DFD 5-4 - SPIRITUAL WARFARE

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

In our spiritual lives, we have no choice but to engage unseen forces. Why? Because Satan and his demons are in a struggle to the death. They fiercely oppose god and the love of God’s heart — people. This battle of two kingdoms rages over the hearts and minds of people. The Devil is fierce, ruthless, and loves to destroy (). He wants to rob your heart and smash your soul! He attacks your love story with God and the love stories of others. As if our struggle against sin were not enough this Enemy uses our own sin against us. Our confidence is that Jesus fights victoriously for all those who love Him. God Himself is “a fiercely jealous lover” (, MSG). We are asked to join this battle with the assurance that “in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (, NASB).

TWO KINGDOMS

MED

1. Meditate on and .

Ephesians 2:2–3 NIV84

in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV84

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

a. Who has temporary power in this world?

ANSWER: the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the god of this age

b. How is this kingdom described?

ANSWER: gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. It blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.

c. What is at least one aspect of this description that you can identify with?

ANSWER: I used to gratify the cravings of my sinful nature and follow its desires and thoughts and I used to be blinded and not able to see the gospel.

2. What is the ultimate fate of Satan and his kingdom? (; )

Revelation 16:10–11 NIV84

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

Revelation 20:7–10 NIV84

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

ANSWER: his kingdom is plunged into darkness, the devil is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.

What is the ultimate fate of Christ and His kingdom ()

1 Corinthians 15:22–24 NIV84

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:22 NIV84

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

ANSWER: the kingdom will be handed over to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

3. Which kingdom has more power and authority? (; )

Matthew 28:18 NIV84

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

1 John 4:4 NIV84

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

ANSWER: ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. JESUS’ KINGDOM!

“[As a follower of Jesus] you don’t fight for victory; you fight from a position of victory. You don’t say, “I am going to try to be victorious over Satan today.”

Instead, you say, “Jesus Christ has already been victorious over Satan. So today, by faith, I am going to live in Christ’s authority, trusting His blood to give me the power over any attacks of the evil one.” that’s authority. — Tony Evans, The Battle Is the Lord’s

OUR BATTLE

4. Read the account of Christ’s confrontation with Satan in .

Luke 4:1–13 NIV84

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

a. What was Jesus’ physical condition when the Devil appeared?

ANSWER: He was hungry.

b. What desires did Satan appeal to in the three temptations?

ANSWER: flesh (bread, hunger), flesh (power, authority), flesh (pride)

c. Do you have any of these desires? Explain. If so, how have you faced these temptations?

ANSWER:

5. How did the apostle Paul describe the life of a follower of Jesus in ?

Ephesians 6:10–13 NIV84

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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.

ANSWER: To be strong in the Lord and His power by putting on the armor of God because it is a battle and our day will come when we face the enemies schemes. We battle against rulers, authorities, powers of the dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

From this passage, what are several truths about your spiritual battle?

ANSWER: I need the armor of God to stand my ground. It is not against flesh that I fight but against rulers, authorities, powers of the dark world, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

Knowing the Enemy is as important for a believer as for a military commander — both are engaged in battle.

6. How is Satan pictured in ?

1 Peter 5:8 NIV84

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

ANSWER: a roaring lion

How should you respond practically? (verse 9)

1 Peter 5:9 NIV84

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

ANSWER: I should resist him as I stand firm in my faith knowing that I am not alone experiencing the same kind of sufferings.

7. What names are given to the Enemy in ?

Revelation 12:9–10 NIV84

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

ANSWER: the great dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, [the deceiver], accuser of the brothers.

What does he do?

ANSWER: leads the whole world astray, accuses Christians before God dan and night.

8. Satan makes it his continual business to cast doubt on God’s Word, to discredit God’s Son, and to destroy followers of Jesus. How did Satan discredit God’s Word when he deceived Eve? ()

Genesis 3:1–5 NIV84

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

ANSWER: He had Eve questioning God’s word, then contradicted God and told her a lie.

9. What can be learned about Satan and his schemes from the following verses?

Luke 8:12 NIV84

Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

John 8:44 NIV84

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

ANSWER: Satan takes away the word from hearts so that they won’t believe and be saved; the devil is a murderer from the beginning and does not hold to the truth because there is no truth in him; he is a liar and the father of lies.

What kind of father does the Devil make to those who accept his lies? (Note: In , Jesus confronted unbelieving Jews who claimed God as their Father. These Jews had come under Satan’s deceptive influence and were trying to kill Jesus.)

John 8:33–45 NIV84

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

ANSWER: Not a good one! He is a murderer and a liar.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NIV84

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

ANSWER: he blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV84

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

ANSWER: he deceives and leads astray

2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV84

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

ANSWER: he masquerades as an angel of light

10. Read . Considering Satan’s nature and his various schemes, how do you think he has influenced your life in the past, perhaps by accusing you, deceiving you, or taking advantage of your sin?

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV84

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Eph 4:26-27

ANSWER: I have been angry and held on to it too long because of the things that have run through my mind and heart. I have given the devil a foothold in my life far too many times.

“Satan came at Eve with a a subtle attack that cast doubt on the authority of God’s Word. He was so successful with this in the Garden of Eden that he has been using the same strategy ever since. . . .

Questioning god’s Word is a trick of the Devil to cause you to overlook and underappreciate God’s goodness. . . .

God wants us to come to Him with praise and thanksgiving because He has put a lot of trees out there for us to enjoy. But Satan will always try to get us hung up on the one tree we can’t have. — Tony Evans, The Battle Is the Lord’s

THE CONFLICT WITH SIN

11. How do the following verses describe sin?

Isaiah 1:2 NIV84

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.

ANSWER: rebellion

1 John 3:4 NIV84

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

ANSWER: breaking of the law, lawlessness

12. Sin is breaking God’s law and thus breaking trust with Him. Expand on this definition after looking at Jesus’ summary of the law in .

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV84

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

ANSWER: We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

13. Read , .

James 4:1–4 NIV84

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James 4:7 NIV84

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:1-4

James 1:7 NIV84

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

James 4:

a. Where does hostility originate? (verse 1-3)

ANSWER: from the desires that battle within me

b. What competes with your devotion to God? (verse 4)

ANSWER: friendship with the world

c. Does this passage help explain any conflicts yo have? If so, explain.

ANSWER: Sometimes what I want is not God’s will because I let my flesh get in the way of what God wants for me . . . then I become frustrated.

d. Practically, how can you resist Satan as he tries to capitalize on your sin?

ANSWER: Submit to God and resist the devil.

14. Paul taught that to avoid being squeezed into the world’s mold, we must be renewed in mind (). Compare this statement with . Then write a short paragraph on what it means to be patterned after this world and what it means to be renewed in your mind and your heart.

Romans 12:2 NIV84

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 4:6–8 NIV84

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Romans 12:2

ANSWER: Being anxious about things is being patterned after this world. God tells us not to be anxious but to pray and seek God with thanksgiving for things in our lives. When we pray and seek God with thanksgiving we are promised to receive a peace that is above all our understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Being transformed by the renewing of our minds means that we think on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

15. What is promised to the man who successfully endures temptation? ()

James 1:12 NIV84

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

ANSWER: that we will be blessed and receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

THE ASSURANCE OF VICTORY

16. According to , what did Christ’s death on the cross mean for Satan?

Hebrews 2:14–15 NIV84

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

ANSWER: that him (devil) who holds the power of death might be destroyed.

What does it mean for people?

ANSWER: that those who were slaves to him might be freed from our fear of death.

“The witness of the New Testament then is clear. Satan is a malignant reality, always hostile to God and to God’s people. But he has already been defeated in Christ’s life and death and resurrection, and this defeat will become obvious and complete in the end of the age. — L. L. Morris, New Bible Dictionary

17. What is the basis for victory from the following verses?

1 John 2:14 NIV84

I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

ANSWER: the Word of God

1 John 4:4 NIV84

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

ANSWER: because of Jesus who lives in us is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 5:4–5 NIV84

for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

ANSWER: our faith that Jesus is the Son of God.

PRAYER PAUSE

Meditate on as a personal prayer. Take some time now to thank God for your assurance of daily victory in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV84

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are there areas of your life that you seem to constantly struggle with, such as addictions, pornography, anger, or lying? Resist any influence of Satan in your life. Consider asking several other believers to pray for you and to stand with you in this struggle.

DAILY VICTORY

18. From , list three factors that give you victory over Satan. Why do you think each one is important?

Revelation 12:11 NIV84

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

ANSWER: 1) the blood of the Lamb, blood needed to be shed to forgive my sins. 2) the word of my testimony, I need to confess my faith in what I believe so that the devil may be defeated in my life and that the world may know. 3) I love God more than my life, because if I love my life more than I love God I will ultimately fall prey to the works of the enemy in my life and lose.

19. From , list the equipment of the spiritual warrior. What practical steps will enable you to use these items in daily life?

Ephesians 6:14–18 NIV84

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 saints.

ANSWER: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, alertness.

Standing firm in the knowledge of what these are and what they mean, praying and asking God how to use them when the time comes, knowing that I will use them and being alert to that very fact.

the belt of truth - knowing the truth of the Word and speaking truth in my life.

the breastplate of righteousness - knowing that my righteousness does not come from me but from Christ alone and knowing who I am because of that.

the readiness that comes form the gospel of peace - being ready to give an answer whenever needed for the faith that I have in Christ.

the shield of faith - knowing the Word of God so that when the devils shoots his arrows that I can use the Word to divert the attack.

the helmet of salvation - having the Word in my mind and heart (memorized) so that it is ready to be used whenever needed.

the sword of the spirit - knowing the word so that it can not only be a defensive weapon but an offensive weapon.

praying in the Spirit - to pray in the spirit so that I may gain wisdom and understanding, knowledge for my life and others to be a prepared warrior for battle at all times.

a. Which of these items do you believe is most prominent in your life?

ANSWER: Praying in the Spirit

b. Which of these items do you believe is most lacking in your life?

ANSWER:

c. What do you think you should do about it?

ANSWER:

20. What can you do each day to experience victory over sin?

Psalm 86:3 NIV84

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.

ANSWER: Pray

Psalm 119:9–11 NIV84

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

ANSWER: Seek God with all my heart and memorize his Word.

Luke 9:23 NIV84

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

ANSWER: Take up my cross and follow Jesus daily.

Hebrews 3:13 NIV84

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

ANSWER: Encourage

21. What should you do when you have sinned? ()

Psalm 32:5 NIV84

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

ANSWER: Acknowledge (confess) my sin to the Lord.

22. Read . Describe God’s attitude toward all the sins you have committed.

Psalm 103:9–14 NIV84

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

ANSWER: He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us accordingly because of His great love for those who fear him! He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west because he shows us compassion on those who fear him!

How do you respond to God’s attitude toward your sin?

ANSWER: Thankfulness and gratitude!

SUGGESTED VERSE FOR MEDITATION AND MEMORIZATION

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV84

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:8-9