Reign of Fire
The dragons in Reign of Fire reveal two flawed approaches we take toward sin. Van Zandt's life is obsessed with killing dragons and taking back territory in a legalistic manner. Quinn is always on defense and has a defeatist mentality. The problem with both perspectives is that they focus on the dragons, and not life. In the same way, we focus on sin when we should be focused on the Savior.
The Quotes
We are called to fight and stand firm, not to run and hide.
We shouldn’t be focused on the sin, we should be focused on the Savior.
What will keep us from sin is desiring something better, not avoiding something bad.
We sin because we don’t have anything better to fill the gap.
It’s time to kick out the squatters in your life.
Just because you don’t feel forgiven, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t forgiven.
There’s rarely a place for half-assery.
Themes
Dragons as a symbol for sin
It starts with one, and then there are thousands
Two flawed approaches
Militaristic—only fighting, legalistic, “Just don’t sin”
Complacent/resigned—always on defense, given up the fight. Afraid of sin, but in that way you give sin power over you. Defeatist mentality.
Both sides obsessed with dragons more than living
Either focusing on our selves or on our sin
We reject the opportunity to be free from sin. But we control the territory.
We have forgiving grace and transforming grace and we need both to regain territory.
There’s no middle ground. Be either hot or cold.
Resources
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
“Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” - John Piper
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” - Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV)
“That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” - Colossians 1:29 (NLT)
“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” - 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace by Heath Lambert
“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.” - C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” - James 1: 13-15 (NIV)
Questions
Which approach to sin have you taken in your life?
How have you seen one little decision snowball into “thousands” of regrets?
Where do you feel helpless from sin? What territory has it taken?
What would it look like to take territory back from the dragons in your life?
How have you identified by your sin instead of your salvation?
What do you think about the idea that all of your sins (past and future) are already forgiven?
Why are you squabbling in the mud and hiding in the castle? What does freedom look like?
Where are you focusing: your sin or your savior?
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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston
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.
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