This week, we are excited to continue our nine-week series, 'Praying Together,' exploring the transformative power and profound significance of communal prayer. Based on the teachings of Mike Betts and his book and course, 'The Prayers of Many,' our series aims to deepen our understanding and practice of praying together as a community.
In this week's devotionals, we will draw upon the powerful analogy of eviction to illustrate how we can actively engage in limiting and ultimately stopping the negative and destructive forces of demonic powers.
‘‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’ (Genesis 3:15)
Summary: We are to join with Jesus in the fulfilment of the Biblical promise of crushing Satan’s head.
To watch this devotional please go to:
This prophecy from Genesis, speaks of the war that exists through all generations. Our relationship with demonic powers is rather like our relationship to snakes; there are a few people that keep them as pets, however, most of us are to be wary and seek to expel snakes from where we live. Likewise, we are to be constantly vigilant of the devil’s work and seek to ‘crush’ him through faith, truth and prayer.
It’s important to note the way that this prophecy is focussed on a particular man who will be struck but will, ultimately, crush Satan’s head. Genesis 3:15 is often referred to as the ‘protoevangelium’ or the first gospel, because it contains the promise of a future redeemer who will come to crush the head of the serpent and deliver humanity from sin and death. This future destruction of Satan is assured and Jesus will do it!
However, it’s important to realise that Jesus works through His church to crush Satan’s head. He provides all the resources, but we are to use them to crush the head of Satan.
Prayer - Firstly, Jesus gives us His authority to pray. As Jesus cast out demons, we are to cast out demons. As Jesus prayed against the devil’s work, we are to pray against His work.
Truth - Secondly, we crush Satan through truth. Truth sets us free. Satan’s rule is often enacted through lies and strongholds in the mind. God’s truth has power to set people free.
The devil is known by several names in the Bible, including: Satan: derived from the Hebrew word ‘Satan,’ which means adversary or accuser. He is also often called The devil: derived from the Greek word ‘diabolos,’ which means slanderer or accuser. As his name makes clear, Satan strikes us through lies and we defend ourselves and attack him through the application of truth.
Discipleship - Thirdly, we are protected and released from demonic affliction through discipleship - as we are to encourage, warn and bring correction. After warning the church in Rome to avoid ungodly teachers and so ‘be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil’, he promises:
‘The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.’ (Romans 16:20)
Frank Thielman writes on this verse:
‘Paul promises that God will ultimately defeat the transcendent being who uses false teachers to nurture theological and moral chaos among Christians.
RESPONSE
Jesus is in process and He wants us to join with Him in crushing Satan’s head. Let’s not approach this subject with bravado. Satan will seek to strike out at us and we must take adequate care. We are to protect one another and crush Satan through prayer, the application of truth and discipleship. If you are not devoted to a church community that can help you in this, you are leaving yourself very vulnerable and the devil - the accuser - will do all that he can to strike you and destroy your faith. However, in Christ and by listening to His wisdom and resources, we are assured of victory.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. NOTICES
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. ICEBREAKER
What has God been speaking to you about from His Word this week and how has this helped you / affected your life?
3. STUDY AND PRAY TOGETHER
During this series, we will be using the 'Prayers of Many' course by Mike Betts.
I encourage you to buy a copy of the book from: https://prayersofmany.org/book#buybook
If you need assistance in buying a book please send an email to the church office and we will happily purchase you a copy.
Please download the course handbook from:
Opmerkingen