1. God owes me.
We may not admit this belief, but it becomes apparent when things don't go our way and we get angry with God.
Truth: We owe God everything and He has already given us more than we can ever repay (Rom.11:35-36). Our present life is about redemption, not personal happiness* (Jn. 16:33; Heb.11:13-16; Forever Debtors).
2. Developing self-esteem is the answer to our problems.
Truth: While much of psychology supports this belief, God says self-denial and God-esteem heal minds and souls (Mt.16:24-25). In fact, the Bible says self-esteem is a sign of wickedness (2Tim.3:1-5; 6 Ways Self-Esteem Philosophy Contradicts Scripture).
3. We can't earn salvation. Therefore, God has no expectations of us.
Truth: Scripture says God has great expectations (Luke 14:26) and obedience is a sign of genuine love for Christ. (Jn.14:21; 1Thess.1:4-10; It Matters).
Please pray through these three lies and ask God to reveal any areas where you have believed them.
*God blesses us with many good things in this life and we can have "spiritual happiness"(i.e. peace, joy, love) - but God does not promise us an easy or difficulty-free life. This life is hard because we are in a fallen world. But this is the good news: our eternal life in Christ is about happiness!
Bible Study
Question: How do we discern the errors of the false philosophies that have invaded the Church? How do we recognize error in a sermon or teaching. How do we understand when a friend gives us non-Biblical advice?
Answer: Transform our minds.
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
How?
1. By studying God's Word regularly.
2 Timothy 2:15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2. By seeking God daily in prayer.
Romans 8:26-27: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
According to some Bible scholars, "wordless groans" may mean that the Spirit moves the heart of the one praying and the sighs of our hearts are prayers lifted to the Lord. The Holy Spirit intercedes through us, praying what needs to be prayed even when we are unsure how to pray, even when we can't put it into words.
3. By regularly meeting with God's people for accountability and encouragement.
Ephesians 4:11-16: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
copyright 2016, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com
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