REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

“Lift Up”

 

ICEBREAKER:  Name an uplifting song that you enjoy listening to when you are down.     

 

CONFESSION: My God is the glory and the lifter of my head!!!

·        Just like God lifted Abraham out of a lineage of idolatry He is lifting me out of the idolatry of a hedonistic culture.

·        Just like God lifted Joseph out of the pit He is lifting me out of the pits, the traps and the snares of life.

·        Just like God lifted Moses out of scores of impossible situations He is lifting me out of the cesspool of impossibility thinking.

·        Just like God lifted Daniel out of the lion’s den He is lifting me out of the devouring den of poverty, sickness, sin, pain, and disappointment.

·        Just like God lifted three Hebrew boys out of a fiery furnace He is lifting me out of the fiery flames of persecution, accusation and aggression.

·        Just like God lifted David out of the grip of depression, drought, defeat, debt, doubt and death He is lifting me out of the stronghold of the enemy.

·        Just like God lifted Noah in the ark out of the floods of devastation He is lifting me out of the floods of oppression and fear.

·        Just like God lifted Jonah by a great fish out of a stormy, watery grave He is lifting me out of the overwhelming circumstances and situations in life.

·        Just like God lifted Esther out of the stigma of captivity into the King’s palace He is lifting me out of the personal constraints that try to restrain my destiny.

·        Just like God lifted Paul out of a shipwreck He is lifting me out of the wreckage of past failures, shame and guilt.

·        Just like God lifted Jesus out of death, Hell and the grave He is lifting me up with Him into heavenly places where I am seated at His right hand. 

 

DEFINITION: LIFT UP

1.    Lifting up refers to the act of intercession

2.    Lifting up often implies the act of complete surrender

Lifting up hands is a sign of surrender

3.    Lifting up involves the process of breaking down for the purpose of building up (example: lifting weights)

4.    Lifting up speaks of gaining the advantage over one’s enemy.

2 Samuel 22:49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

Psalm 30:1 I will extol thee, O LORD for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

5.    Lifting up sometimes refers to seeing from a different perspective, as in lifting up your eyes

Seeing from the eternal rather than the temporal

Seeing from the mountain top rather than the valley low point

Seeing from the perception of what should be rather than what is

6.    Lifting up can reference resurrection and healing

Acts 9:41 And he gave her [his] hand and lifted her up and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Mark 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

7.    Lifting up by the Holy Spirit can speak of being caught up by the Spirit in a vision or into the realm of the Spirit

Ezekiel 8:3 And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

 

OUTLINE: WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO LIFT UP?

1.    EYES: Our Vision, Perceptions (Psalm 121:1; Psalm 123:1)

2.    HEAD: Our Body’s Hard Drive; the access point where all the natural information is processed (Psalm 24:7-10; Luke 21:28)

3.    HEARTS: The Seat of Affection, Desire, Understanding (Lamentations 3:41)

4.    SOUL: Mind, Will Emotions (Psalm 86:4)

5.    FACE: The Symbol of our Identity; the billboard where we advertise our attitudes; the mirror where we reflect our influences (Job 22:26)

6.    HANDS: Our Weapons we use to defend ourselves; the instruments we use to give and receive (Psalm 63:4; Psalm 134:2; 1 Timothy 2:8)

7.    VOICE: The Womb where we give birth to creative ideas, concepts and insights (2 Chronicles 5:13)

 

TEXT: Job 22:21-30

 

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.    Job said, “When they make you low, you will say, ‘there is a lifting up.’”  Why is it so important to speak positive, uplifting words?

2.    As a group, find the promises or blessings that are in this passage when we obey.

3.    What are the commands listed in Job 22:21-30

4.    When we lift up our eyes, we are looking to the Lord to help us change our perceptions.  Name a perception that needs to changed in our society.

5.    The Bible says to lift up our face.  If our face is the billboard where we advertise our attitudes, what would your countenance have told people today?

6.    Tell us one thing you do to build yourself up when you feel beat up by life. 

 

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

ACTION POINT:  This week I have a burden to pray for __________.