Overcoming Lies: Embracing Truth and Faith
Summary
In our journey of faith, we must confront the lies that we tell ourselves, lies that hinder our spiritual growth and our ability to fully embrace God's promises. One of the most pervasive lies is the notion that we "can't" – that we are incapable of overcoming obstacles, achieving our dreams, or living a life that honors God. This lie is a direct contradiction to the truth of Scripture, which assures us that through Christ, we have the strength to do all things (Philippians 4:13).
We often close the doors that God opens for us through our actions and choices. God presents us with opportunities and even advises us on the path to choose – life and blessing – yet we sometimes choose the opposite, effectively closing the doors He has opened (Deuteronomy 30:19). It is crucial to recognize that our words have power; they can either speak life or bring destruction (Proverbs 18:21). Therefore, we must keep our tongues from evil and our lips from deceit, aligning our speech with the truth of God's Word.
Another lie that we must reject is the belief that we are not good enough. This lie can stem from past failures or negative words spoken over us. However, the truth is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in the image of God, and destined for greatness (Psalm 139:14). We must embrace our identity in Christ and recognize the royal blood that flows through our veins.
Furthermore, we must not fall into the trap of believing that pain is inherently bad. While it is natural to avoid pain, it is often through our struggles that we grow and emerge stronger. The Bible reminds us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He provides a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Pain can be transformative, leading us to come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10).
Lastly, we must confront the lie that our circumstances define our worth or potential. The devil may use our environment to convince us that we are limited, but we must remember that faith moves mountains. Doubt may build mountains around us, but faith empowers us to command those mountains to move (Mark 11:23).
Key Takeaways:
- God has endowed us with the ability to choose life and blessings, and it is our responsibility to align our choices with His will. When we act contrary to His guidance, we are not victims of circumstance but architects of our own setbacks. We must exercise our God-given agency to keep the doors He opens for us wide open. [57:47]
- The power of our words cannot be overstated. They can either affirm life or propagate destruction. As believers, we must be vigilant in speaking truth, for our words shape our reality and the lives of those around us. Let us commit to using our speech to reflect God's truth and to build up rather than tear down. [56:23]
- Our self-perception must be rooted in God's perspective. We are not defined by our failures or the negative opinions of others. We are God's masterpiece, created for a purpose. Embracing this truth liberates us from the lie of inadequacy and propels us into our divine destiny. [01:06:06]
- Pain is not an enemy to be avoided at all costs; it is often a catalyst for growth and refinement. God's promise is not the absence of challenges but the assurance that He will provide the strength to endure and overcome them. In our trials, we are being prepared for greater things, just as gold is refined by fire. [01:09:22]
- Faith is the key to overcoming the mountains of doubt and fear that the enemy erects in our lives. By speaking to our mountains with the authority given to us in Christ, we activate the power of faith to shift our circumstances. Let us be mountain movers, not mountain dwellers. [01:04:04]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
2. Deuteronomy 30:19 - "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
3. Proverbs 18:21 - "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Philippians 4:13, what is the source of our strength to do all things?
2. In Deuteronomy 30:19, what choices does God set before us, and what does He advise us to choose?
3. Proverbs 18:21 speaks about the power of the tongue. What are the two outcomes that our words can produce?
4. The sermon mentions that our words can either affirm life or propagate destruction. Can you recall an example from the sermon where this was illustrated? [56:23]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the belief that "I can do all things through Christ" challenge the lie that we are incapable of overcoming obstacles? [01:01:19]
2. What does it mean to "choose life" in the context of our daily decisions and actions, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 30:19? [57:47]
3. How can the power of our words, as described in Proverbs 18:21, shape our reality and the lives of those around us? [56:23]
4. The sermon discusses the lie that we are not good enough. How does Psalm 139:14 counter this lie, and what does it say about our identity in Christ? [01:06:06]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt like saying "I can't." How can you reframe that thought in light of Philippians 4:13? [01:01:19]
2. Think about a decision you need to make. How can you ensure that your choice aligns with God's advice to "choose life" as stated in Deuteronomy 30:19? [57:47]
3. Consider the words you use daily. Are there any phrases or statements you need to change to align more with the truth of God's Word, as suggested by Proverbs 18:21? [56:23]
4. Have you ever felt that you are not good enough due to past failures or negative words spoken over you? How can Psalm 139:14 help you embrace your true identity in Christ? [01:06:06]
5. Pain is often seen as something to avoid. Can you identify a recent struggle or painful experience that has led to personal growth or a deeper faith? How can you view future challenges through this lens? [01:09:22]
6. The sermon encourages us to speak to our mountains with faith. Identify a "mountain" in your life right now. What specific words of faith can you speak to it this week? [01:04:04]
7. Reflect on a time when your words may have closed a door that God opened for you. How can you use your speech to keep doors open in the future? [57:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Choosing Life and Blessings
Our decisions have the power to open or close the doors of opportunity and blessing in our lives. It is essential to understand that God has given us the freedom to choose between life and blessings or the opposite. When we align our choices with God's will, we are actively participating in the abundant life He has planned for us. This requires a conscious effort to recognize the opportunities God presents and to respond with obedience and faith. By doing so, we become co-creators with God in our journey, rather than passive bystanders or, worse, architects of our own setbacks. Our agency is a gift from God, and how we use it can either keep the doors He opens for us wide open or shut them through our disobedience. [57:47]
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8 ESV)
Reflection: What decision are you facing today that requires you to choose between life and blessings or the opposite? How can you align this decision with God's will?
Day 2: The Power of Our Words
Words are not merely sounds uttered by our lips; they carry the power to shape reality. As believers, we are called to be stewards of this power, using our speech to affirm life and reflect God's truth. Our words can build up the faith of others and ourselves, or they can tear down and destroy. It is our responsibility to guard our tongues, to speak blessings rather than curses, and to proclaim the promises of God over our lives and the lives of those around us. By doing so, we create an atmosphere where God's presence can dwell and work mightily. [56:23]
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)
Reflection: How can you use your words today to build up someone in your life, and what specific encouragement can you offer them?
Day 3: Embracing Our Identity in Christ
The lie of inadequacy can paralyze us, making us feel unworthy of God's love or the calling He has placed on our lives. However, our true identity is found in Christ, not in our past failures or the negative words of others. We are God's masterpiece, created with purpose and potential. When we embrace this truth, we step into the freedom and destiny that God has for us. We must see ourselves through the lens of God's Word, recognizing the royal lineage we belong to as children of the King. [01:06:06]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
Reflection: What aspect of your identity in Christ do you struggle to accept, and how can you begin to see yourself as God sees you?
Day 4: The Purpose of Pain
Pain and struggle are often perceived as negative experiences to be avoided, but they can be powerful agents of transformation. God's promise is not a life free from challenges but the strength to endure and overcome them. Through trials, we are refined and prepared for greater purposes, much like gold is purified by fire. It is in our moments of pain that we can experience the deepest growth, learning to rely on God's strength and provision. [01:09:22]
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold." (Job 23:10 ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a recent struggle that has the potential to grow and refine you? How can you lean into God's strength during this time?
Day 5: Faith Overcomes Mountains
Doubt and fear can create seemingly insurmountable mountains in our lives, but faith has the power to move them. As believers, we are equipped with the authority of Christ to speak to our challenges and command them to be removed. Faith is not passive; it is active and powerful. When we exercise our faith, we activate God's power to work on our behalf, changing our circumstances and overcoming the obstacles that the enemy places before us. [01:04:04]
"And Jesus said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'" (Matthew 17:20 ESV)
Reflection: What mountain of doubt or fear do you need to address with faith today, and what specific action can you take to demonstrate your trust in God's power?
Quotes
1) "When we speak things contrary to the word of God, we sabotage our own future. You sell yourself short, you cut your legs off despite yourself." [57:09] (Download) 2) "God wants to open doors for you... and you close your own door. God trying to help you... and you act a fool, you say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing." [57:47] (Download) 3) "What lies are you telling yourself? Some folks tell the lie so long they begin to believe their own lie, they don't even realize that they moved from telling the truth to telling the lie." [59:15] (Download) 4) "My Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. I can overcome, I can walk in faith, I can walk in healing, I can walk in blessings." [01:01:19] (Download) 5) "Doubt builds mountains around you... Faith moves mountains. You turn molehills into mountains with your 'I can't', but faith moves the mountains." [01:02:50] (Download) 6) "You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you're made in the image of God... there's royal blood flowing in your veins, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon you and you are somebody." [01:06:06] (Download) 7) "Pain is not bad, it will get you through, it will bring you out, it will cause you to come forth as pure gold." [01:09:22] (Download) 8) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." [01:10:14] (Download)
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