Skip to main content

How Hollywood Invaded my Midweek Bible Study




I watched a great movie Saturday night that reminded me of my midweek Bible Study about Transforming Prayer where we’re reviewing the pieces of our spiritual armor that equip us to fight our spiritual battles. 

The thriller movie, Enough, stars Jennifer Lopez who is physically abused by her husband so she flees with her little daughter and learns how to fight back from the raging attempts on her life.  She had to learn face-to-face combat with this abuser husband so that she could save herself and her little girl.

Lessons from our Bible Study came alive.  Isn’t that what we Christians do in real life?  The enemy we fight may not be flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and dark rulers in high places.  These spiritual enemies want to kill, rob and destroy us just the same. 

On Wednesday nights we’ve been delving into God’s great love for us; He longs to speak to us and we need to hear His voice.  We’ve been targeting faith and obedience and praying in the spirit as well as looking at each piece of the armor mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-18 that assures our victory. 

In the movie, J.Lo tapes her wrists, puts on her brass knuckles, learns her Karate kicks and strong punches.  I’m doing the same thing, but in a spiritual sense, every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. as I take my seat in our church’s classroom.  In the movie, the bad guy loses and the good guy wins.  The Bible promises us the same!

This post connects to Tell Me a Story hosted by Hazel at Let Me Tell You a Story.

Comments

  1. a joyful noiseJuly 23, 2012 at 10:22 PM

    WOW that is such a great example of the battles we face and how the bad guy looses and Jesus wins.
    Thank you for sharing at Tell me a Story. Your Bible study at church sounds fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  2. DeniseJuly 23, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Amen sweet sis.

    ReplyDelete
  3. From The HeartJuly 24, 2012 at 2:12 AM

    Wonderful post.Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 24, 2012 at 4:01 AM

    What a WONDERFUL post, Mary! I love the way you were able to make the comparison of the spiritual application from watching a movie!

    Love this beautiful blog that you've designed...SO peaceful here, Friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Debbie PetrasJuly 24, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    I love how you were able to make a spiritual connection. I have seen that movie with Jennifer Lopez. And yes we are in battle but with an unseen enemy who loves to tempt us and taunt us. However, he masquerades all too often as seemingly good. We have to be alert! Great post Mary.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kathleen July 24, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    Such a good connection. We never cower or shrink from warfare, do we? We stand tall & bold, knowing our victory is sure. The thought of issuing spiritual karate kicks makes me grin.

    ReplyDelete
  7. FloydJuly 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    I saw that movie. Before our oldest girls went to college I sent them to a studio where I use to train to teach them to not be a victim. A little training goes a long way.

    So it should be with our attitudes of this fallen world to fight back for and by the power of Him who we belong to.

    I like the analogy... Right up my alley actually.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wise HeartedJuly 24, 2012 at 6:40 PM

    Your post reminded me of putting on the armor of God in Ephesian...J Lo does brass knuckles, we do the sword of the spirit...great anology...well written. Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mevely317July 24, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    I loved this analogy, Mary! (Bet-cha J-Lo would as well.)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Crown of BeautyJuly 24, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    Mary, this is the third time in two weeks that the passage on the armor of God has touched my life. It is indeed a timely reminder to never let down my guard, for the enemy is looking for a weak spot, an access point where he could secretly launch an attack. I must look for that movie you mentioned.

    Praying Bonnie is doing better!

    Much love
    Lidia

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wendy @ E-1-AJuly 25, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    The armour of God is so vital to Christians but sadly, (at least here in the UK) not many Christians pay much attention to putting it on.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just Be RealJuly 25, 2012 at 5:02 AM

    Great analogy Mary. Appreciate you sharing. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. caryjoJuly 25, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    Sometimes we truly try so hard to protect our dear ones and battle the UNdear one. But, sometimes, we rely on our strength and power, and don't remember that HE is the only One who can bring the victory to the surface. I sure need to remember that myself. MEAN to, but get sidetracked and do too much knee-jerking reactions. Oh, well. He's perfect; I ain't.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Diane RonzinoJuly 26, 2012 at 4:48 AM

    What a great analogy! Love it. And I say, "Amen and Amen!"

    ReplyDelete
  15. RCUBEsJuly 26, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    I remember holding my breath at times while watching that movie as she tried to fight back...Knowing how this movie is also true in real life with those women abused by their spouses.

    I love the analogy you did and it's good to be reminded that our battles need God's arsenal of weapons. Blessings and love to you sister...I had been reading a lot about prayers...God must be calling us to be persistent...Thank you for telling me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nikki (Sarah)July 28, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    woo hoo. I totally needed this reminder...that it's not flesh and blood but a spiritual battle with the one that wants us wiped out. Thanks for posting this. Really needed to read.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MimiJuly 30, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    HI!!!|
    I saw that movie once or twice..always scared me....so sad that some people really live with that terror.....GOD Bless them...but our spiritual battle is as dangerous to our spiritual lives....I need to do a blog post about the armor of God....after seeing so many wonderful suits of armor in England....I did take notice as I stared at them...GOD indeed had us all covered!!!Did I ever send you my e-mail address????I think you asked me for it....
    Hugs to you
    God Bless
    The Verde Valley was beautiful as always!!
    hugs,
    jamie

    ReplyDelete
  18. PeggyJuly 30, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Praise God for giving us the full armor in order to fight against the enemy. Thanks for your post to remind me I have this. I pray your sister is better.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousAugust 7, 2012 at 7:19 AM

    Wow. Such an inspiring words. Its simply wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
    AVETMISS

    ReplyDelete
  20. Diane RonzinoAugust 10, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    Great post, Mary! I love when I get messages from watching movies. This was really great! Thank you, Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Crown of BeautyAugust 12, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Praying all is well with you, Mary.

    Love
    Lidia

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beth in NCAugust 13, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    I love how you connected your study with this movie. :o)

    My daughter learned about the full armor of God her first week of school. They made the armor too. It was a lot of fun.

    I have no doubt that you are honing your skills to my friend.

    So glad I had a second to pop over here. I rarely get to visit.

    Love!
    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownAugust 15, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Transforming prayer...that's one of my favorite phrases. In fact I wrote a free guide with my top 8 Life Transforming Prayers and it's free on my website at shannonmilholland.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have This Day

  A friend noticed Cowboy Church off of Dry Creek Road in West Sedona yesterday morning as he drove past and told me the parking lot was bulging with cars from everywhere.  "Something big was going on!  He said." "Yes I replied; I was there and I want to tell you all about what happened." I glanced over the highly attended sanctuary as the first speaker approached to speak.  He introduced himself as a pastor from the state of Washington but he was also my bestie's nephew.  His engaging  eulogy of the life of his cousin, Ashley, gripped me.  He helped all of us understand and trust God when we want to scream "She was so young.  What about her widower husband now who loved her with all his heart?  What about their two-year old boy who misses his mommy?"  There are days we just don't understand God's ways.  But I am at peace to know Ashley is finally pain free and lives in Paradise. I glanced at her mom, Maureen, my best friend now for...
7 comments
Read more

Spiritual Sunday

Psalm 91 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” A big thank you to you friends who prayed for me today. I arrived safely in San Diego. Your prayers were strengthening, I'll tell you, when I got into the city and four lanes of traffic merged into another four lanes and I had to make sure I was on the correct route. I couldn't have done it without the Lord's help through your prayers and Amy's calm co-piloting! When we began our road trip this morning and entered our first interstate at about 4:45 a.m. it was pitch black out. We followed a big semi with the back panel of his truck lit up with these words: Jesus is Lord . I thought this was worthy of a Spiritual Sunday post! You can read inspirational blog posts by dropping by Spiritual Sundays hosted by Ginger and Charlotte.
27 comments
Read more

I'm Going as Abigail This Year

I vote for more purses, toothbrushes, cups, storybooks, and Halloween costumes that feature Abigail of the Old Testament.  She is a heroin worthy to emulate, in my opinion, even more than Cinderella. Once upon a time, there was a kind woman by the name of Abigail who lived with a surly man who liked to drink a lot and have parties.  One time, King David and his army were very hungry and entered the surly man’s homestead and asked if they could come to his barbecue.  The king had a right to ask because he and his men protected the homestead’s boundary lines.  The surly man said “No.  Get off my property.”  The King had a temper and became offended. Surly drunk + spiteful King = War In the meantime, Abigail heard about the situation and spent hours baking cinnamon rolls for the King and his army.  She dismounted from her horse and presented the King with her peace offering.  She bowed low and greeted the King and asked his forgi...
39 comments
Read more