Welcome to Week 1 of Breaking Bad! This week we learned how our thoughts affect our view of ourselves. In many ways our mind determines our life. What we believe affects our attitude. Our attitude determines how we live each day. As we enter into this New Year of 2014 many of us can look back at a goal we set this year, such as getting in shape or perhaps even running the Detroit Marathon for The Hope Water Project! The positive belief that you can accomplish a goal can often determine how successful you will be at achieving that goal. If positive beliefs can impact how we live then negative beliefs can have that same impact. Lies can keep us from reaching our full, God-given potential. Satan drops a thought in our mind like a little seed, and over time, it grows. Without realizing it, when you accept a lie it becomes your new reality. We often accept a lie as truth; because we have not been taught to recognize the lie and we don t know how to challenge and dismiss it. Have someone read Proverbs 23:7. This scripture supports the view that our beliefs affect how we live. Share examples of when this has been true in your own life. Can you think of a lie you were told when you were a child? Share how that lie may have affected you and how you eventually discovered the truth. Also, you may think of a positive goal you accomplished and link how your attitude impacted your success. (An example could be an older sibling teasing you and saying you were adopted this actually happened to me and I believed it until I got up the nerve to ask my parents if it was true!) It s ok to pass if you do not want to share. Today we are going to unveil the truth of how lies are planted and look at principles to deflect, combat, and prevent them from planting their roots into our soul. SCRIPTURE FOCUS Okay, let s get started. Open your Bible to the book of John, it is located in the New Testament. Go to chapter 8, verse 44. Here Jesus is talking to the religious rulers of his day, and he makes a claim about the author of all lies. Have someone read his statement. What is the overall tone of this passage? Did you ever stop and think about how direct and confident Jesus is about his claim? Many of us have heard this passage before but rarely do we grapple with the depth of its truth. Thus, the scripture in John reveals exactly who is the author (and father) of all lies. This gives you an opportunity to build a defense against Satan s schemes. Take a few minutes to discuss this passage and that Jesus calls Satan, the father of lies. Have you ever thought you could challenge the lies Satan drops into your head? Once you are done sharing, let s discuss three areas in which Satan works to defeat us and destroy the life that God has planned for us. 1. THE FIRST LIE: I am not beautiful, loveable, talented, smart, OR I am too short, skinny, shy. The list goes on. Satan never runs out of accusations to throw at us. In fact, the Bible calls Satan the accuser of the brethren. (Revelation 12:10) The accusations differ from person to person. But, what else would you expect from Satan? He is skilled at using the world system as your mirror. He tries to convince you that you do not measure up to the perfect world standards. Let s look at two scriptures to counteract these lies and to see what God really thinks about you:
Even before the world was made, God chose us for himself because of his love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame. God already planned to have us as his own children. Ephesians 1:4-5 New Life Version God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 Easy-to-Read Version The Bible says that God made us by design and He cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) He has great plans for us to contribute toward the good that can be achieved, through us. Our challenge is to accept who God has created us to be and not allow ourselves to be tossed around, having no control of our identity or future. Discuss a time when you thought God showed you a good thing e wanted you to do. How did you handle it? An example might be stepping out in faith to serve in a new area and not being sure that you were capable of doing it. 2.THE SECOND LIE I can t be successful, reach my goals, break my habit, be good enough. Again, the list is endless. Take a few minutes to discuss one I can t lie that you have struggled with. What is the truth associated with that lie?nnow that you have poured out your heart let s look at another claim made by Jesus: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity. Luke 4:18 Amplified Bible As I read this passage, I have come to understand Jesus is talking about you and me. It also says he came to deliver those who are oppressed, are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity. Why would anyone want to continue living in the clutches of the I can t mentality? Take a few minutes to discuss what resonates with you from the Luke 4:18, then discuss the following: - Who was Jesus talking about? - Can the words Jesus spoke, captives, oppressed, crushed, and broken apply to me? This scripture presents the principle of captives and beaten down prisoners. If you accept the premise that we are the prisoners, then let s look at the battlefield. The next scripture supports the first point we made in the opening statement and hits the subject right on the head (no pun intended). Take a few minutes to read and discuss it. Let s start with the first scripture passage we looked at: The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart. For his mouth speaks what overflows from his heart. Luke 6:45 Complete Jewish Bible
Have you ever heard the old saying The game is won in the mind before it is won on the field? Do you think it applies here? Could it be that this reference to the mind really refers to our heart, the inner most element of our conscience being, not the vessel that pumps blood? The depth of our convictions and what we can accomplish are determined by what we think and believe. What is in our mind matters; that is where Satan plants the seed. The scriptures above also confirm that the battle is in the mind. Jesus claimed he would set the captives free and gave us tools to secure that freedom. Read the next two scriptures, and then discuss what they say about your ability to overcome the game Satan plays in your mind. All things are possible to him who believes. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Mark 9:23 New King James Version Philippians 4:13 New King James Version We started this session by establishing that Satan is the Father of lies and that God cannot lie. We have also looked at the battleground, your mind, and discussed how Jesus spoke of setting the captives free. Let s continue to see how God works in us to Break the Bad that holds us down. 3.THE THIRD LIE He won t use me, save me, forgive me, love me. The truth is actually that God can and God will. The only thing that can stop his work in us is us. Believe him. Trust him like never before. Rise to new heights as you allow God to transform your mind. We have determined that God cannot lie. So, the personal challenge we must grapple with is can I trust what God has said? Read and discuss the following two passages: Be strong! Be fearless! Don t be afraid and don t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won t let you down, and he won t abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 Common English Bible Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened. Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. Matthew 7:7-11 Common English Bible Share how these passages may or may not apply to your life. What would have to shift or change in your life for you to really believe them?
In the spiritual realm, as in life, there are benefits to the actions we take. God has given us tools to defend ourselves and defeat the enemy of our soul. However, we need to take up the sword and get into the game. Read the following two passages and focus on the action step at the end. Be not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God s will is what is good and pleasing and mature. Romans 12:2 Common English Bible (CEB) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV) Don t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts, offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And, this peace will control the way you think and feel. Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:6-9 Contemporary English Version Here we have several powerful principles, given to us by God, to defeat Satan s lies. We are told NOT to be conformed to the world, but to transform our mind. We are told we have the power to take an active role to destroy arguments and strongholds and to take EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE. This is powerful! These spiritual principles are given to us by God so we can be see the victory God knows we can handle. We can change the game by the way we think. - Make an active attempt to listen to the thoughts that race through your mind daily. - Pray that God will make you aware of thoughts you may have taken for granted before. - You may consider jotting them down in a journal to capture them and watch the patterns that occur. - Reflect on the scriptural truths, as noted in Philippians 4:6-9. - Know that you have the power and ability to challenge and dismiss every negative or contrary thought. Share one takeaway with the group, that you will personally try to live out this week. TO SUMMARIZE You can trust that God cares about you and gave you tools to use and win the battle. You can beat Satan in the battle of the mind, by recognizing when he tries to plant a seed. You can reject the seeds Satan tries to plant by using scripture and reflecting on what is true, pure, and proper. Don t give up. Satan will try to convince you that it is foolishness to believe that God cares. Just remember, Not only is he a liar, but he is the father of all lies.
Last thought! God had plans for you from the beginning. You have specific and special talents that Satan wants to thwart. Satan wants to remove you from the equation and the only tool he has is the seed (lie) he can plant in your mind. It is worth the fight to become who God made you to be. Is there middle ground here? We must actively guard our mind daily or we become passive observers, by default. Remember that the words the apostle Paul said: I can do all things through God who gives me strength, also apply to you. POTENTIAL ACTION STEP Check Out Celebrate Recovery to Experience Freedom from Bad Habits We all have them the bad habits that put a drag on our lives. Whether it s the past lie or trauma that haunts you, the current relationship you can t say no to, the drink you must have, co-dependency or the website that you can t stay away from. We all need encouragement and a clear, biblical path toward freedom from whatever is holding us back. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place where you can come exactly as you are to begin that conversation with people who will walk alongside you as you pursue healing. The only prerequisite is a desire for change. God created us to be in community because we can help carry each other s load. And by the way Got teenagers? The Landing will do for them what Celebrate Recovery can do for you! For more information about CR and how you can plug in visit kensingtonchurch.org/celebraterecovery.