At 84, Anna was
near the end of her life. In those days 50 was concerned a ripe old age. Anna’s
husband had died more than 60 years earlier, not long after they were married.
There were no children to care for and on one to care for her.
For some reason, contrary
to what was commonly expected of her, she never remarried. Her culture didn’t
allow a woman to pursue a career. So what was she to do with all that time?
Anna refused to
accept the traditional widow role or be someone’s depended relative. She didn’t
feel sorry for herself. She didn’t succumb to loneliness. Instead she devoted
herself to God.
She devoted herself,
loving Him, worshipping Him, spending time in His presence. In that day, women
weren’t taught to read or write, let alone study the Scriptures. They were
supposed to marry and have children and manage the affairs of their household.
The ministry of priesthood was not open to women.
These barriers
that society had built didn’t keep Anna from hungering, thirsting after
righteousness. They didn’t keep her from seeking after the things of God with
her whole heart.
She never meant
to be single, but she learned to make the most of the freedom and opportunity
that gave her.
After many years
passed, Anna’s faithfulness and devotion earned her the respect of the
community. She was recognized as a woman of wisdom and understanding.
She had a
ministry of prayer and intercession, crying out to God on behalf of her
friends, family, the community and nation.
Let’s see now how
she fits in the Christmas story.
After Elizabeth’s
seclusion, her kinfolk arrived for an unexpected visit, Mary. Before May could
explain, Elizabeth knew. She was attuned to God’s Spirit. At that moment, God
shared a secret with Elizabeth. He revealed to her something only one other
human being knew.
It was then that
Elizabeth became the first person to speak a prophetic word in the New
Testament era.
Elizabeth was
overcome with awe and wonder, overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace. She caught
a glimpse of the marvelous plan that was even now unfolding from the mind of
God. The glorious truth that the long awaited Messiah, the Anointed One, and
the Deliverer had come.
She realized that
the child she was carrying could not have come any sooner. The timing was critical.
He had a part in this divine plan.
Her son, John was
destined to be the greatest prophet the world had ever known. He would be the
one to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Elizabeth was a
perfect role model for Mary because she had a hearing heart. As she listened to
the Holy Spirit, she became a woman of wisdom and maturity and depth.
Now let us
experience the joy of the birth of these miracle babies.
What
was so special about a girl from Nazareth, called Mary?
Why
did God choose her- above all the other women on earth to be the mother of His
only begotten Son?
From
the end of the Old Testament to the New Testament represents about 400 years.
Four hundred years of silence when God said nothing. For centuries people
eagerly awaited the fulfillment of God’s promise – the Messiah and theses 400
years, there were no visions, no prophecies, no miracles, nothing, “nada”.
Some grew
tired of waiting. They gave up and bitterly concluded that God had forsaken
them since nothing has happened in four generations. It was hard for them to
believe the supernatural stories of the Old Testament, like many today.
However
there was a remnant that remained faithful.
Mary
was a young woman, well actually a teenager, engaged to be married. She was
full of hopes and dreams for her upcoming future with a man called Joseph. Ever
since God made the promise, women through the ages wondered if perhaps they
might be the one that would give birth to the Messiah.
To the
faithful, it was a sacred dream, a cherished hope, a coveted honor. To Mary it
seemed impossible, but the angle told her that God had chosen her. From now on,
all generations would call her blessed. What an awesome privilege! What an
incredible responsibility!
We are
ALL chosen by God. He has plans for us and
things for us to do. But most of the time, we need a messenger from God to us “Do
not be afraid, you have found favor with God and He has chosen you”.
When
Mary hear all that the angel said, she didn’t demand a sign, (the angel would
be enough of a sign for me). She voiced NO COMPLAINTSat the
disruption that would be to her life (Can we say the same when God calls us to
do something?). She knew things would not turn out the way she had planned. But
in her heart there was NO
RESISTANCE, NO REBELLION. Just
sweet simple submission-complete surrender to the will of God.
She
told the angel that God could use her in any way He chose. (Do we?) Because she
was a willing vessel, fully available to Him. (Are we?)
She
knew it would not be easy. She would be faced with many questions and doubts by
her family and friends, not to mention her future husband. Her reputation
ruined. But nothing more difficult that the agony she would endure to see her
son die for the sins of the world.
READ
CHAPTERS 3 & 4 AND THE FOLLOWING BLOG ENTRIES.
Long time ago God reached down from heaven with the best
gift we will EVER receive. The gift of love and hope through the birth of Jesus
Christ.
Three women played a vital role in his birth: Elizabeth,
Mary and Anna. If you are like me I was thinking “Anna who”? We all have heard
the stories about Elizabeth and Mary, but I don’t ever recall hearing anything
about Anna.
Each life was different than the other. Elizabeth was
married. Mary was young and engaged, and Anna was an elderly widow.
These women will teach us to wait upon the Lord, to trust
him with everything that matters and to pray until our prayers our answered.
Christmas is much more than a holiday, more than the
commercialism that starts Oct 31, more than cooking and eating, more than
decorations and wrapping presents.
It’s a season for reflection, for preparation and for
renewal.
As we begin our study we will start with Elizabeth.She was a relative of Mary. She came from a
distinguished family and had a rich heritage. She also “married well” but that
was not enough.
She was barren. Barren in a culture in which a woman’s
worth was measured by the number of children she produced. A time when inability
to bear children was seen as a sign of God’s judgement- a curse. However her
barrenness was not her fault nor her husband's. They had done nothing to deserve
this shame and disgrace. Not only was she barren, but her childbearing years
had passed.
I am sure the devil tried his best to make Elizabeth become
bitter and angry because God had not answered her prayers……yet. Satan knows
WHERE we are most vulnerable. When he plays in our life, he is unfair, unjust and unkind.
ASSIGNMENT:
READ LIZ CURTIS HIGGS BLOG ALONG WITH CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 IN THE
BOOK
How time flies. This is our last week in War Room study. I hope
you have found a least one beneficial information or enlightenment through this
study. This week we are focusing on our identity in Jesus. All that we have
discussed so far has led up to this. Jesus is our connection point to God
through our prayer life.
When we come to God, repent of our sins, and accept His Son as
our Savior, God’s grace transforms us. This week’s study is an examination what
that transformation can be like.
Do you watch faith-based movies? One of the interesting things
about these movies is the journey that one character takes. In the end there is
AWAYS a CHANGE. Not only in the movies War Room, Fireproof and Courageous
which were created by the same people, but even the Tyler Perry movies and
plays. Perry’s Medea is not that character. In fact she is so messed up with
the knowledge of the Christian life, but she always has words of wisdom for
that character that is on that journey.
It is all about “taking off the old self and putting on a new
one”, which is an active part of being a follower of Christ.
Write in your journal five or more characteristics of a
transformed life. What was the most transformation that you experienced as a
believer? Or has there been a transformation?
One of my favorite pastors, Charles Stanley explains Christian
transformation like this:” it is like restoring old furniture, it’s a two stage
process. First, one must take off the old. Then you have a clean slate to put
on the new!” When I read that, I start
to think about it and realize there is a “sanding process too” that even
happens are you are putting on the “new”.
This sanding process or “pruning” is an important step in
bringing forth God’s desire for us. We need to recognize that God is still in
the process of “restoring” your life to be the person He created you to be. And
when He is finished, He will bring “this piece of furniture” to His home to
dwell with Him there.
MOVIE CLIP
SUMMARY
Tony has realized the “errors of his ways”. He has been fired
from his lucrative job and Elizabeth, his wife is trying to pick up extra job
opportunities not only to “make ends meet” but he has restitution to pay soon.
Tony is talking to Elizabeth. He doesn’t understand the “kindness” that Elizabeth
is showing toward him after all he had said and done. He confesses that he
deserved to be fired because he was deceiving his employer so that he could be
the “top salesman” of the company.He
also admits to deceiving Elizabeth. “I almost cheated on you Elizabeth. But you
know that.” He asked her why was she still there with him.All the while Elizabeth sit in quiet and
listens with compassion.He tells her
that he saw her prayer closet and those prayers she wrote for him. “Why would
you do that” He asked.She finally
speaks and says with a soft gentle voice, “I am not done with us.” “I will keep
fighting but my contentment doesn’t come from you” “Tony, I love you, but I am
HIS before I was yours.” “And because I love Jesus I am staying right here”.
Tony gets on his knees in front of her and repents. “I’ve asked God to forgive
me, but I need you to forgive me.” Then Elizabeth givens him that “Amazing
Grace” and forgives him.
Why do you think Elizabeth felt the need to declare to whom she
truly belongs? Have you ever wrestled with the idea of being forgiven?
READ
GALATIAN 2:19-20Write in your journal the phase “I
no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. Reflect on you own life, what had God
done in your to make this statement true in your life?
READ
JOHN 15:1-8
Write in your journal the instructions Jesus gave His followers.
To abide means to CONTINUE
TO BE PRESENT or to be HELD or KEPT CONTINUALLY. This means
everlasting. The result of this “abiding” is fruit. READ THE FOLLOWING VERSES. Write down the fruit that God seeks.
QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “ I was ready to defend
myself. Except this time I can’t. I hate saying this, but I deserved to get
fired. I was deceiving them. I was deceiving you.” – Tony Jordan
WAR ROOM
Confession is not easy. It is rather difficult and hard.No one wants to ADMIT their FAULTS, ACCEPT
any responsibility or guilt. But after confession there is another step. REPENTANCE.Repentance is not only admitting sin, but
also turning away from it.It is
repentance that establishes forgiven in our relationship with God.
There are two important keys to forgiveness.The first key is atonement.“ Without the atonement of sin, there cannot
be forgiveness”
READ
1 PETER 2:24
Whose sin did Jesus bear? Jesus died so we might live for what?
How have YOU been healed? What does
it look like to live for righteousness in day to day life? How does your life
reflect that?
The second key is repentance. According to Wikipedia, repentance
is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling regret for wrong doing.
General involves personal CHANGE and
the resolve to life more responsible. Repentance is a beautiful and powerful
thing.
READ
ACT 3:19
Why do we need to repent and turn back? What is the result of
that repentance?
How many times have you wanted a “do-over” in your life? We all
want a refreshing or restart at certain times and seasons in our life. REPENTANCE IS NOT A NEGATIVE THING!!It is a REFRESHING
thing.
Do you need to repent in any of the following areas: pride,
selfishness, control, comparison, bitterness, perfectionism? Take a moment to
confess and repent of those NOW. Ask
God to help you avoid these sins in the future.Ask God to reveal to you areas of sin that you need to confess. Ask him
to change your heart’s view of your sin so that you see it like God does. Then your refreshing will begin.
QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “But I’ve learned that my contentment
can’t’ come from you. Tony, I love you but I am His before I am yours and
because I love Jesus, I am staying right here.” – Elizabeth WAR ROOM
READ
PHILLIPIANS 4:11-13
Content. What does content mean to you?Content, strong enough to need no aid or
support; sufficient; independent of EXTERNAL
circumstances; content with one’s lot. It is a state of peacefulness. Another
word is JOY. This has NOTHING to do with what is going on in
your world, on the outside. It is what is going on, on the inside.It is different that happiness. Happiness DEPENDS on circumstances. CONTENTMENT/JOY is “in spite” of
circumstance.
I like this statement in the study book. “Contentment is an
illusion in the American landscape today. The drive for MORE in every arena has created a culture where NOTHING is EVER close to enough. MORE
money. MORE status. MORE education. MORE busyness. MORE. MORE.
MORE” What do you think?
Have you attempted to FIND
contentment? In what areas of life have your struggles to find contentment?
READ
HEBREWS 13:5Write in your journal, in your
words what this means.
The nearness of God allows contentment and joy REGARDLESS of circumstance. When Paul
wrote to the Philippians he was in prison, chained to a guard. He was awaiting
a trial in Rome that would probably bring the result of his death. But he was
contented. I know we probably have never been in a position like that but think
of some trials in your life in the past. Were you contented?
In the movie, Elizabeth marriage was falling apart and she
learned to be content in Christ.The
test of whether Christ is “enough” usually doesn’t happen to us when everything
is going great.We are tested when
things are going wrong or having to “climb” those big mountains or when we are
in the “valley”.
READ the
following Scripture and list in your journal the things that helped Paul find
contentment/joy.
Write a prayer in your journal using these things to teach you
to find contentment in God regardless of your circumstances.
QUOTE FROM THE MOVIE- “I asked God to forgive me. But I need
your to forgive me. I don’t want you to quit on me, Liz”- Tony WAR ROOM
“I forgive you”- Elizabeth WAR ROOM
Three most powerful words of the movie.
I FORGIVE YOU.
READ
MARK 11:25.What does this say we should do
when we pray.
READ
HEBREWS 4:16.What are you invited to do? In what
manner does it invite us to do it?
Go back a few verse and READ HEBREWS 4:12-15
Without forgiveness, there can be no boldness, no confidence and
no generosity.
If we truly experience the gospel of Jesus, no relationship is EVER the same again. When we have been
hurt or wronged by others, the gospel will remind us to look at ourselves as a
sinner FIRST.The clearest mark of God’s grace in our life
is a generous spirit (forgiveness) toward others.
Now our study has completed. Reflect on these questions
regularly to keep you growing to be more Christ-like.
How will you continue to examine your walk with Christ and seek
to line it up with Scripture?
How will you help another believer grow in his or her walk with
Christ?
How will you continue to lean on God’s grace and submit Him?
In what ways will you continue to resist the Devil?
Closing with Miss Clara’s powerful prayer from the movie.
“HELP ME TO
STAND ON YOUR WORD ABOVE ALL ELSE. HELP ME TO FIGHT ON MY KNEES AND WORSHIP YOU
WITH MY WHOLE HEAR. HELP ME TO PROCLAIM WITH MY LIFE THAT YOU ARE KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS. GUIDE ME TO PEOPLE WHO WILL CALL UPON YOUR NAME. RAISE UP
THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND SEE YOU AND TRUST YOU. CALL US TO BATTLE, LORD” AMEN
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 12:10A liar and the father of liars
JOHN 8:44Ruler of this world who uses the disobedient
1 PETER 5:8Looks for anyone he can devour
EPHESIANS 2:2Blinds unbelievers
2 CORINTHAINS 4:4Employs tactics to tempt
EPHENSIANS 6:11Accuses 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 10:102 THESSALONAINS 3:3JAMES 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 4:1-11Notice
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 3:16-17Write
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 71:23Joy
is present in my life when I am praising God
PSALM 21:6I
have joy when I am in God’s presence.
JAMES 1: 2-3I
may have joy in trials because God give me endurance
PSALM 119:11Joy
comes from knowing the Word of God
1 PETER 1:8Joy is
found through faith in Christ
PHILEMON 1:7Joy
comes from encouragement and fellowship with other believers.
GALATIONS 5:22Joy
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.
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 3:12-17TITUS
2:11-14EPHESIANS 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:
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 18:25-27What was Peter’s weakness?READ ACTS 2:37-42How
did God use Peter?
READ EXODUS 3:1-10; 4: 10-13What was Moses’ weakness?READ EXODUS 13:1-6How
did God use Moses?
READ JUDGES 6:11-16What
was Gideon’s weakness? READ JUDGES 8:22-35How
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.
