ER,,Part 5: Discharge Instructions

Discharge Instructions  C.S. Lewis said "Think of me as a fellow-patient in the same hospital who, having been admitted a little earlier, could give some advice."  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build."  Emergency Room         Unresolved yesterdays.  Your Sin "Almost no one bears a heavier load than the carrier of personal secrets of the past or present." (Romans 6:23)  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Untreated pain.  Wounds from others (Hebrews 12:15)  "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Jeremiah 6:14)  "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace." (Psalm 147:3)  "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Unawareness of spiritual activity.  Curse of the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9)  "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith." Discharge Instructions (Colossians 3:7-8)  "You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things…" 1.     Make up your mind to change. (Colossians 3:8)  "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." 2.     Ask for God's help. (Colossians 3:10)  "…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." 3.     Be motivated by love. (Colossians 3:12-14)  "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."    The six facets of love: Compassion Kindness Humility Gentleness      Patience      Forgiveness 4.     Fight for unity. (Colossians 3:15)  "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." 5.     Stay positive. (Colossians 3:15-17)  "And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 6.     Keep your focus on others. (Colossians 3:18-21)  "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." (Proverbs 18:1) (NKJV) "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) (NLT) "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.