Freed for Life, 2007: Paul and Kathryn Hopkins

Injustice
Closing Open Doors
With injustices we assume that because we were wronged, we have the right to take offense and to
retaliate in word, action and bitterness. This is not the heart of Christ, and even in ministry it is
inevitable that all of us will be affected by overt injustice. In addition, all of us have suffered under
covert (but no less hurtful) injustices from childhood. In order to live in the freedom of Christ, we
must confront these injustices and our reactions to them. Within this we can grant full forgiveness to
all who have caused us suffering or rejected us.

1. UNDERSTANDING INJUSTICE

One of the ways that strongholds can be built in our lives is our reaction to unjust life
circumstances.

Our responses can be either

aggressive (e.g. rebellion)

or passive (e.g. rejection)

Either way leads to bondage. Injustice could be described as inherited harm. We realize that
we did nothing to deserve the treatment that was given, and nothing can justify what
happened. We need to remember injustice grieves God as it is the opposite of His justice
and His character.
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He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

Unlike God we very rarely have righteous anger over things in our lives. We react to
injustice with not only anger, but bitterness, unforgiveness, withdrawal and other sin
patterns. Simply put: injustice provokes the construction of strongholds.

2. TRUTH AND LOVE DEFICITS

Any relationship or situation in our lives that does not reflect the full truth or love of God is
an opportunity for the enemy to build strongholds. The injustice of not receiving a purity of
love and truth allows this access. This is the principle of love and truth deficits. Wherever
there is a deficit of love or truth, the empty space will be filled with lies. Let us look at how
love and truth deficits practically play out in our lives.

A. Truth deficit.

God's truth brings peace: and fruitfulness to our lives. The degree to which we stray
from this truth is the degree to which we can be controlled by varying strongholds (2

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Corinthians 10:3-5). I truth is withheld, unhealthy and destructive patterns grow. Here
are a few examples:

Rebellion:

A child determines when he will listen to his parents. He has selective obedience and is
rarely corrected by his parents, who do not instruct him to obey out of fear of rejection
from their child. There is no instruction in the godly character of patience, listening, or
obedience. Thus, the child simply will not listen to his parents, doing what he, wants,
when he wants. As an adult, this lack of truth affects every relationship and environment
of his life, including how he sees God, church authorities, employers, etc.

The man thinks he is autonomous and does not need the help or instruction of anyone.
Out of this comes confusion, anger, offence, chaos, and anarchy in varying degrees.

Unforgiveness:

A young woman is abused verbally by her mother at an early age. Her mother is bitter
because her husband left her, and takes out the frustration about her situation on her
little girl. The mother harbors bitterness and unforgiveness toward the father. Soon the
daughter learns that being bitter and angry in the house is alright. This girl grows up
with deep unforgiveness toward her father, mother, and others, and sees no problem
with it.
Note: The absence of truth has deep and far-reaching ramifications. The greater the
number of truth deficits, the greater and more far-reaching is the damage to a person's
life. There is never just one arena where truth is absent; therefore the damage becomes
complex.

B. Love deficit. (Deprivation of "God-quality" love)

Love and truth deficits affect our identity:

Love is related to value and worth. The more love deficits people experience in their
lives, the less valuable and worthy they feel.
If love is absent, it leaves a lack of significance and security.
Lack of love results in real or perceived rejection
It develops patterns of trying to capture love or significance, and/or an unnatural
desire to protect ourselves from the hurt of rejection.
This is especially significant in the developing years of life where lifelong patterns are
built.
We will often try to fill a void of love with performance, striving, unhealthy
addictions independence, or other "replacements"

Just as with a truth deficit, a love deficit can cause unhealthy and destructive patterns
in our lives. As much as well-meaning (and potentially godly) people in our lives love us,
they will never measure up to God's perfect standard of love. When this standard is not
met, the result can be damaging:
It becomes more difficult for us to see these deficits because they become such a
part of daily lives and personalities.
Deficits, and the strongholds built because of them, are more quickly identified by
others revelation and observation than by ourselves.

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Withholding:

A young girl is seldom, if ever, told she is loved. True, genuine, unconditional, godlike
love is seldom, if ever, demonstrated to this girl. Even worse, there Is outright neglect,
disregard, and rejection. She Is abandoned mentally, emotionally, physically, and
relationally. She seldom hears the truth of God's unconditional love and regard for her.
In fact, she hears the exact opposite: She is not good enough, she is ugly, and she is
average.

Performance-based Relationships:

A man believes that his worth is equal to his performance. This value was ingrained in
him by his father who would give love based on his sons performance. He was never
told he had inherent worth or that he would be loved no matter what he did. Later in life
the son tries hard to please those around him by doing everything 'just right" in an
attempt to win approval. He soon experiences the pain of rejection, because his
performance does not always measure up to those around him.

Being loved is essential for spiritual health.

3. OUR REACTION TO LOVE AND TRUTH DEFICITS

When love and truth is withheld from us, we will respond in one of two ways: passively or
aggressively. How we respond is determined by our make-up as a person.

Here are some examples of how we can respond

Passive

Passivity, insecurity, inferiority, apathy, depression, condemnation, victimization,

hopelessness, self-hatred etc, that eventually lead to suicide.

Aggressive

Rebellion, jealousy, pride, control, superiority, competition, criticism, hostility, bitterness,

anger, rage,

etc., that eventually lead to murder.

Love is central to our development!

God is love, and expresses His love to us relationally.

We are created to love Him and be loved.

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Others' words and actions express love and blessing.

We question our value when love is not expressed to us.

4. THE PROGRESSION OF INJUSTICE

Draw here

5. CAN WE BECOME UNOFFENDABLE?

Christ took the punishment for sin that He never committed. Jesus was accused of being demon
possessed, yet He was the very Son of God. Christ was called a madman by His own family. He was
betrayed by His closest friends. He was rejected by all the religious leaders of His own people. The
list could go on and on. If anyone had the right to be outraged, angry, bitter, and calloused, it was
Jesus! Yet His heart was always, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34,
KJV). This is the same heart God desires for us, and it is not impossible for us to forgive in this way or
God would not require it.

Luke 6:27-29 (NASB) But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, bless who those curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek,
offer him the other also ...

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind
to each other and to everyone else.

Luke 17:1 (NKJV) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offences should come, but
woe to him through whom they do come!

The word for offences in Luke 17:1 can be translated temptations to sin, stumbling blocks, things
that cause people to sin, occasions for stumbling, etc. Jesus makes it clear that there will
always be the temptation to take offence, or to react in sin. While injustices can be unavoidable, we
are not helpless against such attacks. The best way to overcome an injustice is to never let an
offence take root in our hearts. Injustice loses its power when we do not succumb to its provoking.
And if we do succumb, we can have victory by relinquishing our offence through repentance and
forgiveness.

Our goal is to be like Christ, who suffered under intense injustice in its purest form and yet did not
retaliate:

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If we sense an offense is trying to take root in our lives - through the power of the Holy Spirit we
must immediately forgive those who have hurt us and allow God to bring healing. In this way we got
to share in the excitement and joy of becoming more like Christ!

6. GOD IS VICTORIOUS AND REDEEMS SUFFERING

Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those
who love those who are called according to His purpose.

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Genesis 50:19-20 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You
intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving
of many lives.

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1 Peter 2:19-21 (NIV) For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering
because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong
and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should
follow in his steps.

The story of Joseph's life is a key example of this principle. He was rejected and hated by his
brothers, sold into slavery, then imprisoned - yet he had done nothing to deserve such
wicked treatment. Like us, Joseph needed to relinquish the past and receive God's healing .

7. PRACTICAL STEPS TO BREAKING THE HOLD OF INJUSTICE

1. Identify a past injustice.

First identify the injustice and agree that it was not your fault (this disarms the lie that you deserved
the treatment). Some injustices you can identify yourself, while others you might need revelation
from the Lord.

2. Forgive and bless everyone who harmed you.

The key point of breakthrough is when you forgive everyone who participated in the injustice. Be
specific in your forgiveness and your blessing. The injustice could be a deep wound and it may be
very difficult to forgive. But through the power of the Holy Spirit you can forgive them just as Christ
has forgiven you. Remember, forgiving someone is not declaring that what they did was right.

3. Ask forgiveness for your reaction to the injustice.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for your specific sin reactions to the injustice, whether it be anger,
unforgiveness, withdrawal, etc. Use the 5-R's to help in this process. One common reaction that
needs to be dealt with is anger toward God.

4. Release the right to understand why the injustice happened.

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This is a key step. You no longer need to know why this injustice occurred. God can and will have
victory through (or in spite of) all that has happened.

5. Declare release and receive healing from your past!

As you release your past, ask the Lord for a deep healing of all the pain and declare that it is a new
day. His love is so deep for you, let it penetrate.

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