Living the Spirit-Led Life WEEK 3: USING ADVERSITY TO MAKE US STRONGER

Living the Spirit-Led Life WEEK 3: USING ADVERSITY TO MAKE US STRONGER 1

Weekly Materials 2

Weekly Materials 3

Does Growth Matter? Growth really matters! 4

Does Growth Matter? Growth really matters! Spiritual growth is how I take hold of the rich and satisfying life that Jesus offers us 5

How Do Believers Make Decisions? 6

How Do Believers Make Decisions? Head/logic-led Culture-led Pride-led/Offense-led Money-led 7

How Do Believers Make Decisions? Head/logic-led Culture-led Pride-led/Offense-led Money-led Romans 8:14 NIV For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Spirit-led 8

How Do I Manage The Thoughts That I Yield To? 1) I constantly evaluate my thoughts against God s word and character Ideas Beliefs 9

How Do I Manage The Thoughts That I Yield To? 1) I constantly evaluate my thoughts against God s word and character 2) I pay attention to my rogue thoughts that are inconsistent with scripture and/or God s character 3) I put great weight on anything that sounds like God s voice Ideas Beliefs o o What s the content? Is Christ s peace in it? John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 14

I m Learning to Quiet the Chatter in My Mind Ideas Beliefs 16

I m Learning to Quiet the Chatter in My Mind Psalm 37:7 NLT Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalm 131:2 NLT Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Ideas Beliefs 18

When I Follow God s Instruction, I Increase My Sensitivity to His Voice As my experience with God grows, I give more weight to His voice within my thought stream John 10:27 NIV My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. THE HOLY SPIRIT ME THE ADVERSARY A steady diet of: FALSE PROMISES BAD SUGGESTIONS CONDEMNATION 20

When I Ignore God s Instruction, I Become Dulled to God s Voice When I yield to the wrong voice, it gains influence in my mind and heart Ungodly thoughts start to crowd out godly thoughts THE HOLY SPIRIT ME THE ADVERSARY I have difficulty paying attention to the inner witness A steady diet of: FALSE PROMISES BAD SUGGESTIONS CONDEMNATION 21

Godliness has benefits in this life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT) 22

Godliness has benefits in this life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT) The godly will flourish the righteous will thrive directs the steps of their lives delights in every detail will withhold no good thing heart he will give you the desires of your showered with blessings full of light and joy takes the upright into his confidence the brighter they shine result in happiness the longer they live, 23

Can I Really Believe This? 24

Can I Really Believe This? I can if I view my life as a stewardship 25

Can I Really Believe This? I can if I view my life as a stewardship Can I handle God s blessings, or will they derail me? 26

How Do I Take Hold of God s Promises? 27

How Do I Take Hold of God s Promises? By learning to give! 28

How Do I Take Hold of God s Promises? By learning to give! Giving is the highest expression of love 29

How Do I Take Hold of God s Promises? By learning to give! Giving is the highest expression of love John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. When we give, we re exercise our heart God can flow more power and provision through us, without risk that it will derail us 32

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God, 34

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God is, beaten down by life 35

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God defeats this evil world, 36

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory. 37

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory by brute force. 38

1 John 5:4 NIV For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 39

This Week: Using Adversity to Make Us Stronger 40

We need to think differently about problems! Problems are an ever-present reality 42

We need to think differently about problems! Problems are an ever-present reality John 16:33 NLT Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. 1 Peter 5:9 NLT be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. James 1:2-3 NLT 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 45

We need to think differently about problems! We have a choice in how we respond to problems! 48

We need to think differently about problems! We have a choice in how we respond to problems! Problems can either leave me 49

We need to think differently about problems! We have a choice in how we respond to problems! Problems can either leave me o Tired and broken or 50

We need to think differently about problems! We have a choice in how we respond to problems! Problems can either leave me o Tired and broken or o Closer to God and refined by the challenge 51

We need to think differently about problems! How should believers respond to problems? 52

We need to think differently about problems! How should believers respond to problems? I don t waste my pain! o I lean heavily into God when I m in trouble 53

We need to think differently about problems! How should believers respond to problems? I don t waste my pain! o I lean heavily into God when I m in trouble I endure the discomfort while I patiently search for a godly solution WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PATIENTLY ENDURE PROBLEMS AND SEARCH FOR THE GODLY SOLUTION? 55

We need to think differently about problems! Why does God allow problems? 57

We need to think differently about problems! Why does God allow problems? God doesn t willingly test us, but He allows it to happen 58

We need to think differently about problems! Why does God allow problems? God doesn t willingly test us, but He allows it to happen James 1:13 NLT And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Lamentations 3:33 NIV For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. 61

We need to think differently about problems! Why does God allow problems? God gets our attention through adversity 63

We need to think differently about problems! Why does God allow problems? God gets our attention through adversity Job 36:15-16 NLT 15 But by means of their suffering, He rescues those who suffer. For He gets their attention through adversity. 16 God is leading you away from danger, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food. Adversity reveals the deepest aspect of our character and tests our maturity 66

We need to think differently about problems! There are two kinds of problems: 69

We need to think differently about problems! There are two kinds of problems: Problems we create for ourselves 70

We need to think differently about problems! There are two kinds of problems: Problems we create for ourselves Problems from living in a broken world 71

We need to think differently about problems! There are two kinds of problems: Problems we create for ourselves Problems from living in a broken world THE GOOD NEWS! We can eliminate our self-created problems! 72

We need to think differently about problems! Why is self-correction so important? 73

We need to think differently about problems! Why is self-correction so important? We avoid pain and heartache in our lives 74

We need to think differently about problems! Why is self-correction so important? We avoid pain and heartache in our lives Our lives become strong and stable; we become very usable by God 75

We need to think differently about problems! How do I eliminate my self-created problems? 76

We need to think differently about problems! How do I eliminate my self-created problems? I expect adversity 77

We need to think differently about problems! How do I eliminate my self-created problems? I expect adversity I train myself so I m prepared for problems 78

We need to think differently about problems! How do I eliminate my self-created problems? I expect adversity I train myself so I m prepared for problems I trust God that I won t be crushed by problems if I handle them in a godly way I don t let the adversary outsmart me 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NLT when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 81

We need to think differently about problems! How do I eliminate my self-created problems? I expect adversity I train myself so I m prepared for problems I trust God that I won t be crushed by problems if I handle them in a godly way I don t let the adversary outsmart me o o HOW DO I KEEP SATAN FROM OUTSMARTING ME? WHAT ARE HIS EVIL SCHEMES? 83

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? I defeat my adversary by knowing his playbook 84

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? I defeat my adversary by knowing his playbook Satan s #1 play God doesn t exist. 85

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? I defeat my adversary by knowing his playbook Satan s #1 play God doesn t exist. o If I don t believe in God, then I won t believe Satan exists either 86

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? I defeat my adversary by knowing his playbook Satan s #1 play God doesn t exist. o If I don t believe in God, then I won t believe Satan exists either o I m easily manipulated because I don t think I have an enemy Psalm 14:1 NIV The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." 88

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? What about for believers? 90

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? What about for believers? Six subtle and highly destructive thought patterns 91

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? What about for believers? Six subtle and highly destructive thought patterns 2 Timothy 2:26 NLT they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. Ephesians 6:16 NLT In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 93

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers 95

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers CONDEMNATION 96

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers PRIDE 97

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers FEAR & ANXIETY 98

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers DOUBT 99

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers ANGER 100

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers TEMPTATION 101

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers CONDEMNATION 102

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation The rebellious thoughts o There is nothing good about me o o o o I m not worthy of being loved by God God couldn t possibly care about me I don t want to bother God with my little problems God is punishing me because He s angry at me 103

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! 104

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You are God s child forever! 105

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You are God s child forever! John 1:12-13 NLT But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 106

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o God doesn t count our mistakes against us! 107

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o God doesn t count our mistakes against us! Isaiah 55:7 NIV Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 108

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You are perfect in God s sight! 110

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You are perfect in God s sight! Hebrews 10:14 NLT For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 111

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You cannot be condemned! 112

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o You cannot be condemned! Romans 8:1 NLT So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 113

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o Nothing can separate you from God s love! 114

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Condemnation I have to decide whom I believe: These thoughts or God s Word! o Nothing can separate you from God s love! Romans 8:38 NLT And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 115

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers PRIDE 116

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride The rebellious thoughts o Comparing against others I m better than they are (superiority) They re better than I am (inferiority) 117

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride The rebellious thoughts o Comparing against others I m better than they are (superiority) They re better than I am (inferiority) o I deserve (Fill in the blank) o Thoughts of self-pity o Highly judgmental thoughts (because I m always right) 120

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride How do I neutralize pride? 123

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride How do I neutralize pride? o I view my life as a stewardship 124

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride How do I neutralize pride? o o I view my life as a stewardship I compare myself to Jesus, not others 125

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride How do I neutralize pride? o o o I view my life as a stewardship I compare myself to Jesus, not others I remind myself that pride blinds 126

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Pride How do I neutralize pride? o o o I view my life as a stewardship I compare myself to Jesus, not others I remind myself that pride blinds Obadiah 1:3 NIV The pride of your heart has deceived you 127

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers FEAR & ANXIETY 129

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety The rebellious thoughts o There are millions of them 130

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety The rebellious thoughts o There are millions of them Fear is a negative future projection of my current bad circumstance o o The current situation is real The negative projection of the future is not real! 131

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety How do I break the anxious thought pattern? 133

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety How do I break the anxious thought pattern? o I flip my fear into a prayer 134

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety How do I break the anxious thought pattern? o I flip my fear into a prayer Philippians 4:6 NLT Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. 135

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety How do I break the anxious thought pattern? o I flip my fear into a prayer o I chunk down my day into small enough increments that I can stay in faith o I magnify God and minimize the problem Psalm 34:3-4 KJV O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 138

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Fear and Anxiety How do I break the anxious thought pattern? o I flip my fear into a prayer o I chunk down my day into small enough increments that I can stay in faith o I magnify God and minimize the problem o I crowd out the fearful thoughts with the truth of scripture 139

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers DOUBT 140

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Doubt The rebellious thoughts o I m not 100% sure that God exists o This is too important to trust with God o I m not sure that God will help me this time 141

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Doubt The rebellious thoughts o o o I m not 100% sure that God exists This is too important to trust with God I m not sure that God will help me this time Unbelief/Doubt sets God aside and enthrones selfwill! 142

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Doubt How do I combat doubt? 144

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Doubt How do I combat doubt? o I become a doer of the Word 145

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Doubt How do I combat doubt? o I become a doer of the Word John 8:31-3 NIV To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." o I ask God to help me remove my doubt 147

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers ANGER 149

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Anger The rebellious thoughts o They hurt me so they must pay for doing it o I want them to feel as bad as I do o They can t be allowed to get away with that Anger is a feeling that I choose to yield to Ephesians 4:26 NLT And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 152

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Anger How do I resist anger? 154

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Anger How do I resist anger? James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Proverbs 20:22 NLT Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIV Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 157

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Satan s six main plays with believers TEMPTATION 159

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation The rebellious thoughts o I deserve this o I don t really care what happens o No one will know o It s alright this once o I ll do it now and fix it later 160

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation How do I avoid the slippery slope of temptation? 161

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation How do I avoid the slippery slope of temptation? o My long-term comfort is not best served by this short-term enticement 162

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation How do I avoid the slippery slope of temptation? o My long-term comfort is not best served by this short-term enticement 1 Timothy 6:9 NLT But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 163

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation How do I avoid the slippery slope of temptation? o My long-term comfort is not best served by this short-term enticement o God s ways aren t designed to deny my enjoyment They help me avoid pain and heartache Proverbs 6:27-28 NLT Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire? 28 Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? 166

How do I keep Satan from outsmarting me? Temptation How do I avoid the slippery slope of temptation? o My long-term comfort is not best served by this short-term enticement o God s ways aren t designed to deny my enjoyment o I avoid situations where I know I ll be tempted Matthew 26:41 NIV "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 168

Key Takeaways: 169

Key Takeaways: When we know Satan s strategies, we can spot the flaming arrows and neutralize them! 170

Key Takeaways: When we know Satan s strategies, we can spot the flaming arrows and neutralize them! As we quiet our mind and follow God s instruction, we eliminate our self-created problems 171

Key Takeaways: When we know Satan s strategies, we can spot the flaming arrows and neutralize them! As we quiet our mind and follow God s instruction, we eliminate our self-created problems This makes us very usable by God If we re open to being led by God, He will guide us down extraordinary life paths 173

TABLE DISCUSSION 175