Unbound: Releasing God’s Victory

2 Kings 13:14-20

Introduction

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and surrounding areas, causing billions of dollars in damages and great loss of life. A local call was made on TV and radio for anyone who wanted to help to bring their boats. Over 350 boats showed up. This brave group was dubbed the Cajun Navy; they rescued around 10,000 people from their flooded homes. Even if the boats needed repair or had not been used in years, the owners still brought them. They used what they had in front of them to do what was right during chaotic circumstances. When God’s people obediently use His resources to address the enemy, God provides victory for us.

We are regularly under attack physically and spiritually by the world, the flesh, and the devil. These external and internal threats seek to defeat us, but God offers us the ability to overcome them. The process of spiritual victory begins by gaining a spiritual perspective. No matter the problem, we must look at the spiritual behind the physical. Then we use the resources God has provided. Rather than simply waiting for solutions to drop from the sky, we should use the things God has placed in our hands to achieve them. We work in partnership with God, not depending on our resources, but depending entirely on Him. When we connect with God, He uses the physical to accomplish the spiritual. Elisha illustrated this by putting his hands on the king’s hands to shoot the arrow of victory (2 Kings 13:16). To realize spiritual victory, we also need to be in contact with spiritual people who can help us fight.

Our primary responsibility in this process is complete obedience. Partial obedience limits the amount of victory we can experience. Without our obedience, we may not experience what God has promised. God’s promises are within our reach but, they may not be automatically in our hands. They get in our hands as we follow through with what God has asked us to do. Remember, faith without works is dead. Be certain you are doing everything you can for the victory God has for you even amid the attacks against you.

Getting Started

1. What other stories can you think of where people used limited resources to do incredible things?
2. When you hear the word victory, what images come to mind?

Let’s Get Personal

1. How have you been under attack from the world, your flesh, or the devil?
2. When have you experienced victory? How did God bring about that victory in your life?
3. With what problems do you struggle to have a spiritual perspective? What Bible verses and promises of God will help you have the right perspective?

Take the Next Step

1. In what area of your life have you been giving God only partial obedience? What would complete obedience in that area look like, and what do you need to do this week to obey God completely?
2. What resources has God placed in your hand right now? How can you begin to partner with God and other spiritual people to use those resources to achieve victory for yourself, your family, or your community?
3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: 2 Kings 13:14-19; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 12:11; Exodus 17:8-16; 2 Chronicles 20:1-25; 2 Kings 6:15-19; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Corinthians 10:6.

Renew Your Mind

“He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.”

2 Kings 13:17