Workbook
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - INVISIBLE IMPOSTERS

thelordismyshepherd invisibleimposters6

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The spirit of the world.

Introduction

Welcome to this workbook designed to deepen your understanding of Psalm 23 and explore how the spirit of the world can impact your walk with Christ. This study will help you recognize the truth of Jesus as your Shepherd and uncover the subtle ways the spirit of the world tries to deceive and distract you from this truth.

Session Outline

  1. Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2

  2. Reflection and Discussion: Key concepts and personal insights

  3. Action Points: Practical steps to apply the teachings

  4. Prayer and Commitment

Session Duration: 30 Minutes

1. Scripture Reading (10 minutes)

Psalm 23 (NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

1 Corinthians 2 (NIV)

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

2. Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)

Key Concepts:

  • The Lord as Our Shepherd: Reflect on what it means for the Lord to be your Shepherd. How does this image provide comfort and guidance in your daily life?

  • Invisible Imposters: Understand the 'spirit of the world' that tries to deceive and draw you away from the truth of Jesus Christ.

  • Spiritual Discernment: The importance of relying on the Holy Spirit to discern spiritual truths that are hidden from the natural mind.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Personal Insight: How do you experience the Lord as your Shepherd in your daily life?

  2. Worldly Distractions: What are some 'invisible imposters' or worldly distractions that you face?

  3. Spiritual Discernment: How can you better rely on the Holy Spirit to discern God’s truth in your life?

3. Action Points (5 minutes)

Practical Steps:

  1. Daily Devotion: Set aside 10 minutes each day to read Psalm 23 and 1 Corinthians 2, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal deeper truths to you.

  2. Identify and Resist: Identify one area where the spirit of the world has been deceiving you. Commit to resisting this deception by focusing on the truth of Jesus Christ.

  3. Prayer and Meditation: Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you receive the Holy Spirit's guidance and to reject the spirit of the world.

4. Prayer and Commitment (5 minutes)

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Shepherd and for the love and care You provide. Help us to discern and reject the spirit of the world that seeks to deceive us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can understand the profound truths of Your love and grace, revealed through Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. Strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with You, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Commitment:

Write down one commitment you will make this week to deepen your faith and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Reflect on this commitment daily and ask God to help you stay true to it.

Workbook Notes:

  • This workbook is designed to be used individually or in a group setting.

  • Feel free to write down your thoughts and prayers in the margins or on separate paper.

  • Review and reflect on your progress regularly to see how God is working in your life.