Equipping For Ministry. Phase III. Spiritual Warfare-I. Pocket Principles and Guided Discussions. For Leaders

Transcription

1 Equipping For Ministry Phase III Spiritual Warfare-I Pocket Principles and Guided Discussions For Leaders

2 Spiritual Warfare-I, Pocket Principles and Guided Discussions, For Leaders Equipping For Ministry Second Edition Copyright by Worldwide Discipleship Association, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of these documents may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of Worldwide Discipleship Association. These documents may not be changed in any way or distributed for profit. For copyright information: Worldwide Discipleship Association (Attention: Margaret Garner) P.O. Box Fayetteville, GA USA Web Site: Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The following Bible versions are also used: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois All Rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NOTE: In an effort to recognize that both men and women are co-heirs of God s grace, we have chosen to use alternating gender pronouns in this document. However, we do recognize and embrace gender-specific roles in Scripture. Development Team: Bob Dukes Margaret Garner Jack Larson Margo Theivagt Writing Team: Margaret Garner Jack Larson Jon Long Publishing Team: Nila Duffitt Buddy Eades Margaret Garner David Parfitt Design by Cristina van de Hoeve doodlingdesigner.com

3 A Welcome from WDA s President Worldwide Discipleship Association, Inc. Let me congratulate you on your decision to learn more about ministering to others in the name of Jesus Christ. This decision is critical in your continued growth as a disciple. Knowing basic principles of spiritual warfare is a key to having a successful disciple building ministry. These studies will give you and others a beginning understanding of the person and role of Satan in the world and in the life of a Christian. We in WDA want to help you grow as a disciple and become all you can be in Christ Jesus! Because you have chosen to lead, we want to do all we can to support you. In addition to the materials provided in this workbook, we would like to also offer you a free download of the Teaching Outlines for Spiritual Warfare-I, spiritual-warfare-i-teaching-outlines-free-download. My prayer and confident belief is that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6) so that He is able to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. (Jude 1:24) To Him be glory and praise! May God richly bless you as you strive to grow in Him. Bob Dukes President, Worldwide Discipleship Association, Inc. Fayetteville, GA 30214

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5 Spiritual Warfare-I Table of Contents: Leader b Leader s Instructions: Pocket Principles c Leader s Instructions: Guided Discussions #1 The Great Spiritual Battle 1 Pocket Principle 8 Guided Discussion #2 The Sovereignty Of God Over Evil 11 Pocket Principle 17 Guided Discussion #3 Satan s Demise 20 Pocket Principle 26 Guided Discussion #4 The Present Battle 29 Pocket Principle 36 Guided Discussion 39 About WDA

6 Leader s Instructions For Using Pocket Principles What is a Pocket Principle? Each Pocket Principle is a brief essay that focuses on a single topic necessary to the growth and maturity of a Christian. The 4 Pocket Principles, in Spiritual Warfare-I, give the growing Christian a beginning understanding of the person and role of Satan in the world and in the everyday life of a Christian. Using Pocket Principles in a Guided Discussion (small group) format: You will notice that after each Pocket Principle is a corresponding Guided Discussion. The students who are studying Spiritual Warfare-I in Equipping For Ministry (Phase III) need to read the corresponding Pocket Principle before coming to the Guided Discussion. At this point in her maturity, a Christian is able to take on more responsibility and should expect to be asked to complete assignments. For more information about this, go to our website at www. disciplebuilding.org/about/phases-of-christian-growth/2. The content of the Pocket Principles reinforces truth learned in the group discussion. If a group member misses a meeting, she will be able to get the important information from the Pocket Principle. Using Bible Readings: The booklet entitled Bible Readings for Devotional Use (for Phase III) is for the student to use in his devotional times. The Bible readings (for a year) focus on the books of Luke, Acts, Galatians, Ruth, Joshua, Judges and some of the Psalms. These books have been chosen because they emphasize many of the topics studied in the Equipping For Ministry series. If the student has already begun using the Bible Readings in Phase II, he should continue. Using Pocket Principles in a Life Coaching (one-one) format: Pocket Principles can also be used effectively in an interactive one-one relationship. In this arrangement we suggest that the Life Coach (discipler) ask the student to read the Pocket Principle beforehand so the material can be discussed during the one-one appointment. The Life Coach needs to tailor expectations to the maturity of the student. The material contained in the corresponding Guided Discussion for Leaders will help a Life Coach prepare for the appointment. (For more information about preparing for a Life Coaching appointment, please consult the Disciple Building: Life Coaching manual at www. disciplebuilding.org/product-category/life-coaching.) b

7 Leader s Instructions For Using Guided Discussions The 4 Guided Discussions, in Spiritual Warfare-I, give the growing Christian a beginning understanding of the person and role of Satan in the world and in the everyday life of a Christian. The Student (disciple) should read the corresponding Pocket Principle before taking part in the Guided Discussion. Guided Discussions for small groups play an important role in the growth of a Christian with the major goal being interaction around Scripture. The goal of disciple building is not just knowledge, but Christlikeness in character and conduct. Therefore, application is essential. (Sections Looking At Real Life and Looking At My Life are application oriented.) At least one-third of the small group discussion time should be spent discussing application of the truth. It is often tempting to get caught up in the content part of the study, but you, as the leader, are responsible to move the group along to application. A word needs to be said about the relationship between Pocket Principles and Guided Discussions. The content of both is generally the same, although not identical. These two formats provide different ways of presenting the same content, in order to reinforce the content. (Another type of WDA material is Teaching Outlines. These are designed to be used by a teacher who wants to present the content in a lecture format to a larger group. Free Teaching Outlines can be downloaded from There are two versions of each study: the Leader s version with questions, answers and special notes, and the Student version with questions, but no answers. Answers and notes to leaders are in gray, italicized text. Much of the preparation has been done for you as a leader: topics and Scriptures have been chosen, and questions written. However, it is important that you become comfortable with the material so that you will be able to be flexible and focus on the needs of your group. In A Small Groups Manual (WDA), you will find information about the practical aspects of group leadership. Please refer to the section titled Practical Dynamics Of Small Group Leadership. This is available from the WDA store at small-groups-manual. c

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9 Pocket Principle Good guys and bad guys. Heroes and villains. There is a reason that a large number of the stories we read and the movies we watch trace these themes. Everything from simple childhood tales like Little Red Riding Hood to sophisticated adult science fiction dramas like Star Wars portray the conflict. The truth is that these stories, perhaps often unknowingly, reflect a key spiritual reality there really is an ongoing cosmic battle between the good guys and the bad guys, between the forces of good and evil. The battle is played out between nations, between groups of people, between members of the same family and, at times, within the heart of a single person. It is not just your imagination when life seems difficult. You are in a spiritual battle. The battle is not just out there. It is cosmic, yet it is close. It is of vast proportions, yet it is intensely personal. THE UNRECOGNIZED BATTLE 1 The Great Spiritual Battle If the battle we are in is so significant, why is it that we are often largely unaware of the conflict? The battle is difficult to recognize at times for several reasons: We acknowledge that life is difficult, but it is easy to attribute most of the pain, brokenness, and sorrow around us to living in a fallen world. Certainly, the events recorded in Genesis chapter three had devastating effects, but that is only one chapter in the story. If we see the Fall as the beginning and source of all that is wrong in this world, we fail to recognize the Fall as one battle (although admittedly a major one) in the larger ongoing war. It can also be difficult to recognize the battle because evil often presents itself as good. Satan is known as the angel of light, and he can easily make darkness seem as light. It is the subtle deceptions rather than the obvious lies that lull us into complacency. Lastly, it is difficult to recognize because part of the battle is in the seen world (the realm of our physical senses) and part of the battle is in the unseen world (the invisible spiritual realm). The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians that we wrestle not against flesh and blood (the visible realm) 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 (the invisible realm) (Ephesians 6:12). In a story recorded in II Kings chapter six, Scripture allows us a glimpse behind the stage curtain into the reality of the unseen battle. The King of Aram, an enemy of Israel, had sent a great army with chariots and horses to capture the 1

10 prophet Elisha. Elisha s servant was very frightened when he looked out the door and saw these enemies surrounding the city. Don t be afraid! Elisha told him, For there are more on our side than on theirs! Then Elisha prayed, O Lord, open his eyes and let him see! The Lord opened the young man s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (II Kings 6:16-17, New Living Translation). These servants of the Lord had been sent to preserve the life of Elisha. If, like Elisha, we were able to perceive the full range of events constantly at play about us, we would be amazed at the extent of activity in the unseen realm. The battle is not just out there. It is cosmic, yet it is close. It is of vast proportions, yet it is intensely personal. This spiritual battle is ongoing and will continue until God chooses to end it at the return of Christ. Christians, as a part of the army of God, need to learn all they can about their enemy and how to fight effectively. As mentioned above, Paul told his readers that their real battle is not against flesh and blood but against evil supernatural forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The following Pocket Principles in this series will provide more information on how Christians are to be engaged in this battle. At this point, we are simply trying to grasp the reality of it. We see then that the world is the setting for a great spiritual battle between two powerful kingdoms. Let s take a closer look at these two kingdoms so that we can better understand the conflict between them. SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM Satan leads a powerful, evil kingdom that opposes God and His people. But who is this adversary, and why is he set in opposition against God? Based on popular conceptions, most people have no idea who he really is. Contrary to comic book or television sitcom portrayals, Satan is not cute and he is not amusing. Lighthearted references such as, The Devil made me do it, or playing the Devil s advocate only serve to underscore that we do not take him seriously. Satan s Origin While most of what Scripture tells us about Satan s origin is written in figurative language, we still are able to understand certain things about him. In Ezekiel chapter 28 the prophet Ezekiel conveyed a message to the king of Tyre, but his message appears to also apply to Satan. In it we learn that Satan was a highly favored angelic being, with great power and privilege. However, he was not satisfied with his exalted position and his pride led him to rebel against God. The prophet Isaiah captured Satan s intent in these words, I will raise my throne 2

11 Pocket Principle 1 above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:13-14) Satan paid a great price for his rebellion. In the Apostle John s revelation, he records that there was a great battle in heaven between Satan and his angels and the archangel Michael and his angels, resulting in the expulsion of Satan and his followers from heaven (Revelation 12:1-9). The reference to one third of the stars in verse 4 may be a reference to one third of the angels, the number who fell with Satan. Satan s Character Satan s character is described by the following words and phrases used in Scripture. As you read through the following descriptions, note the stark contrast with God s nature. God and Satan are not simply two opponents with somewhat different political orientations or points of view. Rather they are bitter enemies God is determined to thwart Satan s evil designs and to condemn him to everlasting punishment once His purposes have been fulfilled, and Satan is equally determined to hurt God any way he can and overturn His verdict of condemnation. First, we consider his name. Revelation 9:11 tells us that Satan s name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon both of which translate to the Destroyer. Satan is intent on destruction; it is inherent in his nature. As Brent Curtis writes in The Sacred Romance, The one purpose of his [Satan s] heart is the destruction of all that God loves, particularly his beloved. (1) By contrast, God is the creator of all that is good and beautiful. Satan is called the evil one in Matthew chapter 13, verses 19 and 38. He is thoroughly corrupt in his nature, his character, his intentions, and his actions. God is good and perfect in His character and in all His ways. Scripture teaches us that Satan is our enemy, our adversary (I Peter 5:8-9). Peter compares him to a roaring lion, looking for a victim to devour. Satan is always seeking to attack us; God is our defender and protector. In a conversation recorded in John 8:44, Jesus called Satan a liar and the father of lies. There is no truth in him. By contrast, God is truth. In fact, the writer of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible for God to lie. We cannot believe anything Satan tells us; we can always take God at His word. We see then that the world is the setting for a great spiritual battle between two powerful kingdoms. 3

12 In the same passage, Jesus also said that Satan has been a murderer from the beginning. Satan seeks to extinguish life; he has no respect whatsoever for the sanctity of life. God, who created humans in His image, is the giver and source of all life. Satan is also known as the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). In fact, he is said to accuse the children of God day and night relentlessly, unceasingly. By contrast, Christ is our advocate and our mediator. I John 2:1 reminds us that when we sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Satan is known as the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). He began his assault against God s creation by deceiving Eve in the Garden of Eden, culminating in the fall of the human race. In II Corinthians 4:4 we read that, Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the Satan is the ruler of what is temporal; God is the ruler of what is eternal. minds of those who don t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (NLT) There is no deception with God. While it is true that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), He delights in making Himself known to us. Paul, writing to believers in Thessalonica, referred to Satan as the Tempter (I Thessalonians 3:5). James tells us that, God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. (James 1:13) Rather, He always provides a way of escape when we are faced with temptation (I Corinthians 10:13). Satan tempts us to do what is wrong; God guides us into right paths. In what is perhaps a surprising statement, Paul writes to the Corinthians that Satan is the god of this age or world. Satan is the ruler of what is temporal; God is the ruler of what is eternal. Satan has limited authority; God is sovereign over all creation. The preceding descriptions demonstrate that Satan and God are diametrically opposed to one another. There is no point of similarity in their character. However, while their natures can only be contrasted, their abilities can be compared. God is omniscient He is all knowing. Satan does have vast knowledge (presumably accumulated through the centuries), but there are limits to what he knows. God is omnipresent He is present everywhere at once. Satan is limited to one location in time and space. 4

13 Pocket Principle 1 God is omnipotent He is all-powerful. Satan has great power, but it is limited. He is a powerful beast, but on a leash, which God can yank at any time. Satan s Influence Satan s kingdom is composed of Satan as its king, demons as his loyal servants, non-christians as his unwitting servants, Christians as his targets, and the world as his playground. Satan, who is not omnipresent, exercises his influence throughout the world through his hierarchy of subordinates (the rulers, authorities, powers, and forces mentioned in Ephesians 6:12). The Jews and early Christians understood these powers and authorities as representing a chain of command and authority of angels, both good and bad. The self-centered ambitions of the nations, the deceptive practices of politics, the bitter rivalry of commerce, the false religions of the world, broken relationships, fractured families, and personal traumas all spring from and are fostered by Satanic influence. All that is evil finds its ultimate source in Satan; all that is good finds its ultimate source in God. CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM God s Kingdom is composed of Christ as King, angels as His loyal servants, and Christians as His subjects and partners in rule. Christ s Kingdom is invisible to the world in that it currently exists in the hearts of Christians as the Holy Spirit indwells them. One day His Kingdom will be visible to all when He returns in power and glory. At this time, it is visible to the world in the godly conduct and character of Christians and their influence on non-christians. This is why Jesus said in His Kingdom teaching, In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Christ came to this world to rescue us from the clutches of Satan, to save us from our sins, and to establish His eternal Kingdom. Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. The verb tense is important here. The rescue has already been accomplished; we have been delivered from Satan s kingdom. However, we continue to live in occupied territory and remain vulnerable to Satan s influence and attacks. It is important to remember, as we struggle against the forces of evil, that God is not asking us to do anything that He has not done or does not continue to do Himself. He is no armchair quarterback or boardroom general. Rather, He 5

14 All that is evil finds its ultimate source in Satan; all that is good finds its ultimate source in God. leads us into and through the battle. This truth is vividly illustrated in the life of Christ while on earth. He was continually involved in spiritual battle, both direct and indirect. Following are a few scenes from the battlefield: The conflict began at the announcement of His birth as King Herod ordered the death of all Jewish children in Bethlehem under the age of two. Herod hoped, in so doing, to exterminate the threat of this Messiah (Matthew 2:13-17). Satan himself appears on the scene when Jesus ministry began. Immediately after Christ s baptism by John, He was led into the wilderness and tempted by Satan repeatedly over a period of forty days. None of us can truly appreciate the intensity of this battle (Luke 4:1-13). Throughout Jesus ministry He cast demons out of people, healing them of diseases and other problems (see Luke 4:40-41, for example). In each encounter, Christ was directly challenging and overcoming the power of Satan. The blindness of the Jewish leaders, in spite of the many miraculous signs that Jesus performed, their rejection of Him as the Messiah, and their plots to kill Him were all evidences of spiritual battle (II Corinthians 4:3-4). Satan entered Judas and influenced him to betray Jesus into the hands of the Jewish leaders (John 13:27). Jesus was engaged in intense spiritual warfare the night before His crucifixion. Face down on the ground in prayer, He had all the power and fury of hell arrayed against Him. In anguish, He overcame the forces of evil and submitted to the will of the Father (Luke 22:40-46). The Cross itself represents the climax of the battle between God and Satan, between the forces of good and evil. It was there, despite all appearances, that Christ achieved His greatest victory and Satan realized his greatest defeat (Colossians 2:15). Because of Christ s sacrificial death on the cross, Christians are transferred out of Satan s domain and into Christ s Kingdom at the time of their salvation. God has brought us into His Kingdom to deliver us from darkness and bondage and also to equip us as warriors in His Kingdom (Ephesians 6:10-18). Satan views us as pawns expendable objects of his wrath. However, God views us as persons of great worth and enlists us as trusted allies in His holy cause. What an awesome 6

15 Pocket Principle 1 privilege to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! CONCLUSION There is bad news and there is good news. Christians need to understand that the world is dangerous, and life is difficult because of the evil influences of Satan and his kingdom. However, the good news is that Christ has rescued us from Satan s kingdom, and He is able to help us navigate through life s difficulties and to impact this world for good. Just a reminder one of Satan s favorite ploys is deception and getting people to believe lies. Even now, he would have you disbelieve the bad news (and minimize the reality) and disbelieve the good news (and minimize the opportunity). Stand firm in the truth of God s Word and do not allow Satan to deceive you on these important points. End Note: 1. Brent Curtis and John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997),

16 1The Great Spiritual Battle GOAL: GETTING STARTED: IMPORTANT to Leader: Answers and notes to leaders are in gray, italicized text. For a disciple to have a basic understanding of the two spiritual kingdoms and how each kingdom affects the Christian. How do people react to tragedies that happen in our world today (9/11, earthquakes, car accidents, terminal illnesses, etc.)? Anger, shock, despair, fear, horror, give aid, run, withdraw, hide, make changes, blame others, blame self. Transition: Because there is a spiritual battle, tragedies do happen in our world. STUDYING TOGETHER: 1. How does the kingdom of Satan function? (Think about its origin and nature, and the nature of its leaders, strategies, etc.) Satan s kingdom: Satan is leader; demons are his servants; non-christians are also servants (they don t realize it). Opposes God and His people. Origin was Satan s prideful rebellion against God; wanted to be like God. He was banished from heaven. Satan s character: destroyer, accuser, adversary, deceiver, father of lies, murderer, tempter. Satan is not omnipresent. 2. How does the Kingdom of Christ function? (Again, think about its origin and nature, and the nature of its leaders, strategies, etc.) Christ s Kingdom: Christ is the King; Christians are His subjects. He came to this world to rescue us from Satan, save us from our sins and set up His Kingdom. Is constantly battling Satan while He was on earth and now. Read Colossians 1: How does becoming a Christian change our relationship with each kingdom? The Christian is no longer under the authority of Satan s kingdom; is now in the kingdom of God and is redeemed and forgiven. The Christian is no longer blinded by Satan (II Corinthians 4:3-4). He now has a choice and power to follow God or follow Satan. 8

17 Guided Discussion 1 Read I Peter 5: According to this passage, what do we see Satan doing? Satan: looking for someone to devour (to hurt, to destroy) How should the Christian respond, and what will God do? Christian: should anticipate and be prepared for Satan s attacks. Take a bold stand against Satan and fight back using prayer and the Word. Realize that he is not alone; all Christians are fighting the same battles. God: will rescue the Christian, although He may delay in order to give him strength and endurance in the battle. Read Matthew 4: In these verses, how did Jesus deal with Satan while He lived on this earth? He used the Word of God; He dealt with him in a direct and forceful way; He prepared for the attacks by spending extended time with God. LOOKING AT REAL LIFE: 6. What are some of the ways you see Satan s influence on Christians in the world? 7. What can Christians do to prepare themselves for spiritual battle? Understand strategies of Satan; maintain a close relationship with God; pray as if they are going to be confronted by Satan; be a student of God s Word; rely on a healthy support system. 8. Should Christians be afraid of Satan? Why or why not? 9

18 LOOKING AT MY LIFE: What do you need to do in order to be prepared for spiritual battle? What are some ways that Satan influences (attacks) you personally? Develop a plan that includes being prepared for spiritual battle and being alert to specific areas of weakness. 10