THE SEDUCED SOUL

• WE ARE NOT A BODY WITH A SOUL.
• WE ARE A SOUL WITH A BODY.

You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:3-4

So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, 17 an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, 18 a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. 19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. Deuteronomy 4:16-19 NLT

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Mark 8:36

DETHRONING THE IDOLS OF OUR SOULS

1)    IDENTIFY THE IDOLS OF OUR SOULS.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol. Psalm 24:3-4

• Time
• Money
• Conversation

2)    TEAR DOWN OUR IDOLS.

…Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Judges 6:25

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21

3)    FILL YOUR SOUL WITH GOD.

2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:2

9 For (God) satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Psalm 107:9 ESV

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… Ps 42:1-2

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim.

In the light of His glory and grace.

Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

TALK IT OVER

• What idols of your soul do you need to tear down?
• How has your soul been poisoned by your idols?
• What steps will you take to fill your soul with God?

Find resources that will help you fill your soul with God at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

THE TORTURED SOUL

• WE ARE NOT A BODY WITH A SOUL.
• WE ARE A SOUL WITH A BODY.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11

WHAT TORTURES OUR SOULS?

1)    WE’RE TORTURED BY THINGS WE’VE DONE.

…my bones have no soundness because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Psalm 38:3-4

2)    WE’RE TORTURED BY LIES WE BELIEVE.

…[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44-45

TELL YOUR SOUL

1)    IT’S BETTER TO CONFESS YOUR SINS THAN HIDE YOUR SINS.

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

• We confess to God for forgiveness of sins.

If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

• We confess to people for healing from sins.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

2)    CHRIST WILL SET YOU FREE.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25

TALK IT OVER

• What’s torturing your soul? How has your tortured soul affected you?
• Share a time when you confessed sin to God and to others. What resulted from your confession?
• What steps will you take to allow Christ to set your soul free?

Find resources that will help cleanse your soul at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

THE HEAVY SOUL

• WE ARE NOT A BODY WITH A SOUL.
• WE ARE A SOUL WITH A BODY.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Psalm 42:5

WHY ARE OUR SOULS HEAVY?

• HEAVY WITH HURTS FROM THE PAST.

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Lamentations 3:19-20

• HEAVY WITH TROUBLE IN THE PRESENT.

But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Job 4:5

• HEAVY WITH ANXIETY ABOUT THE FUTURE.

…[Jesus] began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…” Mark 14:33-34

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. Psalm 42:5-6

TELL YOUR SOUL TO

• REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN THE PAST.

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:19-23

• CRY OUT TO GOD IN THE PRESENT.

I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble…

5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need.

Psalm 142:2, 5-6

• TRUST IN GOD’S POWER FOR YOUR FUTURE.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles…” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

TALK IT OVER

• What’s causing your heavy soul? Is it the hurts of the past, present troubles, or anxiety about the future?
• Share some examples of how you’ve experienced God’s faithfulness in the past.
• What’s keeping you from placing your trust in God for the future? What steps will you take to trust God?

Find resources that will help encourage your heavy soul at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

THE RESTLESS SOUL

• WE ARE NOT A BODY WITH A SOUL.
• WE ARE A SOUL WITH A BODY.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 KJV

THE CURSE OF THE RESTLESS SOUL

Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth. Genesis 4:11-12

What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest… Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

WHERE DO WE FIND REST FOR OUR SOULS?

• OUR SOULS FIND REST IN GOD ALONE.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our soul is restless until it finds rest in you.” Augustine

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29

HOW DO WE FIND REST IN GOD?

• BE STILL BEFORE GOD.

Be still, and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2

• WAIT FOR GOD.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… Psalm 37:7

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning… Psalm 130:5-6

• What do you want to say to me?
• What do you want to show me?
• What do you want to do in me?

• REFLECT ON GOD’S GOODNESS.

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 8 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 116:7-9

TALK IT OVER

• How restless is your soul? What do you think is causing your restlessness?
• What’s keeping you from finding rest for your soul in God?
• What steps will take to find rest for your soul in God?

Find rest for your soul by using the various resources available at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

WHY DOESN’T GOD SEEM FAIR?

WHY ARE BAD THINGS HAPPENING?

• MAYBE YOU’RE A VICTIM OF A BROKEN WORLD.

“…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

• MAYBE YOU BROUGHT IT ON YOURSELF.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction… Galatians 6:7-8

• MAYBE GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING BIG.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

John 9:3

• FOR SURE GOD IS DOING SOMETHING IN YOU.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

[God] does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities…¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10,12

TALK IT OVER

• Share a time when a bad event in your life caused you question God’s fairness. What did you learn from your experience?
• How have you seen God at work in the middle of a difficult situation?
• What one phrase stood out to you in the message? What do you think God is saying to you today?

Find resources that will help you answer life’s toughest questions at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

WHY DIDN’T GOD ANSWER MY PRAYER?

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14

WHY DIDN’T GOD ANSWER MY PRAYER?

• MAYBE YOU HAVE A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:24-25

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

• MAYBE YOU HAVE THE WRONG MOTIVES.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures. James 4:3

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Proverbs 16:2

• MAYBE YOU DON’T BELIEVE GOD WILL DO IT.

“…But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³ “’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:22-23

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…

James 1:6-7

• MAYBE GOD HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

WHAT DO I BELIEVE ABOUT PRAYER?

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us… ¹⁸ But even if he does not…we will not serve your gods… Daniel 3:17-18

• I BELIEVE GOD CAN.
• I BELIEVE GOD WILL.
• EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, I STILL BELIEVE.

TALK IT OVER

• Share a time when God didn’t answer your prayer. What did you learn from that experience?
• What are you praying about that God has yet to answer? Why do you think you might not see His answer yet?
• What changes in your thinking do you need to make so you can better understand unanswered prayer?

Find answers to your questions by using the resources available at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable LifeGroup discussion guide for this message.

WHY DON’T I ALWAYS FEEL GOD?

• IF YOU DON’T ALWAYS FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. 14 Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me? Psalm 88:13-14

WHY DON’T I ALWAYS FEEL GOD?

• MAYBE YOU ARE OVER SENSATIONALIZING IT.

So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?” John 6:30

• MAYBE YOU’RE SIMPLY DISTRACTED.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Luke 10:38-40

• MAYBE YOUR HEART HAS HARDENED.

You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Matthew 13:14-15

• MAYBE YOU’VE BUILT A WALL OF SIN.

Listen! The LORD is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. 2 But there is a problem — your sins have cut you off from God. Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT96

• MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW GOD.

You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me. John 7:28-29

PRESENCE PROMISES

1)    YOU WILL FIND GOD WHEN YOU SEEK GOD.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD… Jeremiah 29:13-14

2)    YOU CAN DO LIFE WITH GOD’S PRESENCE.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17 NLT96

3)    YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD NOW.

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:27

TALK IT OVER

• What is keeping you from always feeling God’s presence in your life?
• Share a time when you felt God’s presence in your life. How did that experience affect you?
• What steps will you take to seek God and experience Him now?

Find resources that will help you take steps to experience God’s presence in your life at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

Pastor Steven Furtick, Elevation Church

THE FAVOR OF GOD IS:

The guarantee of His presence and the provision of His power to accomplish His special purpose in and through my life. 

I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. Leviticus 26:9

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:4

…praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

1. Expect

Frame your world with favor.

2. Recognize

Open your eyes to opportunity.

3. Respond

Give yourself to obedience.

TALK IT OVER

• How can you become a channel of God’s favor to others?
• What steps do you need to take to walk in the FOG of God’s favor?
• How has this series changed or shaped the way you see God’s favor?

Find resources that will help you recognize God’s favor at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

Pastor Steven Furtick, Elevation Church

Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” ¹⁴ The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 ¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

 ¹⁷ And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”  Exodus 33:12-17 ESV

Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” ¹⁴And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. ¹⁶For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

 ¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”  Exodus 33:12-17 ESV

THE FAVOR OF GOD IS:

The guarantee of His presence and the provision of His power to accomplish His special purpose in and through my life.

TALK IT OVER

• Share an example of how you’ve experienced God’s favor.
• What’s keeping you from daily recognizing God’s favor in your life?

• What steps will you take to remove these distractions?

• How do you need God’s favor in your life right now?

Find resources that will help you recognize God’s favor at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

FAILING FORWARD

•       A MAN’S GREATEST FEAR IS FAILURE AND GREATEST PAIN IS REGRET.

SAMSON’S STORY SHOWS US

•      A FAILURE IS AN EVENT, NEVER A PERSON.

Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” 24 When the people saw [Samson], they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” 25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. Judges 16:23-25

TWO RESPONSES TO FAILURE

•       THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS REMORSE.
• ·      THE BETTER RESPONSE IS REPENTANCE.

…When they stood him among the pillars.26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them…” 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more… Judges 16:25-26, 28

WHEN A MAN IS DOWN, HE’S NOT OUT!

•      EVEN IN OUR FAILURES, GOD CAN STILL ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES.

Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. Judges 16:29-30

MOVING FORWARD

1)    WHAT PILLARS ARE YOU PUSHING DOWN?

2)    HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.

Proverbs 24:16

TALK IT OVER

• Share a failure you’ve experienced. Did you respond more with remorse or repentance? Explain.
• How have you seen God accomplish His purposes in the midst of your failures?
• What pillars are you pushing down? How are you going to do it?

Push down your pillars by using the resources available at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group guide for this message and a small group guide designed for men.