Taking Ground: Active Participation in Spiritual Warfare
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded that we are in a season of taking ground, not breaking even or going backwards. I was encouraged to participate fully in this season, to be part of the wave of the Holy Spirit transforming lives in our community. I was reminded that our church is not a place of entertainment, but a place of freedom, and that unity is crucial for us to effectively go into enemy territory and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was also reminded that our church is not a cruise ship putting on entertainment for us, but a warship going into enemy territory so people can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the second part of the sermon, I was encouraged to keep praying, preaching, pivoting, and persevering until something happens. I was reminded that we are not just waiting for God to give us ground, but we are actively taking ground through prayer, preaching, perseverance, and pivoting. I was also reminded that we are not just spectators in this spiritual warfare, but we are active participants, taking ground for the kingdom. I was encouraged to keep pushing, to keep applying force until momentum is gained and the ball starts moving.
Key takeaways:
- We are in a season of taking ground, not breaking even or going backwards. We are part of the wave of the Holy Spirit transforming lives in our community. ([00:56])
- Our church is not a place of entertainment, but a place of freedom. Unity is crucial for us to effectively go into enemy territory and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. ([03:56])
- We are not just waiting for God to give us ground, but we are actively taking ground through prayer, preaching, perseverance, and pivoting. ([30:29])
- We are not just spectators in this spiritual warfare, but we are active participants, taking ground for the kingdom. ([32:47])
- We need to keep pushing, to keep applying force until momentum is gained and the ball starts moving. ([34:29])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of unity in the church and the mission of the church to reach out to the world. It highlights the idea that the church is not a place of entertainment but a place of freedom and transformation. The speaker also stresses that the church is not just for the pastor or a select few, but for everyone. #!!03:56!!#
2. The speaker discusses the concept of spiritual growth and maturity. He points out that there are some people who have been in church for many years but have not yet spiritually grown up. He encourages the congregation to see the need for change and growth, not just for themselves but for the sake of reaching out to others. #!!10:08!!#
3. The sermon encourages the congregation to persevere in prayer and in their faith. The speaker emphasizes the importance of persistence and perseverance in prayer, preaching, and in taking ground for the kingdom of God. He encourages the congregation to keep praying and moving forward, even when they don't see immediate results. #!!30:29!!#
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. 1 Corinthians 1
2. Matthew 16
3. Exodus 2
4. John 14
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does the speaker mean when he says the church is not a place of entertainment but a place of freedom?
2. How does the speaker describe spiritual growth and maturity?
3. What does the speaker mean by "taking ground" for the kingdom of God?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Corinthians 1 relate to the speaker's emphasis on unity in the church?
2. How does the story of Moses in Exodus 2 relate to the speaker's discussion of spiritual growth and maturity?
3. How does John 14 support the speaker's encouragement to persevere in prayer and faith?
Application Questions:
1. How can we foster unity within our own church community?
2. What steps can we take to grow spiritually and mature in our faith?
3. How can we persevere in prayer and faith, even when we don't see immediate results?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Persistent Prayer
In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer. He encourages the congregation to keep praying for their loved ones, their businesses, and their communities, even when it seems like nothing is happening. He assures them that their prayers are not in vain and that in due time, they will see the fruits of their prayers. This is a call to trust in God's timing and to never give up on prayer. [07:40]
Bible passage: Luke 18:1-8 - "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life where you have been praying persistently without seeing any changes. How does this sermon encourage you to keep praying?
Day 2: The Importance of Preaching the Gospel
The pastor emphasizes the importance of preaching the gospel in this sermon. He encourages the congregation to preach the gospel to their families, their communities, and even to themselves. He assures them that the power of the gospel can bring about change and transformation. This is a call to be bold in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. [30:29]
Bible passage: Romans 10:14-15 - "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Reflection: Reflect on the opportunities you have to preach the gospel in your daily life. How can you be more intentional in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ?
Day 3: The Call to Persevere
In this sermon, the pastor calls the congregation to persevere in the face of trials and difficulties. He encourages them to stand their ground and to keep pushing forward, even when the weight of their circumstances seems unbearable. He assures them that their perseverance will yield a harvest in due time. This is a call to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God's promises. [32:47]
Bible passage: James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: Reflect on a trial or difficulty you are currently facing. How does this sermon encourage you to persevere?
Day 4: The Call to Take Ground
The pastor calls the congregation to take ground in this sermon. He encourages them to move forward, to take the land that God has given them, and to advance the kingdom of God. He assures them that they are not alone in this endeavor, but that God is with them every step of the way. This is a call to be proactive in faith, seizing the opportunities that God presents. [34:29]
Bible passage: Joshua 1:3 - "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses."
Reflection: Reflect on the areas in your life where God is calling you to take ground. How can you step out in faith and seize these opportunities?
Day 5: The Importance of Unity
In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of unity in the body of Christ. He encourages the congregation to agree with one another and to be united in mind and thought. He assures them that unity is crucial for the advancement of the kingdom of God. This is a call to foster unity and harmony within the church community. [04:20]
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10 - "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Reflection: Reflect on the role you play in fostering unity within your church community. How can you contribute to the unity and harmony of the body of Christ?
Quotes
1. "I want to encourage you to keep praying until something happens. And if it hasn't happened today, then pray tomorrow. And pray the next day. And pray the next day. And just keep praying and put some force to it because at a moment, there's going to be some momentum happening." - 28:32
2. "You're going through difficult trials, difficult things. I want to encourage you to stand your ground, stand strong, keep persevering. Then let us know what we're doing. Because at the proper time, you're going to wait for harvest. And so just keep persevering. Don't give up. Don't quit." - 30:29
3. "We have to just go in the next day. Go in the next day. Go in the next day. And that can persist in to you. And we think because we say a prayer that person's got what if someone needs to sit in the gap every single day. And it's like us going to do every single day. We're just we're just going to push it." - 32:47
4. "This isn't my church. This is our church. This isn't my mission. This is our mission. I'm not going to two services. We are going to two services. And if you don't understand that you will come to church thinking that the church is a cruise ship putting on entertainment for you not realizing that we are a warship going into enemy territory so people can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ." - 03:56
5. "Prayer is where I discover more of God and catch her perspectives of his nature. I love prayer because prayer is powerful. It can you just write, write, church, and families, communities, one heart at a time. It is where he shows me with his goodness and he steps into my story, through story and through Dean all the ways that life and the enemy has stolen from me along the way." - 19:24
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