GETTING FREE OF SAUL’S ARMOR

Susan FochlerFebruary 22, 2014

We need to learn to contend to keep

our love on

We are born with an innate response to protect ourselves: Basic need to feel safe.

We develop an “armor” around our heart to provide a sense of protection when we aren’t protected by those in our family who should be protecting and caring for our hearts and giving us permission to be ourselves.

Choosing to keep our love on can feel like a battle

We grow up, get saved; but often this “armor” is not fully dismantled and starts raising havoc with our relationships, including with God.

We contend not against the enemy, but against self-created hardness surrounding our heart out of self-preservation.

We learn Love from the source of Love Himself; He gives us everything we need

to succeed

This battle for our true heart is effective when done spiritually, not soulishly.

We do this with Him, not by ourselves. We need His help to unpack our true potential.

The weapons of our warfare are mighty in power for the tearing down of strongholds! 2 Cor. 10:3-6

Strongholds: Arguments, Theories, Reasonings, Every Proud and Lofty thing that sets itself up

against the true knowledge of God

Two extremes of “Saul’s armor”

Hard-Hearted, quick to reject. look for rejection and get offended; I’ll reject you before you reject me.

Overly Compliant and People-pleasing; afraid to be honest with our own needs and desires.

Both responses are caused by Fear, and lack of love for, and belief in, yourself.

What would it look like if God was your armor?

Our strongest position is living from our true heart with our love on: Tender,

vulnerable but unconquerable

Love is as strong as death.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would offer all the goods of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned and despised. SoS 8: 6, 7

You are battle-ready when your love is on

This is the only position from which you can be your true self.

The enemy has no weapon against love.

Love is SupernaturalLoving Others, not by trying hard to “be nice”, but by first receiving love from God for yourself, and living from that stream.

Supernatural Love does not have to make sense 1 Cor 13

I choose to Love no matter what your response.

I choose to accept you even if I don’t agree with you.

I am responsible to choose Love, I am not responsible for your response.

Supernatural Love does not have to make sense 1 Cor. 13

Supernatural Love is:

Patient; I don’t understand everything about you.

Kind. I will extend tenderness and acceptance towards you, whether or not you want to receive it.

Believes you have worth and value, a destiny and a God-given future that is unique.

Supernatural Love does not have to make sense 1 Cor 13

Supernatural Love does not:

Have to agree about everything

Insist on being right or getting others to agree with me.

Worry about pleasing or meeting others’ expectations in order to make everyone happy!

Need to Control or be responsible for others.

Our greatest battle: learning to love ourselves, and in so doing, be ourselves