DAY FIVE Free From Sin Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. What would your life look like if you no longer were held captive by sin? How would you be different? Imagine the freedom you would experience inside. Imagine the love and forgiveness you could pour out on everyone around you. If sin no longer had any hold on your life, imagine the difference you could make in the world. This is what the Spirit wants to accomplish through you and it s made possible because God loved you enough to send His Son to conquer sin s reign in your life! You are free to live your best life! You can now break free from your sinful chains and experience new life in Christ. This is what God has done for you. This is who He has made you to be. This is why the gospel means good news, because the gospel is the best thing that can happen to anyone! For further study and encouragement: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 12 WEEK SEVEN GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS DAY FOUR Service Program Sermon Notes Connection Group Bible Study Guide Daily Devotionals SERVICE PROGRAM Part One // Music Welcome: Hunter Bachman Song: Jesus Paid It All (O Praise The One) Prayer: Hunter Bachman Song: Great I Am Part Two // Message Video: Blue Collar Gospel Message and Prayer: Pastor Irmler pg. 2 pg. 3 pg. 5 pg. 8 The Holy Spirit Helps Us Overcome Temptation Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Since we have the Spirit of Christ in us, we are no longer slaves to sin. While we can choose to sin, we no longer have to anymore. We can be free from the pain, suffering and hurt that addiction brings to our lives. So whenever temptation comes, we can now either look for an excuse or an escape. Our escape is always found in surrendering to God s truth, but an excuse can always be found in Satan s lies. We choose which one we will yield ourselves to. Every sin we ever commit is at its core an act of unbelief. Because anytime we succumb to temptation, we are failing to believe in that moment that everything we need we already have in Christ. When we re captured and captivated by who Jesus is, we ll be empowered and equipped to resist the constant temptations to settle for anything less. Part Three // Conclusion Prayer and Reflection Feel free to come to the front at this time if you would like a pastor to pray with you. Song: Stronger (Break Ever Chain) Prayer: Hunter Bachman Offering to the LORD & Announcements For further study and encouragement: Galatians 5:16-25 2 11
DAY THREE SERMON NOTES Christ Made Us Victors John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. In Christ we no longer have to live as victims. We can now live as victors! We were not created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, ashamed, condemned, or unworthy. We were created to live victoriously in Jesus. Because everything we need in order to be completely satisfied is already ours through our relationship with Christ, we are free from the lie that we must have whatever our addiction is telling us it will provide. All we truly need is what Christ offers: joy, peace, hope, and love. One thing that makes addiction extra complicated is what originally starts out as a lie in the mind, takes our thinking captive. It leads us to do things that aren t healthy to our soul. Once physical addiction sets in, it eventually ends up holding our bodies captive as well. As we seek to overcome not just the bondage of Satan in our mind, but also the physical withdraws that are produced in the body, we must hold to the truth that even in that particular suffering, God is working a peculiar weight of glory through it as we surrender to continued obedience. For further study and encouragement: James 1:12-15 Good News For People Who Struggle With Addiction There s no temptation so small that God will ignore, and no addiction so great that His power can t overcome. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I. Addiction Keeps Us In John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin Quote: You were not created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, ashamed, condemned, or unworthy. You were created to live victoriously. II. God s Truth Sets Us John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Quote Sometimes the truth hurts, but it will set you free. 10 3
SERMON NOTES DAY TWO III. In Christ We Are John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Quote In Christ we no longer have to live as victims, we can now live as victors. IV. Through The Spirit We Can God s Truth Sets Us Free Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. The Bible declares that our God cannot lie. Therefore, the only thing that flows from His being is absolute truth. This is one reason we can have absolute confidence in His Word. In contrast to this, Satan is the father of lies. Since Satan cannot physically hurt those of us who are believers, the only weapon he has is his lies. It is through his lies that he manipulates, he deceives, and he keeps people in bondage. But his lies are no match for the power of God s truth. This is why the Scriptures declare And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32). Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Quote Repentance is the act of exchanging the lie that holds us captive for the truth that sets us free. Cast down Satan s lies and focus on God s Truth! Have a question? If you have a question or if you need clarification on today s message please let us know! Pastor will respond in our weekly Blue Collar Gospel Facebook video. Be sure to turn in this portion of your guide to Guest Services. But before the truth can set us free, we need to recognize which lie is holding us captive. We need to ask God for the wisdom to know which lie is keeping us in bondage. So, we can apply the power of God s truth to that area the enemy has lied to us in. Since it is Satan s lies that keep us in bondage, it makes sense that it is God s truth that will set us free. But this doesn t necessarily mean the truth will always make us feel good. In fact, the truth often hurts, or like James Garfield said; The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. Truth often comes like a hammer that shatters our current way of thinking, our current values, and our current motivations. And that isn t always comfortable to our flesh. May we surrender to God s truth regardless of its emotional implications. Because ultimately, aligning our lives with His truth redounds to His ultimate glory and our ultimate good. For further study and encouragement: Psalm 51:1-12 4 9
DAY ONE GROUP GUIDE 8 Addiction Keeps Us In Bondage Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Every sin that a child of God commits is rooted in a lie. The first sin ever committed was rooted in a lie. The enemy was able to lure Eve by making her question God and His Word (Gen. 3:1), and once she began to doubt who God was and what He said, sin started to look very appealing. When we lose focus on the goodness of God, sin starts to look way better than God Himself. The more we sin and get that brief sense of pleasure, the more we go back to it again and again, because it can never fully satisfy, leaving us hungry for more. Thus, creating addiction in our lives. Whatever addiction may look like, every form is rooted in a lie of disbelief. Ultimately we re believing a lie about God or who Christ has made us to be so we fill the hole that lie has created with sin disguised as a source of happiness or relief. Addiction makes you a victim to sin, but praise God our stories don t have to end there! We have hope and we have power to overcome addiction! For further study and encouragement: Romans 6:1-6 Addiction s Core At the very core of any addiction is a lie. Some people may believe the lie that God could never love them, so they crave love and acceptance in something or someone else and they run back to that thing/person again and again hoping it will satisfy as only God can. Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. What are some lies people may believe that lead to addiction? If there is anything in your life other than God that you just can t imagine going without, there may be an underlying addiction or stronghold in your heart towards that thing/person. What are some good things that people feel like they must have for ultimate satisfaction? 5
GROUP GUIDE GROUP GUIDE Satan s Lies God s Truth So if every addiction is rooted in a lie, where do those lies come from? John 8:44 He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Satan displays a very subtle, quiet, demeanor and his lies often appear right and justifiable. This is why, if we are going to be able to discern the enemy s lies and overcome temptation, we need to be aware and keep careful watch for him as the Bible warns. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: If we re going to be able to recognize Satan s lies, we must first know truth. What is truth? God s Word is truth. (John 17:17) If we are ever going to break free from addiction, we must believe who God says we are and live like we believe it to be true. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. In Philippians 4:8, God tells us to think on specific things. What are they? In Christ, you no longer have to let Satan s lies define you or your emotions. You can live victoriously despite what those lies tell you. What is a lie you have believed about God or yourself? What is something you often dwell on that does not align with Philippians 4:8? 6 How has that lie influenced your actions at times? What are some truths from God s Word that you can replace with the lies Satan is telling you? 7