WAR ROOM WEEK #4 VICTORY ACCOMPLISHED

   VICTORY ACCOMPLISHED

1 JOHN 4:4  “ YOU ARE FROM GOD, LITTLE CHILDREN, AND YOUR HAVE CONQUERED THEM. BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD”

There is a dangerous ENEMY bent on destroying YOU. This week is about claiming the TRUTH. About leaning on the POWER of the Gospel and walking in the VICTORY that has ALREADY been accomplished.

As we go through difficult times in our life, we need to SEE God’s Grace working. Especially when it comes to dealing with the attacked of the Enemy. When that happens we need an abundance of Grace.

There are people who deny the existence of Satan, (just like those that deny the existence of God). They there are those who blames Satan for EVERYTHING that goes awry in their daily life. Rainy days, slow line when you are trying to check-out. And some are totally unaware of his “wiles”.  And there are those that fail to accept any responsibility to the situations they may find themselves.

WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL 10 NAMES FOR THE ENEMY, BESIDES SATAN AND THE DEVIL.

READ 1 PETER 5:8-9

Think back to your childhood. How did you perceive Satan? How do you perceive him today? Do you downplay, deny or overemphasize his role in your life?  Think of the times you have seen the ENEMY actively trying to destroy you and/or those around you.

MOVIE SCENE SUMMARY

In a powerful moving scene, Elizabeth is in her prayer closet. She is praying about her situation with Tony, who is being tempted to be unfaithful. He is out having a nice dinner with another woman, She ask God to forgiven her because she is not Tony’s judge. She prayer for God’s help to not let Tony “do this”. Then she recites a piece of scripture over and over, then it hits her. “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee”.  When it hits her she get out of her closet with Bible in hand and a face of a warrior that is on a mission. She stand in her living area and calls the devil out. Told him that he had played with her mind enough and there would be NO MORE. “You are done!” She proclaims “Jesus IS the LORD of this house. That means there is NO place for you ANYMORE” She tells him to take his lies, his schemes and accusations and get OUT, “IN JESUS NAME!”

Then she goes outside and give him some more of her mind. “ You can’t have my marriage. You can’t have my daughter and you sure can’t have my man”. She tells the Satan that her house is under “NEW MANAGEMENT” and he is “OUT”. She goes back inside, but she is not finished yet. One last word for Enemy. “I am so sick of you stealing my joy but that’s changing too. My joy don’t come from my friends, my job, not even my husband. MY JOY is found in JESUS and just in case you have forgotten, He ALREADY defeated YOU. So go back to hell where you belong and leave my family alone”. I got glory bumps just watching that clip again. SO POWERFUL!!!

Proclaim the Word (Scripture) when we pray is powerful. Sometimes we have to recite out loud, over and over, just like Elizabeth did. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit within us is more POWERFUL than Satan. “Greater is He that in within me” tune runs through my mind.

READ ROMANS 8:26-27

What does the Holy Spirit do for us when we don’t know how to pray?

We know how to pray for needs and issue that are personal to us. However the Holy Spirit know what other things we should be praying.  He also intercedes on our behalf to the Father when the request is beyond out ability and/or comprehension.

Elizabeth learned that her real enemy is NOT her husband but Satan himself.

What does it mean to give the Devil an opportunity? Write down them ways that we can give him a chance to make a foothold in our life.

Did you write bitterness down? READ EPHESIANS 4:30-32. Bitterness clearly gives the enemy an opportunity to cause havoc in your life. It doesn’t have to be your marriage, it could even been work related. Whether it is a co-worker or those in management. How should we deal with this bitterness?

 

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- ‘SUBMIT TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE”  JAMES 4:7 – Elizabeth

READ JOHN 10:10

Satan is a thief who wants to steal from you. He plans is all out before he begins his assault. He tries to destroy your joy, your faith, your family and your testimony.  Some churches don’t preach or talk about the devil nor hell, but it is VERY IMPORTANT to know your enemy and understand his attacks.

 

READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES. MATCH THEM TO THE ADJACENT LIST WHAT EACH SAYS ABOUT SATAN AND HIS ATTACKS.

REVELATIONS 12:10              A liar and the father of liars

JOHN 8:44                            Ruler of this world who uses the disobedient

1 PETER 5:8                          Looks for anyone he can devour

EPHESIANS 2:2                      Blinds unbelievers

2 CORINTHAINS 4:4               Employs tactics to tempt

EPHENSIANS 6:11                  Accuses day and night

 

REFLECTIONS IN YOUR JOURNAL

How does the Enemy distract you? How does the Enemy deceive you? How does the Enemy divide you? What is Satan working to destroy in your life now?

READ JAMES 4:7

This is what you need to remember FIRST when you are dealing with the devil. When he wants to steal, kill, and destroy you. When we resist , he will flee. THAT is a DIVINE PROMISE. It’s evidence of God’s grace.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “ YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH MY MIND AND HAD YOUR WAY LONG ENOUGH. NO MORE. YOUR ARE DONE.”- Elizabeth

When Elizabeth cried out in her prayer closet, she uttered scripture. When God comes to our rescue, it is OFTEN with HIS WORD.

READ JOHN 10:10                  2 THESSALONAINS 3:3           JAMES 4;7

These words are the ammunition Elizabeth needed to stand up and fight. Just like we NEED this ammunition. These scriptures helps us understand the Enemy; truth in God’s defense; and to SUBMIT to God’s will.

READ EPESIANS 6:17 How can the Word of God be a weapon in your life?

READ MATTHEW 4:1-11 Notice how Jesus used Scripture as a weapon. He knew Bible verses and he knew their context. He had meditated on them and studied them.

READ 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 Write in your journal the ways Paul states how useful the Word is.

REMEMBER! Scripture is the inspired Word of God. It is a powerful sword that He has given us to use. With it we can teach, rebuke, and be equipped to do good. It also gives us the power to defeat Satan.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE-“ MY JOY DOESN’T COME FROM MY FRIENDS, IT DOESN’T COME FROM MY JOB, IT DOESN’T EVEN COME FROM MY HUSBAND. MY JOY IS FOUND IN JESUS AND JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT, HE HAS ALREADY DEFEATED YOU” – Elizabeth

In Sunday School, we just started Philippians. We talked about the difference between happiness and joy. Do you know the difference?

Happiness is a delight based on circumstances. It is external. Now joy is a delight regardless of the circumstances. It is internal. It is easy to say we have “joy” when things in our life are going well, but a true relationship with Christ can only bring you TRUE JOY that sustains even while going through the trials of life.

READ THE FOLLOW VERSES ABOUT JOY

PSALM 71:23      Joy is present in my life when I am praising God

PSALM 21:6         I have joy when I am in God’s presence.

JAMES 1: 2-3      I may have joy in trials because God give me endurance

PSALM 119:11    Joy comes from knowing the Word of God

1 PETER 1:8        Joy is found through faith in Christ

PHILEMON 1:7     Joy comes from encouragement and fellowship with other believers.

GALATIONS 5:22 Joy come through the working of the Holy Spirit.

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:4

When Paul wrote Philippians he was in prison. But his letter was full of joy. He didn’t mention the woes of him being in prison. He didn’t let it get in the way of doing God’s work. He wrote to the people of Philippi and told them to stop worrying and to go to God with their request.  He told them to concentrate on things that are good and positive.

One of Satan’s strategies is to turn our thoughts away for God, away for joy. (away from Bible Study J )

C.S.Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape Letters. It explores the attacks of the devil against God’s children. He writes one of the demons saying “ It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds, in reality our BEST WORK is done by keeping things OUT”.

We need to ask God to help us turn our minds toward the things that are lovely, pure and true. We need to ask Him to help us dwell ON Him and His Word.  Cast your cares upon Him and thank Him for the joy you have already found IN Him.

 

WORSHIP SONG FOR THE WEEK

 

 

BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD

 

 

WAR ROOM WEEK 3 LIVING THE GOSPEL

LIVING THE GOSPEL

This week is about the power of the gospel.  The gospel is more than being saved from living eternity in hell. We are to be TRANSFORMED. This is a DAILY process to be more like Christ.

What is the definition of “grace” to you?

I love acronyms. I have uses them a lot in my schooling and learning processes. When I first went to the church that I go now, the pastor said “Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”.

READ Ephesians 2:4-9

Notice how many times that grace is used in this scripture. Grace is NOTHING that we EARN or DESERVE.

Write in your journal what Grace means to you.

What separates Christians for all other religions is that we have SALVATION by GRACE through FAITH. Many think that is all there is about grace, the atonement for us by Christ on the cross. BUT it is more. Grace should also go into our lives and change us to become a NEW person.  Just as we relied on God’s grace to save us, we must rely on his grace DAILY to provide everything that we will need that day, to obey his commandments and be more like Christ.

Using the scripture about answer the following questions:

1.  What do these verses say about the character and heart of God?

2.  According to this passage, why has God granted us grace and forgiveness?

3.  What danger is associated with works in this passage?

Work-based salvation first of all IMPOSSIBLE and furthermore it seeks the honor of man. Grace-based salvation is a gift to use through Jesus Christ and it honors God, and God alone.  Every sin we commit can be based on one word. “ME”. That’s is what is this center of every bad and evil thing. People are living the motto “It’s all about me”. Even when they are trying to become a Christian through works of doing good, but not through Jesus Christ.

READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES:

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17    TITUS 2:11-14     EPHESIANS 4:22-32

According to these scriptures, how are believers supposed to live? How are they not to live?

When we receive our salvation, we are to “take off the old self and put on the new self”.  In order to do this we have to act. It doesn’t just happen. You can’t take anything off without moving some part of your body, can you? It requires ACTION.  After salvation, the rest of our live in a work in progress, constantly moving and changing, getting more and more like Jesus.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE: “ HE GIVES US GRACE AND HE HELPS US TO GIEVE IT TO OTHERS EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T DESERVE IT. WE ALL DESERVE JUDGEMENT. AND THAT IS WHAT A HOLY GOD GIVEN US WHEN WE DON’T REPENT AND BELIEVER IN HIS SON.” Miss Clara

God’s grace is free gift. No one can earn it. The grace of God is not only what saves you, it also SUSTAINS you. When you are fighting the enemy you need even more.

READ THE FOLLOWING VERSES AND WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL WHAT EACH SAYS ABOUT GRACE OR THE GOSPEL:

ROMANS 5:8     ROMANS 6:23     ROMANS 8:1     2 CORINTHAINS 5:21     1 TIMOTHY 1:15

WRITE OUT THE SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:23-26 IN YOUR JOURNAL.

Now underline everything God has done for you in this passage.  Then write down everything you have done to earn God’s grace, according to this passage.

We all fall short in this life because of sin. What God does is grant us that “amazing grace” .

QUOTE FOMR THE MOVIE: “ ELIZABETH, THERE’S NOT ROOM FOR YOU AND GOD ON THE THRONE OF YOUR HEART. IT’S EITHER HIM OR IT’S YOU. YOU NEED TO STEP DOWN. IF YOU WANT VICTORY, YOU FIRST HAVE TO SUREENDER” – Miss Clara

READ 1 SAMUEL 5:1-5

Here in this story notice two things: 1) God had no intention of sharing space with a false idol in a temple. 2) God had no intention of sharing space in our hearts with false idols either.

Surrender. It is hard to surrender in any situation.  In fact, it is unnatural because it feels like we are giving up. Relinquishing control and no one wants to do that.

J.D. Greear wrote this “ The gospel has done its work in us when we crave God more than we crave anything else in life- more than money, romance, family, health, fame – and when seeing His kingdom advance in the lives of others give us more joy than anything we could own. When we see Jesus as greater than anything the world can offer, we’ll gladly let everything else go to possess Him.”

What do YOU CRAVE most? List anything and everything in your journal that to tend to place first in your life AHEAD of God.

Would you be willing to lay aside these or anything else, even good things, in order to keep Christ first in your heart?

Do you understand the fullness of God’s grace in your own life?

The gospel of Jesus is cheap if those who have received it, can’t be distributors of it. Only when we come down off our throne in our lives can we truly see how much God has given us. THEN and ONLY THEN we will desire Him more than anything else the world offers.

READ MATTHEW 13:44-46

What was required of the man and the merchant to gain their treasures? How does that illustrate the kingdom of heaven?

So, if we want to win battles, we have to surrender.  What do you need to surrender to God in the following areas of your life: In your family, In your marriage, At your church, At your work, In the way you use your time and resources.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE: “YOU NEED TO DO YOUR FIGHTING IN PRAYER” – Miss Clara

TAKE TIME TO MEMORIZE HEBREWS 4:16

There is nothing more worshipful than vulnerability. Being vulnerable indicates trust and humility of the heart. Also being vulnerable before God indicates a truer understanding of who he is. That HE is trustworthy.

Boldly means fearlessly, not in a disrespectful or prideful way.  Because of Jesus dying on the cross for you and me, we are no longer “shackled” to our sin, guilt, shame and doubts. We are God’s children who can approach their Father, who cares for them and has the ability to handle any request made by his children.

REFLECT ON A TIME WHEN YOU FELT YOU NEEDED GOD’S HELP THE MOST.

God uses people’s weakness for His purpose.

READ JOHN 18:25-27   What was Peter’s weakness?  READ ACTS 2:37-42 How did God use Peter?

READ EXODUS 3:1-10; 4: 10-13  What was Moses’ weakness?  READ EXODUS 13:1-6 How did God use Moses?

READ JUDGES 6:11-16 What was Gideon’s weakness? READ JUDGES 8:22-35 How did God use Gideon?

READ 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

       GOD CHOOSES THE _________TO SHAME THE _______ AND THE_______TO SHAME THE _______SO THAT ____________.

 

What areas in your life have you been trying to use your own strength? Ask God to make you strong in all your areas of weakness.  Ask Him to remove anything that would hinder you from coming to Him boldly, daily. Ask Him to help you down off “the throne” in your life so that He can take His rightful place. Thank Him for His Grace.

 

WORSHIP MUSIC

 

 

 

 

 

WAR ROOM WEEK 2 ACCOUNTABILITY

REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

This past week was an eye opening for me. I hope I wasn’t the only one.  This week is about accountability.  Man do we need some accountability in this country. I won’t get into that because it would be very long.

Before we start please READ PSALMS 141:3-5A OUT LOUD.

One of the best things about being in a Christian community is accountability. I never really thought much about it until I went on the Walk to Emmaus. It is like a Christian Retreat. We spending a lot of time together, listening to talks about what it means to be a Christian and eating. A weekend full of laughter, tears, and renewal to walk closer to God.

It doesn’t end there. Those that have been on the walks have a “gathering” once a month. And it is strongly recommended but not required to get involved with an “accountability group”.  When you get together you talk about when you felt close to God the past week, when you failed God, when you felt like God was using you as a vessel and some other question. It is great to share with other Christian women.  The group I attend gets together once a month, because most of us are still working and weekly is practically impossible.  The group is small and they also recommend it to be small.

In the video below, you can see the clear accountability between friends. Background: Tony has gotten away from God and his marriage. He is being tempted and basically “playing with fire”.  His friend Michael is a genuine friend and confronts Tony. WATCH NOW.

 

 

Noticed how Michael was will to speak difficult truth, even when he’s friend didn’t receive it well.  This short video clip shows us the importance of value of having godly relationships with others.

We recently talked about accountability on another Bible study. As you can see, it is important to God. With “worldly” friends we have no one to confront us when we sin.

Consider a moment in YOUR life when you found yourself “playing with fire”. Being drawn to do something that you knew was wrong in God’s eyes.  Did you have someone in your life confront you with truth and love?

READ PROVERBS 27:6

What does this say about accountability? How can wounds from a friend be better than kisses?

LOOK UP AND READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE. Write in your journal what each says about accountability.

PROVERBS 27:17; HEBREWS 3:13; JAMES 5:19-20; GALATIANS 6:1-2; ECCLESIATES 4:9-12

Which verse describes the value of Christian accountability in YOUR life?

READ Ephesians 4:15. What does it mean to “speak truth in love”?

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE “ WE’VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT SOME THINGS ARE JUST NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.” – Tony

 

READ EPHESIANS 5:1-4.

Take a moment and reflect what in your past or present resembles a fruitless “work of darkness”? Make a list of things that you NEED to GET OUT of your LIFE.

READ JAMES 5:16

When we hear the word healing we think it means cured.  But another meaning that healing means when it comes to confession is made whole.  That is what happens when we give our life to Christ after living in the sin. Our salvation.  This is also what happens in our hearts when we walk in an accountable connection with other believers.

When someone is in darkness, they will cry out “none of your business” just as Tony did in the video. So is it our business to speak to other Christians this way? We were made to have connections.  We are made to walk in healthy and honest relationships so that others cane see Christ by our love for each other.

WRITE OUT ISAIAH 29:15 in your journal.

Confessing brings forgiveness and healing. Concealing brings grief and pain. Have you ever felt the pain and grief of concealing something? Do you have someone who holds you accountable for sinful patterns in your life? We ALL NEED ONE.

Secret sins lead to shame and unheard prayers. Ask God show you someone that can be your accountability partner so that you can walk in healing, wholeness and confidence that your prayers are heard.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE “ SINCE WE’VE BEEN FRIENDS FRO A LONG TIME, I’M NOT JUST GONNA WATCH YOUR MARRIAGE DIE. SO IF IT’S BLEEDING, I’M NOT JUST GONNA KEEP EATING MY SALAD”- MICHAEL

There is a great responsibility in relationships.  Note what each of these verses say about responsibility.

EPEHESIAN 4: 19-32     JOHN 15:13     JOB 6:14     PROVERBS 18:24

Being part of a Christian community is having friends who will walk with you through whatever you are going through. They will also hold you accountable to your commitment to Christ. (They are supposed to). When we are alone, that is when we are most vulnerable to sin.

Proverbs 18:1 says “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires. He rebels against all sound judgement”. A good accountability partner can be trusted to keep a confidence. Closeness in relationship is built upon trust.  (See Proverbs 11:13)

It is hard to find someone like that , that you can truly trust to keep a confidence.

READ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26

Look at verse 25. This talks about have the same concern for each other.  This means we are to suffer when others in our community suffer. We are to rejoice when others in our community rejoice. If we didn’t have each other, the body of Christ would not be complete.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE, “ SEE YOU IN CHURCH” – TONY   “I NEED TO SEE THE CHURCH IN YOU, BRO” –MICHAEL

I loved that quote when I heard it in the movie.  We as Christians, are sometimes the only “sermon” people will ever hear or see. There is a saying that says that people are all Saintly on Sundays at church but on Mondays and the rest of the week they live like the world. People who are lost, WATCH people who proclaim they are Christians to see if their ACTIONS confirm it.  That is what Michael was saying to Tony.

Being in an accountable relationship with other believers helps us not only to walk in integrity, but to avoid the consequences of FOOLISH decisions.                

Look up the following verses and write in your journals, what they say about freedom.

Proverbs 16:17     Psalm 199:45     2 Corinthians 3:17     Galatians 5:1     Romans 6:22

Being a believer give us freedom. Freedom for eternal death because of our sins.  However this freedom is not a freedom of responsibility. In fact, our freedom in Christ, calls for us to be responsible for our actions.

Even people that are not in our accountability group, we should go to them privately, when needed and hold them accountable when they are living in sin.  This is NEVER an easy thing to do, nor is it fun, but it is necessary part of us helping each other stay right with God.

We ALL are part of the family of God and as family members we love each other.

 

WORSHIP SONG FOR THE WEEK

WAR ROOM WEEK 1 HONEST EVALUATION

 

2 Corinthians 13: 5

NKJV- “Examine yourselves as the where you are in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves? That Jesus is in you?

I love looking a scripture under different translations. Sometime a different translation can make a “bigger” impact on you.

TLB- “Check up on yourselves. Are you really a Christian? Do you past the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t’ at all?

I am excited about this study maybe because I loved the movie. I hope you got a chance to see the movie. I know some of you did. If you didn’t I hope you will make plans to see it sooner or later.

This Bible study is different that our past, in that you will me doing more “homework” than I do preparing the lesson. Well, maybe. There will be many questions for you to reflect on and answer on your own. I pray that you are still journaling. There will be several scriptures for you to look-up as well. I can’t do everything for you. J

I truly believe that you will learn better and quick and more, by doing things yourselves. I am not just referring to looking up scripture but in life in general.

So before we get started let’s evaluate ourselves. This is not to discourage you or to make you feel ashamed. This evaluations is for growth, spiritual growth. We need to understand ourselves better in order to be inspired to improve ourselves . So here we go.

On a scale from 0-10: . (Zero being freezing cold/far away and 10 being you are on fire/extremely close:

1) IN YOUR OPINION, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO GOD RIGHT NOW?

2) REGARDING CLOSENESS TO GOD, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE ONE YEAR FROM NOW?

3) ARE YOU CURRENTLY MOVING AT A PACE TO MEET YOUR GOAL ONE YEAR FROM NOW?

4) WHAT MAJOR DECISIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE TO HELP YOU GROW?

After you have honestly answered the above questions, go to God and pray. Ask Him to renew the hunger in your soul to pursue a closer relationship with Him. PRAY NOW!

I don’t know about you but I found it hard to be honest with myself. Maybe because I really wanted to be higher that I really was. It is natural for us to do that, exaggerate the good and minimize or even deny what is bad or what we are lacking.

READ PROVERBS 21:2

You all have heard the saying “ Actions speak louder than words”. Well our actions are better indicators of where we are spiritually. Better than our opinions or guesses.

ASK YOURSELF:
1) How diligently do I seek and pursue a closer walk with God EACH day?

2) How much time and effort do I spend in His Word and in prayer EACH week?

3) Do I make an effort to remember and apply the Word of God after I hear it or do I usually walk away and forget it?

4) How quickly do I obey God when He tells me to do something?

5) When God reveals sin in my life, how quickly do I confess and repent it?

Think about it. What unconfessed sins would you confess if you knew Jesus would be coming back in three days? What commandment would you make sure you obeyed between now and then? WHY WAIT?

WHAT DOES JAMES 1:22 SAY?

Watch this video.

“Some like it hot, some like it cold. Some like it in the pot nine days old”.  Relate your prayer life to the coffee analogy. How do you like yours?

READ OUT LOUD REVELATIONS 3:14-22

What are the two things Jesus said we should do in verse 19?

Zealous means to filled with or showing a strong and energetic desire to get something done or see something succeed :  marked by passionate support for a person, cause, or idea. Basically is mean to be on fire for God. AGAIN. Read verse 20 again. Jesus doesn’t want to be on the outside of the door. He wants to come in, get closer with us, take rightful control and rekindle His relationship with us.

What are 3 specific things in your life keeping you from being more on fire for God?

Pray about these three conditions NOW.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- You say you attend church occasionally. Is that because your pastor only preaches occasionally?-Miss Clara War Room

We have done our personal evaluations so, do you Profess or Possess? It is a BIG difference claiming to be a Christian than actually KNOWING Christ and LIVING as a believer. Anyone can claim that they know Christ. Even the Devil knows Christ but that don’t make him a Christian. The first book of John tells us what truly knowing Christ will do to our way of living. It will result in a lifestyle of obedience, repentance of sin, a living faith, evidence of God’s Spirit and love for other Christians. And may I add other PEOPLE in general.

READ ACTS 2:44-46

The first century Christians were strongly willing to connect with other Christians. They wanted to share their lives. They were almost like a commune. Now read 1 Corinthians 12:24b-27. What does it say about a member of the body of Christ?

READ HEBREWS 10:23-25

Why should we as believer maintain fellowship with each other?

No one on earth is perfect. And we make up the body of Christ, but we need his Grace and forgiveness every day, because we all stumble, sooner or later. God wants us to stay connected with other Christians. We can do this by loving them, serving them, encouraging them, comforting them, and praying for them on a consistent basis. This is His command.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “So if I asked you what your prayer life was like, would you say it was hot or cold.”- Miss Clara War Room

When it comes to prayer, many times it is only for request of things. Think about how your life would change if we viewed and treated God like our closest friend than a casual acquaintance.  If we prayed constantly thank an occasional last option?  Instead of it being a “Want ad” and real weapon?

READ EPHESIANS 6:10-18

How much armor do we put on daily?

List each piece of God’s armor and purpose.

I have been studying Ephesians for my Sunday school class, we just finished the book this past Sunday. I was studying on this Armor of God. A thought came to me about the breastplate. The breastplate initially was to cover the chest area and protect the heart. There was no back. So why would Paul use this as part of the armor of God? First, we are to face our battles head on, no taking a side road and we can “turn our back” on the enemy because it is NOT PROTECTED. And Satan would love that.

I know we have recently did a study on prayer, but you could do one that lasted for many weeks instead of the few weeks we had. WHY? Prayer is one of our greatest resources. Especially when it comes to spiritual growth. It’s a WEAPON we need for battles. How much we pray, depends on how much we depend on God. HOW MUCH WE PRAY, DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WE DEPEND ON GOD!

We all need God ALL the time. We need His grace every moment so we don’t waste opportunities. So we don’t become self-centered. So we don’t fall INTO sin. If we humbly admit our need of God and depend on Him daily for wisdom and grace, we will have a richer, more active prayer life results.

QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “You don’t have to step on the same land mines that I did. That’s a waste of time.”- Miss Clara War Room

We just talked about the importance of connecting deeply with other believers.  One of the greatest benefits we can receive by doing this is, we DON’T HAVE to repeat one another’s mistakes.  Modeling your life after a seasoned saint is a Biblical method.

READ HEBREWS 13:7

What land mines have avoided because of another believer’s example or counsel?

MORE EVALUATIONS

1)                        Is your spiritual life apathetic, joyless and passionless?

2)                        Do you have at least one sin you refuse to repent of?

3)                        Do you have at least one person your refuse to forgive?

4)                        Do you love and seek God less that you once did?

5)                        Are the words of your mouth displeasing to God and dishonorable to others?

6)                        Do you see no evidence of answered prayer or the power of God at work in your life?

7)                        Do you have time for entertainment, but not for Bible study, prayer or sharing your faith?

8)                        Do you let pride, worry or fear stop you from obeying what God has told you to do?

9)                        Does your family see you behave one way at church and another at home?

10)                Is your worship of God half-hearted and mediocre?

READ PSALM 145:4 OUT LOUD

As maturing Christians it is valuable to think about those we follow or look up to and also those that follow us. Think about the things that you can pass on because of your faith.

Next week we will talk about Accountability.


WORSHIP MUSIC

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TEACH ME TO PRAY WEEK #5

This is our last week for our Bible study on Prayer. I hope each one of you have found at least one thing that will help you when you pray.  The prayer devotional that I had mentioned in our last lesson has some more suggestions for prayers. I want to list them below:

Pray about your doubts and fears.

Pray supine, with you face to the ground. Then stay there in silence and listen.

Pray for an issue dear to your heart asking God to help you lead the charge.

Think of an area in your life where you really need God’s kind of wisdom and ask for it.

Pray that God will give you a clear view of something that is unclear to you.

Pray that He will help you perceive what would bring Him glory in your current situation.

Pray that we live our lives in a way worthy of Jesus.

Pray that the Church will lift Jesus up and show the world what He is really like.

Ask God to make you more aware of the thoughts and prayers the Holy Spirit has for you.

PRAYER MODEL - CHAT

Cheer God for WHO He is.  What fact about God makes you glad?

Humble Yourself:   If Jesus took a tour of your heart, what would he find?

Appreciate what HE has done: What happened in your life today that you can thank God for?

Tell God your needs: what do you Need God to work in your life and in the lives of others?

This is similar to ACTS. The song “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right”. Well “just a little ‘chat’ with Jesus makes it right” too.

Max Lucado wrote a book called “Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer. Very good read so far. I have kind of skimmed over it . I am going to give you some of the highlights that I read. 

He talks about the disciple asking Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus gave them the “Lord’s Prayer” for a model. Max stated that all the prayers in the Bible could be distilled into one. The result is a simple, easy to remember, pocket-size prayer:

“Father,

       You are good.

              I need help. Heal me and forgive me.

                     They need help.

                           Thank you Lord.

                                  In Jesus’ name, amen.

You can use this prayer all day. When you wake up, on your way to work, while you are at work/school, while waiting in line.

Prayer is a conversation with God, while drive to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with others.

We speak He listens. He speaks, we listen. This is prayer in its purest form.

When we invite God into our world, he walks in.

Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and His child. He wants to talk to you.

Prayer begins with an honest heartfelt “Oh Daddy”.  Jesus invites us to approach God the way a child approaches his or her daddy.  We are to ‘become as little children” READ MATTHEW 18:3. Carefree. Joy filled. Playful. Trusting. Curious. Excited. Forget greatness. Seek littleness. Trust more, strut less. Make a lot of request and accept all the gifts. Come to God the way a child comes to his Daddy.

The one who hears your prayers IS YOUR DADDY.

In praying, vocabulary might impress people but no God. If prayer depends on how I pray, I’m sunk. But if the power of prayer depends on the One who hears the prayer, and if the One who hears the prayer is my Daddy, then I have hope.

Prayer really is that simple. Resist the urge to complicate it. Don’t take pride in well-crafted prayers. Don’t apologize for incoherent prayers. Just be honest- honest to God. Climb into his lap. Tell him everything that is on your heart. Or tell him nothing at all. Just lift your heart to heaven and declare, Father…..DADDY.

Sometimes “Daddy” is all we can muster. Stress. Fear. Guilt. Grief. Tears.  That is still enough. Tears are prayer words too. God understand what they mean. 

Before you face the world, face your Father.

The moment you sense a problem, however large or small, take it to Christ. (Yes you may be talking to Him all day and that is the point! ) 

An unprayed-for problem is an embedded thorn. It festers and infects- first the finger, then the hand, then the entire arm. Best to go straight to the person who has the tweezers.

God keeps His Word. We just need to ask.

Resist the urge to reclaim the problem once you've given it up.

The Lords has heard your prayer before it was even offered.

Jesus said to "bring your problems to me". State them simply. Present them faithfully and trust Him reverently.

----- The End----