May 26 2008
Bible Study Week 13 - Introduction to Spiritual Warfare in a Christian’s Life
Purpose of This Bible Study Lesson
This is a new series on spiritual warfare to help us understand how to take our positions as soldiers enlisted in an army. Christ is our Captain and God is the Commander in Chief. Satan and his host of fallen angels are our main enemies and in this regard, it is of utmost importance that we each understand that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking (Rom 14: 17Rom 14: 17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
a), but we have been enrolled as soldiers in the army to win men and women from the Kingdom of Darkness into God’s Kingdom of Light.
Lesson Objective
This lesson will guide the participants to:
- Understand their role as soldiers of Jesus Christ
- Understand the extent and nature of the warfare
- Understand the origin of Satan and his agents
Introduction
The battle against spiritual forces is quite old. It started with Satan’s rebellion against God. Isaiah 14:12-15Isaiah 14:12-15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!
13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.
KJV. After God created mankind, Satan decided to deceive mankind. He succeeded in the Garden of Eden when he seduced Eve and made her to sin against God through disobedience. Mankind was chased from the Garden of Eden (the place where they fellowshipped with God). Many people deny the existence of Satan and his influence in our lives, yet Christ used very plain words to describe him in John 8:44John 8:44
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.
when He spoke to the Pharisees saying “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth, because there is no truth in him”. In 1 John 2:16-171 John 2:16-17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
we are told that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vain glory (pride) of life are not from God but of this world which shall pass away with its lusts but the person who does God’s will shall abide for ever.
The Devil even tempted Jesus Christ (the Son of God) by offering Him the kingdoms of this world and their glory if He worshiped the Devil. Matt 4:8-9Matt 4:8-9
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
. The Devil’s aim is to ensure that mankind is condemned by God forever and that no one is saved. He therefore uses his tactics to this end. The battle is primarily in the mind and the heart. The Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12Eph 6:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].
. We are also instructed to put on the full armor of God to defend ourselves against the wiles (evil schemes) of the evil one. Eph 6:11Eph 6:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
. These are spiritual weapons to guard our salvation, our righteousness, our faith, God’s truth in us, our readiness to spread God’s word, and to use God’s word as an offensive weapon (the Sword of the Spirit) to attack. We are also to prayer continuously for other believers. We are further told in 2 Cor 10:4-52 Cor 10:4-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 ,
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
that our (spiritual) weapons are to cast imaginations, pull down strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Today’s Lesson
Begin today’s lesson by reading Job 1:6-12Job 1:6-12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.
7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.
9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.
12 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
, Isaiah 14:12-15Isaiah 14:12-15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!
13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.
and Eph 6:12Eph 6:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].
Invisible But Not Invincible
Many myths have gathered around the person of the Devil throughout the ages. Much poetry, tradition, and even our fears have caricatured his person, exaggerated his character, and colored him black and ugly. Although he is invisible, there is truth in regard to him and his work, which is to destroy the human race by misleading them. The Bible does not tell us how many angels fell with the Devil, we have no record regarding this information, but the fact is that these unseen forces are spoken of as “spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Eph 6:12Eph 6:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].
ASV ), an unspecified number. How innumerable they are, we cannot tell. The demoniac of Gadara was named “Legion”: “because many demons were entered into him” (Luke 8:30Luke 8:30
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
30 And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.
ASV); and also we read that seven controlled one woman, as was the case with Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2Luke 8:2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
).
We therefore have a real enemy and although he is invisible, he is not invincible i.e. he has already been defeated as Romans 8:37Romans 8:37
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
say; “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”. Remember that Christ’s great promise in Revelation 3:5Revelation 3:5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels”. In Rev 12:11Rev 12:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
we are told of the saints who overcome the Devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Jesus conquered the death and the power of the devil on the cross and in His name (Jesus) Christians have been given power over evil.
In conclusion therefore, the Devil’s agenda is to gain control of this world by working through people. Sometimes he succeeds in recruiting national leaders like Adolf Hitler and Mussolini and others in his schemes, but God’s agenda is to use godly men and women to do battle with the forces of darkness, to bring about God’s kingdom of Light upon the earth by the Holy Spirit. Demons have no bodily form, so to accomplish their missions they need humans whom they control to do evil and work against God, as was the case of Judas Iscariot. Sometimes the demons are able to actually possess the individual so that the person can no longer exercise his or her own will.
Bible Study Questions For Discussion - Week 13
- After reading Isaiah 14:12-15Isaiah 14:12-15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! 13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit. , how can you describe the devil’s status in one word according to the bible?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Where was the Devil habitation before his fall according to Isaiah 14:12Isaiah 14:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! a? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Where is the Devil’s habitation after the fall according to Isaiah 14:12Isaiah 14:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! b? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Why do you think the Devil was cast from God’s presence according to Isaiah 14:13-14Isaiah 14:13-14
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. ? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Name the four categories of spiritual forces that we fight against according to Eph. 6:12
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Describe four qualities that Job had which made him win the battle against Satan according to Job 1:8Job 1:8
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - How can we apply these qualities today in our Christian life in our spiritual warfare?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Do you think Satan’s schemes have changed since the time of Job? Please explain
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
A Reflection: 2Titus 2:4Titus 2:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
Chosen to Fight
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
Let us be focused on the cause of Jesus Christ and not be distracted by things which have no eternal consequence or have negative eternal consequences.
Tags: Bible study, guide, spiritual warfare
