This week's Life Group Questions
1. REVIEW
In this study we learned that the Apostle Paul understood that he lived in a spiritual warzone and engaged in setting captives free with the gospel of Jesus. He knew Satan had real power to oppose him, but he also knew how to depend on the superior authority of Jesus and the superior power of the Holy Spirit. In this section we will explore how you are experiencing the spiritual warzone and how you are engaging with the authority and power of Jesus.
2. APPLICATION
Which one of these common misconceptions have you believed?
____ Satan is a myth rather than a real being with real power today.
____ Satan and his demonic forces are somewhere else but not in my context.
____ Evangelism is about convincing people to believe in Jesus so they can go to heaven rather than about setting captives free from the power of Satan into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.
____ Church is a social gathering rather than an embassy of Heaven on earth.
____ Serving in church ministry is about doing activities rather than engaging is spiritual warfare.
3. GET DEEPER
Satan mobilizes his demonic forces to oppose God and to reduce your kingdom impact. How are you experiencing that opposition? Select the answer from below and then pray the corresponding prayer from section 4-Group Prayer.
____ OBSTACLES: I sense God wants me to pursue something that Satan is blocking.
____ DISTANT: I’ve been resenting God for harmful things that happened in my life and I did not realize that Satan was behind it. As a result, I have been feeling distant from God.
____ BLINDNESS: I want to know more about Jesus, but I have a hard time believing in him.
____ TORMENTING THOUGHTS: I’ve been feeling discouraged by thoughts that make me feel dirty, shameful, or fearful. I’m feeling down, have nightmares, or I am unable to rest well.
____ IDOLATRY: I still pray to idols or have pagan religious objects that I feel attached to. I know I need to stop, but for some reason I feel unable to cut off those ties.
4. GROUP PRAYER
Pray out loud in the authority of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit to address the opposition you have been feeling. At the end, have one person in the group close by thanking God for what He will do.
____ OBSTACLES: Ask Jesus to remove the obstacle and give you a breakthrough.
____ DISTANT: Renounce the lie that God is against you, and invite God to renew your heart, bring you closer to Him, and help you experience his love and embrace.
____ BLINDNESS: Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you and open your eyes. Invite him to save you and make you part of His kingdom.
____ TORMENTING THOUGHTS: Renounce the lies that are tormenting you, declare God’s truth about it, and command the demonic presence that is oppressing you to leave in Jesus’ name.
____ IDOLATRY: Confess to God your attachment to the idol, renounce it, and command the demonic stronghold to be removed from your life in Jesus’ name.
In this study we learned that the Apostle Paul understood that he lived in a spiritual warzone and engaged in setting captives free with the gospel of Jesus. He knew Satan had real power to oppose him, but he also knew how to depend on the superior authority of Jesus and the superior power of the Holy Spirit. In this section we will explore how you are experiencing the spiritual warzone and how you are engaging with the authority and power of Jesus.
2. APPLICATION
Which one of these common misconceptions have you believed?
____ Satan is a myth rather than a real being with real power today.
____ Satan and his demonic forces are somewhere else but not in my context.
____ Evangelism is about convincing people to believe in Jesus so they can go to heaven rather than about setting captives free from the power of Satan into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.
____ Church is a social gathering rather than an embassy of Heaven on earth.
____ Serving in church ministry is about doing activities rather than engaging is spiritual warfare.
3. GET DEEPER
Satan mobilizes his demonic forces to oppose God and to reduce your kingdom impact. How are you experiencing that opposition? Select the answer from below and then pray the corresponding prayer from section 4-Group Prayer.
____ OBSTACLES: I sense God wants me to pursue something that Satan is blocking.
____ DISTANT: I’ve been resenting God for harmful things that happened in my life and I did not realize that Satan was behind it. As a result, I have been feeling distant from God.
____ BLINDNESS: I want to know more about Jesus, but I have a hard time believing in him.
____ TORMENTING THOUGHTS: I’ve been feeling discouraged by thoughts that make me feel dirty, shameful, or fearful. I’m feeling down, have nightmares, or I am unable to rest well.
____ IDOLATRY: I still pray to idols or have pagan religious objects that I feel attached to. I know I need to stop, but for some reason I feel unable to cut off those ties.
4. GROUP PRAYER
Pray out loud in the authority of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit to address the opposition you have been feeling. At the end, have one person in the group close by thanking God for what He will do.
____ OBSTACLES: Ask Jesus to remove the obstacle and give you a breakthrough.
____ DISTANT: Renounce the lie that God is against you, and invite God to renew your heart, bring you closer to Him, and help you experience his love and embrace.
____ BLINDNESS: Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you and open your eyes. Invite him to save you and make you part of His kingdom.
____ TORMENTING THOUGHTS: Renounce the lies that are tormenting you, declare God’s truth about it, and command the demonic presence that is oppressing you to leave in Jesus’ name.
____ IDOLATRY: Confess to God your attachment to the idol, renounce it, and command the demonic stronghold to be removed from your life in Jesus’ name.