wife to do what he requests? Yes. But God who doesn't like disobedience either, doesn't write YOU a bill of divorcement at the first sign of your disobedience, but is longsuffering, that you will acknowledge your sin and come to repentance. God is not blind as He looks on the intents of the heart and the actions of the life. But He teaches us that mercy rejoices against judgment. Because of the blood of Messiah shed for our sin, He works to bring peoples lives into conformity to His unchanging Word.

  There's a "self righteousness" which accompanies bitterness. It doesn't do a self-assessment where the individual searches their own heart first, to see if there is any wicked way within themselves. The Psalmist prayed: Search me O God and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me. This soul blockage which focuses upon the material realm like Simon, whom Apostle Peter was given discernment into the life and heart of, has to go. The first and greatest commandment is "Hear O Israel: The Lord thy God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord with all of thy heart, and with all of thy soul and with all of thy might." (Deut. 6:4-5) God wants you to storm the gates of heaven, and lay hold of Him as your number one treasure.

  In the New Testament, Yeshua/Jesus states that adultery is a valid cause to break the matrimonial bonds.

  Any and every whim that pops into the human mind is not cause for divorce in the sight of the God who keeps covenant not for just a human life time but for generations. For eternity. It is not enough to ascertain that one individual or another is at fault in an abusive situation, to confront them, or even have charges brought in open court. This is however, the means God has instituted to punish evil-doers.

  Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge. 2:13 Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all, 2:14 And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well. 2:15 Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour: 2:16 As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrong doing, but living as the servants of God. (1 Peter 2:14)

  WISDOM & UNDERSTANDING

  Breaking bands of iniquity however, always begins with ones own life, because the bible says "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) For the power of iniquity to be dissolved in your life, there must be a releasing of yourself emotionally, physically and spiritually from all ungodly emotional, physical, emotional, or spiritual attachments or connections, through the power of the blood of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, by surrendering your life by way of repentance, to Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5)

  We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and loving not our lives so much as to shrink from death." (Rev. 12:11)

  God witheld nothing needful for our total salvation, that He might save to the uttermost them that come to Him by Yeshua haMashicah/Christ Jesus. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)

  The blood of Yeshua/Jesus was poured out for our salvation and justification as He hung on the cross for us.

  

  • "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Yeshua/Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (John 19:34)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus is the blood of a New Covenant. "In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus is a sacrifice of atonement. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- Romans 3:25 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus purchases men for God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20:28 And they sang a new song [to Yeshua/Jesus]: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Mashiach/Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus is appropriated by faith. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- Romans 3:25
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus frees us from our sins. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:6)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus provides cleansing from all sins. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua/Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them." (Revelation 7:15)
  • The blood of Jesus provides reconciliation and peace with God. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Yeshua/Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus provides justification for the believer. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (Romans 5:9)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus brings the believer near to God. But now in ha Mashiach/ChristJesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Yeshua/Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
  • The blood of Yeshua/Jesus and the word of our testimony overcomes the Accuser. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (Revelation 12:11)

  Our 5 year old daughter Zani was busy one day, playing tea-party. I asked what she was doing, as she looked so busy. "We are going to sit down she said, and you are going to tell me all about God." Zani had a recent vision of one of two of the children in our neighborhood. In her vision, he was "shrinking the head" of one of his friends.

  God speaks to us through the holy scriptures. In Joel 2:28, He promised that in the end times He would also speak in dreams and visions. The scriptures teach us that "Mashiach/Christ is the Head of every man. He is the Head of the church. The devil is also real, and the bible speaks to us of evil spirits. It teaches that "Greater is He that is in us, (God) than he that is in the world."

  What a "spirit of control" does is to try to "shrink your concept of the Lord of Hosts as our Great God and Saviour, who more than able to meet your every need. Is anything too hard for God? It will try to shrink the concept of who you are as God's own child. Under the influence of the "spirit of control" you may find yourself abandoning hope as the "anchor of your soul." Don't be deceived! In Messiah dwells all the fulness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9) It's the "spirit of control" that attempts to make you feel powerless to appropriate the finished work of Mashiach/Christ. The truth is that "...There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Yeshua haMashiach/Christ Jesus, because through Yeshua haMashiach/Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life has made us free from the Law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, to be the propitiation for sin. (Romans 8:1)

  [b] Coming apart and separating yourself from that which is unhealthy or unsavory.

  An evangelist said: "You've got to get fed up with the set up before it'll let up!" Unplug the set (up!) Disconnect. The biblical term for this aspect of salvation is "sanctification."

  Sanctification means "To set apart." It involves separating yourself from negative, sinful and unclean influences unto the holiness found in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, so you can live for God, submitted to His plan and purpose for you. Only in Him is there total cleansing from all sin. He is called the Comforter, and He is our strength against all evil.

  [c] As a wise steward of all that which God has provided for you as abundant life, and avoiding financial, spiritual, emotional involvement with those people who are unlawful for the believer to enter into a dating, marriage relationship or business partnership with. God's word teaches us in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? (meaning "mixture")Don't mix what Mashiach/Christ has made holy with that which is profane.

  "Don't you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither sexually immoral nor idolators nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor theives, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, (If you haven't yet received the cleansing power of salvation you can!) you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

  Abusive control may involve mind control which is the successful control of the thoughts and actions of another without his or her consent. Generally, the term implies that the victim has given up some basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes, and has been made to accept contrasting ideas. "Brainwashing" is often used loosely to refer to being persuaded by propaganda, either blatently and openly, or subtly and subliminally. It may be used by a cultish group or a marriage partner. There's a very effective way to become un-brainwashed. Change kingdoms and stop serving the kingdom of darkness. Simply put: Detachment is
  "Being in the world, but not of it," by becoming a citizen of Yeshua/Jesus kingdom, which is the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:15) When you give your life to Him, you are seated you with Him in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) The believer in Yeshua/Jesus is not to be conformed to the fashion of this word. (Romans 12:2) He is to be transformed by the renewing of his mind. (Romans 12:2) God's unchanging word will renew your mind and heart. It is not called the full armour of God for nothing. (Eph. 6) In the place of what once was our weakness, He gives us His authority, and the power to use it. We are no longer powerless in the face of the issues or people which would come against us. The Holy Spirit is given to "take hold together with us," against whatever comes against us.

  The blood of Yeshua/Jesus provides redemption for the believer. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Ephesians 1:7 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Mashiach/Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

  The blood of Yeshua/Jesus cleanses our consciences from dead works. How much more, then, will the blood of Mashiach/Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)

  The blood of Yeshua/Jesus makes the believer holy. And so Yeshua/Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. (Hebrews 13:12)

SEPARATING YOURSELF UNTO GOD

"God shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Psalm 91:11)

Separating or detaching yourself is the decisive action of releasing yourself from any illicit, unhealthy and unscriptural relationship, place, false belief or idealogy, so that you can be the person God wants you to be and to fulfill His will in your life. Label "toxic influences," such as abusive relationships, unsavory companions, or false doctrines that don't line up with God's Word, for what they truly are, and stop minimizing their negative impact in your life.

Where an unhealthy "control spirit" exists, identify aspects of your life from which you would be best to dissociate or detach yourself, in order to retain your physical, emotional, and spiritual health, or that of your children. People can use associations to bring one another under every form of spiritual bondage and phychological torture under the sun.

This may even mean disassociating yourself from those who have been close family friends, relatives. Isaiah the Prophet wrote: "Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee. Hide yourself as it were for a little moment, till the ignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20)

The Psalmist prayed: Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence, from the pride of man: thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavillion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:20) Pray God's word over yourself and those you love. In WWI, there was a battalion that prayed Psalm 91 over themselves, and they were the only battalion that never lost a man. The other battalions lost up to 90% of their soldiers in the battles they fought.

"And he rode upon a cherub and did fly: yea He did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place, his pavillion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies." (Psalm 18:11) And again: "For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavillion, in the secret of His tabernacle He shall hide me, He shall set me upon a Rock"." (Psalm 27:5) This is a place of being hidden in God, by God's grace. The Old Testament counterpart of the holy of holies in Psalm 91, is found in the phrase "In Mashiach/Christ." It's a place of hearing and discerning what God wants you to do. Of being guided by His right hand. Only God Almighty can reveal to you whether in the midst of your turmoil, He chooses to dwell with you in your own home, or to take you into a place of rest or respite in another physical locale.

BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR FAMILY IF NEED BE

If it becomes apparent that you must relinquish custody of your children to the state for a time, and they will spend time in foster or institutional care, remember Moses. Moses parents had forewarning of the liklihood that their son would be removed from their custody. They moved swiftly to take action to save his life. His mother and father willingly let him go into care within the government, but their faith in God remained strong. Moses grew up into manhood within Pharaoh's court, raised by Pharaoh's daughter. As an adult, Moses heart turned again to his own people. God used him as a deliverer.

Concerning whether to move out of your home, or stay there, to some, God says: "Stay in your place," because it provides acountability for you and your family. Not only your place as a believer, that place of being a man, a woman, an intercessor, a person that regularly reads the scriptures, but remain in your home, so you can live life as normally as possible. But that job, or that home God has given you. Divorce is rampant today, because people are tempted in a confrontation to produce a "show of strength." When push comes to a shove, they move out and file a divorce at the slightest provocation. The scriptures tell us to do nothing out of strife or vain-glory! (Phil. 2:3) Often times, the trial is a spiritual attack that will endure for a brief season. You and your mate will both learn and grow from it. Faith coupled with patience in the season of trial, provides an example for the children of fidelity and stability. It provides security for children, to have at least one parent who has stability. That mate that thinks they want out of the marriage cannot take your home, or move someone new in, with you there, so these things are not the temptation they'd be with you gone. No matter how you feel, get up on time, bathe, and dress appropriately. Dress children modestly, and meet their basic physical, emotional and spiritual needs. At times a child can be sent to a friends house to spend the night. Some individuals become fearful, insecure and violent when things are not routine in their lives. Do what you can be create an atmosphere of peace and rest. Where teenagers or ones mate are involved in a lifestyle totally unlike this, this will represent a haven of rest. Do your household chores, cook meals, be as cordial as possible, guard your tongue from responding in ways that would ignite a quarrel. If you are in an actual war-zone in a country that is physically at war, God may lead you to disguise your appearance, or He can lead you to a hiding place so your life or family is preserved.

Be careful who your friends are, because this is a biblical principle, and that mate may later accuse your conduct in a court of law. Find your rest in God, through salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit and praying in the Spirit. (Is. 28:11, I Cor. 14:20) The mate may still choose to divorce you, but in such cases, you are not to feel guilty. The scriptures state: "Let the unbeliever depart." (I Corinthians 7:15) Till it's totally out of your control, in every way, obey God's admonition in I Cor. 7:27-33:

"Are you bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But and if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But this I say, brothers, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passes away. But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife."

Where the situation is more volatile, and you must leave for the safety of you and your family, don't threaten. Prepare quietly, and decisively. Gather your identification and family papers or documents, or have your own copies made. Rent a mailbox. Set money aside in the a bank account. Don't tell a lot of people where you are going. It may be wise not to give children, in-laws, relatives, family friends, or school authorities information they will pass on if interrogated by the spouse.

Where the scripture does not advocate divorce, or you cannot move out, or start a new job, you can distance yourself by beoming involved in a new hobby, transfering to another office within the workplace, volunteer in your child's daycare or Mom's of Preschoolers group, study the scriptures with a group, join a prayer group, learn something new, focus on other people, join a house of worship, take a class, have more contact with friends. How does this help? It removes you from source of conflict, even temporarily. An example is a woman who has a teen that is verbally or physically abusive. Suddenly she is not there when he gets home from school. He has to find something else to do with his time.

It provides those that have been belittled to the point where they feel they can't do anything, a place where you can use your skills successfully. One woman called an organization and said she was a displaced homemaker, had raised children, and couldn't do anything. The receptionist said: Sister, you could not have raised 3 children and not know how to do anything. Assess your skills, and add what you feel is necessary. It can be very encouraging to learn a new skill, and even if you are unable to afford a class, there are books and other free resources at the local public library. Our primary sense of confidence, esteem, or achievement comes from knowing God and being known of Him. But we do derive a certain joy from developing our talents and it's God who commands that we be faithful stewards of all that He gives.

YESHUA: THE ANCHOR OF OUR SOULS

When trouble comes we believe on Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, and do not abandon all hope! In Yeshua/Jesus, we have the living Mashiach/Christ as our anchor within the veil, as the writers of the epistle to the Hebrews teaches us. (Hebrews 10:20) Submit yourself to God, resist the bondage of this spirit and it will flee from you. (James 4:7) Often times in a situation what is needed is for us to recognize that the spiritual thing to do is to detach from our own ego! Through the prayer of repentance, acknowledge that you have taken false responsibility which is not yours for this person or thing. Pray and commit the situation to the Lord daily or as often as need be.

HEALTHY DETACHMENT IS:

• a) The ability to allow people, places, or things to take responsibility for their own lives and actions in areas of personal responsibility. The bible says "Every man must bear his own burden." (Galatians 6:5)
• b) Refraining from the emotional need to rescue, save, or fix problems by "cultivating and accomodating" evil or what is the other person's own irresponsibility. Individuals accomodated in this way develope an "effeminate spirit." The term MALAKOS means "soft, or soft to the touch." It's used to soft raiment. (Matt.11:8) The scriptures define this as a person that is basically irresponsible, who likes the soft side of life. It's used of those addicted to sins of the flesh, because they will not put forth the effort to change.

• c) Establishing emotional boundaries between you and the people overly dependent on you or whom have become overly dependant in order to have needs met, that you or they might learn or relearn to allow God to be their source.

• d)The ability to maintain an emotional bond of love, concern, and caring without the negative results of rescuing, enabling, fixing, or controlling, or allowing the other person to control you. If your teenager becomes verbally abusive, correct them, but don't not give them the satisfaction of an inappropriate reaction to your discipline. Refuse to react. Do not allow yourself to be placed in subjection by their attempts to control the situation. Your word was final and adequate. You will not tolerate this type of language in your house. One parent of an abusive child who regularly hurled four-letter words, moved up a scale to physical violence. The parent called 911, the officers arrived at the home with a flash camera and took photos of the injuries, the adolescent was hand-cuffed and hauled off in a squad car, and had to do community service hours.

  A couple told the story of a policeman they met, who felt it was discretionary discipline (not abuse) to wash his kids mouth out with soap. Another would bring his foot down on his teenagers instep, when he became abusive and combative. e) Placing life-issues into a healthy perspective and recognizing the need to back away from the uncontrollable and unchangeable realities of life in wisdom when God calls you to. There are annoying behaviours which hurt you, but you know God will deal with. A person stated that their mate would never aknowledge their birthday or anniversary, but when it was their birthday would go to their parents where the individuals folks would invite a crowd who gave lots of gifts.

• f) The ability to exercise protection and prevention so greater devastation does not occur for you or a dependant child for instance.
• g) The ability to allow people you love and care for to come to terms with and to accept personal responsibility for their own actions.

ABUSIVE CONTROL ISSUES

Contained here, is a list of approximately a dozen types of abusive control. Some of these may be above and beyond anything you have ever conceived of as abusive or illegal, such as the broad spectrum of economic abuse. Since women comprise such a large percentage of the job market, it is illegal to prevent them from doing as they wish with their own money.

In some cases these definitions of abuse may have been recently clarified, redefined, or classified so that various states can receive funding from the U.S. government. In some cases, it may be difficult to obtain help for women, for theft, but as "economic abuse," it's valid. Or these may have been extended for more detailed inclusion in Homeland Security files since the Sept. 11, 2001 bombings. Be aware of your constitutional rights, as well as what is considered illegal. If an allegation is made against you, realize these remain on file as part of your records forever.

• 1)RELIGIOUS ABUSE

  Religious abuse involves quoting the Bible, Torah, or other religious literature to enforce the abusive situation, to force religion onto another person, preventing the other person from going to church, or preventing the victim from keeping his or her religion. The abuser's goal is to make the victim feel guilty and manipulate the victim to follow the abuser's choices and actions.

  Spiritual abuse is the misuse of a position of power, leadership, or influence to further the selfish interests of someone other than the individual who needs help. Sometimes abuse arises out of a doctrinal position. At other times it occurs because of legitimate personal needs of a leader that are being met by illegitimate means. Spiritually abusive religious systems are sometimes described as legalistic, mind controlling, religiously addictive, and authoritarian. Many of the Pharisees of Yeshua/Jesus day were spiritually abusive leaders, that were unbalanced in their perception of what mattered most to God. Jesus said they, "Paid tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and omitted the weightier matters of the law, like judgment, mercy, and faith...." (Matthew 23:23).

  The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them." (Ezekiel 34:1-6, NIV)

  You may feel that if you stop being involved, the they will ruin your reputation. You must realize that God is your source and that He will supply "all your needs" according to His riches in glory by Yeshua haMashiach/Christ Jesus.

  A pregnant woman went for counseling and was told to get an abortion so she would not be an embarrassment to her congregation.

• 2)THE ABUSE OF MIND CONTROL

  The scriptures speak of the importance of having our entire lives in subjection to God. At times individuals inadvertantly subject themselves and form attachments to people, activities, and places in unhealthy ways, and become victimized. A person may become mesmerized, brainwashed, threatened or intimidated into believing themselves unable to detach themselves from a harmful, potentially harmful or destructive relationship or environment. What sort of irrational mindset helps form bondage of this sort? The theory of mind control is that a lie repeated many times becomes the truth. Experiments in control experiments were conducted at Auschwitz. The experiments done were described by one informant as "brainwashing with chemicals."

  Often times people receive a distorted promise of freedom. An example of totalitarianism enroute today, is the drug experimentation in society, coupled with various forms of music with lyrics designed to "brainwash the masses." How do you protect yourself and family from "mind control?" The bible tells us to "Gird up the loins of our minds." (1 Peter 1:13) Make sure that you study God's Word, for this is God's Truth, and His view of the way things should be. All that is contrary to God's Word is a lie.

  The governments of various nations have done experiments for many years to use in military training. The terrorists involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, were thought to be under such an influence. Since the Trade Tower bombing, Homeland Security has begun a file on every American citizen. Into this file goes material that is often highly inaccurate.

  The flood of slander against credible citizens to ruin their reputations, is reminiscient of the techniques of Joseph Stalin. Stalin trumped up charges against anyone who could conceivably become a member of a group that posed a threat to his power structure. Whereas Stalin extended his power of control over the Soviet Union, Hitler's vision was unlimited territorial conquest. The Nazis recruited German Youth.

  HOW DO CHILDREN COME UNDER THE ABUSE OF MIND CONTROL

  In their teeneage years, this frequently comes through unwholesome friendships formed at school. It may come through television. 2) The mind controller hates the person or concept the child is being brainwashed to hate. (for example: The mind controller hates the child's faith, private school, or parents. Interjecting false values into the life of the child, wrecks havoc with the home, and sets the child in opposition to the parents. The "mind controller" may hate the child, themselves. The scriptures tell of a situation in King Solomon's day, in which a woman stole another's child, following the death of hers. (I Kings 3:16)

  16) Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17) The one woman said, "Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. 18) Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. 19) Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20) She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21) When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne." 22) But the other woman said, "No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours." The first said, "No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine." So they argued before the king. 23) Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; while the other says, "Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one." 24) So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought a sword before the king. 25) The king said, "Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other." 26) But the woman whose son was alive said to the king--because compassion for her son burned within her--"Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!" The other said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it." 27) Then the king responded: "Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother." 28) All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

  In one case, a families relative performed "mind control" on their sons because this relative had no children of her own, having had 8 abortions so that she could pursue her career as a phychologist. Her contribution was to oppose their religious faith, which made her feel convicted of the sin of abortion, and to foster immorality in the lives of her nephews, because she did not wish to subject her own life to Messiah. The children, who were shielded in throughout childhood and adolescence, felt in their teenage years that the parents were unfair to restrict the relationship. "The scriptures speak of heaping to yourselves teachers after your own lusts, having itching ears." (2 Tim. 4:3) 3) The child must come into agreement with the mind controller, against the values of the parent or guardian, such as a child in private school being advised: "You should go to public school like the other kids in your neighborhood." Or the mind controller may speak regularly against the parents values, and share his or her own love for drugs, alcohol, illicit relationships, devalue and mock morality, or share their approval of movies filled with violence, rebellion against parental authority and sexual sin.

  The mind control may be done under the guise of "classes," counseling visits, or even in your own house of worship if you fail to "prove all things." Socially this may occur under conditions such as "peer pressure" in a childs life. It can be perpetrated phychologically, by those who resent the bond the child's faith, ethnicity, social or economic level, and who wish to create dependance upon themselves or their counsel. They may fear the influence of the parental relationship, or the skillfulness, joyfulness or boldness of the youth, such as King Saul's jealousy of David. The mind controller will undertake the task of systematically breaking the bond and replacing it by dependance upon the professional, relative, etc. It may be done by those who are jealous or resentful of the relationship, such as an absent parent or grandparent that undertakes to destroy the bond the child has with the parents.

  A teenager who dislikes being told what to do, decides to rid themselves of the shackles of such authority, by making an allegation against their parents, teacher, caseworker or a youth minister who corrected their behaviour. Teenagers can cause thousands of dollars to be spent investigating allegations of this sort.

  So convincing is the child's testimony that investigators for the state may seriously believe the allegation, and do their best to convert the child that has been struggling but who has been a fairly compliant teen, from a belief in Messiah, to that of a drug dealer, thief, adulterer or adulteress, homosexual, or alcoholic. The child may even enlist friends to substanciate the game being played. Years later, after what the child wanted has been achieved, they state to someone: "I was lying. I was angry because my Dad would not give me the keys to the car, and I wanted to go somewhere." Or "My mother refused to give me money I wanted to use to buy drugs." "I wanted to spend more time with my boyfriend or girlfriend who is a drug-dealer." Parental supervision had given the child accountability to the point that this possibility was curtailed, and the parents had been successfully helping their child to overcome this tendency to form unavory relationships.

  Although there are numerous success stories of state intervention, this frequently works in reverse. When the state steps in, they may undermine the authority of parents who had previously done an excellent job. Because of religious bias or some other prejudice, individuals working for the state, the public school system, public library, etc. may provide resources for the child, enabling them to side-step parental authority, cast aside the years of work of parenting done, and enable a child to do those things which are contrary to scripture upon which the family has based their parental values. Thus the state produces one new drug dealer in the process, or a child who ends up abused ultimately by the system that tried to "fix them." The state gives licence to the son or daughter to hang out with the type of criminal element which ensures they will victimize or be victimized again. And the child does their best to lead a mutiny against the parents of younger brothers and sisters, saying:

  "My counselor or caseworker said I can swear at you if I want, have the friends I want, and you have to support me till I am 18!"

  One thing for sure---This type of thing keeps the coffers of professionals filled, and assures jobs. In return, the parents get the blame for turning out the criminals. Does this deter homelessness? Only temporarily. In actuality, it may produce more homelessness.

  Do juveniles who try to defy parental authority and "work the system," love and respect the juvenile justice system? Some return years later, and take jobs in law enforcement or as foster parents. Statistics however, show that many have little loyalty for it. Many end up in jail or prison. The child will often later tell the parents, I thought that caseworker was so dumb--! I hated her! I hated him! The child found the social worker's disdain for the family's faith, caused the professional to be easily manipulated. Meanwhile, the parents reputation is ruined, and the allegation reports against them, remain part of their records for the rest of their lives. Teenagers catch onto how to play both ends against the middle, and teach friends the ropes, saying: "Hey if your folks give you any problems, here's what you do! Threaten them that you'll get the younger brothers and sisters taken away!" The teen now has a taste of power that has not come in a lawful and biblical manner! Is this intimidation or what?

  In the long run, sometimes the teenager who made an alleged report, is in actuality guilty of a crime of theft, forgery, illegal use of credit cards, physical violence, etc. involving a parent, grandparent or abuse of a sibling. Cycles of manipulation and control of this sort are as regular as the sun rising and setting. This type of "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel," may be one reason why so many real abuse cases are mis-diagnosed, and children removed from abusive homes are returned to the homes of parents who murder them.

  Mind control is the successful control of the thoughts and actions of another without his or her consent. Generally, the term implies that the victim has given up some basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes, and has been made to accept contrasting ideas. "Brainwashing" is often used loosely to refer to being persuaded by propaganda.

• 3)MALE PRIVILEDGE OR SUPERIORITY ABUSE

  Male privilege abuse involves diminishing the females sense of authority and preventing her from obtaining help, counsel, medical services etc. He may elevate his own needs above hers, such as neglecting to buy groceries so he can buy drugs, or a new hunting rifle. He may demand she obtain an abortion stating he will not support the child. Or go out drinking instead of buying the baby milk or diapers. Since the abuser is the sole breadwinner he has the right to do as he pleases and the victim needs to remain passive and accept the abuser's authority. The abuser's goal is to create a hierarchy and his perception is entitlement.

  Male Priviladge Abuse is a distortion of God's order: "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ," (1 Cor. 11:3) and the scriptural admonition to love their wives as their own bodies.

  In 1 Pe 3:7, men are told to honor their wives - the Greek word means "honor which belongs or is shown to one; the honor which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds; deference, reverence."

  Ephesians chapter 5 verses 22 through 24, states: "And there the Word of God says, "Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything."

  You might feel that they will use their influence to slander you, and that you will lose relationships or something of benefit which have been valuable to you. Yeshua/Jesus lived on this earth as both God and man. He said: The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt.20.28)
  "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11).

  An example is the threat of a mate becoming angry with his wife and reassigning pension benefits, so that you feel if you don't tolerate the abusive relationship you'll be homeless in your old age. "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Yeshua/Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Hebrews 11.

  Some individuals are masters at drawing allies to their side, like a bully. They enlist the aid of unsaved parents, or parents who do not approve of their choice of a marriage partner. Others will oppose the believing spouse who wants to raise the children in holiness by insisting on taking the children to the unsaved relatives home, where inappropriate television programs are watched, or inappropriate language is used, and the believer's authority is continually ridicule and undermined. In John 16:13, God promises to "Show you things to come." Seek wisdom from the Lord as to how to deal with these situations.

• 4)INTIMIDATION ABUSE

  This involves not only grabbing the victim in a physical and menacing way, but making the victim feel powerless to obtain assistance, giving the victim mean glares, throwing items towards or away from the victim, pointing a knife, gun or weapon at the victim, or making a snarling, growling, or grunting noises. The abuser's goal is to keep the other person feel frightened and powerless and afraid. To let them know that no matter how hard they try, there is no solution. The state themselves may do this to you.

  Overt threats, death threats, spying on the victim, making menacing phone calls, stalking the victim, and vandalizing the victim's property can cause you to feel coerced to remain in a harmful relationship in spite of the fact that you or your children have been caused great harm in the past.

• 5) CHILD ABUSE

  Involves using children as pawns, either by threatening to take the children, threatening to hurt the children, putting the children in the middle of the domestic feud, or fighting in the presence of a child. During this type of abuse the child is used for bargaining, control, or fear. The abuser's goal is to break down the victim by using fear or threats towards the child.

  Some child abusers are totally in denial as to the abuse. A woman comes home and asks "What are these marks on the baby's face? She looks and they seem to be dog bites to her. Her partner who works a different shift is supposed to be watching the baby while the mother works. He is frequently indifferent to the needs of the child, not anticipating the childs needs. He doesn't watch out for the infants safety, but allows the child to crawl around on the floor in spite of the fact that they have a dog. It's an annoyance to him that she even mentions it. The irritated animal snaps at the child. This happens repeatedly. One day the bites cause the infants death.

  Toys For Tots

  Threats and actions of violence, such as threats of vehicular homicide, can now be observed the miriad of observation cameras that have been installed in so many places. You cannot see that you are being watched, but you are. There are traffic cameras that monitor roadways. Banks have surveillance cameras. They are in shopping malls, grovery stores and private homes. When a police report is filed, an individual who has reacted violently, may go to prison, and even when he is released, may find that and he's received a mental health note on his records, that will last a lifetime. You may even lose your job, and have a very difficult time finding another.

• 6)PHYSICAL VIOLENCE ABUSE

  Involves the victim being pushed, hit, shoved, or grabbed. This is what most people think about when discussing or reporting abuse. The abuser's goal is to scare the victim into submissiveness. A large number had experienced physical abuse: being pushed or shoved and being slapped or hit. Of those who reported physical abuse, over a third indicated that being slapped, hit, punched or bitten were the worst incidents they had experienced.

  Primarily complaints constituted being pushed or shoved, slapped/hit, the victims arm twisted, object thrown at the victim, punched with a fist, kicked, hair pulled, hit with an object,"choked, strangled, suffocated." Knife or gun used to threaten or hurt the woman, Children or family members hurt. Deliberately burnt of scalded. Being hurt with an object was identified as the most serious almost as often as being pushed or dragged. Others stated that being threatened or hurt with a weapon was the worst kind of physical abuse that they had experienced.

  Violence can escalate. The victim may be influenced by the perception of helplessness which abusers project. i.e. "I can't make it without you!" The relationship may be an addictive one in some way, providing something you feel you need physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually. The scriptures teach: Let every one of you also love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Eph.5:21-33 NIV).

  The cycle of physical violence abuse goes like this: The Build-Up Phase: The tension builds.Stand-Over Phase: Verbal attacks increase. Explosion Phase: A violent outburst occurs. Remorse Phase: You shouldn't have pushed me, it was your fault! Pursuit Phase: It will never happen again, I promise. Honeymoon Phase: See, we don't have any problems!

  The scriptures speak of abusive treatment of husbands, wives and children. Women and children are not only victims. They at times are the offenders. Better to live in a corner of the roof than with a "brawling woman." (Proverbs 21:9) Todays teenagers spend endless hours in front of television violence, while parents fail to consider that they are rearing young terrorists: "Evil communications corrupts good manners." ()

• 7) SEXUAL ABUSE

  Involves anything sexual. Rape, affairs, cheating, pornography, sexual exploitation, and withholding sex. The abuser's goal is to punish their victim using intimacy and sex.

  Sexual abuse stems from ignorance of or the violation of God's original intent for marriage, that it be a protection against abuses of ones or the misuse of ones sexuality.

  The spouse may be using some form of fear or emotional manipulation to control you.
  "Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband."

  If you have reason to believe your marriage partner is involved in adultery, you have a valid reason to insist condoms be used, or no sex. It is foolish to risk contracting AIDS.

  God's Word teaches: Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.(I Cor 6:18)If your husband is constantly tempted by the magazines at the grocery store check out line, do the grocery shopping yourself.

  There are marriages in which the marital gift of sexual intimacy is used to manipulate the spouse. A partner will withold marital relations for monthes or even years, but force the mate to sleep in the same bed. In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul makes it clear, that many do not have the ability to resist sexual sin without a spouse to meet their sexual needs. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Paul tells us (see verse 7) that celibacy is a gift that allows a person to better serve the Lord, such as Himself as an apostle who had to continually travel. He also tells us it's the exception, not the norm. For those not so "gifted," marriage is necessary to avoid sexual sin. This idea, that we are commanded to marry to avoid sexual sin, is not popular with today's Christians, but Paul is not ambiguous about this point.

  Concerning the aspect of sexual abuse which is witholding sex, in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Apostle Paul says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times (which we are living in now) some will renounce the faith by paying attention to "deceitful spirits and teachings of demons," through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry..." This refers to abstaining from marriage with the accompanying marital relations, of having sex. This is the manipulation of God's will and intent for marriage. The Apostle Paul gives one reason for abstaining for a brief season, and that's to give yourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer. You may be tired. You may agree to get some rest. But there must be agreement between husband and wife to abstain from sex, and to pray so Satan will not be alowed to tempt you to fornicate.

  "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself." (Ephesians 5:20-21; 25-33a)

  "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

  "Let the husband render the debt to her wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband. The wife does not have power of her own body, but the husband, and the husband likewise does not have power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps by mutual consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency" (I Corinthinans 7:3-5)

  Or one partner will regularly threaten divorce, causing the security God intends to exist in marriage to be dissolved. The Prophet Malachi spoke of God's heart concerning this: "Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant." (Malachi 2:14) The exception, Yeshua/Jesus said, is adultery. "You have heard that it was said, "you shall not commit adultery". But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt.5:27-28). These days where 1 in 2 marriages ends in divorce, some people are making sure if there is not scriptural grounds for divorce, this option a very expensive one for the individual who wishes to break covenant.

  8) VERBAL & EMOTIONAL ABUSE

  Involves name-calling, yelling, belittling, and social isolation/withdrawal. Emotional, or psychological, abuse involves any behavior, verbal or non-verbal, that negatively impacts a person’s emotional or psychological well-being. The abuser's goal is to break down the victim's self-esteem and make the victim feel badly about him or herself. A large number of women had experienced the emotional abuse of being humiliated in front of others. This was most commonly reported.

  Threats of violence were most likely to be described as the worst incident of emotional abuse: of women who experienced emotional abuse indicated this. More specifically, said threats by the abuser to kill them, himself, or someone else was most serious, said the same applied when the abuser threatened to hurt them, and said that threats by the abuser to hurt children or family members or remove their children was the most serious. Over a quarter of women indicated that the most serious incident was being humiliated and being called names. Fifteen per cent said that being prevented from communicating with others and not being allowed to move freely outside the home were the worst incidents of emotional abuse they had experienced.

  Abusive talking escalates into physical violence. Teach your children to talk to parents and siblings with respect. Verbalizations like "You scum," demoralize God's creation, which is what individuals are. When God created man He created him in his own image. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul addresses verbal abuse as: "The perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of truth..." (1 Timothy 6:4-5) ...Put off these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and abusive communication from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8)

• 9) THE ABUSE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION

  This involves economic control, preventing social relationships, preventing family from visiting, monitoring phone calls, monitoring e-mail, and monitoring another person's actions and behaviors in an abnormal obsessive and unhealthy way.

  Social isolation abuse is not a child's parents making them stay home and do homework. It's not being sent to private school instead of public school. It's not being forced to clean your room when you'd rather go someplace. It's not having parents request that you follow scriptural guidelines in selecting friendships, such as "Evil companions corrupts good manners." It's not your religion dictating that certain friendships are contrary to God's word, and therefore dangerous.

  With social isolation abuse, the abuser's goal is to isolate and prevent the other person from developing relationships at all. The abuser works to keep the victim cut off from the outside world, in an unnatural and humane way. Wives may be given no spending money. Extremes of this are wives, husbands, elderly, and children have been found locked in closets, starved, and laying in their own excretion. God's Word doesn't sanction not meeting the basic needs of ones family. The man or individual who does't provide for his own house is worse than an infidel. (I Tim. 5:8) The scriptures command parents to supervise their children, so they will be a blessing.

  There are times in our lives when we all need peace, quiet, and relaxation. Time spent in solitude is in itself not a bad thing. A life filled with business does not presuppose a life full of purpose. In quiet moments, we can read God's Word, pray, rest and renew our strength, spend personal time like doing laundry, fixing our hair, and getting things done which may be more difficult when family members or room mates are around. It's the distortion of this natural need to set aside a quiet time in ones busy schedule which can become abusive.

• 10)ECONOMIC ABUSE

  Economic abuse includes trying to keep the spouse from securing or keeping a job, making her ask for money, using credit cards without the permission of the person who is financially responsible for them, destroying the holders credit rating. The root cause of abuses concerning finances is often the root of bitterness" you read about earlier in this article, in which Peter perceived that Simon was in bondage to the sin of bitterness." Many women said they were prevented from having access to, or having knowledge about the household’s income. Lacking a knowledge of financial matters is a particular hardship when the death of a spouse occurs. Decisions made at times for one spouse to home school the children or care for an elderly parent and not enter the job market, should be made prayerfully. You must seriously weigh the benefits of the short term sacrifice for the lifetime gain for your child. You will have to trust God to meet your needs, and to overcome the temptation to "keep up with the Jones." This is a sacrifice based on the love for God's word, which admonishes parents to teach their children. (Deut. 4:10) As a believer, don't allow your blessing to be turned into a curse through "bitterness." God's word states the man who doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own house, (i.e. family) has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. (I Tim. 5:8) The world today is filled with covetous. The sin of covetousness is listed in the "thou shalt nots" of the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20) We are commanded to let our conversation be without covetousness, for the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5) Yeshua/Jesus teaches us in the bible that God's "eye in on the sparrow." The Word of God tells us to be content with food and raiment. (I Tim. 6:8) I have put this to the test. Stay out of strife over money, and believe that "No good thing will God withold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) Every woman needs a demonstration of her husband's love. The scriptures speak of this in Ephesians 5, as nurturing and cherishing, as a man does his own body. Likewise the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, found creative ways to augment the family income, and still fulfill her responsibility as a care-giver for her family, so that her family praised her publicly. 1) She protected her health by getting the proper rest so she could "arise early and maximize her time--Her husband and children don't just called her blessed--They arise and praise her. She sets an example by getting out of bed and getting her work done, and her family learns a proper work ethic. (31:15) 2) "She works willingly with her hands. (31:13) She considers a field and she buys it." (31:16) Why? 4) Her husband "trusts safely in her, so he doesn't fear being robbed." (31:11) Are gals of this sort rare? The writer of Proverbs says: "Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies." (31:1) They are out there and like a rare jewel should be valued. "She will do him good and not evil all the days of his life." (31:12)

  Economic abuse does not stem from these things. Rather it's the abuses of godly characteristics which offend. Economic abuse may take for form of harrassing the victim at work so they are in danger of losing their position. Do people really call in economic abuse allegations? Yes. Twenty seven per cent indicated that the worst incident of economic abuse was being forced to be the main breadwinner or being deprived of financial support. Money being taken from their purse without consent was most common."

  God's word teaches to be respectful and considerate toward one another. Husbands should watch over their wives stress level, so that they do not become overly burdened and burned out. She needs energy to be the wife God wants her to be. Children should be taught to respect the property of others by seeing this behaviour modeled. The lack of respect of this sort, is one reason why the jails are over-flowing with so many criminals in the land. What husband would like to awaken to discover his wife stealing money from his pants pocket as he slept? He opens his eyes and she says: "We are one. Your money is my money!" Treat your marriage with the honour God commands, when He states:" Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled." Sexual sin is not the only thing which defiles the marriage. Bitterness is a defiling spirit. Extortion defiles. It's a picture of Mashiach's/Christ's love for the church. (Ephesians 5)

• ELDER ABUSE

  "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32)
  "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you... even I will carry, and will deliver you." (I Samuel 46:4)

  Definitions vary considerably from state to state in terms of what constitutes abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly. Broadly defined, however, there are three basic categories of elder abuse:

Domestic elder abuse Institutional elder abuse Self-neglect or self-abuse

Slapping, kicking, shoving, pinching, hair pulling, burning, punching or causing injury with an object or weapon, deliberate exposure to severe weather, grabbing, shaking, or rough handling when providing care, unnecessary physical restraint, confinement. Any sexual contact or activity that does not involve an older individual's full understanding and consent. Subjecting an unwilling viewer to pornographic materials. Exhibitionism/voyeurism or engaging in offensive verbal and non-verbal behaviours of a sexual nature. Using the victim to produce pornographic materials, or allowing others sexual access to the older individual.

Psychological abuse, any verbal or psychological attack which provokes fear, severe mental anguish, emotional distress, or anxiety and results in loss of dignity and self-esteem. Humiliation, isolation, intimidation and/or threats. Chronic put-downs, criticism, blaming, name-calling or infantalization. Inappropriate control of the older individual’s activities. Removal of decision-making power when the older person is still competent to make his or her own decisions.

Financial abuse: Any actions, with or without the knowledge and/or consent of an older adult, which result in the loss of money, property or other possessions. Misuse of the older individual's money, property or other possessions through fraud, forgery or extortion. Theft or misuse of pension cheques and/or funds through persuasion, deceit or other forms of emotional manipulation. Forcing an older individual to change a will or sell personal property. Misuse of power of attorney, joint bank account, an older individual's credit card(s) or bank card(s)

Neglect: The failure or refusal by someone who has assumed a caregiving responsibility to provide for the needs of an older adult who is unable to independently meet his/her own needs. The unintentional failure to fulfill one's caregiving obligations - without conscious or willful intent - is seen as passive neglect, while the deliberate or intentional withholding of adequate care is viewed as active neglect.) Inadequate provision of food, water, clothing, shelter or other necessaries of life. Failure or refusal to provide required medications, medical treatment, personal care, other necessary services, or needed aids/equipment such as walkers, eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, etc.

WHO ARE THE ABUSED?

"Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." (Psalms 71:18)

While state definitions may vary, in most states, definitions of elder abuse generally fall within these 3 categories.

Domestic elder abuse, or the abuse of elders in the home, generally refers to any of several forms of maltreatment of an older person by someone who has a special relationship with the elder (a spouse, a sibling, a child, a friend, or a caregiver), that occur in the elder’s home, or in the home of a caregiver.

Institutional abuse, on the other hand, generally refers to any of the above-mentioned forms of abuse that occur in residential facilities for older persons (e.g., nursing homes, foster homes, group homes, board and care facilities). Perpetrators of institutional abuse usually are persons who have a legal or contractual obligation to provide elder victims with care and protection (e.g., paid caregivers, staff, professionals).

DRUG ABUSE

Drug abuse is the illegal use of drugs despite the social, emotional, economical or physical harm they may cause the individual, his family and society. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries (5331), nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:21)

Strong's Greek Dictionary of the New Testament links drug abuse to "sorcery," through which all nations shall be deceived, because the Greek term PHARMAKEIA, speaks of drug use and music used as ritual. Rev. 9:21 addresses the immorality i.e. "fornications," accompanying drug use, as well as the theft to pay for illegal drugs.

5331 pharmakeia; from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):--sorcery, witchcraft.

5332 pharmakeus; from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:--sorcerer.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft (5331), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) "A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." (2 Peter 2:19)

But the Bible also offers hope through a belief and trust in God: "So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free." (John 8:36)

ALCOHOL ABUSE

The definition of alcohol abuse, is dependence or addiction,chronic heavy drinking, intoxication or binge drinking. Alcohol use resulting in impairment of health.

Both the Old and New Testaments contain many examples and commands against excessive use of alcohol and drunkenness. Drunkenness is one of the works of the flesh listed in Gal. 5:21. It's the result of the undisciplined, indiscriminate use of alcohol. Jesus warned his followers not to be drunk. (Luke 21:34).

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church to "put away from among yourselves"--to have nothing to do with a person who is a drunkard. (1 Cor. 5:11-13). This is a reference to people who refuse to acknowledge or to try to overcome drinking problems, not people who are working on and overcoming their problems. The Bible says that drunkards will not enter the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:21). Nobody who abuses alcohol should be a minister. (1 Tim. 3:3, 8, Tit. 1:7). Alcohol abusers are committing sin (Prov. 23:20-21, Isa. 28:1-8). Alcohol abuse mocks and deceives. (Prov. 20:1). Those who "tarry long over wine" and spend their time drinking, will find all kinds of trouble and sorrow. (Prov. 23:29-30). Paul commands replacing drunkenness on alcohol with being "drunk" in the Holy Spirit. "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit." (Eph 5v18).

The church in Corinth contained drunkards who had been washed, cleansed, and justified from their sins by Yeshua/Jesus. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) He is the author of eternal salvation, able to save to the uttermost those who turn to Him in obedience. (Hebrews 5:9; 7:25)

WHY DO PEOPLE REMAIN IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP?

Love: They want their relationship to work and are willing to endure, hoping and praying things will change for the better. They may feel they are exercizing faith in the partners promises, that these will yet materialize.

Threats to physically harm or kill the spouse or children. Give your life to Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, and become filled with the Holy Spirit. (Read Acts 9) Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God will lead and protect you, help you find a place of safety, even showing you things in dreams and visions before they occur. (John 16:13)

Religion

Most religions strongly discourage divorce and the breakup of the family. The ideals are admirable, but when abuse is involved, the scriptures side with not accomodating adultery, and forms of abuse. But, a woman who has strong religious convictions can feel an enormous pressure if she feels that others will view her choice to leave as a lack of faith.

Denial: They may not believe they are being abused. In order to remain in the relationship, they've found ways to explain away mistreatment, both emotional or physical. They may feel that they can "handle" it or avoid serious incidents.

Battered men say they stay out of shame and embarrassment: What will my friends, family, colleagues or neighbors think if they knew a woman beat me up?

They fear the abusive spouse will obtain custody of children if they leave, through lies, cleverness, or because they have a larger, more unified or more powerful family, or better financial base.

Lack knowledge of women's shelters for themselves and their children or other support systems or resource centers. Or in the area in which they live, these are no safer than the abusive place where they currently reside.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (—Psalm 34:8)

The Hebrew text for the phrase of this verse which means "trust in," comes from a Hebrew word that means "to take refuge in" or "to hide in" or "to hide with." It suggests a secret place, a hiding place or place of concealment. There are examples in the bible of God warning people exactly when to leave with their children, and to go into hiding, as well as when to return, after it was safe. The book of Matthew, chapter two, tells that an evil king named Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus. Joseph was given a dream to take Jesus and his mother and to flee into Egypt for a time, as protection from Herod. They were to stay in Egypt until it was safe to return to Israel. They left, and stayed in Egypt until the death of Herod. Then an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph saying arise and take the young child and his mother back to Israel,for they that sought the young childs life are dead."In Luke 4:29, we see an example of a group's attempt to assassinate Yeshua/Jesus. There are various testimonies of God even making people invisible in an emergency. As they rose up and began heading toward Messiah to throw him off a cliff, we read:

"And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30) But he passing through the midst of them he was suddenly gone."

GOD AIDS THOSE NOT WANTING TO ACCOMODATE EVIL

There's a story of a woman in the Old Testament of the bible whose name was Jael. (Judges 4, Judges 5::6-24) She had a relative relationship in which the relative was a military man, the captain of the army of Jabin, king of Hazor. Judges 5 shows him able to act in an independant capacity. The man, whose name was Sisera resided in Harosheth of the Gentiles, a place identified with el-Harithiyeh, on the right bank of the Kishon and commanding the way from the Central Plain to the sea. Sisera tried to force Jael to accomodate his criminal activity, by providing hospitality through which he might utilize her home as a base of operations. But Jael was a woman with exceptional faith and courage in God. She had a husband who was related to the enemy and she probably had children. The situation was that the nation of Israel was at war. The Prophetess Deborah had urged Barak to combine the forces of Israel to wage war with Sisera as the representative of Jabin, the king of Hazor. The scene of the battle was at the foot of the slopes of Mt. Tabor. (Judges 4:12-14) Or at the foot of the heights of Mt. Carmel. (Judges 5:19) Sisera was an oppressor with 900 chariots of iron.

The military assault by Barak and Deborah was great, and the host of the enemy was routed. Sisera, deserting his troops, fled on foot. In the northeast, near Kedesh he sought refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite, the husband of Jael. She acted discreetly in faith concerning what she planned to do about the whole situation. But she took decisive action to eliminate him and his influence from her house-hold. Siser's defeat is celebrated in the Song of Deborah found in the scriptures in Judges 5. The Rabbai Akiba who fought valiently in the Jewish war for independance as standard bearer to Bar-cocheba, was descended from the ancient warlike Sisera of Harosheth.

The Lord is not limited to "homeless shelters" to assist and protect you, and these are not the only option. Pray for God's guidance, if He puts it on your heart to go to one, do it. Christian missions consider it their mission in life to help people make a new start in life. But everyones experience at shelters in general, is not a happy one. One young man told of homeless sleeping with their shoes on so they wouldn't be stolen from other homeless men in the shelter. His were stolen from his feet in the middle of the night. If the shelter happens to be filled with heroin addicts, prostitutes, etc. you'd better pray and carefully weigh the cost of leaving home. To go to the wrong one can be a poor influence on young children, if the women are using filthy language, and openly discussing their trade with other prostitutes at the shelter. If God leads you to go, then do it trusting in the Lord. Even homeless people are aware that the quality of shelters varies, and some are better than others. Be selective, ask around for advise, concerning any aspect which concerns you.

Be aware that other state agencies will probably become involved in your case, leading to court proceedings, but you can obtain a "Restraining Order" at no financial cost to you to protect you during this process. They have no family or social support network of people who are in a position to help them.

They have dependent children and family responsibilities.

Yeshua/Jesus loves both you and your children. Dependant children is one thing that actually leads women to seek help. Their children are impacted by the abusive situation.

Lack job skills to support themselves and children.

The belief that it's a woman's job to keep peace in the family and to keep the family unit together.

They are accustomed to violence in the family and feel it's normal.

Lack money, car, or property in their own name.

Lack money or appropriate clothes for job search.

Lack access to transportation, day care, or job skills training.

They lack knowledge of their legal right to safety and free or low cost legal services available to them.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

The ability to "distance yourself" in a healthy way emotionally, physically and spiritually from those spirits which are not of God, or from individuals who yield themselves to demonic spirits is crucial. The place to start is by giving your own life to Yeshua/Jesus. (Acts 2:38)

• Hear and receive the Gospel of Yeshua haMashich/Jesus Christ

  (John 5:24: Acts 15:7; Romans 10:17; Revelation 3:20).

  Believe on the Yeshua haMashiach/Lord Jesus Christ.
  He is God robed in flesh, the Everlasting Father, The True and Living God. He came to earth and voluntarily died on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

• Believe that Yeshua/Jesus arose from the dead
  in order that we may have eternal life. (Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18; John 8:24; John 11:25-26; John 20:31; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:8-9).

• Repent of your sins
  (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9). Confess before others that Jesus is your Lord and Savior (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 1:9).

• Be immersed in Baptism (Mikveh Mayim)
  In the name of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ.
  (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 3:18-22). Stand firm (Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:12).
• Ask God to Fill You With the Holy Spirit
  With the evidence of speaking in tongues. (Acts 10:46-48, Acts 1:4, Acts 19:6)
• Find a good house of worship.

Read God's Word. Becoming filled with the Holy Spirit will give you discernment, wisdom, warning when you are in need of protection and godly self-control. It does not mean that you lack compassion as a Christian or do not care. It's the realization you cannot control the behaviour of another. Those who control others in this manner, usually have a number of skills with which they can take care of themselves quite well.

Detaching yourself from the person or situation, means that you will not enable them to stay the way they are through your own negative and destructive behavioural patterns, such as taking the blame for the way they are, or the losses in their life, paying financially for their bills or other needs to buy yourself a temporary sense of peace or safety. But you allow them to grow up in Christ in all things by being chastened by their Heavenly Fathers loving hand, and learning from natural consequences. Be wise and pray for God's guidance. Trust Him to provide you with the necessary finances if need be to leave.

You will cease protecting the other individual from all adversity, for the trying of your faith as well as theirs is more precious than gold tried in the fire. The trial of your FAITH, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth. (1 Peter 1:7) You will stop blaming yourself or others in the matter, but will yield to God fully in your own life. It's to permit another to face reality. You will accept God's will and no longer will you live in denial. You will live your life in praise and thanksgiving to God and not in remorse over the past which you cannot change.

Tom & Alana Campbell 5214 South 2nd Avenue Everett, Washington 98203-4113

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Email: adazio@lycos.com