Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Take it Back
Scripture
1David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
3When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
Main Idea
God wants us to have His promises here on Earth and not only in heaven. His Son paid a heavy price for us to have all of the promises of God through Jesus. The enemy will work to distract you and keep you from receiving those free gifts. The longer you don't actively possess something that you are the rightful owner of, the more likely someone else might come and take it away from you.
The enemy will aim to distract you and prevent you from thinking those promises are even yours for the taking. You need to find out what's yours and then take it back.
When you pay a price for something, you become a defender of something you own.
Discussion Questions
- What's a promise you think God has provided you but you don't have? How could others pray with you to fight back?
- How have you seen the enemy distract you from serving or seeing who the true enemy is in your situation?
Summary
God wants us all to live in his promises for us. The enemies main plan is to keep you distracted and not in full victory. Unfortunately, this is where a lot of Christians live today. Just as there are squatters who overtake a building or location that seems to be abandoned, the same is true for Christians. The longer the enemy can keep you from those promises, the more you think they aren't even yours.
We need to take back what God has promised us. The question is will you live as a victim of the enemy or will I live in the path of the righteous? The church should be advancing and taking the Kingdom of God by force.
To succeed at your battle for what is yours, we need to:
- Get the right enemy
- Your enemy will distract you and try to make you fight the wrong enemy such as your kids, spouse, or even co-workers. Focus on the right enemy.
- Get strength from the right place
- David turned to God for his strength. He strengthened himself in the Lord through prayer and worship.
- Get a vision of God's victory for you
- God's vision of victory for you is to restore you with interest.
- Job was restored double
- David got everything back
Take Action
- Search out scriptures for the promises of God for health, provision, peace, strength, etc.
- Pray for wisdom to see where the enemy is distracting and stealing from you and begin to fight through prayer.
Announcements
- Essentials 10am weekly
- Invite Sunday - 9/21
- Serve Day - 10/4
