This mean WAR! SPIRITUAL WARFARE
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WELCOME! WHO I AM. HERE IS MY FAMILY.
WELCOME! WHO I AM. HERE IS MY FAMILY.
Let’s get started. Some of you might not know me yet. I’m the new guy. My wife Meghan is…we have three girls…(pics on Pp).
WHAT WE WILL BE STUDYING NEXT (SL-S.W.)
While deciding what to study for the last six weeks of the semester a logical follow-up from studying Angels and Demons seems to be to move into studying Spiritual Warfare.
Angels and Demons are a reality and they are a part of the spiritual war that is going on behind the scenes in our every day. We are a part of it as well.
The interns agreed so you are free to blame them if you do not like the topic.
So before we get really deep into spiritual warfare let’s discuss the validity of studying Spiritual warfare.
Q: HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL WAR? Good.
TWO MAIN VERSES THAT TALK ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE WE KNOWN VERY WELL.
Q: HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS A VALUABLE TOPIC TO STUDY? Good.
Q: WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY SPIRITUAL WARFARE?
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES US THAT WE IN A SPIRITUAL WAR. Let’s look at two passages that imply this. Someone read . Someone
Q: As we read through these verses be ready to answer the question of what they tell us specifically about spiritual warfare we are in?
2 Cor
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Q: What specifics do these verse give us about spiritual warfare?
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
(1) It is a battle that is against spiritual forces (which would include Angels and demons and Satan) (2) it is a battle that is fought differently.
“spiritual forces of evil”
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
While we may not fully understand everything that angels and demons and Satan are doing we know that they are involved and the evidence is there.
Scripture clearly says that we are at war. While we do not fight it the same way we are at war. Let’s look at two common verses: ; .
Q
Q: WHY SHOULD WE STUDY SPIRITUAL WARFARE? (Why not just know that it is a thing and just go about doing what we are supposed to do?)
STUDYING SPIRITUAL WARFARE HELPS TO BE WATCHFUL And NOT BE OUTWITTED BY THE Devil’s SCHEMES.
GOD’S WORD TELLS TELLS US SATAN IS OUR ENEMY AND WE NEED TO NOT BE UNWISE TO HIS SCHEMES
WE NEED TO NOT BE UNWISE TO HIS SCHEMES
HELPS US BE WATCHFUL.
Q: What do you think is the most well known verse about Satan? Read...
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The main truth of this verse is to take Satan seriously and be watchful.
Jesus told His Apostles to be watchful in .
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
Q: what does this imply that will happen if you do not watch and pray? You can unnecessarily enter into temptation.
If we are do not consider the spiritual war that we are in, we will not be watchful and end up falling into temptation and sin.
HELPS US NOT BE OUTWITTED BY SATAN
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
This verse says that “we are not ignorant of his designs” but we have to each ask ourselves “am I aware of Satan’s scheme in my life?”
Often we are not even thinking about how we might being outwitted. So...
THE MAIN REASON for STUDYING SPIRITUAL WARFARE is that it HELPS US HAVE AN AWARENESS OF FIGHT WE ARE IN AND BE PREPARED TO OVERCOME.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
2
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:
So it is not fought on a physical level (although it affects the physical)? In a way it is an invisible war but the results of it are all around
Q: W
Q: DO YOU THINK SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE STUDIED?
YES. FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
We need to look at our lives through the eyes of faith and consider whether we are winning or losing. (So many people are losing. Some of you may be losing because Satan is working in your life and you do not think about it.)
He is getting to you through doubt, fear, lack of love for yourself, etc...
THE SPIRITUAL WAR YOU FACE
THE SPIRITUAL WAR YOU FACE
SO TO GET US THINKING ABOUT AND CONSIDERING what we are up against in this spiritual war I want to (1) LOOK AT TWO EXAMPLES IN SCRIPTURE OF SATAN’S SCHEMES AND THEN (2) GET YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW SATAN IS SCHEMING IN YOUR LIFE.
First let’s look at two examples of Satan’s schemes. (Slide)
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE VERSES;
The first one is from . (The verse that tells us not to be unwise.) The previous verse give a clue as to one scheme Satan uses. Someone read:
As we read this, try to pick out the scheme that is spoken of in the next verse.
Q: WHY STUDY SPIRITUAL WARFARE? WHY NOT JUST GO ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT?
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Temptation to hold a grudge and not truly forgive someone. Q: What happens if we refuse to forgive others? (God will not forgive us…).
2. The second one is from . (SLIDE) As we read through this pick out what tactics Satan used against Eve? (Write responses on the board…)
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
Satan LIED and SLANDERED GOD, AND DISCREDITED GOD’S WORD. He also played on Eve’s desires.
Satan does the same today. It is no mistake that our culture does not take God’s word seriously and there are so many misapplications of it it is not only ignored for the sake of sin but used to condone it as well.
SO NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME PRACTICE Let’s see if we can make this a little more personal.
Activity: FOR WHOEVER IS WILLING, AS THE CLASS GOES ON, THINK OF WHAT SATAN HAS OR IS USING TO GET TO YOU AND COME WRITE IT ON THE BOARD.
Q: WHAT IS SATAN USING TO GET TO YOU?
For example: (impatience, fear, or…)
It is a Biblical theme as the previous verses imply so obviously God wants us know that.
As you are doing that (hopefully) we are going to look at a few more verses that teach us what Satan can use to cause us to stumble...
Look at , someone read...
TO UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL REALITY THAT WE ARE IN. YOUR WORLDVIEW WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Q: What does this verse imply are a part of Satan’s schemes?
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
ephesians
(false teachings, deceitful schemes.) WRITE ON BOARD...
Is there any false teaching (good sounding doctrine) that you believe that is not backed up by scripture (even if it is sounds good and is popular.)
NOW LET’S LOOK AT someone read this...
TO BE WATCHFUL
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We need to be careful be who we let influence us!
And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
Q: What does this verse imply Satan used during Jesus time to get to people?
Being aware of the truth of the fact that Satan and spiritual war is real and being watchful is the whole idea behind one of the most well known verses about Satan.
Satan used the INFLUENCE of religious but unrighteous people to fool people...
Q: What about the influences in your life? Who are you allowing to influence you? Is there anyone who you need to watch out for?
DURING THIS STUDY FOR THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE TACTICS THAT SATAN USES TO CAUSE US TO SIN AND ALSO LOOK AT THE TRUTH GOD HAS GIVEN US TO FIGHT OUR SPIRITUAL WAR WITH.
AS WE ARE MORE OPEN TO SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR OWN SPIRITUAL BATTLE, WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT AFFECT IT IS HAVING ON OUR WORLD.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
SO ANOTHER REASON FOR STUDYING SPIRITUAL WARFARE...
STUDYING SPIRITUAL WARFARE HELPS US HAVE A PROPER WORLDVIEW AND A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES.
Q:
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Q:
vERSE: WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE.
and give no opportunity to the devil.
Spiritual warfare is one of those concepts in scripture that we acknowledge cognitively but have a hard time grasping in the real world. Q: Would you agree with that?
Let’s spend a little time solidifying the truth that our world and our lives are hugely affected by the spiritual warfare that is going on behind the scenes.
THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WAR
THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WAR
Q: WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU SEE IN OUR WORLD THAT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL WAR GOING ON? Or in other words...
Q: ON A LARGER SCALE WHAT EVIDENCE COULD YOU POINT TO IN PROVING WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL WAR?
The work of Satan, his angels and those on his side is all around us.
WHAT SATAN IS KNOWN FOR DOING IS WHAT WE SEE ALL AROUND US.
Q: What did Jesus way about Satan; about who He really is? Jesus calls Satan two things in this . Someone read that;
Jesus said Satan is “Father of lies.”
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
says that Satan is “the deceiver of the whole world.”
Q: WHAT ELSE DOES THIS VERSE SAY SATAN IS?
says “Satan is a Murderer.”
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LIES THAT OUR CULTURE BELIEVES THAT HAVE AFFECTED OUR NATION ON A LARGER SCALE?
Think about the lie of that there is no God and we all evolved out of nothing and have become what we are today.
So it has become one of the greatest lies ever and is taught every day to our children and our college students all over the nation.
Q: WHAT ABOUT MURDER? WHAT HAS CAUSED THE MOST MURDERS IN OUR NATION?
What about murder? What has caused the most deaths in our nation?
THE LARGEST KILLER IN OUR NATIONS IS COMPLETELY LEGAL AND KILLS THE MOST INNOCENT AMONG US.
Abortion has killed more that all of our wars combined. It is based on a lie.
BEFORE WE GET NEGATIVE AND OVERWHELMED BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A PART OF THIS...
SPIRITUAL WAR HAS SUCH AN AFFECT ON A LARGER SCALE BUT IT ALSO IS FOUGHT ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. Each one of us is fighting a battle.
Q: DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO MAKE US AFRAID?
So to get us thinking about it and considering what we are up against in this spiritual war I want to look at two examples of Satan’s schemes.
The first one is from . (The verse that tells us not to be unwise.) The previous verse give a clue as to one scheme Satan uses. Someone read:
As we read this, try to pick out the scheme that is spoken of in the next verse.
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
2 Corinthians 10
Temptation to hold a grudge and not truly forgive someone. Q: What happens if we refuse to forgive others? (God will not forgive us…).
2. The second one is from . As we read through this pick out what tactics Satan used against Eve? (Write responses on the board…)
Genesis
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
Satan LIED and SLANDERED GOD, AND DISCREDITED GOD’S WORD. Satan does the same today. It is no mistake that our culture does not take God’s word seriously and there are so many misapplications of it.
Let’s see if we can make this a little more personal.
Activity: If any of you are willing as the class goes on think about what Satan has or is using to get to you and come up and write it on the board.
For example: (impatience, fear, or…)
Christ has already told us that the battle is won!
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”