IN THE FACE OF ABUSE
"What should I believe?"
"What should I do?"
What is abuse?
Abuse can be mental, emotional, physical, sexual, bullying, intimidation.
Abuse-"any action that intentionally harms or injuries another
person"
"To inflict physical or emotional harm or injury"
"To attack with words"
Abuse is about control...anger mishandled(Abuser usually an EXPLODER, whereas
the one being abused is an IMPLODER), selfishness is at its root
Physical abuse-using physical strength to harm others, beatings, punishment vs
discipline
Emotional abuse-verbal attacks, criticism, favoritism, manipulation, deceit,
threats, withheld expressions of love(Pr.12:18 "Reckless words pierce like
a sword" 18:14 "who can bear a crushed spirit" 18:21 "life
and death are in the power of the tongue")
Victims of abuse can be ensnared in a cycle that is difficult to break, often
those who were abused become abusers, "hurt people, hurt people"
Abuse according to the Bible is sin: Mal.2:13-16, 1Peter 3:7, Eph.4:31,
Mt.5:21-22,
Luke 12:45-46, Lev.25:17, Ga,5:19-21, 2Tim.3:1-5
Abuse disregards others and is opposite of His command to "love one
another"
1John 3:23/Mt.22:37-40/Eph.5:25-28 husband love your wives
What should I believe?
Is.53:3 "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief, And we hid, as it were our faces from Him. He was
despised and we did not esteem(appreciate) Him. Surely He has borne our griefs,
And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and
afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we
are healed."
Believe this: Jesus knows from experience how you feel, what you are going
through, you are not hidden from His sight
Ps.55-a Psalm of David as he underwent abuse from the household of Saul
Ps.56-a Psalm David wrote while being abused by his enemies
56:8-9 "You number my wandering; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they
not in Your book. When I cry out to You; Then my enemies will turn back; This I
know, because God is for me."
Believe this: God see's your tears, God is for you, Your not alone though you
may feel lonely, if God is for you then His Church should be for you
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you are being abused, you need to speak up
If you are being physically abused, you need to get out, seek safety, it's
biblical:
Pro.22:3/27:12 "A prudent man(women) foresees evil and hides
himself(herself) But the simple pass on and are punished."
1Sam.20: David hid from Saul's wrath with Jonathan's help
Lk.4:28-30 Jesus hides in the crowd with religious leaders wanted to kill Him
Acts 9:23-25 the disciples of Paul hid him from Jews who plotted his death
It's never ok for others to abuse you, to bully you, harm you in any way and
it's not ok for you to sit in silence if your being abused in anyway,
Mt.18:15-17 Take others with you, if necessary get the entire church involved.
Standing in faith, is standing in the Word of God and the Word of God is clear
on this subject, abuse is wrong, abusers are in sin and need to repent.
To all abusers, get help, you cannot break the cycle alone, God is for you, God
loves you and provided a way out of the cycle of abuse. Do not pass this
iniquity down to the next generation. Someone in your family line needs to say,
"enough is enough!"
You've been pushed...Ps.118:13
Push back...Ps.44:5
Admit you are an abuser...first to yourself, second to the Lord(Ps.32), third to
a friend(James 5:16/Ga.6:1-2)fourth to those you have abused(Mt.18:15)
Believe Jesus can forgive you and heal you
Confess to a pastor, counselor, small group and find ongoing counseling and
help.
