Stay on Guard | This Means War | Week 3
Opening
Make space for members to share responses to Sunday’s sermon, both ones that occurred in the room and ones that happened later in the week.
Overview
The things allowed in our home can cause us to come under spiritual oppression. Spiritual oppression can include being crushed or burdened by the abuse of power or authority, to be weight heavily upon, to be spiritually bullied. Most often, this is what we encounter instead of spiritual possession like we see in the movies. If we are not watching, we can miss it.
The cycle of spiritual oppression starts by believing lies which causes us to worship something else before God. We then sin and that leads to suffering and death. In order to break cycles of spiritual oppression, we need to guard our doors (eyes and ears), repent, worship the Creator, and live resurrected.
Discussion Questions
- Has this sermon series changed the way you think about the enemy?
- What lies have you believed that have led you into idolatry?
Practice
1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Pray over your time in Scripture and in conversation asking for the Spirit to reveal things in your lives that do not line up with God’s Word. Ask for humility in responding with repentance.
Use the two discussion questions above to springboard your conversation. Give space for as many people who want to share to give an answer to each question. Assist one another in replacing lies with the truth of the Bible. Then consider what are the ways that you can stay alert in your lives, both to what God is doing and where the enemy is trying to trap you.
Closing
Pray over what has been revealed in your group and for one another.