Living a Life of Faith or Fantasy

Who are you allowing to define your reality?

Proverbs 14:12 (MSG) There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Sure, those a appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Sinful Screen Time:

Sin will haunt you and hunt you until it hurts you.

The grass is greener where you water it.

John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Breaking Free:

1 Peter 2:11 (NLT) Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldy desires that wage war against your very souls.

1. Keep away from worldly desires.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

2. Give up and let Jesus take over.

1 John 1:8-10 (NLT) If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

3. Confess your sins to God.

James 5:16 (NIV 84) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.

4. Include others into your journey to healing.

Talk It Over

Can you think of a time in your life when you chose the “easy path” instead of doing the right thing? What appealed about it? Often the right choices require hard work and self-sacrifice. How can you remind yourself to not be enticed by the “shortcuts” in life?

Read 1 Peter 2:11 Does this verse encourage you and relieve your anxiety about temptation, or does bring up feelings of defeat?
What is struggle in your life that you are currently facing that only Jesus can help you overcome?

Pastor Kevin talked about confessing your sins to one another. Have you ever confessed your sins to a believer you trusted and received prayer from them? How did that experience bring forgiveness and healing?

How do you feel about your relationship with God? Are you living in the truth or living a lie? In what areas of your life do you need to lean on God and improve?

Parents: Read 1 Peter 2:9-12 together. God loves it when we praise him. We can do that by singing or praying. We can even praise God by the way we live! Have each person in your family write their name on an index card (or small piece of paper) and tape it to the fridge. Each night this week have each family member think of one good thing they did to please God. Write the good things on the car and see how quickly they fill up.