Welcome back to bible study, as we discuss week two from Breaking Free by Beth Moore. This week we examined the five primary benefits God extends to His children. Beth writes “the absence of any one benefit will become a very helpful indicator of captivity.” The purpose in recognizing the benefits is to become aware of any captivity in your life. Beth Moore says as “A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life of God planned for her.” When you are lacking in one or more of the five benefits, you’re probably in captivity and it’s time to break free.
Recognize that breaking free is not always easy, and you can expect some pushing and pulling from Satan as he clings to his captives. He’s not letting go without a fight and the longer your captivity, the harder you’ll feel spiritual warfare. Wouldn’t you agree that knowing God, believing God, finding satisfaction in God, glorifying God, experiencing God’s peace and enjoying God’s presence are all WORTH fighting for?
Are you revealing God’s glory to others, or are you revealing the shame and worry Satan has placed upon your back? As you continue the journey to break free, you’ll reclaim the five benefits from being a Daughter of the King. Your journey does not begin and end in one or two bible lessons, it’s a process over time. Stay with us…even when the ride gets uncomfortable or Satan whispers “the study is too hard, you don’t have the time, it’s just too much for you.” Stay the course and know freedom from captivity.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 NLT
Beth reminds us that as you grow in spiritual maturity, Christ is more recognizable in you. You must be honest with God and with yourself to make this journey. Surrender your thoughts and feelings to God. You can’t duct-tape your past, put a bandage over the wounds and expect to know full joy and peace through Christ in you. It’s time for all captives to be set free and know the joy of living with the peace of God, who surpasses all human understanding. Phil 4:7 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
Prepare your hearts and minds for the joy of God’s presence. Through Breaking Free with Beth Moore, you will notice a new mindset and attitude towards your past and your future. Your commitment and participation are essential to this journey.
Last week when we discussed Breaking Free Week One we asked you to find a scripture verse to resist pride. There are 360+ women doing this study at the Womens Bible Cafe and 25% of you participated in last week’s discussion. Let’s do better this week! Pray and ask God to reveal to you any areas of captivity in your life. Ask Him to reveal this so you can break free from bondage and live in freedom through Christ.
Praying For My Small Group and the Bible Cafe Leaders
If you’re struggling with the online format or the workbook itself, please check in with your small group leader or contact me. Don’t think for one minute that your answers don’t matter! They are important to this study and we all learn from one another. I know you can do better this time…so please post a comment below and join the group discussion!
Prayer Requests
Our Prayer Wall has many requests, so please visit the page during the week and pray for these women who are asking for your help. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, post a comment on the wall.
Beth Moore Quotes
- One of the most beautiful elements of salvation is it’s simplicity.
- God is anxious to help us overcome our unbelief.
- God makes us aware of hindrances so He can set us free.
- The most obvious symptom of a soul in need of God’s satisfaction is a sense of inner emptiness.
- Obedience is the mark of authentic surrender to God’s authority in any matter.
- Christ’s presence is the basis for courage in our storms.
For Next Week
- Read Week Three in your book.
- Listen to Audio Session Four or Video Session Four (optional due to cost)
- Check in with your Small Group Leader for prayer requests and fellowship
Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like
- Describe the God that you know and believe. (page 34)
- Can you remember a time when you sensed God’s presence in your life? What happened?
- Which of the 5 benefits on page 52 do you need to strengthen in your life?
- Share your thoughts about this week’s study.
Please post your comments below…we all learn when we share together.
God is good, always!
1. (describe God) I would have to say my belief is in the growing stages.
2. (God’s presence) This is another question I’m trying to answer, going back to review past moments, but I am just not sure.
3. (which benefit needs strengthening) All of them!, but I guess I need to work on number one for a start.
4. (thoughts on this week) This was a hard week, full of doubts and forcing me to think about where I am at in my beliefs. While I was frustrated, I did settle into feeling better about writing “I don’t know” in my book than just skipping the lesson.
It seems the study is bringing an awareness to something lacking in your spiritual life? It’s important we don’t expect to be “perfect Christians’ and have the right answers to every question. Most likely I gave the same answer as you in my early walk with God and bible study. I felt lost, I saw others were talking about a God I did not know, and sometimes I even felt insecure and frustrated. Yet in my discomfort one thing stood out loud and clear: I did not want to be the person I was. I wanted more God, more clarity, more scripture knowledge and more Jesus. So I continued my journey, walked over the stones of doubt and insecurity and found a loving Father along the way. Resist the temptation to quit from frustration or lack of understanding. I know after completing many bible studies, each one is a stepping stone, not a destination. Often the answer you seek is in the very next chapter. Beth Moore “set the stage” for what she is preparing to teach. The first two chapters are the groundwork and now we’re going deeper into the study. Praying you will find what you are seeking in this study.
All of the benefits I agree need to be worked on but I need God to strengthen my faith. I am really being blessed by this study! I have been having ah-ha moments all throughout.
The God I know is all-knowing, all-powerful, unconditional in His love, wants to forgive, and is always there! Therefore, my God knows I need strengthing in believing Him–when He says there is no problem too big or too small, I know I need to give it all to Him to handle, but I always seem to take it back.. I certainly believe IN Him, but I need to believe Him! I think if I found satisfaction in God, then I would feel more content in every other area in my life. I also think as my relationship with God strengthens, I will begin to feel God’s peace and enjoy His presence. I feel that this is such an amazing study! I am not only learning things about my Lord and Savior, but I am learning things about myself as well. None of which would be possible I guess without knowing God, and glory be to Him for that!! Praying for all of us!
Thank you Summer for sharing with us. I too tell God that I am giving everything to Him to handle and then before I know it…..I’m trying to “fix” everything. Your words of Believing God not Believing in God are so true. I’m praying for us both on this one.
Question 1: This is a very sincere question I had to ask myself. How do I even begin to describe the God that I know?
He is the all-capable, the all-knowing, the one who is able to do all things. The restorer,the lifter , the maker, through whom all things were made and without him there would be nothing. The one who is so big as to live in the entire universe and yet so little as to live in my tiny heart. He is so wonderful to rule and interfere in the issues of man. He is the ever-present, ever-faithful. The one who can do ALL things, there are no impossibilities with my God. He never fails, even when I turn my back to Him in unfaithfulness He still calls me His own and draws me towards Him. That’s my God.
We need to ask this question because it makes us stop and think….Who is the God I know? Is he an imaginary character in a book, or someone who other people have relationships with yet not me? Who is He in my life…is the meat of this question. I’m glad you took the time to think about it and post an answer.
God is my father in heaven. Just like my father on earth he loves me and wants the best for me. I believe in him very much but I find sometimes I don’t give it all to him.
The God I know loves me so much that he gave His one and only son to die on the cross for my sins, so I can have a way to heaven, how awesome is that! He is with me in ever turn of my life, even when I don’t feel His presence. He will never leave me or forsake me. I repeat How awesome is that!!!!
I guess that would have to be when my husband passed away in 2002. I just knew that God was with me and my girls, and everything was going to be alright. I also had peace because my husband had accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior 3 weeks before he passed away. This was a great wittness to my girls.
The benefit I need the most help with is # 2 To glorify God, what this means to me is action. Its easy to glorify God in church or with other christian, but what about at work in everyday life. I work in a department store, and I am so focused on my work I don’t think I am sensitive to the people around me. I would like to be more compassionate to the people around me and help them in their need. This to me glorifies God with your actions. So I will be in much pray about this.
I am enjoying learning about the benefits of God, and reading all the post!
Mom, you continue to amaze me!
The point I need to work on the most is the third, finding satisfaction in God. I expect a lot of myself and I have been disappointed lately. I am not in the position I thought I would be by my current age. I have been so blessed, especially concerning my husband and children. God has always provided for our needs. I confess that sometimes I find myself longing for more and not being grateful for what I have. It’s an area I’ve been struggling with, especially involving my career goals. I’m not in the job or position I wanted and I’ve had to sacrifice personal goals for the good of my familly. I’m afraid the discontentment has effected my relationships.I definitely need to work on being satisfied with God and trusting in Him to lead me to the correct path. I know His plan is greater and better for me than my own plans.
Sarah- You are not alone! This is my area as well. I will be praying for you.