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

 

 

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