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Moving on to
Perfection
A Practical Study in the
Deceptive Mind and Tools to
Overcome It
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. Whatever you have learned or received
or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into
practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Phil 4:4-9 NIV)
Therefore leaving
the principles of
the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on
unto perfection…
Heb 6:1
Agenda
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Class 1: Questioning Our Deceptive Mind
Class 2: Faith vs. Our Deceptive Mind
Class 3: Our Deceptive Mind in Interpersonal
Relationships and Everyday Life
Class 4: The Deceptive Mind in Bible Characters
Class 5: The Deceptive Mind Destroyed in
Christ
Judge Your Neighbor Worksheet
Can judge a person or a thought that
causes you emotional pain (worry,
sadness, anxiety, anger, etc.)
 Not to turn in or share with
anyone…unless you decide to do it.
 Judging a person is easier.
 We all make judgments.
 Try not to be kind or spiritual or politically
correct.

What are we trying to accomplish?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Understand our real
problem and how to
overcome it.
Empower us with the
tools to do so.
Practice these
techniques.
Ultimately, make us
live the fruit of the
Spirit.
Move us one more
step toward
perfection (God).
Benefits
Eliminate stress
 Think Biblically
 Improve relationships
 Reduce anger, fear,
depression, anxiety
 Act with clarity
 Increase energy
 Gain peace,
contentment and joy

Questioning the
Deceptive Mind
Class 1


Ye are of your father the
devil <1228>, and the
lusts of your father ye
will do. He was a
murderer from the
beginning, and abode
not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the
father of it. (John 8:44)
Strongs 1228 –
Deceptive – false
accuser, a liar
The diabolos
The Problem from Eden


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
Death & Corruption
Separation from God
Physical Pain
Decay
The Deceptive (Lying) Mind
 Source
of Mental & Spiritual Pain
 Source of Sinful Inclinations


And said, O full of all subtilty and
all mischief, thou child of the
diabolos, thou enemy of all
righteousness, wilt thou not cease
to pervert the right ways of the
Lord? (Acts 13:10 – speaking of Barjesus)
Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the diabolos as a
roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour.
(1 Peter 5:8)

He that committeth sin is of the
diabolos; for diabolos sinneth
from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy
the works of the diabolos.
(1
John 3:8)
The diabolos
The Subtlety of the Deceptive Mind

Things shouldn’t be the way that they are.
 God
should do things differently. People
shouldn’t get sick, suffer or have bad things
happen.
 People should act differently.

We have to give up the things which bring
happiness for God.

The Deceptive
Mind = Heart

The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
(Jer. 17:9)
But those things which
proceed out of the mouth
come forth from the heart;
and they defile the man.
For out of the heart
proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false
witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which
defile a man. (Matt. 15:1820)
The Effects of the Deceptive Mind
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Anger
Depression
Fear
Worry
Anxiety
Body Image Issues
Hatred
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Guilt
Envy
Resentment
Hopelessness
Despair
All are key indicators that there is
work to be done. All come with a
story which supports our belief
which is causing our pain.
The Fruit of the Spirit vs. The
Fruit of the Deceptive Mind
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
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?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
IF YOUR LIFE STINKS,
IT IS BECAUSE YOUR THINKING STINKS!
You will never overcome adversity
until you overcome the adversary.
Our enemy is much closer than we think!
The Deceptive Mind tells us…

The problem is out there.
 Those
people/circumstances are the source of my pain.
 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the
heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the
heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual
immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Mt. 15:18-19)

If…
 If
people would just act right, I would be fine.
 If this thing in my past would not have happened…

I have no control over any of this.
I Wish…





I wish that cats barked.
I wish that I didn’t have allergies.
I wish that believers all got along.
I wish that I was smarter.
I wish my wife loved me more.
When we argue with reality, we lose…
but only 100% of the time.
Byron Katie
I Wish versus I Do
Excuses are like armpits…
Arguing With Reality:
Unemployment Example

Two scenarios:
1.
2.
I wish I hadn’t lost
my job.
I lost my job, now
what am I going to
do about it.
Accepting reality does not mean
apathy. It means accepting
things for what they are and
acting with a clear mind.
The end of all things is near. Therefore
be clear minded and self-controlled so
that you can pray.
(1 Peter 4:7)
What would it take to make you
happy? What the Deceptive Mind
tells us.
The Deceptive Mind – a blessing in
a curse


There is a specific
thought behind all of our
mental suffering.
Negative emotions are
“good” in that they allow
us to pinpoint the cause
of our suffering much in
the same way that
physical pain allows us to
pinpoint a physical
problem.
Love is…
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Patient
Kind
Does not envy
Does not boast
Is not proud
Is not rude
Is not self-seeking
Does not delight in evil
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Rejoices with the truth
Always protects
Always trusts
Always hopes
Always perseveres
Is not easily angered
Keeps no record of
wrongs
Storytime: Deceptive Mind Style
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Bible School after
release of The
Judaizers
Approached by three
different brothers from
very conservative
ecclesias.
Wanted to talk to me
What were they going
to say or do?
Became anxious.
Epictetus (Greek Philosopher)
“We are disturbed not by what happens to
us, but by our thoughts about what
happens.”
 “There is only one way to happiness and
that is to cease worrying about things
which are beyond the power of our will.”

Byron Katie



Severely depressed in
her 30s
Discovered “The Work”
– a series of questions
to challenge our
thoughts
Wrote Loving What Is
Four Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it is true?
How do you feel when you think that
thought?
Who would you be without that thought?
Turn it around!
What saith
the Lord?
Turn it around.
Who would you
be without
that thought?
Is it true?
Is it absolutely
true?
How do you feel
when you think
that thought?
Using the Four Questions to
Challenge the Deceptive Mind
1.
2.
3.
I am angry at my critics because I am
being criticized unfairly and being lied
about.
I want my critics to follow Matt. 18, not be
so hypercritical, gets their facts straight
and stop lying/slandering.
They shouldn’t lie, hate, slander,
conspire, gossip.
Using the Four Questions to
Challenge the Deceptive Mind
4.
5.
6.
I need my critics to act brotherly, act in
accordance with Scripture.
My critics are immature, petty, dishonest,
fault-finders, unforgiving, mean and
unloving.
I don’t ever want to experience their lies
and meanness.
They Should/They Shouldn’t
Example: People Shouldn’t Lie
Biblical
Reality
Becomes: “I
shouldn’t lie”
People lie all the
time.
Benefits of Doing the Work
Stopped expecting brethren to be different
than they always have been.
 Grew in areas where I needed it.

 Forgiveness
 Loving
my enemies
 Accepting criticism
I have set the LORD always before me: because
he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory
rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
(Ps. 16:8,9)
Faith vs. Our
Deceptive Mind
Class 2
Psalm 118:4-7 NIV
Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever." In my
anguish I cried to the LORD, and he
answered by setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not
be afraid. What can man do to me?
The LORD is with me; he is my
helper.
Faith
Biblical Faith
If you were God for a day, what
would you change?
The Lesson of Habakkuk
Habakkuk: Why do the (Jewish) wicked
prosper?
 God: I will punish the wicked with the
Babylonians.
 Habakkuk: They are worse than us.
 God: You do your job and let me do mine.

The Lesson of Habakkuk


God: But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all
the earth keep silence before him. (2:20)
Habakkuk: Although the fig tree shall not
blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the
labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall
yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet
I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in
the God of my salvation. (3:17-18)
The LORD is my shepherd; I
shall not want. He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still
waters. He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name’s
sake. Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art with
me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a
table before me in the
presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice! Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And
the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
(Phil 4:4-7 NIV)
Review
The man wanted the situation God put him
in (reality) to be different that it actually is.
 His thought made him stressed.
 Options

 1)

 2)

He gets better.
If so, he has spent his time stressed needlessly.
He dies.
If so, why would he want to spend his last days
stressed?
Living in a World of “Why?”
Trust in the LORD with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.
(Pr 3:5)
Three Kinds of Business

My Business
 My
own thoughts, my behavior, right here,
right now

Your Business
 Your

thoughts, your actions
God’s Business
 The
past, the future, judgment
We suffer when we are not in our own business.
Staying in Your Own Business
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what
judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you
again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that
is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy
brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou
hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast
out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. (Matt. 7:1-5)
Faith that God Knows What Is Best

This is what the LORD
says - your Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel: 'I
am the LORD your God
who teaches you what is
best for you, who directs
you in the way you should
go. If only you had paid
attention to my
commands, your peace
would have been like a
river, your righteousness
like the waves of the sea.
(Isaiah 48:17 - 18)
God Is Reality
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
We know that all things work together for
good to them that love God. (Rom. 8:28)
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we
will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but
painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest
of righteousness and peace for those who have
been trained by it. (Heb. 12:11 NIV)
The Deceptive Mind Assigns Value
Judgments
We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married,
have a baby, then another.
Then we get frustrated because our children are
not old enough, and that all will be well when
they are older.
Then we are frustrated because they
reach adolescence and we must deal
with them. Surely we’ll be happier when
they grow out of the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets
his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take
a vacation, when we finally retire.
The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.
If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is
better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.
For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start. Real
life. But there was always some obstacle along the way, an
ordeal to get through, some work to be finished, some time to
be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start.
I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.
That point of view helped me see
that there isn’t any road to
happiness. Happiness IS the road.
So, enjoy every moment.
Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds,
to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening,
for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid
off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth
of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be
reborn… before deciding to be happy.
Happiness is a voyage, not
a destination.
There is no better time to
be happy than… NOW!
Live and enjoy the
moment.
-Author unknown
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of
God; the skies proclaim the work of his
hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display
knowledge.
God is bigger than our problems.
Big God vs. Little God Theory

Big God Theory
 Emphasis
on the
"Omnis"



All-knowing
All-powerful
Ever present

Little God Theory
 God
set up a system
that runs essentially
by itself via laws
 God doesn't "sweat
the small stuff"
 God
is involved in
the details
"Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are
counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh
up the isles as a very little thing" (Isa. 40:15).
Christadelphian Deism

There is such a thing as chance, as distinct from
what God does. The Bible declares this (Eccles.
11:11) and the experience of every day teaches it.
Every moment teems with the incidents of chance.
The whirl of a cloud of dust before the windy gust
coming round the corner of the house illustrates the
point. God has control of all chance; but all chance
is not controlled. It is controlled when His purpose
requires it. His purpose does not require Him to
decide which shells every or any child on the seashore shall pick up and throw away, unless the
incident be a link in the purpose being worked out,
and then the hand of the child will be guided. This
illustration touches a great fact which it is important
to see clearly. (Robert Roberts, Ways of Providence)

A pagan idea
Sam 6:9 – Philistines
 Is. 65:11 “But as for you who
forsake the LORD and forget
my holy mountain, who
spread a table for Fortune
and fill bowls of mixed wine
for Destiny”
Chance
1

No Biblical proof

Ecc. 9:11 is mistranslated
 But now the LORD my God
has given me rest on every
side, and there is no
adversary or disaster. (KJV
“evil occurent”)

No hint of randomness in Hebrew
Why Do We Care? The Implications

God's Promises:
 God
will not test us beyond what we are able to
bear. (1 Cor. 10:13)

If chance occurs, perhaps we can be tested beyond what
we are able to bear (to which God could say He had
nothing to do with it).
 And
we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. (Ro 8:28)


Becomes meaningless if we remove “all” and replace
with “most”, “some” or “many.”
Who or what do you trust in?
 God
or yourself?
 God or luck?
God testifies to His involvement




And yet, Someone knows how
many hairs are on your head,
and not even a single sparrow
dies apart from His will! (Mt
10:29 -31)
The LORD works out
everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of
disaster. (Prov. 16:4 NIV)
Ask the LORD for rain in the
springtime; it is the LORD who
makes the storm clouds. He
gives showers of rain to men,
and plants of the field to
everyone. (Zech. 10:1 NIV)
Do you send the lightning bolts
on their way? (Job 38:35)
Which do you
say?



Do you tell God
about your big
problems or tell your
problems about your
big God?
No problem is
bigger than God
unless we believe it
is?
Joshua & Caleb
Fickled Faith
Elijah defeats
prophets of Baal
 Had no proof that
God would do what
He did, but Elijah
believed
 Then…he fled
Jezebel….why?
 Magnify God and
not your problems

Summary of How This Works
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We experience pain.
We inquire inwardly
to find the lie.
We find the truth.
We choose to believe
the truth (or the joyful
delusion).
We experience the
fruit of the Spirit.
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that
feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his
commandments. He shall not be afraid of evil
tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the
LORD. His heart is established, he shall not
be afraid, until he see his desire upon his
enemies. (Ps. 112:1,7-8)
The Deceptive Mind,
Interpersonal Relationships
and Everyday Life
Class 3
Psalm 118:4-7 NIV
Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love
endures forever." In my anguish I cried to
the LORD, and he answered by setting me
free. The LORD is with me; I will not be
afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD
is with me; he is my helper.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

1. Who angers, irritates, saddens, or
frustrates you, and why?
I am frustrated with my ecclesia because
when I was repeatedly attacked and
maligned by brethren in a local ecclesia,
they did little to stand up for me.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

2. How do you want them to change?
What do you want them to do?
I want my ecclesia to stand up for me and
do what is right. I want them to stop
equating placation with peace-making.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

3. What is it that they should or
shouldn't do, be, think, or feel?
My ecclesia shouldn’t think that watching
idly as a member of their ecclesia is
publicly pummeled is doing God’s will or
somebody else’s job.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

4. What do they need to do in order for
you to be happy?
I need my ecclesia to stick up for me
unless they think I am wrong. They either
need to rebuke me for what I am doing or
rebuke them for what they are doing. Stop
watching from the sidelines and get in the
game.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

5. What do you think of them? Make a
list.
My ecclesia is filled with genuinely nice
people. If they have a fault, it is apathy
and lack of doing in the middle age group.
The default gear tends to be neutral.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

6. What is it that you don't want to
experience with that person again?
I don't ever want to find myself being
attacked and looking hopelessly for
support from my ecclesia only to find them
trying to work some misguided
compromise solution with my attackers.
Four Questions on People
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it is true?
How do you feel when you think that
thought?
Who would you be without that thought?
Turn it around!
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

3. What is it that they should or
shouldn't do, be, think, or feel?
My ecclesia shouldn’t think that watching
idly as a member of their ecclesia is
publicly pummeled is doing God’s will or
somebody else’s job.
They should think that because they honestly do
think that. I am in their business when I get upset
at how they act.
My Irritation at My Ecclesia

5. What do you think of them? Make a
list.
My ecclesia is filled with genuinely nice
people. If they have a fault, it is apathy
and lack of doing in the middle age group.
The default gear tends to be neutral.
Turnaround: I should not be apathetic and lack in
doing. My ecclesia is doing their job.
Forgiveness

For if you forgive men when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men
their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins. (Matt. 6:14-15)
How God Forgives Us


Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath he removed our transgressions from
us.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my
name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.
God Forgets?

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more
every man his neighbour, and every man
his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for
they shall all know me, from the least of
them unto the greatest of them, saith the
LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I
will remember their sin no more.
The Deceptive
Mind and
Forgiveness

“They didn’t repent.”
 Assumes
they get the
benefit of your forgiveness.
 Assumes forgiveness
means no appropriate
discipline.

“They shouldn’t have done
what they did.”
 Unless
you invent a time
machine, it IS DONE.
The Deceptive Mind and
Forgiveness



“Forgiveness means
apathy.”
“I’ll forgive after it is dealt
with properly.”
From which position are
we best able to judge
righteously?
 Anger
 Love
Reasons for Matt. 18

Forgive first!
 If
you are still angry,
upset, grieved, etc. you
need to get the beam out
of your own eye first.



The point is to recover
your brother.
Get your facts straight.
Seldom done right!
The Deceptive Mind & Worry
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that
you need them. But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matt. 6:31-34 NIV)
Worry
 What
if I lose my
job?
I can’t pay my
mortgage.
Then I’ll lose my
house.
Then I’ll be out on
the street.
Then I’ll die.
Then
We are all mentally ill. It is just a matter
of degrees. (Bro. Ken Roth)


What if I get a
promotion?
What if I lose my
job?
 Then
The Turnaround
God will provide
me a better job with
more money and less
hours.
 Then I can have more
time for the Lord’s
work.
 Then I’ll be able to
help so many people.
Choosing the Joyful Delusion

Choice of two
beliefs….
 One
belief upsets
you
 One makes you
happy
 Both are made up
The “What ifs…”
Whatif by Shel Silverstein
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow tall?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
One Day at a Time



Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own. (Matt.
6:34)
An anxious heart weighs a
man down….
(Prov. 12:25 NIV)
We know that all things
work together for good to
them that love God, to them
who are the called
according to his purpose.
(Rom. 8:28)
Fret Not…



Ps 37:1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself
because of evildoers, neither be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity.
Ps 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for
him: fret not thyself because of him who
prospereth in his way, because of the man who
bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Pr 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men,
neither be thou envious at the wicked.
God Had Already Revealed This

Whoever loves money never has money
enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied
with his income. This too is meaningless. As
goods increase, so do those who consume
them. And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a
laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man permits him no
sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.
(Ecc. 5:10-13 NIV)
Four Questions on Worry
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it is true?
How do you feel when you think that
thought?
Who would you be without that thought?
Turn it around!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Phil. 4:4-7 NIV)
Potential Pitfalls in Christadelphianism
to Living Victoriously in Christ

(Over?) Emphasis on Future KOG
 Quote
on Facebook: “Sometimes the wickedness of
human nature and the sadness and suffering in the
world are so overwhelming...when I feel like that, I
just pray and pray for the kingdom to come. Its the
only solution!”

Tendency to think our this life in negative terms
 “Probation”

The world is evil
Paul’s Goading

“It is hard for thee
to kick against the
pricks.”
A
six foot spear
 For prodding oxen
to do the right thing
– one of many ox
analogies
 Not needed for
obedient oxen

Are we goaded?
How does God work in our lives?
Bible is plain-spoken about what God
wants from us.
 One of the ways he corrects us is goading.
 Not helpful to speculate on other people’s
goading.
 Very helpful to examine our own goading.

How do we react?
Paul obviously didn’t react the way Christ
wanted.
 How do we react?

 Blow
it off?
 Complain about it?
 Play the blame game?
 See the opportunity to improve?
Rejoicing in Trials


And ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor
faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not? (Heb 12:5-7)
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a
season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through
manifold temptations. (1 Peter 1:6)
Reticular Activating System


Our brain’s
filter between
the conscious
and the
subconscious
You can
program it
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things. (Php 4:8)
The Deceptive Mind
in Bible Characters
Class 4
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matt. 28:18-20)
Have you ever thought…

If I only had more
money, power, sex
appeal,
intelligence….then I
would…
 OR

If I only had a simpler
life, then I would…

Give me neither poverty nor riches -- Feed
me with the food allotted to me; lest I be
full and deny You, and say, "Who is the
LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and
profane the name of my God."
(Prov 30:8b-9)
Job vs. Solomon
Solomon Had It All








Wealth
Carnal Pleasures
Power
Sexual Gratification
Wisdom
Family Connections
Creative/Artistic Abilities
Fame
His goal was to find meaning “under
the sun”…where did he search?





I devoted myself to study. (1:13 NIV)
I will test you with pleasure. (2:1 NIV)
I undertook great projects. (2:4 NIV)
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the
treasure of kings and provinces. (2:8 NIV)
I acquired… a harem. (2:8 NIV)
I became greater by far than anyone . (2:9 NIV)
His Goal Was to Find Meaning
“Under the Sun”




The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in
Jerusalem: "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the
Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is
meaningless." 1:1-2 NIV)
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was
meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was
gained under the sun. (2:11 NIV)
So I hated life, because the work that is done under
the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind. (2:17 NIV)
Man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is
meaningless. (3:18 NIV)
I have seen another evil
under the sun, and it weighs
heavily on men: God gives a
man wealth, possessions and
honor, so that he lacks
nothing his heart desires, but
God does not enable him to
enjoy them, and a stranger
enjoys them instead. This is
meaningless, a grievous evil.
(6:1-2 NIV)
Love Life…All of It











1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil?
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.
The Lesson
1.
2.
3.
A man can do nothing better than to eat and
drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too,
I see, is from the hand of God. (2:24 NIV)
I know that there is nothing better for men than
to be happy and do good while they live. That
everyone may eat and drink, and find
satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
(3:12-13 NIV)
So I saw that there is nothing better for a man
than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.
(3:22 NIV)
The Lesson
4.
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a
man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in
his toilsome labor under the sun during the few
days of life God has given him—for this is his
lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth
and possessions, and enables him to enjoy
them, to accept his lot and be happy in his
work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects
on the days of his life, because God keeps him
occupied with gladness of heart. (5:18-20)
The Lesson
5.
6.
I commend the enjoyment of life, because
nothing is better for a man under the sun than
to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will
accompany him in his work all the days of the
life God has given him under the sun. (8:15
NIV)
Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink
your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that
God favors what you do. Always be clothed in
white, and always anoint your head with oil.
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the
days of this meaningless life that God has
given you under the sun— all your
meaningless days. (9:7-9)
The Lesson (with the big asterisk!)
7.
However many years a man may live, let him
enjoy them all. But let him remember the days
of darkness, for they will be many. Everything
to come is meaningless. Be happy, young
man, while you are young, and let your heart
give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow
the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes
see, but know that for all these
things God will bring you to
*
judgment.
(11:8,9 NIV)
When times are good, be
happy; but when times are
bad, consider: God has made
the one as well as the other.
(7:14 NIV)
Take Aways
from Solomon




We need to dismiss
the “If I only…”
You can have
everything and still
have nothing
Enjoy your life within
the context of
godliness
True joy under the
sun is realized when
we operate above the
sun
Job Lost It All





Wealth
Power
Family
Health
Standing in the
Community
I’m Kind of a Big Deal






7,000 sheep
3,000 camels
500 yoke of oxen
500 she-donkeys
“and many servants
besides.”(Job 1:3 NJB)
"Have you not put a
hedge around him and
his household and
everything he has? You
have blessed the work
of his hands, so that his
flocks and herds are
spread throughout the
land.”




The Sabaeans swept down on them and carried
them off, and put the servants to the sword: I
alone have escaped to tell you. (v. 15)
“The fire of God”, he said, “has fallen from
heaven and burnt the sheep and shepherds to
ashes: I alone have escaped to tell you.” (v. 16)
“The Chaldeans,” he said, “three bands of them,
have raided the camels and made off with them,
and put the servants to the sword: I alone have
escaped to tell you.”
“Your sons and daughters”, he said, “were
eating and drinking at their eldest brother’s
house, when suddenly from the desert a gale
sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the
house which fell in on the young people. They
are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Why did people react this way?

He has alienated my brothers from me, my
relatives take care to avoid me, my intimate
friends have gone away and the guests
in my house have forgotten me. My slave-girls
regard me as an intruder, a stranger as far as
they are concerned. My servant does not
answer when I call him, I am obliged to beg
favours from him! My breath is unbearable to my
wife, my stench to my own brothers. Even the
children look down on me, whenever I stand
up, they start jeering at me. All my dearest
friends recoil from me in horror: those I
loved best have turned against me. (Job
19:13-19 NJB)
Why did people react this way?

Children of scoundrels, worse, nameless people,
the very outcasts of society! And these are the
ones who now make up songs about me and
use me as a byword! Filled with disgust, they
keep their distance, on seeing me, they spit
without restraint. And since God has loosened
my bow-string and afflicted me, they too throw
off the bridle in my presence. Their brats surge
forward on my right, to see when I am having a
little peace, and advance on me with
threatening strides. They cut off all means of
escape seizing the chance to destroy me,
and no one stops them. (Job 30:8-13 NJB)
Remember Job

For your example, brothers, in patiently putting
up with persecution, take the prophets who
spoke in the Lord’s name; remember it is those
who had perseverance that we say are the
blessed ones. You have heard of the
perseverance of Job and understood the Lord’s
purpose, realising that the Lord is kind and
compassionate. (James 5:10-11)
All of this came from God




“The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up
the sheep and the servants, and I am the only
one who has escaped to tell you!” (1:18 NIV)
“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken
away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with
wrongdoing.” (1:21-22 NIV)
“You incited me against him to ruin him without
any reason.” (2:3 NIV)
“Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you
have devastated my entire household.” (Job
16:7)
The Deceiver Speaks


Satan: "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan
replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him
and his household and everything he has? You
have blessed the work of his hands, so that his
flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
But stretch out your hand and strike everything
he has, and he will surely curse you to your
face." (Job 1:9-11 NIV)
Job’s Wife: His wife said to him, "Are you still
holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
(2:9 NIV)
The Deceiver Speaks
Job: "Why did I not perish at birth, and die
as I came from the womb? (3:11 NIV)
 Bildad: “When your children sinned
against him, he gave them over to the
penalty of their sin.” (8:4 NIV)
 Job: “God assails me and tears me in his
anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my
opponent fastens on me his piercing
eyes.” (16:9 NIV)

The Deceiver Speaks

Eliphaz: "Is not your wickedness great? Are not
your sins endless? You demanded security from
your brothers for no reason; you stripped men of
their clothing, leaving them naked. You gave no
water to the weary and you withheld food from
the hungry, though you were a powerful man,
owning land— an honored man, living on it. And
you sent widows away empty-handed and broke
the strength of the fatherless. That is why snares
are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies
you, (22:5-10 NIV)
Take Aways from Job
God was working to save the three friends
through Job’s suffering
 He was also refining Job
 God is right!

 We
need to trust that God knows what he is
doing – especially in the face of severe trial!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have
learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it
into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Phil 4:4-9 NIV)
The Deceptive Mind
Destroyed in Christ
Class 5
Blessed be God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort;
who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be
able to comfort them which
are in any trouble, by the
comfort wherewith we
ourselves are comforted of
God.
(2 Cor. 1:3-4)
Christ Had the Deceptive Mind



Forasmuch then as the
children are partakers of flesh
and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might
destroy him that had the power
of death, that is, the devil.
(Heb. 2:14)
And he said, Abba, Father, all
things are possible unto thee;
take away this cup from me:
nevertheless not what I will,
but what thou wilt.
(Mark 14:36)
And when he had looked
round about on them with
anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts. (Mark
3:5)
It Tried to Tell Him Lies



The Pinnacle of the Temple
If thou be the Son of
God, command that
these stones be made
bread.
If thou be the Son of
God, cast thyself down.
All these things will I
give thee, if thou wilt fall
down and worship me.
An Example to Follow
For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
 If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me. (Matt. 16:24)

Hebrews 10
– The Real Sacrifice
of Jesus
What was God trying to say?



Matthew 21:33-39
John 1 – “the word”
made flesh
Heb. 1:1-2
Who has the problem?
Running from God
 Don’t believe God
 Don’t obey God

How do we fix it?
3 Levels of Spiritual Love
1.
2.
3.
“Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
“This is my commandment, That ye love
one another, as I have loved you.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends.”
3 Levels of Love & God’s Sacrifice
God and Christ are not against us!


For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us. (v. 18)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. (vvs. 31-37)
Summary: Listening to God, not
the Deceptive Mind
We say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
We say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
We say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
We say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
We say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Prov. 3:5- 6)
We say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
We say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
Courtesy of Sis. Jen Vortriede
Summary: Listening to God, not
the Deceptive Mind
We say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
We say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
We say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
We say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
We say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Pet 5:7)
We say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30, James 1:5)
We say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5)
Courtesy of Sis. Jen Vortriede
Did we accomplish?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Understand our real problem and how to
overcome it.
Empower us with the tools to do so.
Practice these techniques.
Ultimately, make us live better, happier, more
productive, more righteous lives.
Move us one more step toward perfection
(God).
The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who
also will do it.
(1 Thess. 5:23-24)