Sermon Study Guide

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Maranatha Bible Church

Chicago

Sermon Study Guide

Warnings to The Spiritual Man - Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Maranatha Shabiba Conference 2018)

Pastor Daniel Batarseh|Monday, September 24, 2018

Scripture References

2 Chronicles 15:72 Chronicles 14:9-152 Chronicles 14:2-4Romans 15:18-202 Chronicles 15:1-22 Chronicles 16:1-32 Chronicles 16:7-9Jeremiah 17:5Philippians 1:21-22

Sermon Summary

Pastor Daniel Batarseh warns that the greatest spiritual dangers often follow major victories. Using King Asa’s life, he illustrates how success can lead to complacency and a lack of prayerful dependency on God in both big and small matters.

Key Takeaways

1Spiritual complacency often sets in after great victories rather than during times of trial.
2Times of peace and prosperity are when we must be most vigilant about protecting our prayer lives.
3Relying on human wisdom can produce results, but it always misses the 'greater things' God had planned.
4God desires to be involved in every matter of our lives, not just the 'million-man' crises.
5A fruitful past does not guarantee a faithful future; dependency on God must be renewed daily.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions for small group discussion or personal reflection.

1Why is it harder to stay dependent on God when things are going well than when we are in a crisis?
2King Asa trusted God with a million men but relied on an alliance for a smaller threat. In what 'small' areas of your life do you tend to exclude God?
3Pastor Daniel said there is no 'retirement plan' for a Christian. How does this idea change your perspective on your future goals?
4In 2 Chronicles 16, Asa achieved his goal of stopping the building of Ramah, but the prophet said he lost a greater victory. Can you think of a time you got what you wanted but lost what God intended?
5What does it mean practically for your heart to be 'whole' or 'blameless' toward God in the context of 2 Chronicles 16:9?
6How can we encourage one another to 'take courage' and keep our 'hands strong' when we feel we have already done enough for the Lord?

Application Points

Practical ways to apply this message to your life.

Audit your prayer life: Are you praying with the same desperation during 'peaceful' times as you do during 'crises'?
Bring one 'small' decision to God this week that you would normally handle with your own logic or wisdom.
Identify any 'idols' or areas of complacency that have crept in since your last major spiritual victory or milestone.
Guard the 'treasures' of your life (time, peace, integrity) by refusing to trade them for quick, self-made solutions to problems.
Commit to a 'second reform' in your personal life or ministry by asking God for a fresh vision for the 'more' He wants to do.

Personal Reflection

Take time to quietly reflect on these prompts.

How is the Holy Spirit speaking to me through this message?

What areas of my life need to change in light of this teaching?

Who can I share this truth with this week?

What is one specific action I will take as a result of this sermon?

Prayer Points

Thank God for His Word and the truths revealed in this message.
Pray for understanding and wisdom to apply what you've learned.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out these truths in your daily life.
Pray for others who heard this message, that they too would be transformed.

Notes

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