Replacement Principle

Review – Battle for your mind

Our thought life determines the direction of our behavior and our attitudes. Craig Groeschel

*John 8:44 *(ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

As Christians, we can live by God’s truth rather than under the weight of lies.

Satan’s tactics

1. He wants us to doubt who God is.

Genesis 3:1 (ESV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

• God didn’t really say?
• What if God is wrong?
• What if God doesn’t know what He claims to know?
• What if my problem is just too complicated for God?

Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV) ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

2. Satan wants to attack our identity in Christ.

• You are worthless – Truth – Eph. 2:10 “You are God’s masterpiece”
• You don’t matter – Truth – John 3:16 – We matter so much that God gave His Son for us!
• You are a failure – Truth – 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• You got what you deserved – Truth – Lam 3:22-23 – God’s mercies are new every morning.
• If people knew what you were really like, they would all hate you. Some might. God won’t.
• You will never change. Truth – Phil 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV) For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Reality: If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NIV

• In Christ means that when God looks at Christ followers, he sees the righteousness of Christ and not

• In Christ means that when God looks at Christ followers, he sees the righteousness of Christ and not our shortcomings.
• A new creation means we are changed and we are being changed. Only God can truly change us.

Titus 2:11-14

• The grace of God brings salvation to us.
• Grace teaches us to say no.
• By grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can replace lies with truth.

Psalm 16:8 (ESV) I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
The Replacement Principle
1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
• Prepare – Gird up, brace up, take out slack, get ready
• Sober-minded – Free from illusion, clear minded
Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Is your thought true? — Does it align with the Bible?
Is your thought honorable or honest?
Is your thought right or fair? — Given all the facts does it make sense? Are you being overly critical of yourself or someone else?
Is your thought pure? — What are the intentions behind the thought?
Is your thought lovely? — Is your thought filled with love?
Is your thought filled with good report? — Does it lift up others or bring them down?

Application
Pray in your quiet time about your thoughts, asking God to reveal the nature of your thoughts. Ask for God’s grace and power to overcome unhealthy thought patterns. Write out 3×5 cards with the lie on one side and scriptural truth on the other. Journal about your thought life, writing out truth statements about who God is.
Changing thought pathways takes time. Be patient with yourself and the process.

For Group Discussion:
Scriptures to consider Colossians 3:9 – 10 Romans 8:5-6 Titus 2:11-12

Questions
Last week we talked about how easy it is to get stuck in flawed thinking. To stop the lies and replace them with truth, we need to look to God’s word.
1. In assessing if our thoughts are true or not, have you been surprised by anything you discovered in your thought life?
2. How do you know if something is true? How do you filter false information?
3. Read Psalm 119:1-16. How does hiding God’s word in your heart help strengthen your ability to resist flawed or incorrect thinking?
4. What truth from God’s word would you like to preach to yourself more?
5. Truth and grace go hand in hand. Read John 1:14-18. Where does grace and truth come from?
6. Is it easier for you to receive grace or extend grace? Or neither? Why do you think this is true of you?
7. Do you believe there are limits to God’s grace? If so, where does he draw the line?
8. How does your confidence in God’s grace change how you think about yourself?

For more resources go to: https://bit.ly/Mindbattle