When we look at the word struggle, it means to contend with an adversary or opposing force, war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind. As we go through the highs and lows in our lives, how many different types of struggles do we encounter in our hearts? How many of those encounters deal with emotional ties? How many of those encounters deal with unforgiveness? Do we understand what the word unforgiveness means?
Unforgiveness means:
1. Not disposed to forgive or show mercy; unrelenting.
2. Not allowing for mistakes, carelessness, or weakness: the unforgiving nature of aviation.
Let’s read James 4:1-6:
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
As your emotional struggles begin to build, your heart moves farther from Jesus/Yeshua, and you move towards self-pity, which is closer to demonic influence. These are the signs that follow them that are following down that path of thinking. Here are six signs and traits of this infectious behavior:
- I’m alone and no one understands me
- The blame game
- Self-condemnation
- Self-isolation
- Self-destruction
- Demonic vexation
If you know anyone you’ve seen or heard exhibiting any of these signs or traits, then it’s time for you to react and not get lax. You need to give them care immediately by:
- Showing them God is present by being present with them
- By listening to their heart
- Being humble and genuinely caring about their concerns and not interrupting
- Let them see the love of Yeshua Jesus in you by what you do
- Tell them of the love of Yeshua Christ has waiting to give them
- Pray the prayer of healing and restoration on them so they can hear and agree
Sometimes, the biggest failure in ministries is not actually ministering to that person’s needs. Some will console their flesh and temperament.
Temperament:
1. the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person; natural predisposition.
2. unusual personal attitudes or nature as manifested by peculiarities of feeling, temper, action, etc, often with a disclination to submit to conventional rules or restraints.
Read with me James 2:14-19:
14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
In my conclusion, read Matthew 25:31-40:
31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”