Who You Gonna Believe? How To Tell The Difference Between A Spiritual Truth Teller And A Lying Fraud Déjà Vu All Over Again: The Passage: Don’t Be Gullible 1 John 4:1-6/ Ephesians 2:1-5 How To Quickly Tell The Difference Between A Spiritual Truth Teller And A Lying Fraud Never trust your . Measure , cut . Proverbs 14:12 Satan is the greatest in the . Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14:12-15 & Revelation 12:3-9 Never assume and are proof of God’s and . Exodus 7:8 – 8:19/ Deuteronomy 13:1-4/ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 Watch out for the tell-tale signs of Satan’s favorite lies. A different John 14:6; 5:18, 8:58-59/ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 A different path to John 14:6/ Galatians 2:21/ Galatians 1:8-9 A different Genesis 3:1-13/ 1 Thessalonians 4:8/ 2 Timothy 4:3-4/ Jude 1:4 The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Life Group Study Questions For the week of February 25, 2024 QUICK REVIEW Take a look over your sermon notes from this week. Is there any principle, illustration, or point that caught your attention or that you would like to clarify or discuss with your group? MY STORY None of us want to fall for scams or pay much more for something than it’s worth. Yet most of us have at least one thing that can tempt us to compromise and say it’s worth it! What are one or two of those “little things” you can end up thinking is worth more than it is? Larry spoke this week of how we can fear the enemy, giving him power he does not have or remaining unaware of how well-meaning and attractive his attack on us can be. How is this similar to or different from how you normally view him? TESTING THE SPIRITS How often do you think of Satan as 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 describes him? He makes things look great, so we see no need to “test the spirits.” He’s the master trickster. He wants to do all he can to get us to think it’s all good, just as he did with Adam and Eve. Here’s a list of some of the lies he’s trying to spread. Are there any others you’d add that you typically encounter? Is there one you know he can attack you with? • God Can’t Be Trusted • The Bible Can’t Be Trusted • If It Feels Right It Can’t Be Wrong • Some Things Can’t Be Forgiven • Money Is The Key To Happiness • Sexual Purity Is For Prudes • Pain Should Be Avoided At All Costs • God Grades On A Curve • Other 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 New International Version (NIV) 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. The most powerful weapon against Satan’s lies is truth, and our most powerful source of truth as Jesus’ followers is God’s Word. What stands out to you about the power of Scripture and how to access it in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Acts 17:11? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Proverbs 30:5-6 New International Version (NIV) 5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Acts 17:11 New International Version (NIV) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. We all, at times, can pick and choose to believe or put into action what God’s Word is telling us. Why do you think you do this at times? Case Study of Testing the Spirits: Imagine you have a friend who has been sharing private information with others that may have hurt the reputation of another friend. You sense that God is telling you to talk to this friend, but you’re not sure. What lies do you think Satan may want you to believe about your friend, yourself, or this situation? How could you test this spirit and combat those lies with the following verses from God’s Word and know how to respond to this situation? Galatians 6:1-4 New International Version (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, Matthew 7:3-5 New International Version (NIV) 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. How do those two verses, along with Proverbs 15:22, influence the actions you may take? Proverbs 15:22 New International Version (NIV) 22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. TAKING IT HOME Again, none of us want to be fooled or duped into missing the power of truth and what God has for us as we follow Him. Is there something that God is speaking to you about right now that you need to put to the test as to what the Bible says? Is there any area you need to consult or seek wise counsel about? *Is there a specific part of the Bible or biblical topic that you would like to become more familiar with? PRAYER REQUESTS