The Strong and the Weak

Application:

Overcoming temptation and sin. When we pray, God will demolish every stronghold that the devil has brought into our lives and free us to serve Him as we should.

Materials You Need:

Two round wood broomsticks (they need to be strong and finished with a very smooth and polished surface so that the rope can slide easily around them).
Five metres of 6-8mm diameter strong (slippery) nylon rope.

Effect:

The two broomsticks are pulled apart with all their might by the two "strong" people while a third small and "weak" person pulls on the rope. The rope and the broomsticks act like a pulley and because the rope is wrapped around the sticks several times, it gives a mechanical advantage to the "weak" person and so he or she can easily overcome the strength of the two "strong" people and pull the two broomsticks together!

Performing the Effect:

Each broomstick is held on the ends by two "strong" people.
Two "strong" people hold the sticks at waist level about 700 mm apart and parallel to each other.
A rope is tied to the middle of one broomstick and then wound around both sticks at least four times as shown in the figure.
A "weak" person pulls the rope while the "strong" people try to resist being pulled closer to each other.

Text:

2 Corinthians 10:4.

Lesson:

Satan builds strongholds in our lives, like tempting us to disobey our parents, be cheeky, to lie, and to swear. He makes certain that you get hooked on doing bad things or wanting wrong things from the world. They look so attractive that you must have them! Think of the music, video games, films and TV programmes that you watch. They may contain sex, excessive violence, swearing and taking the Lord's Name in vain. What about alcohol, sex and drugs?

If you listen to other kids, they make out that it's cool to do things like this. You just have to try them! Children can become so addicted to Pokémon and other collectors' cards that they will do anything to get the cards, even becoming bullies or thieves! Things like this begin to take over your life until you find that you have no time for God. Satan uses all of these to bind you. When this happens, you no longer want to go to church and stop praying and reading your Bible.

At War:

As Christians, we are in a war with the devil. He is seeking to bind us so that he can have his way in our lives and steal us away from Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Paul tells us:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Resisting Temptation:

The devil keeps on tempting us to sin, until in the end we cannot stop. The Bible refers to him as the "strong man." Now I need two strong boys. Are you very strong? Right, I'll take your word for it. Now can I please have a little girl to help me. I want the boys to hold each end of a broomsticks with your two hands. Hold them at waist level and about 700 mm apart (Set up the trick as above).

Little girl, will you please take the end of the rope and pull it as hard as you can when I say: "Start". Boys, I want you to pull the broomsticks apart and show the girl how strong you really are! All right, one, two, three, start! (Let them all pull and of course the girl will be able to overcome the boys and pull the broomsticks together).

I thought you boys said that you were strong? She is pulling you together! This little girl is stronger than both of you put together! (You could repeat this trick with four "strong" boys instead of only two. In this case, make sure that the rope is wrapped around the broomsticks at least six times).

Being an Overcomer:

Our illustration shows that one "weak" person can easily overcome the power of two "strong" people. In like manner we may be weak, but our prayers to God are powerful. James 5:16 tells us:

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

We may not understand how this works but although we are weak, God is very strong. So let's pray and believe in God and trust Him to deliver us from any sins that we are tempted to do. Then Jesus will demolish every stronghold that the devil has brought into our lives. The Holy Spirit will fill our lives with God's power and give us a desire to obey and please God. We will then be free to serve God as we should and the joy of the Lord will be our strength. Ask Jesus to set you free now!

Note:

Please feel free to teach this trick to the children and encourage them to show and tell the message to their friends.

God bless!