~Open in prayer~
Icebreaker
• Are you excited about the new series “Enemies”?
• What is your favorite thing to do in Summertime?
• Do you have a prayer closet? if not where do you pray?
Message Review
In 2009, Pastor Ron preached a series called “A Necessity of an Enemy” during a very difficult time in his life and ministry. He went on a journey to make sense of what he was going through and the reason. He states that he believes those that succeed in life come down to two things: how you respond to failure and how you manage disappointment in your life. Victories were not his defining moments but the failures he dealt with and changed the trajectory of his life for the next 10 years. Pastor Ron wrote a book called “A Necessity of an Enemy” based on the series and has learned a lot more since he wrote it. This series will break down what he learned because the enemy will give you many things to fight about and you will have to choose your battles. Let’s dig into this message!
Let’s Talk About It!
Read I Corinthians 16:9
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Evil comes into the earth through people. As we learned a few weeks back when the right people show up in your life, right things start happening. When the wrong people show up, wrong things will happen. Life has doors and every door is the season to next levels. Apostle Paul said he had a new door and new season but in front of every door there is a giant standing there. So, whenever you see a new battle in your life this is an announcement to you that God has used every ounce of your previous season and your next season. But there is something standing there trying to keep you out! There is a Pharoah who wants to stop you from moving from slavery to the promise land. This is called “transition” which is not a season but a short time that is very intense and a span of time between two seasons.
Share a time when you had great opposition in life, but a wonderful blessing was on the other side of it. How can we stay encouraged during these difficult times of facing our giants?
Read Matthew 5:1-12
5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the [a]earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
When you make a decision to change your life and do the right thing you will suffer persecution as it says in verse 5:10. The bible says we should rejoice and be exceedingly glad because your great reward is in heaven. When you suffer great push back in your life this is proof that you are “blessed”. You will take down the giant and open the door of your next season. We think that blessing is when everything is at peace, but the blessing is evident when things come against you from every side. It’s confirmation you are moving in the right direction to be blessed! Can you keep the perspective that you are “blessed” when you are being persecuted? How do you stay focused on the truth?
Question to focus on:
Who is my enemy?
We do not fight against a person (flesh and blood) but against principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places as we learned in Ephesians 6:12. The enemy can use people to speak against us and against the will of God in our lives. Your enemy is anyone who seeks to increase a weakness in your life that God seeks to remove.
Prayer Focus and Requests
Ask your members if they have any prayer requests or praise reports. Reflect on a time in life when you felt the pressure of an “enemy” in your life and how God helped you overcome and celebrate that!!!!