The Mask of Zorro with Paul McDonald and Dustin Oprea
We discuss The Mask of Zorro starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta Jones.. In Don Raphael, we find insight into how the enemy works. He offers control of our destiny, but the result is always slavery. In Jesus and Don Diego, we find that when we submit, we find life. We choose whether to fight bravely and die quickly, or to become the student when the teacher appears.
About Dustin
Dustin Oprea lives in Roswell, GA with his wife Stephanie of 15 years and their three boys; Jude (4) Ryder (7) and Finn (8).
“What makes me come alive?
Adventure with people that I love and those that love me.
I love watching my boys play sports and realize their God given true awesomeness. I love playing sports with my boys and going on adventures with my wife. What makes me come alive is seeing other people realize their true strength, their true self and risk to live that out.”
The appropriate pace of initiation is not determined by the student.
Quotes
The enemy offers control of our destiny, but it always results in slavery.
Jesus asks for submission, but the result is life.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. And when the teacher is ready, the student appears.
If you are the center of your efforts, it’s not going to work.
We are called to a larger story: If Don Diego had killed Don Raphael, or Alejandro killed Captain Love, the slaves would not have been freed. The true mission would not have been accomplished.
As I take care of my circle, I get invited into the circles I need to be a part of.
In order to be rooted, you have to stand still.
Themes
Initiation through the training of Zorro
Understand the enemy’s strategy
Learn to smile when we fight
Learn what’s valuable (Alejandro tries to trade something priceless for whiskey)
Is always on time (“When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear”)
Initiation is necessary for survival (“You would’ve fought bravely and died quickly”)
Learn to take care of your side of the street, and what God has for you will come to you
Intended to prepare us for a larger mission
The approach of the enemy as seen through Don Raphael
Will do whatever it takes to destroy believers through isolation (“Everything you hold dear will leave you.”)
Offers to let you control your own destiny, but the offer results in slavery
Knows how dangerous you can become
How it looks to be taken out: burnt out, striving, chasing, exhaustion, giving up
Resources
Men at the Movies YouTube channel (@menatthemovies)
“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.” - Revelation 12:17 (NLT)
“When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” - Luke 10:17-20 (NLT)
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” - Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” - Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT)
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?” - Matthew 7:3-4 (NLT)
Questions
What would it look like to control your own destiny?
Where has the enemy pointed you towards isolation?
Where are you tempted to control your destiny? How has that resulted in slavery?
What would it look like to smile when you fight?
Where have you wanted to react and engage in a fight you weren’t ready for?
How have you “died quickly?”
Where is initiation being offered? Where are you as a pupil ready for a teacher?
Where do you feel impatient in the process?
More info
If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit our Patreon page, www.patreon.com/menatthemovies. Get invites to livestreams, ebook devotionals drawn from a movie, even free merch. If you’d like to do a one-time contribution (a cameo appearance), visit www.menatthemovies.com/investors.
Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (https://ianhjohnston.com/)
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock
Links: