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SOUL DETOX
Homework
from last week – continue into next week when we are going to look at the power
of words –Any time you think something positive, say it. Don’t keep those
positive statements to yourself… that robs others of a blessing. So… speak out
and bless others this week.
Deception
Infection
The ingenuity of self-deception is inexhaustible. ~Hannah Moore
American idol video
The ingenuity of self-deception is inexhaustible. ~Hannah Moore
American idol video
Funny but
extremely sad at the same time… we have to wonder how someone could be so out
of touch with the truth/ reality….totally unaware of their lack of musical/
vocal abilities. How can they be? People telling them lies… not wanting to hurt
their feelings.. parents – The lie: ‘you can be anything you want to be’…’you
can become anyone you want to become’
friends and family support and perpetuate the delusion…
We all
have blind spots… we talked about this last week…
Jer 17:9
NIV…The heart(A) is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (NLV) Who really knows how bad it is?
and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (NLV) Who really knows how bad it is?
pic of distorted mirror
No matter how objective we hope to be or think we are, our viewpoint is always distorted to some degree. The longer we view ourselves thru a distorted lens or look at ourselves in a distorted mirror, the more likely we are to believe a distorted truth. The longer we lie to ourselves, deceive ourselves, or remain in denial, the more likely we are to base our decisions and actions on this false belief system.. 80% of our decisions/ choices are based in the subconscious.. discuss.
So what do we
do? Time for taking an honest look in
the mirror – one that is not distorted….regular mirror - full length
We don’t know..
what we don’t know. Sometimes.. we don’t want to know. I trust you do and that
is why you are here in this class. God
wants to reveal to us in His word and by His Spirit the things that are
polluting His plan for us… including our shortcomings and defenses we may have
placed around them.
In order to see
into and expose our blind spots, we must use different mirrors held at
different angles. We are going to consider some of those mirrors that are
needed
Time to look at some self-generated toxins & why we can’t see them:
Ps 36:1-3 I have a message from
God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
before their eyes.(C)
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
before their eyes.(C)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
3 The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
3 The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
Have we
lied to ourselves so much… flattered ourselves so much that we don’t even
detect our sin?
How many
of you battle self-deception? How many
of you know someone who is self-deceived?
It’s
really hard to be objective about ourselves…
We have a willful ignorance at times….
We have a
distorted reality—we…Deny, suppress, minimize (define)
If we
never identify the lies and the deception and replace it with truth, we will
forever crave the same old thing.. the same old unhealthy lifestyle – a diet of
poison giving us a toxic soul and keep wondering why we are sick…
Time for a
check up! Breaking through our distorted
realities about ourselves, the world, others is going to take ruthless
self-examination! (4th Step work)
Step 4: “With the power of the HS, we take a searching & fearless moral
inventory of our lives.”
pic of a tick - head lice - bed bug What do you know about these bugs? How do you get rid of them? What happens if you miss just 1? Or… you miss an egg? Or.. with the tick.. you only pull out part of its body from your skin?
Time, energy, attention – very focused
attention, re-checking, checking those around us
We must
take the time to examine our lives for toxic behaviors – anything that cripples
our spiritual effectiveness or distracts us from our eternal mission &
purpose. We must look for toxic emotions – any deep feelings that have possibly
been buried or currently exist that lead us away from God’s truth. Things in
our past that need to be resolved. We must look at our unhealthy consumptions –
toxins from the world… the media we consume, the sites we surf, our
relationships - the people we hang with & the condition of all the relationships
we have. We must evaluate our thought life – toxic thoughts lead to those toxic
behaviors and emotions.
Keep in
mind that when you start this process to detoxing.. the enemy will try to stop
you. Spiritual warfare will step up.. and your own sinful nature will try to
stop you. If you hear any of the following phrases or things that are
similar..you know that you must war against your own soul.
- I don't have a problem with this
- It's really is no big deal. This is one way I cope with eveything
- I'm not as bad as most people
- I can quit anytime I want to.
- this is just the way I am.
Funny thing is… those who are most defensive are often the most unknowingly guilty.
- I don't have a problem with this
- It's really is no big deal. This is one way I cope with eveything
- I'm not as bad as most people
- I can quit anytime I want to.
- this is just the way I am.
Funny thing is… those who are most defensive are often the most unknowingly guilty.
Biblical
Example: Peter He was convinced that
he would never fall away from Jesus. With unshakable confidence Peter said in
Matt. 26:33 33 “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Self-deceived confidence. He really believed what he said. As he flattered himself, he was totally unaware. In the very next verse we find Jesus explaining that before the rooster crows 3 times, he would deny him but Peter still stood his ground – and this was Jesus telling him!!!! Matt 26:35 “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”… And of course we all know what happened.. Peter not only denied Him… he denied him 3 times!
Matt. 26:33 33 “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Self-deceived confidence. He really believed what he said. As he flattered himself, he was totally unaware. In the very next verse we find Jesus explaining that before the rooster crows 3 times, he would deny him but Peter still stood his ground – and this was Jesus telling him!!!! Matt 26:35 “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”… And of course we all know what happened.. Peter not only denied Him… he denied him 3 times!
If someone has been trying to show you something about
yourself and you continue to fight it, maybe it’s time to acknowledge that you
might just be deceived.
pic -Person laughing – This is no laughing matter. Since we can’t change what we don’t identify… ask God to show you any areas of your life that may be harmful to you, offensive to the people around you, or displeasing to God Himself.
pic -Person laughing – This is no laughing matter. Since we can’t change what we don’t identify… ask God to show you any areas of your life that may be harmful to you, offensive to the people around you, or displeasing to God Himself.
Pastor Craig
Groeschel’s story – crude jokes even from the pulpit..for several years he was
challenged by friends, family & congregants – dismissed their concerns
believing he was relating well with other people in the culture and the
complainers were just stuffy, rigid people. Not him per se’ but.. maybe you
have heard things like ‘friggin’ frickin’ ‘pissed’ in a sermon… or just in
casual conversation with other Christ followers. It is important for all of us…
just as Pastor C did… to do as someone asked of him.. “Pastor, since you are
convinced you’re not doing anything wrong, would you ask God to show you if He
would have you change?”. He agreed as we should…
So what
happened with Pastor C? Not long after
his prayer…daughter Catie, 7yrs old in the service.. about to say something
truly funny but not totally clean.. he stopped.. God clearly showed him – he
had been crude. Busted.
Prv 15:31-32 31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
Prv 15:31-32 31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
32 Those who disregard discipline
despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
We all need to
be willing to take a "life-giving rebuke". Receive it then take it
before God… He will show you the truth.
pic of someone looking distracted - pre-occupied --- another example from Pastor C – distracted.. needed to improve his people skills.. challenged by his wife once again. My story…..
pic of someone looking distracted - pre-occupied --- another example from Pastor C – distracted.. needed to improve his people skills.. challenged by his wife once again. My story…..
I truly love
people. I want to be fully present in the moment. I want people to experience
and see on the outside what is on the inside. If that is not the case… I need
to make adjustments.. I need to change. I have .. but I still have to fight
this on a regular basis.
pic - horse with a saddle – The moral of the story… if people are coming to you and telling you .. you are a horse, you are a horse, you are a horse… at some point you have to look in the mirror – see that it’s true and go buy a saddle – admit to God & yourself that what they say is reality. And then work toward change…
pic - horse with a saddle – The moral of the story… if people are coming to you and telling you .. you are a horse, you are a horse, you are a horse… at some point you have to look in the mirror – see that it’s true and go buy a saddle – admit to God & yourself that what they say is reality. And then work toward change…
1Jn 1:88 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
SIN = knowing the Word and not doing what it says – we are in direct disobedience to God – living a toxic life is one that he cannot bless. When God shows us something, we must do it immediately. ‘delayed obedience is disobedience’.
PIC OF the Bible – As we get into the word and spend our time with the Lord.. be sure to ask Him the areas of disobedience and toxins in your life this week.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
SIN = knowing the Word and not doing what it says – we are in direct disobedience to God – living a toxic life is one that he cannot bless. When God shows us something, we must do it immediately. ‘delayed obedience is disobedience’.
PIC OF the Bible – As we get into the word and spend our time with the Lord.. be sure to ask Him the areas of disobedience and toxins in your life this week.
Quoting Pastor
C from Soul Detox: “If the number of twitter followers of facebook friends has
become an idol to you, it’s time to tear that idol down until you can manage it
in a healthy fashion. If you are consumed with worry & anxiety, call it
what it is: a sin – distrusting the promises and power of God. We have to quite
sanctifying the sin of worry by calling it ‘concern’ and do whatever it takes
to renew the mind with God’s truth. If you believe you are fat but you weigh
107 admit you have a problem – get help.”
And the list could go on and on…. The point: it’s time to get help and
realize we can’t change what we don’t see. It’s time to see the truth.
John 8:32 2 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32 2 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
SOUL DETOX
Deception
Infection – GROUP
WORK
1. What part of this teaching had the
most impact on you?
2. When people speak words about you,
is what they say true? If so, believe it and embrace it. If it’s trash, reject
it. Share about experiences you have had with people drawing attention to
toxins in your life in a positive way. (Prv 12:18) – tongue of the wise brings
healing.
3. Share experiences where people have
spoken trash over you. What was your response? We have to guard our hearts
against toxic words (Prv 4:23)
4. Take some time to speak personally
to one another as a group in expressing your needs while doing this study/
class..
Each person .. complete (verbally) at least 2 of these
statements:
I’ll know this group is a safe place if you…
In our discussions, the best thing you could do for me is…
It really helps me when…
I tend to withdrawn when…
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