pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
pastorjonbarrett
Slaying the Lion & the Bear: The Believer's Journey of Dismantling the 'False Self.'
- pastorjonbarrett
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
In 1 Samuel chapter 17, the army of Israel faced the great army of the Philistines. For 40 days, the Philistine warrior Goliath, described as 9 feet tall and dressed in powerful weaponry, challenged any Israelite soldier to come out and fight him. When the Israelites saw him “they all fled from him in great fear” (1 Samuel 17:24).
We pick up the account after David hears Goliath’s humiliating challenge to Israel’s army.
1 Samuel 17:26–45
26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” 27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
What are some of the messages David received from those VOICES around him?
• From his family of origin (v. 28):
• From Saul, who was in authority over him (vv. 33, 38):
• From Goliath, who was the enemy (vv. 41–45):
What is the false self?
The false self is characterized primarily by unhealthy learned behaviors, messages, and scripts from our family of origin (infant to adolescence) that we take with us into adulthood. If not dealt with and processed in a healthy way, these become protective mechanisms in our personality; a facade behind which we hide ourselves, never exposing our hurts and wounds to the loving care of Jesus. Our false self affects not only our relationship with God, but others, and ourselves.
What is the true self?
The true self is rooted in the authentic experience of who God made you to be; completely present to Him and alive with Him! It’s characterized by finding your complete identity in what Christ has already DONE for you on the cross, in His unconditional love for you, and what He says about you which enables you to be fully secure. Therefore, you are able to navigate leaving your false self behind (family of origin) and be emotionally and spiritually mature; unhindered before God, others, and yourself.
Most Christian’s find this very difficult & intimidating and don’t know where to begin. This is sadly also not a very popularly discussed topic in the body of Christ; therefore, we never really enter the path of truly experiencing genuine freedom in Jesus.
JON’S example exercise-
False self- “the voice of Faye,” and others from my family of origin (Bill, John, Doreen, Stacy, Gayle).
True self- The Voice of God (Holy Spirit) and the new family of Jesus.
False self:
Approval of others is everything.
Stories and assumptions.
Condemnation.
Restlessness.
Unsafe.
Fear & bondage.
Not good enough.
Stuck.
Punished.
Control.
Panic.
Reactive (foolishness).
Rushed/never enough time.
Defensive with others.
Judgmental/harsh.
Scream and yell.
Selfish.
True self:
God’s approval (already DONE for me via the cross!).
Reality & Truth.
Unconditional Love.
Rest.
Safe.
Freedom.
Treasured & Beloved.
Growth.
Pardoned.
Let go & Trust.
Peace.
Prudence (wise).
Slowed down/know when to stop.
Listen to others in order to understand.
Gentle/meek.
Speak respectfully and honestly.
Humble.
“Put off the old… put on the new which was created according to God in TRUE righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24).”
Like David, what might it look like for you to take off the armor that you are currently wearing (the false self) which does not fit you?
Complete the following sentence, and then share it with the group as a first step: What I am beginning to realize about myself is . . .
It’s your turn! Start dismantling the false self. Awareness leads to healing!
False self- “The voice of ___________.” (My family of origin).
True self- The Voice of God and the new family of Jesus.
False self
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True self
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