40 Days to Discovering God’s Big Idea for Your Life

IN THE SAME WAY, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES. DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE; AND OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO HIM AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. FOR SIN SHALL NOT BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.

…YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.…

BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES TO GOD, THE BENEFIT YOU REAP LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE RESULT IS ETERNAL LIFE. FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD (ROMANS 6:11-14,18,22-23).

We were created to be filled with the Spirit of God and to live in perfect harmony and fellowship with Him, not to be under the thumb of a demonic pretender exercising illegitimate authority. This is why whenever Jesus encountered a demonic spirit possessing a human being, He cast out the spirit as an illegal resident. As believers, we have a choice as to who we allow to tend our garden. One choice leads to a wasted and unfulfilled life while the other leads to great abundance and fullness of life.…

We have been trained by religion to be scared of the devil. Most of our churches have taught us to regard the world situation as hopeless, to prepare ourselves to leave, and then to pray for the Lord to rescue us out of this world. Having conceded victory to the pretender, we feel that all we can hope to do is circle the wagons and defend ourselves as best we can until Christ comes back and takes us away. We have become a bunch of holy sissies.

1. The devil wants to take up residence in us through demonic powers because he knows that once he is inside he can work through us to:

2. “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Why do you think Jesus felt it necessary to pray this prayer to God for us?

3. Why is it so hard for believers to realize that, ultimately, satan the pretender poses no threat?

4. In league with our King, we have more power and authority than any fallen angel could ever hope to have. Is this the mindset of most believers? Why?

5. Our protection from the evil one is certain because of the King’s love for us. List several times when you know your King has averted you from danger, or has forewarned you about a problem or situation.

We are the legal rulers on Earth with the power, authority, and protection of our King behind us. Satan is a liar, usurper, and pretender whose illegal power over us was broken forever at the Cross. Although we must always be on our guard against his schemes, deception, and treachery, as Kingdom citizens exercising our legitimate authority, we have no reason to fear him.