Victory: Part 3

January 5, 2023

GRACE POINT CHURCH of NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

WORSHIP GUIDE: January 8, 2023

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Message Notes

BEATING THE ADVERSARY

Mike McDaniel, Lead Pastor

Scripture: Zechariah 3:1-10

SPIRITUAL WAR BRIEFING

1) ENEMY: Lucifer is an arrogant fallen angel

Isiah 14:12-13

Revelation 12:4

2) STRATEGY: The enemy’s trifecta

Acts 20:28

Ask why?

Why am I thinking this?

Why am I feeling this?

Why am I saying this?

Why am I doing this?

Why am I?

Reread this verse.

• satan - John 10:10

• World - 1 John 2:15

• Self - Ephesians 4:22

FOUR ROLES OF THE ACCUSER

1) Setting you up to fail

• Ruling and deceiving

• Roaming and devouring

2) Reminding you that you have failed

Shame is a sham of Satan.

Guilt is a gift from God.

1 John 1:9

3) Identifying you as a failure

Satan defines.

4) Satan fails at our failure

God defeats.

Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.

Victory: Part 2

The Schemer
Series: “Victory: When Losing Isn’t an Option” - Message 3
Mike McDaniel, Lead Pastor

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12

TWO SCHEME THEMES OF SATAN

1) Satan has a STRATEGY and a structure.

• STRUCTURE: An Army
• STRATEGY: war

To be able to stand in the mist of it all is having victory.

Verses 11 and 12

The devil will take you at your weakness.-anxiety

The scewrtape letter-CS Lewis

2) Satan has a MEANS and an end.


• The Tempter
- Satan uses lies to attack the mind.
- The antidote to a lie is the truth of God.

Doubts

Psalm 119:11

• The tormenter
– Satan uses suffering to attack the body.
- The antidote to suffering is the grace of God.

2 Cor. 12:7-9

• The terminator
- Satan uses destruction to attack the life.
- The antidote to destruction is the life giver.

BONUS CONTENT:

We have a savior and Lord.

Victory: When Losing isn't an Option

The Schemer
Series: “Victory: When Losing Isn’t an Option” - Message 3
Mike McDaniel, Lead Pastor

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12

TWO SCHEME THEMES OF SATAN

1) Satan has a STRATEGY and a structure.

• STRUCTURE: An Army
• STRATEGY: war

To be able to stand in the mist of it all is having victory.

Verses 11 and 12

The devil will take you at your weakness.-anxiety

The scewrtape letter-CS Lewis

2) Satan has a MEANS and an end.


• The Tempter
- Satan uses lies to attack the mind.
- The antidote to a lie is the truth of God.

Doubts

Psalm 119:11

• The tormenter
– Satan uses suffering to attack the body.
- The antidote to suffering is the grace of God.

2 Cor. 12:7-9

• The terminator
- Satan uses destruction to attack the life.
- The antidote to destruction is the life giver.

BONUS CONTENT:

We have a savior and Lord.

A Battle Plan for the Weary

by Meredith Houston Carr

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12b-c (ESV)

As my husband drove us home from marriage counseling, I sat quietly and ruminated on the list of books and exercises we’d been recommended. Exhaling deeply, I tried to rid myself of a nagging thought: I am just too tired to do this anymore.

Month after month, we’d done what “good Christian couples” were supposed to do: seek counseling, have date nights, express feelings in a calm manner, etc. But it wasn’t enough, and we found ourselves wrangling the same issues over and over.

Exhaustion set in, and I simply didn’t know how to keep fighting — or if I even could.

I wonder if you’re also fighting a seemingly endless battle that’s leaving you empty. Maybe it’s a prodigal child or a dead-end job or a difficult diagnosis. Or maybe you, too, are fighting for your marriage, but a tidal wave of fear drowns out any sense of progress.

You’ve done everything you know to do, but the battle rages on — and you’ve got no more fight left in you.

Thankfully, the Bible is full of stories where God showed up and showed off in the midst of His children’s battles. Today’s scripture comes from 2 Chronicles 20, which details the story of the Israelite King Jehoshaphat and the dire situation he faced. After being fiercely pursued by relentless enemies, God’s people were exhausted and confused.

However, instead of planning a typical military approach, Jehoshaphat called an assembly and led the people through a different “battle plan” of sorts — a three-step process that we, too, can implement:

1. Seek the Lord through honest, vulnerable prayer. Though perhaps, as king, he “should” have had all the answers, today’s key verse details how Jehoshaphat readily admitted his weakness:

“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12b-c).

Don’t you love this relatable prayer? It’s one we can pray over our trials too. When weariness and confusion surround us, let’s keep our knees down in prayer and our eyes up to heaven. 

2. Worship through the fear and doubt. Jehoshaphat and “all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:18, ESV). In the face of fear and fierce enemies, they chose to sing songs of worship and praise anyway. Praising God in the presence of the enemy is an act of faith that pleases the Holy Spirit, who fights for us and with us in our battles!

3. Trust God’s direction; then move forward in faith. God answered Jehoshaphat’s powerful petition with clear direction: “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17, ESV). The people faithfully obeyed, and as promised, God showed up and miraculously delivered the enemy into their hands!

However God chooses to work specifically in our battles, we can trust that His heart is always good toward us. It’s been years since my husband and I battled for our marriage, and I can confidently say there was never a day God failed to provide what we needed to keep fighting.

Dear one, whatever battles you’re facing, God will meet you on the battlefield. And He’s full of the strength you lack. Today, may we pray, worship and trust — and fight the good fight another day.

Dear Jesus, thank You for providing strength when we’re weary. Please meet us on the battlefield and lead us through to the other side. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Difference Between Two Christmas Breaks

        These last two Christmas breaks have been total opposite but at the same time they have been really good and reminded me of different things. 

          Last year's Christmas break (2021) was all about finding my wedding dress. That is what we did for my birthday shopping day and we went on my birthday the 27th. We celebrated it that way. Sharon came with us to join in on the fun. After we went to two different places to try on wedding dresses, we found the one. The two places that we went were David's Bridal and Gracie's. We found my wedding dress at Gracie's. I tried on about 3 to 4 dresses at David's bridal. At Gracie's, I tried on about the same number of dresses. We also ate out at a small restaurant.

           This Christmas break (2022) was my family oriented. On the 27th, we had a Christmas / birthday dinner with almost all of the family there and Sharon. We even opened on Christmas presents and I got to open my birthday presents. Mom even baked me a yuletide log cake for my birthday. Even though it was family-oriented, there was one family memo that was really missed and that was Dad. I noticed him missing because of two things. He wasn't there in the morning to wish me happy birthday as soon as I got up. During the family prayer, it just felt weird when someone else said that we thank you for so and so on their birthday.

            Then on the day after my birthday, the 28th, we went to Silver Dollar City with some of the family to see the Christmas lights but there was a special moment for me that I don't want to forget. It was when I was with my mom in the Wildness Chapel for a half an hour Christmas sing-along. It really meant a lot to me just to be there with her for a half an hour. We also saw a little boy that loved the Christmas songs and he was singing his heart out. It was so cute. Even though Zack and I didn't get home until almost midnight, that was the best day after my birthday that I have had in a while. Just because of that one thing that I got to do with my mom. Hopefully, I will never forget that moment in the Wildness Chapel at Sliver Dollar City after Christmas singing Christmas songs along with my mom.

            

2022 vs. Rest

            Going into 2022 from a messy 2021 didn't start anything out right. I was exhausted at the start.

Jan.

     - whole new class

     - new assistant teacher

     - new director

Feb.

      - sent out save the dates

      - looked for new apartments

March 

      - try out dress and hair for wedding over spring break

April

       - dad's first birthday without him

       - went fishing with family for his birthday

       - his birthday was on Easter this year

May

       - mom had first wedding anniversary without dad

June 

        - first Father's day without dad so we went fishing to celebrate him

        - had Covid at the end of the month for the 1st time

July

         - fixed a tooth over summer break

         - painted flowers for the wedding over summer break

          - teachers quit at the beginning of the month

          -mri for chairi malformation 

August 

           - last time to tailor my wedding dress

           - I was second in charge at work

           - got a new class

           - work week changed to 4 days a week 10 hours a day

           - had by the shower this month

           - moved into a new place

September 

           - got another new director

           - last minute details for wedding

           

October 

           - wedding month

           - honeymoon for 2 days

           - the federal review for work the last week of October

           - director got fired was second in charge again for a little bit

November

           -2 Thanksgivings

           - parent teacher conferences at work

           - 2nd in charge again

           -Dr. Explanation of my Chairi Malformation 

December 

            - sick for 3 days with an upper respiratory infection at the start of the month

            - new director

            - getting ready for Christmas

            - sent some thank you cards for the wedding gifts

             -Sent Christmas cards out

             - had to get a new debit card

             -2 Christmases

            -2 more mris to see what's wrong with my head of my back

             -turning 35 

On top of all of the stuff in December and Christmas, it is a lot of firsts without my dad since I have calmed down.

          - other people gave you a pass on the holidays.

           - holidays stopped being polite and started getting real.

           - you thought you would be in a better place this year.

             

Having Actual Sick Days

          I have had 3 days off of work this week and as I have been lying around thinking about the last time I actually had sick days. I cannot remember when that was in the past 2 years. The sick days came at the perfect time. They came right before Christmas which I could get ready for when I feel like it and now I won't have to be so stressed out come Christmas.

             I feel that God planned it as perfect timing because he knew I was getting so tired of everything and that I have had a really busy past couple of years with my dad passing and planning for the wedding. I think God Neil I wanted to give up but he also knew that I couldn't On My Own Strength so the next best thing was to make me weak and sick. I have gone back thinking to the time before my dad passed away and all that consisted of and what I was going to with my job back then. 

             It is kind of funny now because it feels like now we all get to new people at my job and I'm resting so it's just like I can get on board with a whole new way at work after all that had happened before. Starting back 2 years ago I didn't even know if I was going to stay or be able to stay because of covid and just how things were. I didn't have an assistant teacher so I did another job for a while then after that job within the job I have now they found me an assistant so that was something new I had to do it on top of dealing with my Dad's passing. So I had two major things right there.

               Then if that was it enough or directors kept changing non-stop. I became the second in charge somewhere in between that changing of those so that I felt like was more on my plate with everything already happening in my life. Then if those three things weren't enough I had all new kids starting so I had to get to know the parents and the kids' routines and so on. Then the next thing that I know it was time for the wedding planning and everything that consisted with that.

               I had to move within 24 hours. I had to plan the wedding. I had to what about making special appointments for my dress, my hair, my makeup, and other things like that. I also had to travel for those appointments what's made it a little bit harder. It might be it might sound like I am complaining but I'm not I wouldn't regret anything that I have done in these past 2 years because I know they have helped me become the stronger person I am right now.                 I'm just glad God saw that I needed help with resting and he gave me that time before it was too late. Just looking back like my title says I just can't remember when I actually had sick days in the past 2 years so these three days I have taken really felt good for myself care and much needed. These past few days have shown me that if you won't take care of yourself God will find a way to help you help yourself. Might not be the best way but if it gets you to rest it might be the best way in His eyes. That is what I will be thinking from now on.