THIS WEEK’S LIES:

1.  No one cares, I will be doing everyone a favor…
2.  I am only hurting myself…

HOW THE ENEMY USES LIES:

• The first type of lie is meant to put us down, to take away our confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.
• The enemy tells us these lies to keeps us from seeing that we are children of God (Romans 8:16) and have been promised an eternal inheritance. (Psalms 37:18)
• The second group of lies is whispered to us to make us feel unworthy of God’s love, forgiveness, and blessing.
  •  “You can’t be forgiven.”
  •  “Your sin is too great.”
  •  “You are a lost cause.”
  •  “God and others don’t care about you.”
  •  “No one would care if you weren’t here anymore.”
  •  “You don’t deserve help or love from anyone.”
•  He whispers these lies to our heart and mind to separate us from God and others as well as keeping us from coming closer to Him and those around us.

RESULTS FROM BELIEVING THE LIES:

• “Isolation is okay—I don’t need God or anyone else.”
• “I have no purpose in my life.”
• “There is nothing I can do to earn love from God or others.”

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

THE TRUTH:

1. “No one cares, I will be doing everyone a favor…”

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV) 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

• We were created to be in relationship with God and others.
• We are of great value to God and others.
• God has restored us back to Him through His one and only son Jesus.

2. “I am only hurting myself…”

• Our actions can and do affect those around us.
• Adam and Eve’s choices affected generations to come.

WHAT DO WE DO?

• We stand in the truth (the Word of God) and continue to believe. (Hebrews 10:23)
• We need to be in relationship with God and others, walking in the light and bearing each other’s burdens.
• We need to put our hope in Jesus and stand on God’s word and who He says we are in Him.
• We need to be aware of our struggles and how the enemy works and uses them against us.
• We need others to help us understand who we are and help us seek God’s truth and purposes.

CLOSING QUESTIONS:

• Who do you share your struggles and fears with?
• Are you trusting your feelings more than standing in God’s truth of who we are in Him?
• Are you willing to get help?
• What is God telling you today?
• Do you have a relationship with God?
• Are you completely shutting God and others out of your life?

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: Jeremiah 29:11-13, Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:1-2,9-16
Icebreaker: Which of these shows would you participate in: Survivor or Alone? Why or why not? OR What is your dominate love language?

1. Read Ephesians 2:19, Galatians 6:2, and Romans 12:1-2,9-16. What is God, through Paul, communicating about who He is and who we are? A) What do these passages tell us about being God’s people together?
2. How do you recognize when you are carrying burdens? A) How do you communicate to others that you need connection and perspective? B) How do you recognize when others are carrying burdens?
3. Take a look at Jeremiah 29:11-13, Jeremiah 31:3, John 10:9-11, and Philippians 4:8. What are the kinds of things God speak to us, even when He is convicting us? A) What from these passages can help us recognize the difference between lies and truth?
4. What kinds of lies are you more susceptible to? A) What kinds of lies are those close to you more susceptible to? B) What specifically can help you fight the lies? How specifically can you help someone else fight?
5. What are you doing in this season to strengthen your connection with Jesus? With key people? A) Who do you have in your life where you could ask, “Can you speak some truth into what I am thinking and feeling?”
6. As we conclude this series, what are you more aware of? What response is the Holy Spirit showing you to take?