WEEK 2 | BELIEVE

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS EXACTLY WHO HE CLAIMS TO BE?

Romans 1:24–25 (ESV) — 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 10:9 (ESV) — 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

In your journal give an example of a core belief that shapes and defines how you live and act? Have you ever had a core belief change? What caused you to change your mind? How did your shift in belief affect your behavior?

As we will see in Genesis, “who” we believe is quite literally a matter of life and death. Do we believe God is who he says he is? Do we believe God is who the deceiver says that God is? Do we believe God is who our flesh says that he is? All three of these voices (God, the deceiver, the flesh) are at work on each of us, every hour, every day. How do we know which ones we really believe?

CORE TEXT: READ GEN. 3:1-7

List in your journal the three voices at work in this passage. What did each one of the voices appeal to? Why do you think that God placed this tree in the center of the garden if it was so evil? Why even provide the opportunity or choice?

Give an example of times you have heard and listened to each of these three voices in your own life.

Can you think of another example from scripture where you see one or all of these voices at work in a person’s life?

Look up each of the following verses. Describe in your own words why faith/belief are vital to spiritual life (Gal. 2:16; 3:26; Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:12; Heb. 11; 1 Pet. 1:5).


 THE TELL: FEAR

Who we believe has real consequences. When we believe and trust in the voice of God we are promised peace and rest (Matt. 11:30). When we don’t, we experience fear. Fear may surface in a person’s life with endless variation, but regardless of how it manifests in each individual, it’s always rooted in disbelief.

  • Fear of falling behind causes some to cut corners.

  • Fear of losing control or not getting an outcome we desperately want causes some to worry, or selfishly manipulate people and situations.

  • Fear of not being fulfilled, or fear of feeling prolonged sadness, causes some to look for satisfaction in achievement, approval, substances, or relationships.

  • Fear of not being loved, liked, or understood, make us slaves to the opinions of others. In some, it manifests as glory-mongering, and others as self-deprecation, but its root is a fear of not being liked if perceived a certain way.

  • Fear of failure or judgment causes some to prove their value through good and
    righteous works, and others to fall into despair, doubting that they will ever be good enough.

What are some of the fears you struggle with?

THE REMEDY: BELIEVE GOD IS WHO THE BIBLE SAYS HE IS

When I believe God is EXACTLY who the Bible reveals him to be, I am free and have nothing to fear. Here are some truths to remember about the nature of God.

  • God is great, so I don’t need to be in control (Deut. 10:17; Gen 1, Psalm 139)

  • God is good, so I don’t need to look elsewhere

    (Jeremiah 2:13, Psalm 145:8-9, Psalm 16:9, Psalm 1, Isaiah 58:11, John 4:14)

  • God is glorious, so I do not need to fear others (Isaiah 6:3; Prov. 25:25-26)

  • God is gracious, so I don’t need to prove myself
    (Luke 15:11-32; Romans 2:4, 5:20; Matt. 11:28-30; Psalm 145:8-9)

  • God is a loving Father, so you can completely trust Him (1 John 4:18-19, John 3:16, John 10:1-16, Gal 4:4)

Which of these characteristics is hardest for you to believe today?

OUR IDENTITY : WE ARE CHILDREN

Matthew 23:37 (ESV) — 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

When we see God properly, we see that no matter how mature we think that we are — whether we are 4 years old or 80 — we are children. God is saying to all of us the same thing he said to Israel in the Old Testament through the prophets: he longs to gather us, if we will truly BELIEVE that his care is good and his voice is trustworthy. When we submit ourselves to his care and come under his wing we have nothing to fear. It’s only under his wing that we will truly receive rest.

THE CHALLENGE: FOCUSING ON ONE VOICE

ASSIGNMENT:

Set aside an hour this week to focus in on the one of the five characteristics of God (above) that you find most difficult to believe. Look up each of the verses referenced there. Spend time meditating on them and let yourself imagine what would be different if everything that the Bible says about God is true. How would this impact the way you live? How could this relieve you of fear?

Record your thoughts and prayers in a journal.

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