Week 4 - RUN
CONNECT
What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
Last week you forgave others. How has your week gone in terms of freedom from bitterness? Is there anyone else you need to forgive?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?
John 8:31-32 (NAB)
31 Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, 32 you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
DISCOVER
Let’s start with a review. We’ve worked through these freedom truths and freedom responsibilities:
OBEY
Obedience leads to freedom while disobedience leads to bondage, so obey the Lord and be free.
RESIST
Jesus resisted Satan by reciting the truth of God’s Word, so resist Satan by reciting the truth of God’s Word.
FORGIVE
God has forgiven you, so forgive others.
And now …
RUN
We are to be holy as God is holy, so run from temptation and sin and run to God for help to be holy.
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
In our passage, you’ll meet Joseph. He isn’t the New Testament Joseph, as in Jesus’ earthly “father.” He is the Old Testament Joseph, as in Jacob’s favorite son. Joseph would eventually become second in command in Egypt and save his family and the world from a severe regional famine. At this point in the story, out of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers have sold him to traders who were heading to Egypt.
Genesis 39:1-23 (NLT)
1 When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
13 When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14 she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
16 She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18 “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”
19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Have someone retell the passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
The mature response to temptation and sin is to run. Though we’re to RESIST the devil, we’re not to resist temptation and sin. Instead we’re to flee from it as fast as we can. Actually, we’re to run from temptation and sin and run to God for help to be holy.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NLT)
18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NLT)
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Sexual sin isn’t the only sin to flee from, however. There are many sins we should stay far away from. Here’s a list taken from Exodus 20:1-17 (The 10 Commandments), Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21 and Philippians 2:14-16.
Theft
Hatred, anger, rage, murder
Coveting, greed, selfish ambition
Arrogance, boastfulness, pride
Lying, cheating
Slander, gossip
Jealousy, envy
Idolatry, witchcraft, false worship
Drunkenness, debauchery
Grumbling, complaining
Arguing, disrespect
Sexual immorality, adultery, homosexual activity, pornography, orgies
Lack of love, lack of mercy
Disobedience to parents
Lack of submission to authorities
And so on …
That’s a pretty overwhelming list. But keep in mind, these are the very sins Jesus died for and God forgives. So allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of these sins, but don’t allow Satan to condemn you for them. Remember, there’s no sin that God can’t forgive nor free you from.
Flee Idolatry
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (NIV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Exodus 20:3-4 (NLT)
3 You must not have any other god but me. 4 You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind.
Jeremiah 2:11-13 (NIV)
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the LORD.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Imagine having an artesian spring of perfectly fresh water in your backyard. But instead of getting your water from the spring, you dig cisterns—and leaky cisterns at that—to collect rainwater and runoff. Not exactly a smart move!
Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
It seems kind of heavy to call sin idolatry. But sin, and especially addictions (when sin becomes slavery), is a worship disorder. Instead of turning to God to meet our needs, we turn to some idol (God-substitute) and try to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways.
Maybe we medicate our pain through some substance or we seek fulfillment through some relationship. The problem is these idols just can’t deliver. They over promise, under deliver and demand too much. Both bad things AND good things make horrible gods.
God, however, has promised to meet all our needs. Sure, He often uses people and things to meet those needs. They are His gifts to us. But only God is the Spring of Living Water. Only He can ultimately satisfy. So don’t let anything or anyone become an idol. They can’t quench your thirst.
So, once again, flee idolatry and run to God!
What need do you have that you don’t feel is being met?
Maybe pain is creating the need for relief in your life. How are you medicating this pain (worry, insecurity, fear, frustration, loneliness and so on)?
Are you going to God or something else or someone else to meet this need?
Would you consider this a good and godly thing or not?
Has it become an idol (God-substitute) in your life?
Could you live without this in your life?
Have you found this satisfying?
Do you need to run from this and run to God?
Truth & Responsibility
1 Peter 1:16 (quoting Leviticus 11:44-45)
Be holy, because I am holy.
Freedom truth:
We are to be holy as God is holy.
Freedom responsibility:
So run from temptation and sin and run to God for help to be holy.
Not Able but Enabled
You won’t be able to run from temptation and sin on your own. That’s why we support each other. But more importantly, that’s why we rely on the Holy Spirit. God never intended for us to live the Christian life in our own strength. Instead, He gives us the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom and run from temptation and sin. Then what we could never do on our own, we do by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16, 22-23, 25 (NIV)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
22 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Notes on FREEDOM
As always, what’s shared here must stay here. Please practice strict confidentiality.
Satan doesn’t want you to be free. And he’ll do everything he can to discourage and distract you. For example, you may experience mental oppression as you go through today’s freedom exercises. Thoughts like, “This isn’t going to work” or “God doesn’t love you” or “Don’t believe this stuff or this person” may come to you. Resist these lies and trust God’s truth. If you’re experiencing mental oppression, it’s important to tell the others in the group so they can pray for you and help you stand firm on God’s truth.
These freedom exercises may take some time, maybe more time than one week’s meeting. Especially if you have several people working through these exercises, it may take more than a week. There’s no need to rush. Just take the time you need.
These freedom exercises may bring up some very personal and painful issues. Going through these exercises will give you greater freedom in Christ. You may, however, need additional help from a Christian support group, pastor, counsellor or therapist. Your group can help you discern if you need additional help.
Feel free to modify the prayers below to fit your situation and communicate your heart.
Confessing Sin
What follows is adapted from The Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson
Pray this Psalm and prayer out loud:
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Lord, show me what sin I need to run from. I will confess this sin and with Your help I will turn from it and turn to Your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take a moment and wait on the Lord. Note any sins the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Pray this prayer out loud:
Lord, I confess that I have committed the sin of ______ (name sin). Thank You for Your forgiveness and cleansing. I now run from this sin and run to You for help. I now turn from this sin and turn to You and Your righteous way of living. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I might be holy as You are holy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Breaking Bonds
Sexual intercourse creates a bond between people. This is good and godly in marriage. It makes the two one (See Genesis 2:24). This is not good nor godly, however, outside of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (NLT)
15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” 17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
It’s important to break these bonds.
Pray this prayer out loud:
Lord, is there anyone that I am sinfully and inappropriately bonded to? Show me who that is so this bond can be broken. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take a moment and wait on the Lord. Note any names the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Pray this prayer out loud:
Lord, I confess that I committed ______ (name sin) with ______ (name person). I know this was wrong and I repent of this sin to You. Break my sinful bond with _____ (name person) and set me free in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pray this prayer of thanksgiving and dedication:
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness and cleansing. I now dedicate myself to You. Here is my body. I offer it to You and ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I might use my body in ways that are holy and give You praise.
That One Thing
Just double-checking. Is there anything else you need to confess? Maybe this question will help: What’s that one thing about yourself that you don’t want anyone else to know? If you’ve already revealed it and confessed it, thank you. That takes courage and will lead to freedom. But if you’re still holding back, please consider this a safe place to deal with it.
In addition, consider the following issues and prayers.
Additional Prayers for Specific Issues
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Lord Jesus, I confess that I have looked at sexually suggestive and pornographic material for the purpose of stimulating myself sexually. I have attempted to satisfy my lustful desires and polluted my body, soul and spirit. Thank You for cleansing me and for Your forgiveness. I renounce any satanic bonds that I have allowed in my life through the unrighteous use of my body and mind. Lord, I commit myself to destroy any objects in my possession that I have used for sexual stimulation, and to turn away from all media that are associated with my sexual sin. I commit myself to the renewing of my mind and to thinking pure thoughts. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may not carry out the desires of the flesh. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I confess to You any part that I played in my divorce (ask the Lord to show you specifics). Thank You for Your forgiveness, and I choose to forgive myself as well. I renounce the lie that my destiny is now in being divorced. I am a child of God, and I reject the lie that says I am a second-class Christian because of the divorce. I reject the lie that says I am worthless, unlovable, and that my life is empty and meaningless. I am complete in Christ, who loves me, just as I am. Lord, I commit the healing of all hurts in my life to You as I have chosen to forgive those who have hurt me. I also place my future into Your hands and trust You to provide the human companionship You created me to need through Your Church and, if it be Your will, through another spouse. I pray all this in the healing name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord and closest friend. Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I renounce the lie that You have created me or anyone else to be homosexual and I agree that in Your Word You clearly forbid homosexual behavior. I choose to accept myself as a child of God and I thank You that You created me as (a man or a woman). I renounce all homosexual thoughts, urges, drives and acts, and cancel out all ways that Satan has used these things to pervert my relationships. I announce that I am free in Christ to relate to the opposite sex and my own sex in the way that You intended. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I confess that I was not a proper guardian and keeper of the life You entrusted to me and I admit that as sin. Thank You that because of Your forgiveness I can forgive myself. I recognize the child is in Your caring hands for all eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I renounce all suicidal thoughts and any attempts I’ve made to take my own life or in any way injure myself. I renounce the lie that life is hopeless and that I can find peace and freedom by taking my own life. Satan is a thief and comes to steal, kill and destroy. I choose life in Christ, who said He came to give me life and give it abundantly (see John 10:10). Thank You for Your forgiveness which allows me to forgive myself. I choose to believe that there is always hope in Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I renounce the lie that my self-worth is dependent upon my ability to perform. I announce the truth that my identity and sense of worth is found in who I am as Your child. I renounce seeking the approval and acceptance of other people, and I choose to believe that I am already approved and accepted in Christ because of His death and resurrection for me. I choose to believe the truth that I have been saved, not by deeds done in righteousness, but according to Your mercy. I choose to believe that I am no longer under the curse of the law because Christ became a curse for me. I receive the free gift of life in Christ and choose to abide in Him. I renounce striving for perfection by living under the law. By Your grace, Heavenly Father, I choose from this day forward to walk by faith in the power of Your Holy Spirit according to what You have said is true. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I renounce the lie that my value as a person is dependent upon my appearance or performance. I renounce cutting or abusing myself, vomiting, using laxatives or starving myself as a means of being in control, altering my appearance or cleansing myself of evil. I announce that only the blood of the Lord Jesus cleanses me from sin. I realize I have been bought with a price and my body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, belongs to God. Therefore, I choose to glorify God in my body. I renounce the lie that I am evil or that any part of my body is evil. Thank You that You accept me just the way I am in Christ, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lord, I confess that I have misused substances—alcohol, tobacco, food, prescription or street drugs—for the purpose of pleasure, to escape reality or to cope with difficult problems. I confess that I have abused my body and programmed my mind in a harmful way. I have quenched the Holy Spirit as well. Thank You for forgiving me. I renounce any satanic connection or influence in my life through any misuse of food or chemicals. I cast my anxieties onto Christ who loves me. I commit myself to yield no longer to substance abuse, but instead I choose to allow the Holy Spirit to direct and empower me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel out all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I pray this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Practice B.R.A.C.E.
This acronym can help you RUN from temptation and sin. As you face temptation and are triggered to sin practice:
Breathing Prayer
As you slowly breathe in and out, pray something like this, “Lord, I need Your help. Lord, I ask for Your help. Lord, thank You for Your help.”
Recite Truth
What lie is fueling this temptation? What truth would combat this temptation? Renounce the lie and recite the truth—out loud.
For example, recite this Truth about who you are in Christ:
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
Accountability Contact
Call or text someone. Let them know that you’re battling a temptation. Ask them to pray that you would fight the good fight and walk by the Spirit in holiness and victory.
Escape
Get out of there. Change the channel. Literally, get up and move to a public place where you won’t act out the temptation.
How would practicing B.R.A.C.E. help you RUN from temptation and sin?
LIVE
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
FOLLOW-UP BIBLE READINGS
Here are the Bible passages you are encouraged to read this coming week:
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?