14
© 2015. All rights reserved. Frank Brown, John Emanuels, Pat McAnany, Dr. Harry Stewart and Trace Thurlby The study is six lessons, approximately one- and-a-half hours each, intended for use by small groups. This study focuses on what the Bible says about the character and activity of the unseen beings in the Kingdom of God and in the Kingdom of Darkness. It asks soul-searching questions to prompt participants to consider what they believe, learn to discern what is true and how to ultimately live in freedom and truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Resources are available in PDF or print format. Visit our website at christianspiritualwarfare.com. Jesus has won the victory, but the battle continues. Discover what the Bible says about the unseen war being waged around us. Learn to discern what is true and what is deception from the enemy. Examine your beliefs to help guide you to live in freedom and truth. BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN & WOMEN

BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN & WOMEN - Spiritual warfare · BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN & WOMEN Jesus has won the ... Satan and his helpers—evil spirits— are supernatural beings that are ... We

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© 2

015.

All

rig

hts

res

erve

d.

Fran

k B

row

n, J

ohn

Em

anu

els,

Pat

McA

nan

y,

Dr.

Har

ry S

tew

art

and

Tra

ce T

hu

rlby

The

stud

y is

si

x le

ssons,

ap

pro

xim

ate

ly

one-

and

-a-h

alf

hours

each,

inte

nd

ed

for

use

by

small

gro

up

s. T

his

stu

dy

focuse

s on w

hat

the B

ible

sa

ys

ab

out

the

chara

cte

r and

activ

ity

of

the

unse

en b

ein

gs

in t

he K

ing

dom

of

God

and

in

the K

ingd

om

of D

ark

ness

. It a

sks

soul-se

arc

hin

g

quest

ions

to

pro

mp

t p

art

icip

ants

to

consi

der

what

they

belie

ve,

learn

to

dis

cern

what

is t

rue

and

how

to u

ltim

ate

ly l

ive i

n f

reed

om

and

tru

th

thro

ugh J

esu

s C

hris

t our

Lo

rd.

Reso

urc

es

are

ava

ilab

le in

PD

F o

rp

rin

t fo

rmat.

Vis

it o

ur

web

site

at

ch

rist

ian

spir

itu

alw

arf

are

.co

m.

Jesu

s has

wo

n

the

victo

ry,

but

the

batt

le

co

ntin

ues.

D

isco

ver

what

the

Bib

le s

ays

ab

out

the u

nse

en w

ar

bein

g

wag

ed

aro

und

us.

Learn

to

dis

cern

what

is t

rue a

nd

what

is d

ecep

tion f

rom

the

enem

y.

Exa

min

e

your

belie

fs

to

help

g

uid

e y

ou t

o l

ive i

n f

reed

om

and

tru

th.

BIB

LE S

TUD

Y FO

R M

EN &

WO

MEN

WH

AT IS

AT

STA

KE?

INTR

OD

UC

TIO

N

Do y

ou k

now

that

you a

re in

the S

piri

tual B

att

le

of

your

life? The B

ible

is

ab

solu

tely

cle

ar. It

says

, “S

ata

n p

row

ls a

round

lik

e a

roarin

g l

ion

seeki

ng s

om

eone t

o d

est

roy.

” In

the b

eg

innin

g,

Sata

n m

anip

ula

ted

Eve

by

test

ing h

er

with

the

word

s: “

Did

God

actu

ally

say…

?”

He c

ontin

ued

genera

tions

late

r w

hen h

e a

ccuse

d J

ob

of b

ein

g

righte

ous

only

because

God

was

pro

tectin

g h

im.

Late

r, h

e tem

pte

d J

esu

s in

the d

ese

rt b

y tw

istin

g

Scrip

ture

. A

gain

, S

ata

n i

nfl u

enced

the A

po

stle

Pete

r to

the p

oin

t w

here

Jesu

s had

to

reb

uke

Pete

r b

y sa

ying, “G

et

behin

d m

e, S

ata

n.”

In t

he

end

, S

ata

n w

ill b

e s

ilenced

and

the k

ing

do

m

of

God

will p

reva

il. H

ow

eve

r, t

he e

nd

is

no

t ye

t

here

. S

ata

n c

ontin

ues

to p

row

l and

dest

roy

the

lives

of

non-b

elie

vers

as

well

as

the t

est

imo

ny

and

infl u

ence

of

belie

vers

. E

ven

tho

ug

h

we

Intr

od

uctio

n : p

age 2

The s

tud

y is

six

less

ons,

ap

pro

xim

ate

ly o

ne-

and

-a-h

alf

ho

urs

each,

inte

nd

ed

fo

r use

by

small

gro

up

s. T

his

stu

dy

focuse

s on w

hat

the

Bib

le

says

ab

out

the

chara

cte

r and

activ

ity o

f th

e u

nse

en b

ein

gs

in the K

ing

do

m

of

God

and

in t

he K

ing

do

m o

f D

ark

ness

. It

ask

s so

ul-se

arc

hin

g

quest

ions

to

pro

mp

t

part

icip

ants

to

co

nsi

der

what

they

belie

ve,

learn

to d

iscern

what

is t

rue a

nd

ho

w t

o

ulti

mate

ly liv

e in f

reed

om

and

tru

th t

hro

ug

h

Jesu

s C

hris

t o

ur

Lo

rd.

Re

so

urc

es a

re a

va

ila

ble

in

PD

F o

r

pri

nt

form

at.

Vis

it o

ur

we

bsit

e a

t

ch

risti

an

sp

irit

ua

lwa

rfa

re.c

om

p.

The

spir

itual

bat

tle o

f yo

ur li

fe.

My

bo

dy

is a

te

mp

le fo

r th

e H

oly

Sp

irit.

Re

ad

: I C

ori

nth

ian

s 6

:19

There

fore

, I a

m r

ed

ee

me

d.

Re

ad

: E

ph

esia

ns 1

:7

Psa

lm 1

07

:2

There

fore

I am

cle

an

sed

.

Re

ad

: I Jo

hn

1:7

Ther

efore

I am

sanctifi ed

by

the

Blo

od o

f Jes

us.

Re

ad

: H

eb

rew

s 1

3:1

2

My

mem

bers

, th

e p

art

s of m

y b

od

y, a

re

inst

rum

en

ts o

f ri

gh

teo

usn

ess

.

Re

ad

: R

om

an

s 6

:13

Chap

ter

6 A

dd

end

um

: p

age 2

7

I am

yie

lded

to

Go

d fo

r H

is s

erv

ice a

nd

His

glo

ry. There

fore

, d

evi

l has

no p

lace in

me, no

pow

er

ove

r m

e, no u

nse

ttle

d c

laim

s again

st

me. A

ll has

been s

ett

led

by

the B

lood

of Je

sus.

Re

ad

: R

om

an

s 8

:33-3

4

I ove

rcom

e S

ata

n b

y th

e B

lood

of th

e L

am

b

and

by

the w

ord

of m

y te

stim

ony,

and

I lo

ve

no

t m

y lif

e u

nto

death

.

Read

: R

evela

tio

n 1

2:1

1

My

bo

dy

is fo

r th

e L

ord

and

the L

ord

is for

my

bo

dy.

Am

en!

Re

ad

: I C

ori

nth

ian

s 6

:12–1

3

CO

NFE

SS

ION

S O

F

AN

OV

ER

CO

ME

R

AD

DE

ND

UM

How

will y

ou a

pp

roach t

he id

ea w

ith t

hem

?

SH

AR

E T

HE

G

OO

D N

EW

SU

se y

our

know

led

ge a

nd

pers

onal e

xperie

nces

to

help

oth

ers

und

ers

tand

th

e

sup

ern

atu

ral

realm

and

sp

iritu

al o

pp

osi

tion.

Many

Chris

tians

do

not

eve

n

belie

ve

in

these

th

ings.

They

need

to

b

e

sup

port

ed

in

th

eir

faith

, sh

ow

n

the S

crip

ture

s, and

to

b

e se

t free from

evi

l

infl u

ences.

Read

: I T

imo

thy 4

:1-1

6

II T

imo

thy 2

:1-4

; 24-2

6

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

Who in

your f

am

ily c

ould

you b

e m

ore

inte

ntio

nal

ab

out

help

ing

to s

tand

str

ong s

piri

tually

?

Lis

t a c

oup

le o

f fr

iend

s yo

u c

ould

help

to

gro

w

spiri

tually

.

What

are

the b

egin

nin

g s

tep

s fo

r yo

u t

o s

tart

eq

uip

pin

g t

hese

oth

ers

to li

ve v

icto

riousl

y?

Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

6

do

n’t s

ee h

im,

we c

an s

ee h

is d

est

ructio

n a

ll

aro

und

us.

Sata

n a

nd

his

help

ers

—evi

l sp

irits

are

sup

ern

atu

ral b

ein

gs

that

are

as

real as

the

wo

rds

on t

his

pag

e.

Murd

er and

sexu

al a

buse

are

ob

vio

us

exa

mp

les

of

Sata

n’s

d

est

ructiv

e p

ow

er. Yet

tod

ay,

o

ne

of

his

prim

ary

tactic

s is

to

sta

y unse

en w

hile

weavi

ng

his

tem

pta

tions

in o

ur

daily

activ

ities.

The

Chris

tian

fath

er

who

w

ork

s so

hard

that

he d

ivid

es

him

self

fro

m h

is f

am

ily o

r th

e

Chris

tian m

oth

er

who

b

elie

ves

that

Go

d has

giv

en

her

perm

issi

on

to

div

orc

e

her

diffi

cult,

but

mo

no

gam

ous

husb

and

, are

exa

mp

les

that

co

me t

o m

ind

. D

est

ructio

n o

f o

ur

rela

tionsh

ip

with

Go

d a

nd

His

peo

ple

is S

ata

n’s

go

al.

We (t

he g

roup

of m

en w

ho

deve

lop

ed

this

stu

dy)

are

fro

m d

iffere

nt

walk

s o

f lif

e:

an a

irlin

e p

ilot

and

busi

ness

ow

ner, a

co

nst

ructio

n e

xecutiv

e,

a p

sychia

tris

t, a

n i

nte

rnatio

nal

min

istr

y le

ad

er

and

a r

eal e

state

inve

sto

r. T

he o

ldest

was

bo

rn

in the 1

93

0’s

as

Hitl

er w

as

co

min

g to

po

wer and

the y

oung

est

in t

he 1

97

0’s

as

Nix

on w

as

losi

ng

his

. W

e c

am

e to

geth

er b

ecause

we a

re u

nite

d in

devo

tion t

o J

esu

s and

our

belie

f th

at,

in t

od

ay’

s

wo

rld,

the s

up

ern

atu

ral

is o

verlo

oke

d,

avo

ided

and

/or fi c

tionaliz

ed

. Our so

cie

ty is

dis

co

nnecte

d

fro

m w

hat

is r

eally

go

ing

on in t

he s

piri

t re

alm

.

We m

ay

no

t re

aliz

e t

hat

Go

d i

s in

terv

enin

g i

n

our

daily

liv

es

on o

ur

behalf.

Als

o,

we m

ay

no

t

be

aw

are

o

f th

e

dest

ructiv

e

infl u

ences

fro

m

real sp

iritu

al b

ein

gs

who

are

activ

e in t

he w

orld

and

in o

ur

lives.

D

esp

ite t

he f

act

that

the B

ible

speaks

often a

nd

cle

arly

of

the r

ealit

y o

f th

e

sup

ern

atu

ral,

it is

no

t w

idely

taug

ht,

dis

cuss

ed

or

belie

ved

in

b

y o

ur

“enlig

hte

ned

” cultu

re—

eve

n in

many

churc

hes.

Eve

ryth

ing

is e

xpla

ined

in r

atio

nal,

“natu

ral” t

erm

s.

We

auth

ors

have

had

tim

es

of

stru

ggle

and

tria

l b

ecause

w

e d

id not

fully

und

ers

tand

th

e

sup

ern

atu

ral aro

und

us.

Je

sus

won t

he v

icto

ry

but t

he b

att

le c

ontin

ues.

God

has

taught u

s m

any

thin

gs

we w

ould

like

to s

hare

with

you s

o that w

e

can w

alk

to

geth

er

in t

he fulln

ess

of th

e p

rese

nce

of

our

lovi

ng

Go

d.

The H

oly

Sp

irit

and

the B

ible

make

us

aw

are

of a

nd

giv

e u

s d

iscern

ment ab

out

these

unse

en p

ow

ers

so that w

e c

an li

ve in

hop

e

and

love

, tr

ust

ing

in t

he t

ruth

of Je

sus

Chris

t.

In t

his

, “T

he S

piri

tual

Batt

le o

f Your

Life

” st

ud

y,

we

will

dis

co

ver

and

d

iscuss

w

hat

the

Bib

le

says

ab

out

the

chara

cte

r and

activ

ity

of

the

unse

en b

ein

gs

in t

he K

ingd

om

of

God

and

in

the K

ing

do

m o

f S

ata

n.

As

we s

tud

y th

e W

ord

of

Go

d,

it w

ill e

xpand

our

know

led

ge,

faith

and

trust

. W

e w

ill l

earn

to d

iscern

what

is t

rue a

nd

what

is d

ecep

tive.

Most

im

port

antly

, q

uest

ions

are

ask

ed

th

at

will cause

us

to exa

min

e our

belie

fs and

th

en g

uid

e us

to liv

e in

th

e tr

uth

,

exp

erie

nce G

od

’s b

est

, have

vic

tory

ove

r si

n a

nd

receiv

e fr

eed

om

fr

om

b

ond

age.

We w

ill le

arn

ho

w t

o a

void

Sata

n’s

tra

ps.

Go

d se

nt

us

the Liv

ing W

ord

of

God

, Je

sus

to i

nst

ruct

us,

and

He s

ent

the H

oly

Sp

irit

to

em

po

wer

us

fro

m w

ithin

to r

esi

st a

nd

ove

rcom

e

the

schem

es

of

the

devi

l. There

by

eq

uip

ped

by

Him

, w

e c

an l

ive i

n t

he T

ruth

and

giv

e G

od

glo

ry,

rath

er

than b

ein

g u

sed

by

the d

evi

l—eve

n

unco

nsc

iousl

y—to

dest

roy.

TH

AT i

s w

hat

is a

t

stake

. O

ur

spiri

tual b

att

le is

not

easy

, b

ut

Jesu

s

has

giv

en us

the auth

orit

y, th

e w

eap

ons,

th

e

arm

or

and

His

very

ow

n S

piri

t to

win

the b

att

le.

Re

ad

: R

eve

lati

on

12:7

-12

We s

hall

ove

rcom

e

togeth

er. D

ig in

!

Intr

od

uctio

n : p

age 3

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

TH

E T

RIN

ITY

G

od

the F

ath

er, J

esu

s th

e S

on a

nd

the H

oly

Sp

irit

are

very

real a

nd

activ

e in

our

lives

and

in

the w

orld

. G

od

is

om

nip

ote

nt,

om

nis

cie

nt

and

om

nip

rese

nt.

Jesu

s is

Lord

of

Lord

s. T

he H

oly

Sp

irit

is t

he p

rese

nce o

f th

e G

od

head

in t

he

world

. This

unite

d, th

ree-in-O

ne T

rinity

of G

od

’s

Kin

gd

om

of

love

op

era

te i

n t

he s

up

ern

atu

ral,

unse

en,

spiri

t w

orld

. Their

goal

is t

o b

e h

elp

guid

e h

um

anity

tow

ard

salv

atio

n f

or

the g

ood

of all

cre

atio

n.

Read

: I C

hro

nic

les 2

9:1

1-1

3

Co

lossia

ns 1

:13-1

7

Jo

hn

4:2

3-2

4

KIN

GD

OM

OF

GO

D

TH

E S

PIR

ITU

AL

1

Chap

ter

1 : p

age 4

Who

ever

and

wha

teve

r is

und

erth

e do

min

ion

of a

kin

g is

par

t of

his

king

dom

.

For

entr

y in

to t

he K

ingd

om

of

God

, w

e m

ust

com

e to

the F

ath

er th

rough o

ur lif

e-c

om

mitm

ent

to tru

st in

Jesu

s’ s

ub

stitu

tionary

sin

-sacrifi

ce o

n

our b

ehalf

and

to fo

llow

Him

. He is

the o

nly

Way.

Read

: Jo

hn

14:1

-7

Lu

ke 9

:23-2

5

I Jo

hn

5:1

9-2

0

The H

oly

Sp

irit is

the m

em

ber

of th

e T

rinity

who

carr

ies

out

the d

esi

res

of

the F

ath

er

and

the

Son in t

he w

orld

. The H

oly

Sp

irit

ab

ides

in t

he

Belie

ver to

reve

al J

esu

s’ li

fe a

nd

work

and

what

God

the F

ath

er

is l

ike.

The H

oly

Sp

irit

is o

ur

com

fort

er, g

uid

e,

teacher

and

help

er.

Read

: Jo

hn

14:1

6-1

8,

26;

16:1

3-1

5

TH

E A

NG

ELS

There

are

m

ulti

tud

es

of

mig

hty

angels

w

ho

ob

ey

God

and

serv

e H

is p

urp

ose

s. T

hey

serv

e

God

’s p

eop

le a

nd

defe

nd

those

who

co

me t

o

Him

for

refu

ge.

They

engage in w

arf

are

in t

he

spiri

t re

alm

.

Read

: P

salm

103:2

0-2

2

Psalm

34:7

-8

Heb

rew

s 1

:13-1

4

Dan

iel 10:1

-21

Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

5

Ho

w

do

yo

u

hand

le

diffi

culty

co

ncentr

atin

g

durin

g p

raye

r and

Bib

le s

tud

y?

What

pla

ce w

ould

co

nsi

stently

help

yo

u q

uie

t

your

min

d a

nd

get

in t

he S

piri

t?

EN

GA

GE

IN A

C

OM

MU

NIT

YO

F B

ELIE

VE

RS

Seek

fello

wsh

ip in

a lo

cal,

Bib

le b

elie

ving

churc

h w

ith p

eo

ple

who a

re p

ractic

ing g

od

ly

livin

g. D

eve

lop

co

mm

itted

rela

tionsh

ips

with

oth

ers

who

will p

ray

with

you, fo

r yo

u, counse

l

you a

nd

sta

nd

with

you in

tough s

ituatio

ns.

We a

ll need

oth

ers

to e

ncoura

ge u

s to

gro

w

as

victo

rious

dis

cip

les—

you d

o t

oo.

Re

ad

: H

eb

rew

s 1

0:1

9-2

7

Pro

ve

rbs 1

9:2

0-2

1

Jam

es 5

:13-2

0

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

Who

is

help

ing

yo

u gro

w in

kn

ow

led

ge and

und

ers

tand

ing

of G

od

’s w

ays

? W

ho is

insp

iring

you t

o g

row

in y

our

walk

with

Jesu

s?

Lis

t a c

oup

le o

f p

eop

le w

ho w

ould

help

you

spiri

tually

.

Whic

h S

crip

ture

s in

this

stu

dy,

or

that

you h

ave

read

els

ew

here

, have

im

pacte

d

you?

Writ

e

them

dow

n.

Refl e

ct

on w

hat

they

mean t

o y

ou

and

mem

oriz

e t

hem

.

BE

ON

GU

AR

D

AG

AIN

ST S

PIR

ITU

AL

AT

TAC

KS

Sata

n i

s a t

err

oris

t. H

e w

ill c

onsi

stently

try

to

blo

ck

you fro

m d

oin

g G

od

’s w

ill. S

ata

n’s

tactic

s

invo

lve li

es,

fear, a

nxi

ety

, fe

elin

gs

of in

ad

eq

uacy

and

confu

sion.

Read

: Jo

hn

8:4

3-4

4

II C

ori

nth

ian

s 3

:4-6

Jo

sh

ua 1

:8-9

The b

att

le b

egin

s w

ith y

our

min

d.

Your

natu

ral

thoughts

are

not

God

’s t

houghts

.

Read

: II C

ori

nth

ian

s 1

0:3

-5

Ro

man

s 1

2:1

-3

Isaia

h 5

5:6

-9

CO

NS

IDE

R

YO

UR

TH

OU

GH

T

PR

OC

ES

SR

ep

lace

any

negativ

e,

unhealth

y th

oug

hts

with

p

osi

tive

ones.

Sp

eak

out

the

truth

,

such as;

“T

hro

ugh Je

sus

I am

fo

rgiv

en”;

“I

am

an a

dop

ted

child

of

the m

ost

hig

h G

od

”;

“I a

m love

d b

y G

od

”; “

The H

oly

Sp

irit

lives

in

me”;

“I

can d

o a

ll th

ings

thro

ugh C

hris

t w

ho

stre

ngth

ens

me!”

**S

ee a

dden

dum

for “

Conf

essi

ons

for O

verc

om

ers”

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

What help

s yo

u focus

and

what challe

ng

es

do

you h

ave

with

dis

tractio

ns?

Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

4

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsW

hat

do

I t

ypic

ally

belie

ve a

bo

ut

sup

ern

atu

ral

bein

gs

and

activ

ities?

If I s

trug

gle

with

belie

ving

in s

up

ern

atu

ral b

ein

gs

and

occurr

ences,

why?

BE

LIE

VE

RS

: G

OD

’S

AR

MY

IN T

HE

WO

RLD

All

belie

vers

who

are

tru

ly c

om

mitt

ed

to J

esu

s

as

their

Co

mm

and

er

are

com

mis

sioned

and

sent

as

His

so

ldie

rs in

the A

rmy

of G

od

. A

tru

e

belie

ver

is o

ne w

ho r

elie

s on,

ad

here

s to

and

trust

s in

Jesu

s.

Re

ad

: M

att

he

w 1

0:1

, 7-8

, 16

Ma

tth

ew

28

:18

-20

Belie

vers

are

train

ed

, eq

uip

ped

and

em

pow

ere

d

by

the H

oly

Sp

irit.

He te

aches

and

dis

cip

lines

us

when w

e a

pp

ly t

he c

om

mand

s and

prin

cip

les

in t

he B

ible

to

our

lives.

In t

his

way,

we a

re

transf

orm

ed

by

His

Sp

irit

and

becom

e m

ore

like w

hat

the L

ord

cre

ate

d u

s to

be;

we c

an

kno

w w

hat

He w

ants

us

to d

o.

Ap

art

fro

m t

he

Ho

ly S

piri

t w

e c

an d

o n

oth

ing o

f sig

nifi

cance fo

r

Him

or

His

Kin

gd

om

.

Re

ad

: A

cts

1:4

-8

Matt

hew

8:2

8-3

2

Jo

sh

ua

1:8

-9

Jo

hn

15:4

-5

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsW

hat

have

I e

xperie

nced

that

I th

ought

must

have

been a

sup

ern

atu

ral

eve

nt

arr

anged

by

Go

d?

Chap

ter

1 : p

age 5

Chap

ter

1 : p

age 6

What

do I b

elie

ve t

he H

oly

Sp

irit

is d

oin

g in

my

life (d

esc

ribe)?

How

is

th

e H

oly

S

piri

t changin

g m

y b

elie

fs,

goals

and

prio

ritie

s?

How

is

the H

oly

Sp

irit

changin

g m

y b

ehavi

or

and

inte

rest

s?

How

is th

e H

oly

Sp

irit c

hangin

g m

y re

latio

nsh

ips

with

oth

ers

?

How

is

th

e H

oly

S

piri

t changin

g m

y und

er-

stand

ing o

f th

e B

ible

?

How

can I

bett

er

part

icip

ate

with

the H

oly

Sp

irit

to k

now

the L

ord

and

His

purp

ose

for

me?

What

would

be t

he fi

rst

step

for

start

ers

?

Whom

should

I t

ell

my

pla

n t

o s

o t

hat

I can b

e

held

accounta

ble

?

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

Exa

min

e y

our

day

pla

nner

and

checkb

oo

k. L

ist

the m

ain

thin

gs

with

whic

h y

ou s

pend

yo

ur tim

e

and

tre

asu

re.

Ask

the H

oly

Sp

irit

to r

eve

al

your

co

unte

rfeit

go

ds.

Lis

t w

hate

ver

co

mes

to

min

d.

Make

a

co

mm

itment

to

pra

ctic

e

seein

g

them

as

ble

ssin

gs

and

challe

ng

es;

but

no

t as

what

you

live fo

r.

ME

DIT

AT

E O

NH

IS W

OR

DT

he B

ible

is the in

spire

d W

ord

of G

od

. M

ed

itate

on i

t—fo

r a t

ransf

orm

atio

n o

f yo

ur

life a

nd

for

His

teachin

g, g

uid

ance a

nd

corr

ectio

n.

Mem

oriz

ing

S

crip

ture

effe

ctiv

ely

tr

ansf

orm

s

your m

ind

. S

ayi

ng

Scrip

ture

s out lo

ud

build

s up

your

faith

and

str

ength

ens

you to s

tand

again

st

your

ow

n d

oub

ts,

the w

orld

’s u

ngod

ly b

elie

fs

and

the li

es

of th

e e

vil o

ne.

Read

: II T

imo

thy 3

:14-1

7

Heb

rew

s 4

:12-1

3

Psa

lm 1

19

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

What

is y

our

usu

al s

tud

y p

att

ern

in t

he W

ord

?

If yo

u a

re n

ot

in a

health

y B

ible

stu

dy

gro

up

,

then w

here

can y

ou fi n

d o

ne t

o le

arn

with

?

Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

3

MA

INTA

IN T

HE

R

ELA

TIO

NS

HIP

Main

tain

an ongoin

g re

latio

nsh

ip w

ith Je

sus

thro

ugh t

he H

oly

Sp

irit

who l

ives

in y

ou.

Be

diligent

in t

he s

piri

tual

dis

cip

lines

of

pra

ying,

wors

hip

ing

Him

, confe

ssin

g

know

n

sins,

rep

entin

g

of

ungod

ly

behavi

or

and

fo

rgiv

ing

eve

ryone.

Lis

ten t

o H

is v

oic

e a

nd

be c

are

ful t

o

ob

ey

His

com

mand

ments

.

Read

: M

att

hew

6:7

-15

Jo

hn

14:1

2-2

7

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

God

love

s yo

u a

nd

wants

you c

lose

r to

Him

. In

what

ways

have

the s

piri

tual

dis

cip

lines

liste

d

ab

ove

bro

ught

you c

lose

r to

Jesu

s?

The t

rue e

nd

-goal of

the s

piri

tual d

iscip

lines

is

to h

ave

you a

bid

ing in J

esu

s and

Him

ab

idin

g

in y

ou. W

hat are

the a

reas

in y

our lif

e w

here

you

are

mis

sing o

ut on b

ein

g w

ith the L

ord

? Is

it T

V,

new

spap

ers

, w

ork

, com

pute

r tim

e, etc

.?

How

would

your

life c

hange if

you s

pent

mo

re

time w

ith t

he L

ord

?

Identif

y w

ho,

or

what,

d

o

you

loo

k to

fo

r

fulfi

llment?

YO

UR

IDE

NTIT

YIN

CH

RIS

TW

ho,

or

what,

do y

ou l

ook

to f

or

fulfi

llment?

Keep

the L

ord

Jesu

s as

your

prim

ary

so

urc

e o

f

fulfi

llment a

nd

satis

factio

n. T

here

are

oth

er g

oo

d

thin

gs

in y

our

life:

fam

ily,

care

er, e

nte

rtain

ment,

frie

nd

s, e

tc.

Be a

ware

that

good

thin

gs

can

easi

ly b

ecom

e c

ounte

rfeit

god

s. W

e c

an l

oo

k

to t

hem

inst

ead

of

God

to f

ulfi

ll us.

Str

ive t

o

honor

the L

ord

ab

ove

all

the o

ther

ob

ligatio

ns

in y

our

busy

life

.

Read

: M

att

hew

10:3

7-3

9

Lu

ke 8

:11

-15

Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

2

There

is

a

real

Kin

gd

om

o

f D

ark

ness

. T

he

rele

ntle

ss a

ttacks

of

evi

l o

n G

od

’s p

eo

ple

will

neve

r cease

until

Jesu

s re

turn

s to

eart

h.

Then t

he s

eve

nth

ang

el

sound

ed

: A

nd

there

were

lo

ud

vo

ices

in

heave

n,

sayi

ng

, “T

he

king

do

ms

of

this

w

orld

have

b

eco

me

the

king

do

ms

of o

ur Lo

rd a

nd

of H

is C

hris

t, a

nd

He

shall

reig

n fo

reve

r and

eve

r!”

(Reve

latio

n 1

1:1

5).

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

SA

TAN

S

ata

n, als

o c

alle

d the D

evi

l, is

a c

hara

cte

r in

the

Bib

le fro

m the b

eg

innin

g to

the e

nd

. In

the N

ew

Test

am

ent alo

ne, S

ata

n is

nam

ed

35

tim

es

and

calle

d the D

evi

l 34

tim

es.

The a

ctiv

ities

of S

ata

n

are

a m

ajo

r th

em

e in

Go

d’s

Wo

rd.

Re

ad

: G

en

esis

3:1

-13

J

ob

1:6

-12

Re

ve

lati

on

12

:7-1

2

Chap

ter

2 : p

age 7

Evil,

sup

erna

tura

l bei

ngs

are

very

re

al a

nd a

ctiv

e in

the

wor

ld a

nd in

ou

r liv

es.

DE

MO

NS

D

em

ons,

als

o calle

d evi

l and

uncle

an sp

irits

,

are

falle

n a

ng

els

and

now

mem

bers

of

Sata

n’s

hie

rarc

hy

in

the

world

. They

are

p

erv

asi

ve.

Their

ruth

less

activ

ities

are

desc

ribed

in N

ew

Test

am

ent

Scrip

ture

71

times.

A

si

gnifi

cant

po

rtio

n o

f Je

sus’

min

istr

y in

volv

ed

cast

ing o

ut

dem

ons.

Re

ad

: M

ark

1:3

2-3

9

Mark

3:2

2-2

6

GO

AL O

F D

AR

KK

ING

DO

M

Sata

n’s

prim

ary

mo

tive i

s to

defe

at

God

’s p

lan

of g

race o

ffere

d t

o h

um

anity

thro

ugh J

esu

s and

to m

ain

tain

his

Kin

gd

om

of

evi

l. H

e is

driv

en b

y

hatr

ed

of G

od

and

manki

nd

.

Sata

n b

y natu

re a

nd

chara

cte

r is

a m

urd

ere

r

and

the f

ath

er

of

lies.

His

goal

is n

oth

ing l

ess

than o

ur

spiri

tual d

eath

. S

ata

n a

nd

his

dem

ons

striv

e t

o g

et

us

to b

elie

ve in

anyt

hin

g o

ther

than

Jesu

s as

the o

nly

Way,

the T

ruth

and

the L

ife.

Read

: Jo

hn

8:4

2-4

4

I P

ete

r 5:8

J

oh

n 1

4:6

KIN

GD

OM

OF

DA

RK

NES

S

TH

E S

PIR

ITU

AL

2

Sata

n i

s cunnin

g.

He u

ses

multi

ple

tactic

s to

gain

contr

ol o

ver p

eop

le. H

e w

ill u

se d

ecep

tion,

fear

and

tem

pta

tion t

o le

ad

us

to a

poin

t w

here

he c

an u

nd

erm

ine a

nd

dest

roy

our

faith

in G

od

and

ulti

mate

ly, eve

n o

ur

lives.

Faith in J

esu

s, b

y co

ntr

ast

, b

reaks

the b

ond

-

ag

es

of

sin and

g

ives

us

freed

om

w

ith an

ab

und

ant

life.

Chap

ter

2 : p

age 8

Read

: II C

ori

nth

ian

s 4

:3-4

; 11:1

2-1

5

Matt

hew

4:1

-9

Heb

rew

s 2

:14-1

6

Jo

hn

8:3

1-3

2

LIES

FEA

RS

INC

ON

TRO

L/B

ON

DA

GE

DEA

TH

TRU

THFA

ITH

OB

EDIE

NC

EFR

EED

OM

LIFE

The

Way

of

Jesu

s

The

Way

of

Sat

an

JES

US

VS

. S

ATA

ND

em

ons

carr

y out

Sata

n’s

tactic

s on o

ur

ow

n,

pers

onal le

vel.

They

use

eve

ry m

eans

to b

lock

us

from

dra

win

g n

ear

to G

od

and

surr

end

erin

g

our

lives

to t

he L

ord

ship

of Je

sus.

Com

mon s

trate

gie

s of

these

evi

l sp

irits

are

to

cre

ate

doub

t, f

ear

and

unb

elie

f. T

hey

mag

nify

our

desi

re

to

love

havi

ng

contr

ol

ove

r o

ur

lives,

inclu

din

g c

om

fort

, p

ow

er

and

ap

pro

val

of

peop

le,

more

than t

he a

pp

rova

l and

lo

ve o

f

God

and

His

ways

. They

aro

use

our

em

otio

ns

to b

e a

ngry

, to

be r

ese

ntful,

to lu

st a

fter

thin

gs

and

peop

le a

nd

to e

ngage i

n s

elf-

dest

ructiv

e

ad

dic

tions.

If

they

cannot

tem

pt

us

into

sin

ful

behavi

or, then they

will c

ause

us

to b

e p

roud

of

not

com

mitt

ing o

vert

sin

s. P

ride,

and

prid

e i

n

the p

ers

onal c

ontr

ol o

f our

life,

is a

ro

ot

of si

n.

The H

oly

Sp

irit,

by

contr

ast

, giv

es

us

love

, jo

y,

peace,

patie

nce,

kind

ness

, gentle

ness

and

self-

contr

ol b

y H

is p

ow

er.

Sata

n’s

dem

ons

sed

uce p

eop

le in

vario

us

ways

in o

rder

to t

urn

them

aw

ay

from

Go

d’s

tru

th

and

His

way

of

livin

g.

Their

goal is

to

kill,

steal

and

dest

roy

the a

bund

ant

life J

esu

s b

ring

s to

His

Follo

wers

.

Read

: I

Tim

oth

y 4

:1

Jo

hn

10:7

-10

Lu

ke 9

:37-4

2

By

exe

rcis

ing

th

e

auth

orit

y and

sp

iritu

al

weap

ons

giv

en b

y Je

sus

to H

is t

rue b

elie

vers

,

you c

an b

e s

et

free o

f evi

l sp

irits

’ infl u

ences.

Ho

weve

r, t

hese

ag

ents

of

the D

ark

Kin

gd

om

will n

ot

giv

e u

p o

n o

pp

osi

ng

yo

u a

nd

alw

ays

tryi

ng

to

blo

ck

you fro

m li

ving

Go

d’s

way.

Sata

n

eve

n t

em

pte

d J

esu

s! S

tead

ily a

bid

ing

in J

esu

s

keep

s yo

u

fro

m

bein

g

an

easy

ta

rget

and

pro

tects

yo

u d

urin

g futu

re a

ttacks

.

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

IS J

ES

US

TH

E

LO

RD

OF Y

OU

R

LIF

E—

RE

ALLY

?To

liv

e v

icto

riousl

y is

to

keep

Jesu

s as

your

Lo

rd and

to

w

alk

in

th

e S

piri

t and

in

tr

uth

.

Pra

ctic

e l

ivin

g w

ithin

the g

uid

ing

prin

cip

les

of

IN C

HR

IST

JE

SU

S

inte

grit

y, f

aith

fuln

ess

, p

urit

y, c

om

pass

ion a

nd

forg

iveness

. B

e f

ully

sep

ara

ted

fro

m y

our

old

ways

and

the w

ays

of

the w

orld

by

purs

uin

g

Go

d’s

purp

ose

s fo

r yo

u.

Re

ad

: C

olo

ssia

ns 2

:6-1

5

I P

ete

r 1:1

3-1

9

II P

ete

r 1

:1-1

1

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

This

is

a

big

challe

nge.

What

hab

its

are

hin

derin

g y

our

sub

mis

sion t

o H

is L

ord

ship

?

What

chang

es

can y

ou m

ake

that

will h

elp

you

live o

ut—

in t

ruth

—th

e f

act

that

Chris

t is

Lord

ove

r all

in y

our

life?

Live

you

r lif

e un

der

the

auth

ority

of

both

the

Liv

ing

and

wri

tten

Wor

d of

G

od. A

bide

in H

im.

LIV

ING

VIC

TOR

IOU

SLY

6 Chap

ter

6 : p

age 2

1

IN C

HR

IST

JE

SU

S

LIV

ING

VIC

TOR

IOU

SLY

How

will this

und

ers

tand

ing c

hange y

our

life?

How

convi

nced

are

you t

hat

Jesu

s giv

es

you

the a

uth

orit

y to

op

pose

the e

vil i

n y

our

realm

of

infl u

ence?

Chap

ter

5 : p

age 2

0

Are

you r

ead

y to

confront

the e

vil op

posi

tion in

your

life? W

hat d

o y

ou h

op

e to g

ain

?

What w

ill b

e y

our fi r

st s

tep

s to

pre

pare

to fi

ght?

As

Jesu

s w

ent

ab

out

pre

achin

g t

he G

osp

el,

He h

eale

d the s

ick

and

cast

out m

any

dem

ons.

Jesu

s se

nt

out

His

ap

ost

les

to d

o li

kew

ise.

Re

ad

: M

att

he

w 8

:16

-17

M

att

he

w 1

0:5

-8

Dem

ons

can affe

ct

us

spiri

tually

, em

otio

nally

and

phys

ically

. Their

nam

e in

dic

ate

s th

eir

natu

re

(i.e.,

lust

, g

reed

, p

ride, fe

ar, e

tc.).

Dem

ons

can t

alk

and

have

und

ers

tand

ing

.

Re

ad

: L

uke

4:4

0-4

1

Evi

l sp

irits

can c

ause

phys

ical d

isease

.

Re

ad

: L

uke

13

:10

-16

M

att

he

w 1

2:2

2

A p

ers

on c

an h

ave

multi

ple

evi

l sp

irits

.

Re

ad

: M

ark

5:1

-13

L

uke

8:1

-3

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsIn

w

hat

ways

has

stud

ying

the

Scrip

ture

s

changed

my

und

ers

tand

ing c

oncern

ing e

vil,

su-

pern

atu

ral b

ein

gs

and

their

natu

re a

nd

activ

ities?

Chap

ter

2 : p

age 9

Ho

w m

ight

my

life b

e i

nfl u

enced

by

the D

evi

l

and

his

evi

l sp

irits

?

What chang

es

in m

y lif

e w

ould

pro

tect m

e fro

m

ung

od

ly infl u

ences?

Why

sho

uld

I b

e w

illin

g to

make

these

changes?

What

wo

uld

be a

help

ful fi

rst

ste

p?

Chap

ter

3 : p

age 1

0

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

We

are

in

und

ate

d

tod

ay

by

fals

e

belie

fs,

decep

tions

and

te

mp

tatio

ns

that

com

e from

this

perv

ert

ed

world

we li

ve in

. O

ur

sinfu

l natu

re

is s

usc

ep

tible

to b

ein

g i

nfl u

enced

and

mis

led

by

these

ideas

and

images.

They

ap

peal t

o o

ur

ow

n d

esi

re fo

r ap

pro

val,

contr

ol,

wealth

and

com

fort

. S

ata

n a

nd

his

host

of

dem

ons

are

the

pow

ers

behin

d t

hese

evi

l infl u

ences.

TH

E W

OR

LD

The cultu

re w

e liv

e in

op

pose

s, te

mp

ts,

op

-

pre

sses

and

dis

tracts

us

from

livi

ng G

od

’s w

ay.

The c

om

mitt

ed

follo

wers

of

Jesu

s are

in t

he

world

, b

ut th

ey

are

not to

be “

of th

e w

orld

.” W

e

are

not

to l

ove

the w

orld

or

the t

hin

gs

of

this

world

. W

e w

ere

form

erly

of

the w

orld

, b

ut

now

we a

re s

et

ap

art

and

sanctifi

ed

by

His

Sp

irit

for

God

’s p

urp

ose

s.

Read

: Jo

hn

17:1

1-2

1

I J

oh

n 2

:15-1

7

Co

lossia

ns 1

:9-1

4

The E

nlig

hte

nm

ent

era

mix

ed

bib

lical t

ruth

with

secula

r logic

. The c

urr

ent n

eo-p

agan m

ove

ment

is r

ed

efi n

ing G

od

into

a g

od

dess

and

rep

lacin

g

spiri

tual t

ruth

s w

ith s

piri

tual lie

s. T

his

sp

iritu

alis

m

just

ifi es

wors

hip

of

the c

reatio

n i

nst

ead

of

the

Cre

ato

r and

th

us

legaliz

es

imm

ora

lity—

since

we

are

p

art

of

the

cre

atio

n.

Com

pro

mis

ed

bib

lical

truth

s and

pagan s

piri

tualit

y are

bo

th

und

er

jud

gm

ent

from

the G

od

of

Truth

—“.

..th

e

only

wis

e G

od

.”

Read

: R

om

an

s 1

:18-3

2;

16:2

5-2

7

I T

imo

thy 1

:17

Ju

de 1

:24-2

5

We

are

to

lo

ve

our

Cre

ato

r G

od

fi r

st

and

fore

most

. W

e c

an b

e t

hankf

ul fo

r all

the g

oo

d

thin

gs

He

has

cre

ate

d

for

our

benefi t

: o

ur

bountif

ul

countr

y, f

ood

, sh

elte

r, p

rovi

sio

n a

nd

work

. The s

ub

tle d

anger

is l

ooki

ng t

o t

hese

world

ly thin

gs

to fu

lfi ll

us

and

giv

e u

s p

eace a

nd

hap

pin

ess

. They

can b

ecom

e id

ols

in t

hat

they

hold

p

rom

ise b

ut

cannot

meet

our

deep

est

need

s. P

eace a

nd

fulfi

llment

are

ble

ssin

gs

that

only

God

can p

rovi

de. W

hen w

e m

ake

Go

d fi

rst

in o

ur lif

e, all

His

cre

atio

n a

nd

gift

s—fa

mily

, re

st,

food

, sh

elte

r, f

riend

ship

, se

x, r

ecre

atio

n,

etc

.

will b

ecom

e e

ven m

ore

meanin

gfu

l.

Read

: M

ark

12:2

8-3

1

Matt

hew

10

:37

-39

It is

the

Spi

rit

who

giv

es li

fe; t

he

fl esh

profi t

s no

thin

g. J

ohn

6:63

a

AN

D O

UR

FLE

SH

TH

E W

OR

LD

3T

HE

BIB

LE

The B

ible

, th

e W

ord

of G

od

, ass

ure

s b

elie

vers

of

Jesu

s’ K

ingd

om

Auth

orit

y.

In a

ny

spiri

tual b

att

le, w

e d

o w

hat Je

sus

did

: W

e

speak

the W

ord

of

God

. H

is W

ord

is

livin

g a

nd

activ

e a

nd

sharp

er

than a

tw

o-e

dged

sw

ord

.

Our

Imm

anuel G

od

is w

ith y

ou.

Your

thoughts

are

not

His

thoughts

nor

are

your

ways

His

ways

. H

is W

ord

will a

ccom

plis

h t

he

purp

ose

for

whic

h it

is s

poke

n o

n y

our

behalf.

Re

ad

: L

uke

4:1

-13

H

eb

rew

s 4

:12

-16

Isa

iah

55

:8-1

1

Befo

re e

nte

ring in

to a

sp

iritu

al b

att

le, b

e s

ure

that

you in

voke

the H

oly

Sp

irit

to le

ad

and

em

pow

er

you.

Pra

ying t

hro

ugh t

he s

ituatio

n w

ith o

ne o

r

more

matu

re B

elie

vers

, as

well

as

goin

g i

nto

batt

le in

gro

up

s is

wis

e c

ounse

l. In

God

’s fam

ily,

we a

re n

ot su

pp

ose

d to fi

ght alo

ne.

Re

ad

: A

cts

19

:11

-17

M

att

he

w 1

7:1

4-2

1

Ma

rk 6

:7

Recogniz

ing t

he r

ealit

y of

the f

orc

es

op

posi

ng

you

req

uire

s aw

are

ness

, d

iscern

ment

and

wis

dom

. You m

ust

learn

to t

rust

God

’s W

ord

and

His

sup

ern

atu

ral w

eap

ons

by

cla

imin

g them

and

usi

ng t

hem

in f

aith

. H

is t

ruth

does

set

you

free.

Re

ad

: I P

ete

r 5

:8-1

1

Ja

me

s 1

:5-8

He

bre

ws 5

:11

-14

J

oh

n 8

:31

-36

Chap

ter

5 : p

age 1

9

If yo

u a

re u

nd

er

the a

uth

orit

y of

the L

ord

ship

of

Jesu

s in

your lif

e y

ou a

re g

iven a

uth

orit

y ove

r evi

l

spiri

ts b

y th

e W

ord

of G

od

. You c

an b

ind

sata

nic

activ

ity. You a

re c

alle

d to d

o a

s Je

sus

did

: to

set

the c

ap

tives

free b

y th

e p

ow

er

of H

is H

oly

Sp

irit

in y

ou.

Re

ad

: M

att

he

w 8

:5-1

0; 10:5

-8; 18:1

8-2

0

Lu

ke

4:1

7-1

9

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsIn

a

para

gra

ph,

sum

mariz

e

what

you

now

und

ers

tand

ab

out th

e s

up

ern

atu

ral s

piri

t w

orld

.

After

stud

ying t

he S

crip

ture

s and

consi

derin

g

the e

xpla

natio

ns

in t

his

”S

piri

tual B

att

le f

or

Your

Life

” st

ud

y, h

ow

do y

ou v

iew

what

is g

oin

g o

n

now

in the w

orld

aro

und

you?

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

The a

gents

of

the K

ingd

om

of

Dark

ness

are

perv

asi

ve

and

p

ow

erf

ul,

but

their

pow

er

is

limite

d.

God

is

and

alw

ays

will b

e s

ove

reig

n.

You d

o n

ot have

to b

e a

casu

alty

in the b

att

le fo

r

your

faith

. You c

an o

verc

om

e y

our

ad

vers

arie

s

if yo

u

ab

ide

in

Jesu

s and

use

th

e

spiri

tual

weap

ons

He h

as

pro

vid

ed

.

Read

: I Jo

hn

4:1

-4

Chap

ter

5 : p

age 1

8

PR

AY

ER

This

is

a sp

iritu

al

war, so

th

e w

eap

ons

you

em

plo

y m

ust

be s

piri

tual.

Pra

yer

em

po

were

d

by

the H

oly

Sp

irit is

the w

ay

to b

egin

the b

att

le.

You m

ust

be c

om

munic

atin

g w

ith J

esu

s and

ab

idin

g i

n H

im.

Ulti

mate

ly,

you m

ust

em

bra

ce

God

’s w

ill a

nd

His

pla

ns

for

you. B

y liv

ing

in this

way

you w

ill m

ain

tain

the s

up

ern

atu

ral p

ow

er o

f

the H

oly

Sp

irit

with

in y

ou.

Read

: A

cts

1:7

-8

Ro

man

s 8

:26-2

8

II C

ori

nth

ian

s 1

0:3

-5

TH

E N

AM

E o

f JE

SU

SThe N

am

e o

f Je

sus

giv

es

your

pra

yer

auth

orit

y

if it

com

es

from

a s

incere

com

mitm

ent

to H

im

and

in

accord

ance

with

G

od

’s

will

and

H

is

Word

. You a

re c

laim

ing y

our

deliv

era

nce f

rom

the p

ow

er

of

sin a

nd

evi

l sp

irits

by

taki

ng

yo

ur

stand

up

on t

he N

am

e a

nd

the s

hed

blo

od

of

Jesu

s to

set

you fre

e.

Read

: Jo

hn

16:2

3-2

7

Lu

ke 1

0:1

7-2

1

Acts

16:1

6-1

8

Revela

tio

n 1

2:7

-12

In J

esus

you

are

mor

e po

wer

ful

than

the

ene

my.

YO

UR

WE

AP

ON

S

SP

IRIT

UA

L W

AR

FAR

E

5

Chap

ter

3 : p

age 1

1

With

th

e

po

wer

of

the

Ho

ly

Sp

irit

we

can

ove

rco

me t

he w

orld

’s u

ng

od

ly i

nfl u

ences.

We

part

icula

rly n

eed

to

min

imiz

e t

he i

nfl u

ences

of

unhealth

y re

latio

nsh

ips

and

our exp

osu

re to

the

toxi

ns

of th

e m

ed

ia. In

stead

, w

e a

re t

o p

ractic

e

fi llin

g o

ur

min

ds

with

Go

d’s

Wo

rd a

nd

health

y

tho

ug

hts

.

Re

ad

: I Jo

hn

5:1

-5, 2

1

Ro

ma

ns 1

2:1

-3

Ph

ilip

pia

ns 4

:6-9

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

In w

hat w

ays

are

yo

u s

ignifi

cantly

infl u

enced

by

our

cultu

re?

Whic

h

imp

ort

ant

thin

gs

in

your

life

are

yo

u

loo

king

to

fo

r fu

lfi llm

ent?

What

can y

ou c

hange t

o r

ed

uce t

he infl u

ence

of th

e w

orld

on y

our

life?

OU

R F

LE

SH

Fo

r th

e

purp

ose

of

this

st

ud

y,

our fl e

sh

is

co

nsi

dere

d t

o b

e t

he n

atu

re a

nd

chara

cte

r w

e

were

bo

rn w

ith.

Bib

lically

, it

is a

lso r

efe

rred

to

as,

“th

e o

ld n

atu

re,”

“th

e o

ld m

an”

and

“th

e

old

se

lf.”

These

re

fere

nces

have

a

negativ

e

co

nno

tatio

n b

ecause

they

rep

rese

nt our natu

ral

traits

th

at

som

etim

es

infl u

ence our

att

itud

es

and

activ

ities

in a

n u

ngod

ly w

ay.

When y

ou c

om

mitt

ed

your

life t

o t

he L

ord

ship

of

Jesu

s, y

ou w

ere

sp

iritu

ally

born

again

and

giv

en a

new

natu

re w

hen t

he H

oly

Sp

irit

cam

e

into

yo

ur

heart

. T

he s

up

ern

atu

ral,

transf

orm

ing

wo

rks

of

Go

d a

re t

hen d

one b

y th

e p

ow

er

of

His

S

piri

t w

ork

ing

in

yo

u—

not

thro

ugh yo

ur

ow

n h

um

an e

ffort

.

Re

ad

: Jo

hn

3:3

-7; 6:6

3-6

4

Tit

us 3

:1-7

Eze

kie

l 3

6:2

4-2

8

Chap

ter

3 : p

age 1

2

By

faith

w

e

are

to

consi

der

our

old

natu

re

cru

cifi

ed

with

Chris

t Je

sus

so t

hat

we a

re n

o

longer

to b

e s

lave

s to

sin

. W

e c

an w

alk

in t

he

new

ness

of

the

life

ava

ilab

le

to

us

thro

ugh

Jesu

s and

exh

ibit

the fru

it of H

is S

piri

t. B

ap

tism

beautif

ully

sym

boliz

es

the o

ld m

an (

our fl e

sh)

bein

g b

urie

d a

nd

the “

new

man”

rais

ed

with

Chris

t in

to n

ew

life

.

Read

: G

ala

tian

s 2

:20; 5:1

6-2

6

Ro

man

s 6

:1-2

2; 8:5

-17

Sin

ce w

e h

ave

been g

iven n

ew

sp

iritual

life,

our

sinfu

l natu

re d

oesn

’t h

ave

to

do

min

ate

our

belie

fs a

nd

pra

ctices

any

long

er. T

he c

halle

ng

e

is t

o h

ave

the h

um

ility

, co

mm

itm

ent

and

self-

co

ntr

ol

to

co

op

era

te

with

the

transf

orm

ing

wo

rk o

f th

e H

oly

Sp

irit.

We c

anno

t chang

e

ours

elv

es

by

our

ow

n

effo

rts,

no

m

att

er

ho

w d

ilig

ently

we tr

y. W

e w

ill o

nly

b

eco

me

dis

co

ura

ged

. A

s w

e m

atu

re in

o

ur

walk

o

f

faith,

we a

re g

rad

ually

bein

g t

ransf

orm

ed

by

His

Sp

irit f

rom

the in

sid

e o

ut.

Read

: I C

ori

nth

ian

s 2

:9-1

6

Co

lossia

ns 3

:1-1

0

II C

ori

nth

ian

s 3

:17-1

8

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsW

hat i

s d

iffere

nt i

n y

our lif

e s

ince y

ou c

om

mitt

ed

it to

Jesu

s?

What

would

you m

ost

lik

e J

esu

s to

change i

n

you n

ow

?

What

is y

our

next

ste

p t

o c

oop

era

te w

ith t

he

Holy

Sp

irit

in b

ringin

g a

bout

this

change?

Ac

tio

n S

TEP

4A

cti

on

STE

P 5

Chap

ter

4 : p

age 1

7

Fre

quently

ask

the L

ord

for

His

str

ength

and

pow

er

of

His

Holy

Sp

irit

to b

e o

pera

ting in

your

life. P

ray

to r

eceiv

e a

ll of H

is g

ifts

and

the fru

it of

the H

oly

Sp

irit th

at H

e b

rings.

Re

ad

: E

ph

esia

ns 3

:14

-21

I C

ori

nth

ian

s 1

2:4

-12

G

ala

tia

ns 5

:22

-25

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

ns

Whic

h o

f th

e g

ifts

of

His

Holy

Sp

irit

have

you

exp

erie

nced

?

Lis

t th

e f

ruits

of

His

Sp

irit

that

you f

eel are

not

fully

deve

lop

ed

in y

ou? A

sk t

he L

ord

to m

atu

re

those

fru

its.

Ask

Him

: “I

s th

ere

is

a r

easo

n t

hat

is h

ind

erin

g the g

row

th o

f these

fruits

in m

y lif

e?”

An im

port

ant

pre

para

tion fo

r sp

iritu

al

warfare

com

mand

ed

by

the a

post

le P

aul

is t

o “

put

on

the f

ull

arm

or

of

God

” so

you c

an s

tand

fi rm

ly

in th

e Lord

w

ith H

is st

rength

. Then,

pra

ying

and

lis

tenin

g t

o H

is S

piri

t is

His

chose

n w

ay

to

est

ab

lish

your

com

munic

atio

n

with

yo

ur

Com

mand

er

for

resi

stin

g e

vil a

ttacks

.

Re

ad

: E

ph

esia

ns 6

:10-1

8

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nD

o y

ou r

egula

rly p

rote

ct

yours

elf

by

putt

ing o

n

the fu

ll arm

or of G

od

? H

ow

do y

ou s

uit

up

in H

is

arm

or?

(desc

ribe)

** M

y P

raye

r o

f C

om

mit

me

nt

Lord

Jesu

s, I

need

you.

I b

elie

ve Y

ou a

re t

he

Son o

f God

and

that G

od

Your Fath

er ra

ised

You

from

the d

ead

. P

lease

forg

ive m

e o

f all

of

my

sins.

I r

ep

ent

of

all

my

sinfu

l d

esi

res

and

ways

and

want

to follo

w Y

ou a

s m

y Lord

and

Savi

or.

I

op

en t

he d

oor

of

my

heart

to Y

ou n

ow

and

ask

You t

o t

ake

contr

ol of

my

life.

Change m

e into

the p

ers

on Y

ou p

lanned

and

want

me t

o b

e.

Thank

You f

or

dyi

ng o

n t

he c

ross

for

my

sins

and

giv

ing m

e the g

ift o

f an e

tern

al l

ife w

ith Y

ou!

In Y

our

Nam

e I

pra

y, A

men.

Sig

natu

re:

Date

:

In s

om

e a

reas

we c

annot

see o

urs

elv

es

cle

arly

.

In the s

piri

t of P

salm

139:2

3-2

4, ask

the L

ord

or

a f

riend

to h

elp

you s

ee y

our

blin

d s

pots

. W

rite

them

dow

n.

Confe

ss t

he r

eve

ale

d s

ins

and

turn

aw

ay

from

them

.

Hum

ble

yours

elf.

We c

annot

change o

urs

elv

es

but

we c

an h

um

ble

ours

elv

es.

The L

ord

will d

o

it fo

r us

if w

e d

on’t.

Be a

dis

cip

le w

ho s

erv

es.

Consi

der

oth

ers

as

more

im

port

ant

than

yours

elf.

Jesu

s is

your

mod

el.

God

op

pose

s th

e

pro

ud

and

giv

es

gra

ce to the h

um

ble

. H

ow

then

can y

ou s

erv

e?

Read

: M

att

hew

23:1

0-1

2

Ph

ilip

pia

ns 2

:3-1

1

Jam

es 4

:6-1

0

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nLis

t at

least

3 t

hin

gs

you w

ill d

o in

your

daily

life

to h

um

ble

yours

elf.

It is

ess

entia

l to

forg

ive e

very

one y

ou h

ave

felt

offe

nd

ed

you. This

is a

bib

lical c

om

mand

. W

hen

you o

bey,

the L

ord

will fo

rgiv

e y

ou. U

nfo

rgiv

eness

is t

he r

oot

of

bitt

ern

ess

; it

is l

ike a

cancer

that

sile

ntly

gro

ws

ove

r tim

e.

Sata

n u

ses

rese

ntm

ent

to b

lock

God

’s p

eace in

your

life.

Read

: M

att

hew

6:1

4-1

5

Heb

rew

s 1

2:1

1-1

5

II C

ori

nth

ian

s 2

:9-1

1

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsE

xpla

in

why

forg

iveness

is

so

ab

solu

tely

necess

ary

for

your

sake

.

Ask

the L

ord

to g

ive y

ou t

he n

am

es

of eve

ryone

you need

to

fo

rgiv

e.

Make

a lis

t (b

elo

w)

and

choose

to f

org

ive t

hem

wheth

er

they

dese

rve it

or

not, o

r eve

n if

you feel l

ike it

or

not. T

his

must

becom

e a

hab

itual,

ongoin

g p

ers

onal

pra

ctic

e

wheneve

r yo

u a

re o

ffend

ed

in the futu

re.

Chap

ter

4 : p

age 1

6

Ac

tio

n S

TEP

2

Ac

tio

n S

TEP

3

Chap

ter

4 : p

age 1

3

The r

ele

ntle

ss a

ttacks

of

evi

l b

y S

ata

n a

nd

his

min

ions

up

on G

od

’s p

eop

le w

ill n

eve

r cease

until

the r

etu

rn o

f th

e L

ord

Jesu

s to

rule

and

reig

n

ove

r th

e e

art

h.

Jesu

s’ b

less

ings

as

our

way

of

life c

an b

e s

ecure

d b

y our

willin

g e

ngagem

ent in

spiri

tual w

arfare

.

Rea

d t

he

subje

ct i

ntr

oduct

ions

and s

crip

ture

s.

Consi

der

the

prim

ary

emphas

is a

nd th

e co

nte

xt in

whic

h it

is p

rese

nte

d. Then

, an

swer

the

per

sonal

refl e

ctio

n q

ues

tions.

SP

IRIT

UA

L B

AT

TLE

Regard

less

of

wheth

er

you b

elie

ve it

or

und

er-

stand

it, y

ou a

re in

a s

piri

tual b

att

le. I

f you c

hoose

to liv

e f

or

Jesu

s, y

ou a

re u

nd

er

His

pro

tectio

n.

If yo

u d

o n

ot

choose

God

’s w

ay,

you a

re b

y

defa

ult

sub

ject

to S

ata

n’s

dom

ain

: th

e K

ingd

om

of D

ark

ness

. There

is n

o n

eutr

al g

round

.

Sold

iers

tr

ain

b

efo

re

goin

g

into

b

att

le.

They

must

be w

ell

pre

pare

d p

hys

ically

, m

enta

lly a

nd

em

otio

nally

. S

old

iers

must

learn

the p

rincip

les

of

the a

rmy,

becom

e d

iscip

lined

to f

ollo

w a

nd

ap

ply

th

em

and

le

arn

to

ob

ey

com

mand

s

with

out q

uest

ion.

In S

piri

tual W

arfare

you tra

in s

piri

tually

by

pra

yer,

Bib

le

stud

y and

ob

ed

ience.

Pra

yer

offe

red

thro

ugh a p

ers

onal

rela

tionsh

ip w

ith Je

sus

is

your com

munic

atio

n w

ith y

our C

om

mand

er.

You

learn

God

’s w

ays

and

what

He e

xpects

of

you

thro

ugh s

tud

ying t

he B

ible

and

lis

tenin

g t

o H

is

Holy

Sp

irit. Y

ou b

ecom

e d

iscip

lined

and

tra

ined

to o

bey

by

pra

ctic

ing li

fe a

ccord

ing to H

is w

ay.

Sold

iers

are

norm

ally

fo

rmed

in

to

units

and

train

ed

by

vete

rans.

They

learn

the p

rincip

les

of

warfare

and

how

to u

se t

he w

eap

ons

they

will

need

. The m

en i

n t

he u

nit

learn

to d

ep

end

on

each o

ther

in c

om

bat. If

they

don’t p

rote

ct each

oth

er,

they

will b

e k

illed

by

the e

nem

y.

As

dis

cip

les

in G

od

’s A

rmy,

we a

re t

rain

ed

for

batt

le b

y m

atu

re C

hris

tian le

ad

ers

who teach u

s

the p

rincip

les

and

tru

ths

of

God

’s W

ord

. They

eq

uip

us

to u

se H

is w

eap

ons

of s

piri

tual w

arfare

.

We le

arn

to

b

and

to

geth

er

in fe

llow

ship

w

ith

oth

er

belie

vers

in the B

od

y of C

hris

t as

we tra

in.

Re

ad

: E

ph

esia

ns 4

:11-1

6

Whe

n yo

u ar

e a

com

mitt

ed

follo

wer

of

Jesu

s C

hris

t, yo

u ar

e en

gage

d in

a w

ar.

YO

UR

TR

AIN

ING

SP

IRIT

UA

L W

AR

FAR

E

YO

UR

TR

AIN

ING

4

AR

E Y

OU

IN G

OD

’S

KIN

GD

OM

AR

MY

?You m

ust

be b

orn

of

the S

piri

t in

ord

er

to b

e in

the K

ingd

om

of G

od

and

a p

art

of H

is A

rmy.

You

are

a tru

e d

iscip

le w

hen y

ou b

elie

ve in

, ad

here

to

and

tru

st in

Jesu

s C

hris

t as

your

Com

mand

er.

Read

: Jo

hn

3:3

-7; 10:1

-11

** S

ee e

nd o

f th

is s

essi

on for

the

pra

yer

of co

m-

mitm

ent to

Jes

us

as y

our ow

n L

ord

and S

avio

r.

TR

AIN

ING

FO

R

BA

TT

LE

The B

ible

is o

ur

train

ing m

anual f

or

part

icip

atio

n

in

God

’s

Arm

y.

As

a

com

mitt

ed

so

ldie

r fo

r

Chris

t, w

e le

arn

the L

ord

’s w

ays

by

its s

tud

y and

choose

to li

ve b

y th

em

—ra

ther

than b

y w

hat w

e

want, w

e t

hin

k, o

r w

e f

eel.

To b

e p

rep

are

d f

or

spiri

tual b

att

le,

we m

ust

be h

ab

itually

pra

ctic

ing

a s

old

ier-

like, d

iscip

lined

life

.

Read

: M

att

hew

7:2

4-2

7

Lu

ke 9

:23

-25

II T

imo

thy 2

:1-4

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsH

ow

are

you p

ractic

ing li

ving G

od

’s w

ay?

Recogniz

ing t

hat

evi

l sp

irits

are

infl u

encin

g y

our

life c

an b

e m

ore

than u

nse

ttlin

g fo

r any

of u

s. A

re

you w

illin

g to a

ccep

t th

is realit

y in

your lif

e? If

you

are

, ask

the L

ord

Jesu

s to

show

you w

hat

and

how

they

infl u

ence y

ou.

Keep

ask

ing u

ntil

He

reve

als

a c

lear

answ

er

that yo

u c

an w

rite d

ow

n.

If yo

u

don’t

belie

ve

there

are

su

pern

atu

ral

ob

stacle

s to

your

walk

with

Jesu

s, a

sk H

im t

o

show

th

em

to

yo

u.

Keep

ask

ing fo

r sp

iritu

al

dis

cern

ment

until

yo

u

can

identif

y and

w

rite

dow

n these

ob

stacle

s.

Chap

ter

4 : p

age 1

4

TAK

E A

CTIO

N

Confe

ss all

know

n si

ns

you have

com

mitt

ed

again

st G

od

and

His

way

of

livin

g.

Rep

ent

and

turn

aw

ay

from

them

so y

ou c

an b

e f

org

iven—

and

not le

ave

an o

pen d

oor fo

r th

e d

evi

l’s d

esi

re.

If yo

u a

re n

ot

willin

g t

o g

ive u

p a

bad

hab

it, a

sk

the L

ord

to m

ake

you w

illin

g.

Re

ad

: I Jo

hn

1:5

-10

Jam

es 5

:16

Pers

onal

Refl

ect

ion

Que

stio

nsW

hat si

ns

do y

ou n

eed

to c

onfe

ss to the L

ord

?

What

sin a

re y

ou w

rest

ling w

ith t

hat

you n

eed

accounta

bility

and

help

w

ith?

Confe

ss

it to

anoth

er

pers

on. W

hom

will y

ou c

hoose

?

The H

oly

Sp

irit

with

in y

ou w

ill t

rain

and

eq

uip

you

for

war

in

the

spiri

t re

alm

. H

e

reve

als

God

’s W

ord

and

His

ways

. You c

an d

eve

lop

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lead

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tentio

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elf

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bid

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Re

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: Jo

hn

14

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-18

, 2

6

Jo

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16

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II T

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thy 3

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-17

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Pers

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Refl

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stio

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lead

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you w

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yours

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doin

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thin

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Unholy

activ

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and

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evi

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sup

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batt

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taki

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in this

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freed

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your

bad

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Re

ad

: R

om

an

s 7

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-8:2

Ac

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TEP

1

Chap

ter

4 : p

age 1

5